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.

Little baby N

Little baby N is really a phenom. Only 11 months, and walking up a storm. She's been up on her feet for months already. This happened with my first little one, Sarah, at 9 months, and she looked ever so funny walking along the roads of Castlegar with me that winter--everyone would stop us to exclaim because she was so tiny.

It's a holiday in Canada, so I found time to post

And what a lass to post about! Please say hello to little E. She's a big whopping 2.5 weeks now, but in these photos she was just a tiny bitty 2.5 days! I felt so honoured and pleased to get to spend time with this family again after doing Becky's maternity a couple months ago. E arrived all in a rush and gave her mama so little trouble during labour that they were back home--labour included--all in a day. (I know we all dream of perfect labours, and it's sooo nice to hear that they are reality for some lucky women.)

Little bitty E at 2.5 days old slept like a little log, and let me squoosh and fold and bend and arrange her. Isn't she just so adorable? I was at Becky's home for this one, and we had the sweetest light coming in a handy window, so some of these are natural light. I took my studio lights, though, and used them for most of the time. Newborn sessions with Jane Photo are kinda epic. We just take it slow and steady, and baby gets to eat every time she's inclined. It's so important not to rush, and for everyone to feel relaxed and comfortable since babies are so in tune with our moods. And while these special sessions do take four hours, on average, at the end the family has amazing images that they will treasure forever.

By two weeks of age, new little sprouts are just not newborn anymore. They are way more awake and "in the world." It's great to get them tiny, when they are still slumbrous and flexible.

Baby E was so sweet, and smelled so good, and made the most astonishing newborn coos, that I was just one melted in-love blob from the second I walked in til I finished editing their images. Oh wait...I am still a melted blob as I work on their order...I will never be over the sweet intoxication of this perfect baby.

We made this process entirely painless for dad. Just as he came in for the last few minutes of Becky's maternity, he came in for just the last few minutes of the newborn session. We got some stunning shots, proving again that dad doesn't have to suffer through the whole shebang. Of course he's welcome, but for the dads who aren't keen, it's nice to have the option.

Please, please leave comments for the mamas...they would so love your responses, I know.

Here's what mom had to say a couple weeks into her momdom:

What made you get photographs at 3 days of age compared to, say, two weeks or one month?

Jane suggested it! She mentioned how early on the baby is more bendy and still has all of cute little wrinkles on her hands, feet, and body... I wanted to have those in my pictures.

Did you know you were expecting a little girl?

We had no clue!! We guessed we were having a boy and we absolutely shocked when we saw she was a girl!

What is one thing E does that you never tire of seeing?

Her little facial expressions, there seems to be a new one everyday! I am getting to recognize her little expressions that she has for different situations, I just love it!!! Now I am just waiting for my first “real smile”!

Explain how you feel when you see E curled up with her daddy.

It makes my heart melt!! She already has him wrapped around her little finger, and I really see that when she is sleeping on his chest. The way he looks at her is indescribable!

What’s one thing you can’t start your day without?
Before her, I would have said a morning run and a coffee, now I would have to see a morning cuddle with her and my coffee!

What’s your idea of an ideal day?

A day with my family. When Ash has his days off we grab coffees in the morning and take Blue (the dog) for a walk with the baby, then spend the rest of the day hanging out as a family :)

This baby had the most luscious skin...and look at those lips and eyelashes!

Jane Photo had the extreme pleasure to photograph a second baby K recently. This little one is the pudgiest six-month-old baby boy with the sweetest loving mama any kid could hope for. Little K came into the studio, which can be somewhat of a challenge for little ones with all the new sights and sounds and funny feeling props. Dad didn't attend, as some of these photos--in particular the protective gargoyle ones--are meant to be surprises for him at Christmas. Mom didn't want any pix with her in them, though right at the end I cajoled her into being a prop for one of my famous shoulder shots. (I love these shots...they are always unique, and always somehow manage to show the love between the parent and child.) Little K was fine on his own--just the happiest, gurgling little dude whom nothing could faze.

Here are mom C's answers to my questions about her new son:


What was the most exciting thing about having a baby?
A~ looking in his eyes for the very first time and telling him i love him


Now that your little guy is 6 months old, what do you love best about him?
A~ how curious and social he is, talking and singing. and the topper? his laugh


This will be the first holiday season that K remembers. Do you have special plans?
A~ Nothing "special," just the start of OUR family traditions that will be special every year


What is K’s very favourite thing to do?
A~ he loves to watch birds


Is being a mother like you expected it would be?
A~ Being a mother everything is multiplied by a million--even how tired you are. But it is an internal feeling of ...... i can't even put it into words to do the feeling justice.

Woo hoo! I am actually posting on my blog!

Everyone, say hello to the divine Ms. K. Jane Photo met up with the R family on a beautiful autumn day just outside Vancouver. It was chilly, and we were a bit time-pressed, but we got many gorgeous captures. Ms. K is just two months old, and her loving parents couldn't be more pleased to have her in their lives--ditto for her grandparents, who are here from Malaysia. This baby had me twisted around her pudgy little finger within minutes...I just totally lost my heart. I half hope the R family will be calling me at 3 in the morning when Ms K decides to serenade them, lol. (I think I'm getting known as the baby whisperer.) As always, I'd love to have you leave some comments here for the families!

Here are the answers Mom generously offered to a few considered questions:

Did you know you were expecting a girl?
Yes, we did.


How was your delivery?
Easier and faster than I thought it would be. :-)


Is parenthood what you were expecting it to be?
Maybe a little more challenging than I'd expected.


What is your favourite thing about baby K?
Her pure existence? :-) It's hard to pick out any one thing (and also, she doesn't do very much at this stage) but I'd have to say her smiles are precious (and few and far between) :-D


What are you most looking forward to about the future with her?
Watch her grow up and see what kind of a person she becomes (hopefully a wonderful person and that something I did would have instilled that in her).


What one thing would you like other parents to know about having a first child?
No two babies are the same - take what other people tell you with a pinch of salt, do what works for you. And it's harder than you'll EVER know and *impossible* to prepare for! ;-)