Sweet, sweet baby

I have been meaning to introduce folks to little Christa, who was born with a medical condition incompatible with life in mid-March. She was a wee little peanut, about a pound or so, and so lovely and dear. I was fortunate to be able to memorialize her through the organization I volunteer with, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

Though I am incredibly saddened by the babies who are losing their lives, the parents surprise and move me too. They are so stalwart, so brave, and I am always incredibly humbled by how they face their ordeals. It is an honour to be with them at so poignant a moment, and I hope that the photographs we create together comfort them in the hard days ahead.

I never realized, until I began to work with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, just how many of our local families endure the loss of a baby.

To all of them, I send a wish for peace and healing.

Absolutely Arthur

This second one is a photograph of little Arthur done as a pencil sketch. I just love it, don't you?



Sweet Arthur stole my heart when he came to see me in the studio. He was at a great age--7 months and a bit--where, from my grown-up perspective, being alive is delicious. Seven monthers are full of joie de vivre. They can sit up by themselves and tummy time is a lot of fun.

I just roll on the floor laughing when I see these little tykes catch their reflections. They are captivated. It is like watching a spark put to their hearts. Who is that gorgeous guy? Arthur seems to be saying. I remember my littlest daughter when she was somewhat older--about seven years--standing in front of a mirror repeating, "I'm so beautiful, I'm so beautiful," in an awed voice. Little Arthur reminded me of that sweet moment.

Look at this little sweetie pie

Little E was in the studio a couple of weeks ago. Isn't she adorable? She was really shy at first, but really warmed up over time. I love her transparent joy most of all. Radiant, incandescent. When she's comfortable and happy, she fills with 100% pleasure.

It was my great pleasure to meet her.

E's grandmom made the awesome outfit she's wearing here. It is sooo beautiful, and you can tell from about a mile away that a master seamstress was at work. Reminds me of my childhood, actually, when my mom sewed clothes like this--and wore clothes like these.

Well, it was a tie!

Talulah



Oliver


If you keep up with things on this blog you'll know we held a contest for the youngest newborn photographed in February. Was I surprised when our wee-est ones turned out to have been born on the very same day, February 9.

First up, there's a little girl who was absolutely inconsolable when she had to be out of her loving mama's arms but who is as sweet as the day is long. Her name is Talulah. As soon as she was back in her mama's wrap, she was happy as a clam.

Second up, there's a little boy who wasn't much keener than Talulah at being parted from his parents' tender touch. Named Oliver, he too is absolutely darling, and he did manage, finally, to fall a little bit asleep.

I always wonder how often I can lose my heart to these little sweetie pies I photograph, and I know that the answer is endlessly.

The prize was meant to be a 20 page book of the winning baby's images, and I have mulled over how to approach this rather charming dilemma. I thought about checking on what time the babies arrived, and awarding the prize to whomever popped out first on February 9, but that seemed somehow mean-spirited to me. So I'm pleased to announce that both of these lucky babies will be gifted with a Jane Photo 20-page Asukabook!

The most sensuous delicious maternity photos

D and M came to see me a couple of weeks ago for their maternity session. D wanted a different kind of maternity photograph: subtle and artistic, merely suggesting the pregnancy rather than having it front and center (as it were). I shot a number of lovely scenarios, but this grouping was by far my favourite. When I saw this one, it made me gasp.

D used to be a photographer herself, so I felt very honoured that of all the photographers she could have chosen, she picked Jane Photo. I know she will love her iimages when she sees them tomorrow.

Good luck, D and M, on the upcoming birth! I know the last trimester seems to just last forever while your ankles swell and pushing yourself up from a chair seems as hard as going after the holy grail, but it will end. It will end, it will end, it will end.

Welcome, welcome Noah Jonathan!

Noah's parents waited a very long time to welcome him into the world. Noah was diagnosed with a condition called Trisomy 13 way back in early October. His folks weren't sure whether his mom would be able to maintain her pregnancy, or not, or whether, in fact, they'd be able to meet little Noah when he arrived. His mom had quite a bit of false labour over the last week or so, and then on Friday she decided it was getting a little worse, and she called her husband to come home from work. They raced to the hospital to discover she was already 8 cm dilated, and little Noah popped out a couple quick hours later. Although his mom hadn't gone quite to term, he was still a hefty 6 lbs 8 oz. Everyone was over the moon to meet such a thriving baby boy, and thrilled that he's so well word has it the family is able to go home with Noah today.

The grannies and grampas were at the hospital to say hello and fall heads over heels in love with their new grandchild.

It was an honour and a true pleasure to be with Noah Jonathan as he said hello to this new world, and I'm so pleased to have been able to capture his sweet first moments.

If you want to see more, there is a slideshow on my portrait site on the page called NILMDTS. I photographed Noah for this great organization, based in Colorado. Please do let people know about them. For those in need, we volunteer photographers are all around the lower Mainland, and in fact dotted through all of Canada, and you can find a list of us on their site at

I also photographed Noah's mom's maternity, so if you're keen to see a few snaps from that shoot, scroll down to December 2007.

Lovely mom-and-dad-to-be!

I am up to my sorry ways, I'm afraid. I don't make new year resolutions, but if I had, one of them would have been to post more frequently on here. But we're only a few weeks into January and already I am remiss.

