When I get a call from a friend who I absolutely adore, and she asks me to photograph her sweet little two year old, my heart just melts. This age seems so magical to me …. the wide eyes, the flailing legs, the almost smile (okay, maybe gas … ), the cute outfits, and the nursery that is almost always dressed just perfectly. Be still, oh heart!!!
I’ve known Lianna when she worked for Center for Grieving Children, when I did a lot of volunteer photography for the organization. We became fast friends, and now she is a Mom — a wonderful, attentive, nurturing, loving mom. And although I don’t know Nick very well, it’s clear he has this diaper and Dad thing down pat!
This is a wonderful age for a lifestyle session … you know, capturing those seemingly ordinary moments that when frozen in time, are really quite extraordinary. Here is Lianna, Nick and little lady Jocelyn …
Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine.
— Baby of Mine, Tony Washington
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane is a lifestyle and family portrait photographer covering Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. To remember your seemingly ordinary moments in a most extraordinary way, contact jane at jane@janeberger.com.
Fall is typically my busy time of year. If I’m not behind my camera, I’m in front of my computer — culling, editing and posting the images previously shot. This year provided some breathing room and so it was a great time to take a little time off.
Where to go in Maine in the fall? I would run out of fingers and toes tenfold counting all the beautiful spots in this great state. So we settled on Point Lookout in Northport — not too far that it would take more than a half day to leisurely make our way there, and not too close so that it felt like we were going away on vacation. My honey and I, and my sister and her honey bunked in a sweet, rustic log cabin nestled in the woods and warmed by the fire in the cast iron stove. We took the short trip up Mount Battie that overlooked the lovely little coastal town of Camden, and then went into town for dining and some therapy shopping(!). Belfast wasn’t too far up the road and it turned out to be a delight, and Lincolnville was well worthwhile for getting up and out before the break of dawn.
We had such a great time that we’re thinking we’ll do it again next year! I’m happy to share snippets of our mini vacation with you!
I’m so glad to live in a place where there are Octobers.
llmontgomery, anne of green gables
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane is a lifestyle, portrait and elopement photographer covering Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. Contact Jane at jane@janeberger.com for more information.
Fall is typically my busy time of year. If I’m not behind my camera, I’m in front of my computer — culling, editing and posting the images previously shot. This year provided some breathing room and so it was a great time to take a little time off.
Where to go in Maine in the fall? I would run out of fingers and toes tenfold counting all the beautiful spots in this great state. So we settled on Point Lookout in Northport — not too far that it would take more than a half day to leisurely make our way there, and not too close so that it felt like we were going away on vacation. My honey and I, and my sister and her honey bunked in a sweet, rustic log cabin nestled in the woods and warmed by the fire in the cast iron stove. We took the short trip up Mount Battie that overlooked the lovely little coastal town of Camden, and then went into town for dining and some therapy shopping(!). Belfast wasn’t too far up the road and it turned out to be a delight, and Lincolnville was well worthwhile for getting up and out before the break of dawn.
We had such a great time that we’re thinking we’ll do it again next year! I’m happy to share snippets of our mini vacation with you!
I’m so glad to live in a place where there are Octobers.
— anne of green gables
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane is a lifestyle and portrait photographer covering southern Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. Contact Jane at jane@janeberger.com for more information.
For the second year in a row, I’ve had the pleasure of participating in some pre-work for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Event, taking place this Thursday (September 28) at DiMillos in this wonderful foodie city of Portland, Maine.
In a nutshell, this is a food station frenzy meets silent auction event! First, more than a dozen chefs from some of Portland’s best restaurants will offer their own culinary creation — it was so delicious last year, and will be equally as delectable this year! Who’s participating? Think Union, Sur Lie, Baharat, Honey Paw, Ice It! Bakery, Mami, Union Kitchen, RiRas and so many more!! Secondly, there is an online auction (click here to see what’s on the block and to bid NOW!) as well as a silent auction taking place at the event on Thursday night. Yours truly is donating a family lifestyle session that includes a beautiful album — great for a family night of board games and popcorn, an afternoon of baking and crafts, or your annual tree-cutting outing ending with a delicious cup of hot chocolate! These sessions are fun for all!
