For those who love photographers...

...a website of us looking crazed and geeky and everything in between...

http://35mm.instantfundas.com/2008/12/photographs-of-photographers.html

Jane Photo; Vancouver newborn photographer

Here are a couple faves from Jane Photo yesterday when the dotter and grand-dotter were camping it up. This is Auntie and niece--too cute. It is snowing--again. Hard. Again. Good gravy. We had more than a dozen here for dinner (and some too snowed in to make it), and much revelry was had by all. All the young ones got into the studio props and were flouncing around in pettiskirts--too funny.

Thanks for all the nominations that are pouring in for Giving is Awesome. You guys are awesome. You are really reaching out about your loved ones and friends. The stories that are flooding in are compelling, and I really wish I could manage to gift a session and prints to every family nominated. Stay tuned for new years and the winner.

And cans for comments is still active, so please take a sec and comment on a post here, so I can make a great Food Bank donation this winter.

Giving is Still Awesome

It's Christmas Eve, and Jane Photo sends along wishes for a happy holiday to all our clients, friends and family. We have 16 coming for dinner...don't know how we'll fit everyone, or whether folks will be able to get here through all the snow. Digging out the cars has been a procedure indeed, and now they're stuck anew. But isn't the snow a hoot for Christmas?

Thanks to the folks who've sent in a story for Giving is Awesome. http://www.givingisawesome.com/

Jane Photo is donating $475 worth of photography in session fees and prints to a family who cannot afford custom photography, and a free mini session and print to the family or individual who nominated our winner.

You know someone.

You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, is watching their child suffering in the hospital or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty. Tell me about them!

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $475 worth, to be exact. Whether it's family portrait packages, prints for Grandma, or a full maternity/newborn package to capture those moments that they will treasure for a lifetime... it's in your power to give them the beauty they deserve this holiday season.
Oh, and another thing... The person who nominates the winner receives a $175 family portrait session and an 8"x10" print! So get nominating!

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a million-dollar-vacation-home does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in metro Vancouver. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my gift. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story :
The winner will be announced on New Years Day -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Jane


Oh yeah, and please leave a comment because I'm donating a can of food to the Food Bank for each one.

Here are some snow photos from around our place today. The one of me looking like a bumble bee is by Sarah. The one with the umbrella is our neighbour shovelling the walk with a dust pan. The others are of my first born, home from U of T law school for the celebrations. Soooo glad she's with us...(she's my best xmas present).







This is our neighbour clearing his walk with an umbrella and a dustpan (sooo Vancouver):

Jane Photo; Vancouver newborn photographer

Here are some wonderful sibs to go with the baby bambino in the post just below this one. I think the image of the three of them from above is one of my fave ever...it just melts my heart every time I look at it. I totally lost my heart to these two, three and four years old. They were sooo good and easy, and so photogenic, and they were just smitten with their new little brother.

Please leave comments here and I'll donate a can to the Food Bank for every one.

Oh, look at this chub...can anyone in their right mind resist this shot of babe on mama's shoulder? Adorable!


I wanted a shot that expressed how much love older bro feels for his new little guy, and this one for sure sums it up:


Oh, just yummy, isn't it? How wonderful to get such a fabulous shot of the whole kit and kaboodle of children:


Big sis was so loving to her new little brother, and she just looks like she is in thrall:


The little munchkins together...aren't they precious?

Meet an adorable munchkin!

This little fellow was a month old and pretty well awake during most of his session despite all the heat we were throwing his way in the hopes of sending him off to dreamland. He was such an adorable little guy, with a wonderful thinker's forehead, chubby arms, and deep, startling eyes. I was so surprised at his ability to track what was going on around him, and also by his neck strength. He was big at birth, and at a month a full 12 pounds. Isn't he just the sweetest?

Please leave comments below. One comment=one can of food donated to the Food Bank for the holiday season!

Nominate Someone in Need

You know someone.

You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, is watching their child suffering in the hospital or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty. Tell me about them!

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $475 worth, to be exact. Whether it's family portrait packages, prints for Grandma, or a full maternity/newborn package to capture those moments that they will treasure for a lifetime... it's in your power to give them the beauty they deserve this holiday season.
Oh, and another thing... The person who nominates the winner receives a $175 family portrait session and an 8"x10" print! So get nominating!

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a million-dollar-vacation-home does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in metro Vancouver. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my gift. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story :
The winner will be announced on New Years Day -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Jane


Oh yeah, and please leave a comment because I'm donating a can of food to the Food Bank for each one.