Still, I wanted to share the lovely maternity I did on Sunday out in the Fraser Valley...after getting caught in the band of white-out snow on the highway en route (happily to no ill-effect). It's a little wild when one takes studio gear on-location and asks an ordinary house to accommodate it, but S and K were game, and game then for my wacky ideas. They were in the middle, poor things, of selling their house (talk about stressful when you're expecting a baby any week), with people due to look at the house in a short while, so partway through we packed it all up and moved out into the community, returning later for the special bath portrait we'd planned for months.

The photos turned out beautifully, and I can't wait for them to see these sneak peeks and for their ordering appointment next week. It will be so fun to see them all on the big screen with music playing! And I so look forward to photographing their new little arrival in March.

Enjoy, S and K, and everyone else, too--how beautiful these two are.

Congratulations!

Congrats to Tara and Dusten Wease. Their daughter, Hunter, posed for Jane Photo's most popular photograph of 2007!

There were 802 of you who voted in our blog-off, and thanks to every one of you for taking the time to stop by.

Hunter scored highest with 30% or 247 votes. Whew! That's one popular gal. Guess it's no surprise when you are as adorable as she is:

Making Lemonade a la Bettie Page

For blog contest, please see prior entry, below.

We had such a fun afternoon on Thursday shooting pin-ups at Vespa Scooters and Sophie's Cosmic Café on West 4th Avenue in Vancouver. What a hoot! Thanks to all the guys at Vespa, and especially to Vince who helped us out by stepping into a couple frames.

We moved from there to the studio, where I discovered I had been burgled. All my studio gear--lights, modifiers, softboxes, a snazzy Larson reflector--were gone, along with some favourite drapes for maternity shoots. And honestly, who knows what else? I didn't have the heart to poke through the leftovers. Dishearteningly, it proves to be an inside job, since the studio itself wasn't broken into. Not a great way to start the new year, I'll tell you.

Sarah was in full pin-up hair and makeup and it seemed a pity to let it go to waste. Gary Deck of Gary Deck Photography was shooting with me, and happened to have come with his 580EXII, and a ringflash (which I used sparingly), saving the day. Any photo geeks out there know how challenging that must have been for me when I was planning 40s glamour lighting.

But I love, love, love these photos.

More on a slideshow on my site under Portraits/Slideshows!

Our Year-End Contest!

We're having a blog contest!

Simply vote over at the top right for your favourite of our favourite 15 photos of children taken by Jane Photo in 2007! Let your friends and relatives know they can join in too. Our winning image will be created as an 11"x14" print framed up to 16"x20" and given to the child's lucky family.

I want to thank all our families this year for all their awesome kids. Our short list for photos was something like 50 long, and getting it down to our favourite 15 was agonizing. All your kids are cover kids, if you ask me; I wish each and every one could have been included for the contest.

And check out our Valentine's Day offering for mamas! After all the diapers and spit-up and late night feedings, how about a couple of hours set aside just for you to create stunning and tasteful boudoir photos for your one and only? If we get enough women interested, we'll rent a room in a boutique hotel so our backdrops will be just as enticing as you are!

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It's Been Cold All December

I know because Angela and Damien's engagement shoot was December first. They decided to have photographs made where Angela works--the Cancer Agency--and at City Square, the mall. They were a hoot to work with--the kind of couple one could only refer to as "game" when I suggested a grocery cart--and I'm so looking forward to the pleasure of capturing their June wedding.

In the Early Whispering Hours

In the early hours of Christmas night, when snow fell softly across the city, Angel was born to her loving, longing and brave mama. Although the studio is closed for the holidays, I felt it was important to be there with Angel's mother as Angel joined and left their family.

I made photographs of beautiful little Angel for the organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a non-profit foundation dedicated to creating infant bereavement photography. I was honoured to be with Angel's family at this difficult time in their lives. Angel was so wanted, and well loved, and will be sorely missed.

I have taken the following text from the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep website, where the sentiments are expressed more eloquently than I could possibly tender them:

Pregnancy and birth are miraculous journeys. This amazing time of life is full of mystery, anticipation, joy, hope, and wonder. Feeling the powerful energy of birth and new life, watching as a new family is born unto each other. These things humble and amaze. These are the things that we celebrate when a baby is born.


But there is another aspect of pregnancy and birth. There is an unexpected place in this journey where some families may find themselves. When a baby dies, a world is turned upside down. There is confusion, sadness, fear, and uncertainty that cannot be explained. There is sorrow where there should have been joy. During this time, it might be impossible for families to know what they might need in order to heal in the future.

This is the place where the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart. For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives.

We're Taking a Break!

Just a short note to say that the studio is shutting down from tomorrow, December 19, until January 7! Time for a well-deserved rest after an exceedingly busy time since March!

I hope everyone has very happy holidays and a happy start to the year 2008! The Naughties are almost gone already, and we'll be into the double-digit years in no time. Where did the time go?

A Lovely Group Visiting from Overseas

These women and men visited Vancouver a couple of weeks ago and found every sort of weather imaginable. Crisp sunshine and cold; heavy snowfalls (when they got stuck trying to get back to the city from Whistler!) and absolute torrents of rain and wind that cancelled ferries and flooded the city streets.

But it was a total pleasure photographing them, and between rainfalls, we got some stunning photographs.

Cheers to them, and wishes for a contented new year back in their home countries.