My assignment, and I loved every minute of it, was to make images of the participating chefs, the families, and the children — the sweet little March of Dimes miracles — to help promote the event. I had a ball!
For more information on this yummy night out, click here. Buy your ticket. Support the March of Dimes. And then eat, eat, and eat some more! In the meantime, meet some of the talented chefs, the grateful families and the beautiful little children who have directly benefited from the efforts of this organization.
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane is a family lifestyle and portrait photographer in Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. Contact Jane at jane@janeberger.com to capture the ordinary moments in an extraordinary way.
It was the middle of summer and a beautiful summer day at that. My honey and I were on our way to Newport, Rhode Island, so that I could photograph the 10th anniversary sailabration of the RE/MAX River’s Edge office. Our friends, Michelle Cartwright and Todd Mosher, the broker/owners of the office, hosted what was a fantastic event and they (and their staff, no doubt!) left no stone unturned!
It all began seaside and under the sunny sky with cocktails, chilled shrimp and my personal favorite, oysters on the halfshell. Yum. Next, the big and beautiful Aurora came sailing up to the dock, inviting all the partyers aboard for a two hour tour of Newport Harbor. So much fun, so much beauty.
So wait, there’s more…dining under the tent was a treat, with chicken and lobster and steamers, oh my! We laughed, we danced, we answered trivia and some won prizes. Everyone left with a pretty little bottle of prosecco dressed in ribbon and banners. Such a fantastic little detail that captured the true spirit of the celebration.
It was a great event as evidenced by the smiles….. here is a collection of my favorite images.
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane is an event photographer in Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. Contact her at jane@janeberger.com for stellar coverage of your important event!
Digital photography isn’t going anywhere, and if you’re like me, you have a lot (and I do mean a LOT!) of photos stored on your phone, computer, the cloud, or other means of storage. Prints are great, and I love the gallery I’ve created in my stairway … framed prints of people I love …. that I see every day as I go up and down the stairs. And how many of you make albums with your images? Looking at them on a screen may do the trick, but holding an album in your hands, passing it around to your friends and earmarking it for a future generation is so much better!
I recently discovered a new album company — well, new to me — that fits the bill so perfectly that I have to share. The process with my client was easy. The colors are lovely and varied. Ordering was a breeze and they were delivered within a week! I got one with a leather cover and one with a linen cover. The leather album has thick pages, the linen album has thin. Each album comes in a sturdy box for safe keeping in a neutral and very pretty grey (which happens to be perfect for my branding, but more on that another time!). And for delivery, they get wrapped up in a pretty bow, making this a very special parcel to receive.
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane is a lifestyle and portrait photographer capturing love and laughter in Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. Many lifestyle sessions include a book. If you’re interested in a session designed around your lifestyle, contact jane at jane@janeberger.com.
If today were Tuesday, this would be a “turnback” post. If it were a Thursday, it would be a “throwback” post. But it’s Wednesday, and so perhaps we will take a little jaunt with Sherman in the wayback machine. These images are from last fall when I was on Cape Cod at the Chatham Bars Inn photographing an event for RE/MAX Integra of New England.
I mean, the Chatham Bars Inn! Have you been there? It’s quite lovely with cozy and spacious rooms that overlook the beach — the gorgeous beach that is even gorgeous out of season smack dab in the middle of fall. So that’s where I headed, with a few friends, very early in the morning, each of us with our camera in hand.
Now, when I photograph with other photographers, I want to be sure that I don’t copy them. However, at first I can’t help but watch what they’re doing (out of the corner or my eye, of course) — Where are they pointing their cameras? What are they seeing that I’m not seeing? Should I be photographing that too????? This particular morning was no different and I don’t mind saying that it took me a few minutes to find my own groove. It wasn’t until I remembered that when I changed my branding a few years ago, I also wanted to dedicate my camera to shooting what I love. Shoot what you love, Jane … that was very important to me and something that I had lost sight of for those first few minutes. I had to reach back and find that desire, and so I did.