'Kay, everybody, Jane Photo is proud to announce that from Monday Dec 8 to Monday Dec 22 we will be donating one can of food to Vancouver's food bank for every comment left on the blog.

So get busy leaving your comments! We'd love to donate enough to make a difference to at least one family.

And just 'cause it's hard to post without a snap, here's a pic I may have taken myself as a very little girl of my mom and one of our newborn foals--just to show I was into newborn photography even back in Ontario in the sixties. We had a turquoise Bakelite intercom, and through this, mom would spend weeks listening for the sounds of the mares going into labour. What will it sound like? I'd ask. How will you know? Mom, can I watch? Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Finally, on one occasion, I remember my mother waking me up and carrying me in her arms out to the barn in the middle of the night. The air was chilly against my bare feet and I wiggled my toes, testing it, and could feel the hem of my long flannel nightgown. I'm guessing it was March or April. The stars winked as if someone had poked holes in black fabric, and I was enchanted by the sight--and by being in my mother's arms in the dark, still night. In the barn, where my dad was waiting, it was warmer, and smelled of manure and ammonia, and it was quiet in every stall except for the last one where a restless mare was down on her side, ribs heaving, nostrils flared. Mom tucked me into a corner, burrowing me in straw, then turned to soothe the mare, stroking her cheek and neck and cooing in a reassuring tone.

The mare showed the whites of her eyes, and struggled to her feet as the foal came slithering out hooves first in its white bag of cowl, falling gently to the yellow straw, and sending up plumes of steam into the chillier air. The foal twitched in her bag. My mother pulled the cowl open, and the mare licked the birth bag away. Minutes later, the little foal rose on shaky, spindly legs, fell, then got up again for good, nuzzling for milk.

I was beyond enchanted. I was in love with every tiny particle of this experience, and have been in love with birth--and mothers and babies whether animal or human--ever since.

I wrote a poem about that magical night once, though I don't think I included it in either of my poetry books.

Little Ms S was such a delight to have in the Jane Photo studio! She had such a wonderful look with her springy curls of dark hair--and her funny faces. She had me cracking up from beginning to end, that's for certain. I haven't met a single soul who can do a fishy face quite as well as the divine Ms S, and I'll just bet she's been endless entertainment for her loving parents, T and M. Here are a few to enjoy!

As always, feel free to leave blog comments below.

Take it away, mom:

S is the cutest patootie wootie in the western world. Do you just look at her and melt?
Ummm, yes. I can barely get anything done in the house, I am so busy trying to take in her every moment. I dont want to miss a single expression (except maybe the screaming ones). I think as every mom knows, you could never imagine before baby how obsessed you will become with them.
S is the only baby who has ever made me laugh out loud when I was editing her images.

I have a whole series of S making faces that just crack me up. I know you said she is known for making faces. Why do you think she does that?

Thats the big mystery of Sophie. Since the very day she was born, people have commented on the strange and funny faces she made, especially the things she does with her mouth. She has a whole range of looks, from Zoolander, to fish face, to kissy mouth and beyond. The more annoyed she gets, the weirder the faces she makes. Half of all the pictures I take of her are variations of her "funny faces"....maybe she likes the feeling of her mouth making interesting shapes, or maybe thats her nonverbal communication....if she still does it when she's older I'll be sure to ask!

How has it been for you and M moving from being just a couple to being parents? How has your relationship changed?
Well honestly, it was certainly a shock in the beginning. Sophie took up all of my attention of course and I dont know that Martin was prepared for that, but as the weeks past, he readjusted his expectations of me and of our relationship. Now he is completely in love with Sophie and our relationship is more layered and meaningful than ever before, but it took a few months to get there.

What is the best thing about being a mom? When is S at her most adorable?
Sophie is at her most adorable when she wants us to make her laugh and when she is first waking up in the morning. When she wants us to make her laugh, her eyes light up and start sparkling and she starts screeching and kicking her little legs and arms to attract our attention. I know right away that shes in the mood to laugh her little head of, so we entertain her until we are all laughing together. Also, first thing in the morning, her hair is standing in every direction and she smiles the sweetest, most contented smile when she sees my face looking over her crib. Her cheeks are all rosy from sleep and she lifts her little arms out to me to be picked up. I live for those moments.

How has it been getting up nights to feed little Ms S? Do you enjoy your quiet late night moments together, or are you mostly nodding off and hoping to get back to bed?
Luckily for us, Sophie has slept 12 hours straight pretty much every night since she was 3 months old. So the odd night she wakes me up, when shes teething or not feeling well, I try to enjoy the peaceful sounds of her breastfeeding, the quiet in the house, and her warm little half asleep body instead of rushing back to bed.