Here’s what I saw that morning, and here’s what I focused on. The nice and unexpected surprise? Seeing the beautiful and colorful flowers on the way back in when it was light that we missed on the way out when it was dark. For me, that’s pure joy.
Enjoy.
Early one morning….scenes at Chatham Bars Innpathway to beautydead stuff that’s prettybeach grassmy friend Juan, a very talented photographerfirst look at the harbor
beach grass — pretty no matter the time of year
moored boats off cape codearly morning beach scenepeaceful, easy feelingbeach weedsplaces to go and people top see…cloudy skies and beach grassbittersweet … both the bush and the fact that fall had arrived and winter was on the wayreminds me of summer, so delicatepink roses so lovelythe best of fall flowers… hydrangeasfall vegetation that I don’t know the namesthe gorgeous blue hydrangeasilhouette of a tree
Happy Wednesday, y’all! Thanks for taking this little wayback journey with me.
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane is a lifestyle, portrait and event photographer who loves her personal shooting sprees. She focuses on capturing love and laughter in Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond.
If you know this lovely woman, then I’m sure your world is just a little bit brighter than it might be otherwise. Lianna is a gem! She’s caring and generous, focused and ambitious, and a whole lotta fun! I met her when doing some volunteer photography for the Center for Grieving Children in Portland — a terrific organization. When she started doing yoga, I wanted to photograph her doing what she had grown to love — at sunrise.
Here are Lianna’s favorite images from this beach lifestyle session, and her own words.
Jane captured so much in this photo and may not even have realized it! Wheel pose is so uplifting, not only does it open your heart, but it helps to create a sense of emotional stability. The sun rising at just the right moment foreshadows the burst of energy that you feel throughout your body when you reach the peak of the posture.
sunburst yoga
Higgins Beach is such a special place to me. Filled with childhood memories and fun times with family during the summers. It especially reminds me of my late grandfather, who loved this beach more than anyone. During this photo, I remember looking up and thinking of Thomas Donahue with a smile. Such a special moment for me, and Jane captured that.
sending love
This sums up how I feel about my husband in a nutshell. I could scream it from the mountain tops everyday—but icing on the cake was a quick vertical jump that Jane caught brilliantly, while being surrounded by the sand, sun and ocean.
jumping for joy
My turn
Ha! Two of Lianna’s favorites are two of my favorites! Here are my choices, less the ones she already chose….
This moment of content sums up this early sunrise yoga session so nicely in one image. Solitude — we were alone on the beach. Beginnings — the sun was just coming up. Calmness — this quiet second of contemplation. And for me, the capture — camera at the ready; time stopped.
sunburst, sunflower
I really like this image! I like the strength represented in her shoulders, and her hand leading to the enormous ocean and world — full of possibilities and there for the taking.
within reach
I am in awe of what this image represents. First, the promise of a new day is pretty fantastic, is it not? And I don’t take nearly enough time to reflect, to ponder, to just be. This is a reminder to do just that. And when you practice this self caring on a beach? That’s pretty darn cool!
peace
Lifestyle sessions can take many forms, and this is just one. It’s those seemingly ordinary moments that make up this thing we call life. They aren’t so ordinary after all.
xoxoxoxoxo
As a Maine lifestyle photographer, I find such joy in making your ordinary extraordinary. Let’s talk! 207.730.1894.
Nick and Heidi are transplants to the Portland area. She’s from Minnesota …. he’s from New York. So when they got engaged, they wanted to do their engagement session here and show their families back home their lovely adopted town. Heidi was happy to revisit the images from her fall session and as she told me, had a hard time choosing just three, which, of course, is music to my ears! In her words, “I starred my favorites … (in order if I realllllly have to, 5 seemed way easier to pick than 3!! 😉 ) And, since it was nearly impossible to just pick 3, I went with the strategy of picking 3 favorites based on 3 different aspects I liked about all our pictures. It was fun to have a reason to pour through all of them again!”