What are you looking forward to doing with Ms S as she grows up?
Everything! Listening to her talk about what she is learning, thinking and feeling. Watching her experience the world and trying to see it through her eyes. Sharing in her interests and trying to forge a bond that will keep us close for the rest of my life. Bringing her joy and helping her become who she wants to be. Well, and because shes a girl, perhaps a bit of mommy daughter shopping and spa adventures.

Any thoughts/suggestions etc for other new moms?
Every day, every passing month, It just gets better and better. Try to enjoy every moment, takes loads of pictures and videos, because they change so quickly and your memory for details you thought you'd never forget is remarkably poor.

I wanted--once again--to bring everyone's attention to the organization I vounteer for, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. This US organization supplies volunteer photographers to families experiencing an infant death, and has been featured in the Vancouver Sun and Macleans magazine this fall. I have written a brief article for Urban Baby and Toddler, a BC publication, for their winter issue. As well, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep will be profiled on Newsworld TV the evening of Dec 8.

I want everyone to speak of this wonderful organization, if you could, with one friend, and ask that your friend do the same with one of their friends. There are so very many BC parents experiencing infant loss, and I long for the day when each and every one of them will know about, and utilize if they wish, NILMDTS services. Professional photographers, volunteer all, provide sensitive in-hospital sessions and then provide a CD of images free of charge. As always, folks can find out more at: www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org.

I shot three new babies for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep this week, and one maternity for this lovely woman featured below, T, and her sweet loving husband, M. They lost their son, Jos, last Thursday, and I know they miss him more than words can ever express.

Okay, here's the question: how many bits of your heart can you give away before you don't have any left? Call the paramedics, 'cause now I've lost a whole lot of mine. Say hello to the inimitable Ms J and her baby sister, the smiley-puss, N. They visited the studio on different days, but I'm blogging them together. Ms J was such a hoot going costume-crazy--the studio is something of a paradise for dress-up. What a wonderful and fun person she is, and I hope to see more of her as she grows. She's a big girl 4 now, and I think she's destined for the big K pretty soon.

Ms J and Little N have the very same smile and it is one of the most fabulous I've ever seen. In Little N's face, it takes up the majority of the room for features and is, therefore, megawatt. Little N just couldn't stop grinning. And her language was very sophisticated for such a little sprout; she was organizing her thoughts into patterns of speech that cleverly mimicked adult intonations.

Here's what their delightful mom, S, has to say about them:

You are the mom of the baby with the greatest smile ever. How on earth do you cope with the world losing their marbles over your little girl (and her equally cute big sis)?

Well, we always appreciate the compliments over the smiles, and we do love the way her little mouth curls into that smile when she sees us. I have a feeling that we might have a hard time resisting anything she asks us for when she flashes that smile, so we'll have to be careful! But it is wonderful, and just reinforces for us how lucky we are with our beautiful girls.

Tell me your favourite all-time thing about your eldest daughter, J.

"Snuggle Time" in the mornings when she wakes up. From about age 1 1/2 until about 3, J. would come in to our bed in the morning for a snuggle (and a bottle of warm milk) before we all got up to start the day. She still occasionally graces us with a snuggle in the morning, but it's much more rare these days.

How did she handle the advent of a new sister?

J. has generally been a really tolerant and loving big sister. I think she was old enough when N. was born that she had some independence and didn't rely on us as much as a younger "big sibling" would have. She's always been interested in N., and rarely too rough. She's never asked us to "send N. back", which I know other big siblings often do. J. has also "been pregnant" and "had babies" many many times since her little sister was born - she seems to think that being a mommy is pretty great and having a baby around is neat. Now that N. is more active and able to play, I think J. is enjoying her even more, and she has been heard to say "Mummy, N. is my bestest friend ever!".


What is N's favourite thing to do? What is N's favourite toy? Favourite food?

N. LOVES to creep/scoot/crawl around, and to put anything and everything into her mouth. She also LOVES swings, and jolly jumping. Her favourite toy at the moment seems to be her Leap Table, which makes all kinds of wonderful sounds and has flashing lights etc. She also can't be without something to chew - a sock, a spoon, a stroller toy. Her favourite foods - sliced canned pears, which she will gobble up several slices at a time, and rice rusks and Cheerios.