No. 1
heidi’s favorite pick
I love the lighting and colors in this picture, and that I can see our sincere smiles having so much fun that day exploring and taking pictures. Walking along the wooden pathway was so fun to just appreciate the fall colors along the coast, and the beautiful evening. It’s my favorite portrait-type picture of us.
No. 2
love in the old port
This one I love because it shows the town we now call home. Since we are both transplants to Portland, ME it was fun to take pictures in the old port to capture the personality of the cobblestone streets and brick buildings of this fun-loving ocean side town! I love how it has us centered in this beautiful street capturing some of Portland’s energy in the photograph. This was my favorite picture that captured a more scenic view.
No. 3
puppy love
Now, this picture may not have a whole lot of us in it, but, our dog Dobby is pretty much our favorite of all time & it was so fun to have him be a part of our engagement session-so I had to include it! He may have been over excited to be exploring new areas 95% of the session, but it was so fitting for us to have him along-plus look at that face. How could you not love it?!
My turn
Overall, I loved this session. We really split this session into three to get the full Maine experience. First, we found a location with beautiful foliage. Next, we went down the road a piece (that’s Mainespeak!) to Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth, and then a few days later we met in the Old Port. So much fun spending time with this couple!
Unlike Heidi, I don’t have a favorite. I have several. Her first selection is also one of my favorites, so I’m happy to have the chance to pick a few more! Here are mine in no particular order….
warming up
I love the warm feeling I get from this image. The setting sun gives it a beautiful golden glow, the blanket tells me they’re going to get cozy, and his arm on her back tells me he loves her. 🙂
the look of love
The happiness in this image takes my breath away. It’s a moment in time, captured. While it may not be the “save the date” choice — the happiness, the connection, the love — is clear.
save the date
I, too, am a sucker for four-legged furballs and chose this image for that reason. Dobby is clearly a huge part of their lives, so I especially like this one-big-happy-family portrait!
One more for the road ….
silhouette
Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I like to end a session with a silhouette. This evening didn’t disappoint.
xoxoxoxoxo
Jane loves engagement sessions! Capturing love and laughter is her specialty. Contact Jane at 207.730.1894 for information on a session for you!
Part II of this two part series 🙂 has no flying monkeys, no falling houses, no threats against little dogs and no hourglasses counting the minutes to doom. And much to my chagrin, no ruby slippers either.
However, in honor of Halloween — the spookiest and chilling holiday — we have the happiest witch of the east, and her name is Kristi! (If you missed part I, click here for a brief lesson in Wicca — the practice my friend loves and lives.)
I’ve been wanting to do this session with her for quite some time and when the moon and the stars finally aligned (well, actually, when our mutual schedules offered some free time….), we decided that we couldn’t wait any longer! A little background here …. a few weeks before, while covering the Laudholm Craft Fair for Maine Magazine, I came across the nicest ladies who were hand crafting — wait for it —- BROOMS!!!! Sweet, beautiful, hand crafted brooms, made by Haydenville Broomworks, and there was one that was just perfect for our witchy session!!!! (Housework? Don’t be silly…..)
Fast forward to early October, and we are at Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth. Having just finished observing and photographing Kristi’s Wicca practices, it was time to have a little fun! The sun was setting and the full moon was a-rising! Magic? Perhaps. I say bring it!
We should educate people that “Witch” is not evil but ancient and positive. The first time I called myself a “Witch” was the most magical moment of my life.
–Margot Addler, Wiccan Priestess
xoxoxoxoxo
Have a spooktacular Halloween! And as Kristi often says … Blessed Be!
Jane is a lifestyle photographer, making the most of the seemingly mundane moments. Contact Jane at jane@janeberger.com for more information.