What is J's favourite colour? Does she like running or jumping more? Is she looking forward to turning five and going to big kids' school? What is her favourite food? Favourite bedtime story?

J.'s favourite colour is pink, but she also loves combining many vibrant colours, preferably in many different patterns. She loves to jump, especially on her trampoline. She absolutely loves going to preschool, which she does every afternoon, and she's always asking me about going to kindergarten, and how old she'll be in grade 1, and so on. She thinks school is quite marvelous. Her favourite food (she says) is Maple & Brown Sugar Quaker Instant Oatmeal, although I'd say rice and Chicken Noodle Soup are very close seconds! Her current favourite bedtime stories are "Stella Fairy Of The Forest" by Marie-Louise Gay, "Miss Fannie's Hats" by Jan Karon, "Would You Rather?" by John Birmingham, and "My Dog" by Angela Joy.

How do you like being a mommy to two? How does your hubby like having two?

Two is fantastic, most of the time! We were always positive that we wanted more than one child. We are fortunate and blessed to have had two "easy" babies, and they are growing into wonderful girls. I'm glad we had some space between the girls (3 1/2 years) so that we had time with J. on her own, and that she's independent enough now that I also get some time with N. when J. is at preschool. They seem to have a good relationship - N. clearly adores her big sister and smiles every time she sees her. Hope it stays that way!

What is the biggest challenge in having two kids?

I think my biggest challenge is finding "me" time - I need a certain amount of quiet time to myself, which I got when J. was little while she napped, or even as she nursed I could read a book or snooze. But now when N. is napping or nursing, J. wants my attention and sometimes I feel like I just want to be quiet.
Oh, and getting out of the house in a relatively quick time is almost impossible! One day, I won't be always late!





This must be one of my favourite images ever. I have another take that's very close that I love just as much, but as you can tell, I already post too many images when I do get around to it:














And, well, this one's just for fun. I imagine N saying: Woman, if you don't put that dang camera down, I am going to choke myself until I pass out!

And speaking of niblets...I shot this family with its big papa cob, its mama cob and the delightful niblet cob, F-J, on a recent drenched day in North Vancouver. Such an expressive family, and this kind of horsing around (cobbing around?) leads to fab photos. 'A' family, you are always welcome back in Jane Photo-land, because it was such a thorough pleasure making your photos. Here are a few beyond your order to remind you of how special your family is.

As always, please leave comments for the families and me below...

Little E was the most photogenic baby! At 5 months old, she wasn't quite steady for sitting on her own yet, but she loved flying in mama's arms.

I know I shouldn't be posting such recent work when there are too many Jane Photo sessions languishing on the sidelines, but I just wanted to show mama--who had the patience of a mother of five (which she is) with this little niblet--just how well little E did despite her meltdown partway through!

E--she's our brand-newest Winter Fairy, and doesn't she rock against my red wall?

As always, I know E's parents and I would absolutely love it if you leave comments below.

Model call!

Jane Photo has put out a model call for adult women and their mothers.

I have been longing to shoot some generational images. If this is something you might be interested in, please drop me an email to info@janephoto.ca. Please also send along a few photos of you and your mom.

Jane Photo requires a release, and offers one 8x10" print as a thanks for posing.

Ethnic women and their moms especially welcome.

May also do some with little girls and their moms, but these will be limited.

I was so pleased to photograph F and her family again a couple weeks ago. Little F came to see me as an infant, and ended up being the model on my studio sample for photo handbags. She's grown up so much now! Soon she will be two years old. We were taking pix in a park near Ambleside in North Vancouver, and when I was coming across Second Narrows and along the highway, it was pouring down in buckets. I was so happy when the rain let up and let us enjoy a very soggy hour--munchkin, mommy and daddy-- together.

Please leave comments on the blog! We love to hear from you.

Here are some questions I asked M about her little girl:

What are F’s favourite things in the whole wide world?

Cats, babies and Winnie the Pooh

What are the family routines for bedtime?

Meal, playtime, bathtime, story reading, bit of milk then sleep!!

What is Ms F’s favourite food?

Fishy crackers (but mummy doesn't allow this often so 2nd option is cheese rice crackers!)

You’re having another baby. Do you know if you are having a boy or girl? What does Ms F think about it all, or does she really realize at her age?

We will have a boy. F doesn't realise what is going on but LOVES babies... can't stop wanting to touch, cuddle, rock any other baby she sees so this is promising...!!

What are you most looking forward to about having a second child and a sibling for F?

The interaction between them... also as this one will be a boy, can't wait to see the difference of character and attitude.