Okay, boys and girls, it's official. Jane Photo's new blog is up and running at janephoto.ca/blog. Our website will direct you there as well.

We're so head-over-heels pleased to have both the new site and the new blog functional finally. What a big old January chore, and it took the entire month.

In honour of the new blog and site, the first 3 people to book sessions this week January 26, 2009-Feb 2, 2009 will receive, at absolutely no charge, an 11"x14" print compliments of the refurbished Jane Photo!

Tell your friends!

Cutie pie on her first birthday

How often do you get to photograph a baby on the exact day she turns one? I was so glad I was able to schedule Ms T right on time. She was such a little love... Mom brought a cupcake to celebrate the occasion, and when we were all done, she brought it out for Ms T. Ms T looked at her like, You have got to be kidding me! Is this for real? It was, and she made a wonderful, glorious mess. Happy birthday, Ms T!

Here are some things Ms T's mom had to say about her:

Our little Ms T has an older brother. How many years between them? Did you plan the spacing?

T is 3 years apart from her brother J. Yes I did plan to have them at least 2 yrs apart so I can relish each child at their different stages-one with diapers and one without. If they were too close together I think everything would be more of a blur.

Do you have more photographs of your firstborn?

I think I have more pictures of T now. I wanted to be diligent in having as many pics as my first, if not more. Because we decided she would be our last baby and I wanted more infant photos.

What does Ms T do that melts your heart the most?

When she pouts her mouth like a piggy's snout and makes a funny weird sound with it. She can actually do this on demand. I just think she's soooo cute when she does that face.

Does Ms T sleep well through the nights?

She does!!! She's been sleeping 10+ hours a night since she was 4 weeks old. We're really blessed. She sleeps well through growth spirts, teething, and fever. The only thing is that she's a very light sleeper so we need to be very quiet when she's down. And it's difficult to tell a 4 yr old boy to stop making noises of destruction.

What was her first word?

BaBaa (for daddy)

Has Ms T taken her first step yet?

She has taken many steps with children furniture that she can drag along with, but not on her own.

Are there other kids on the way in your family, or are you
stopping here?

I am stopping here at 2. Two is perfect for us.


What is your favourite time of day with Ms T?

My favorite time of the day with Tallulah would be after her first nap, around 3:00pm. We play, watch a little bit of cartoons and take a fun bath which she loves a lot.

Does she have a cuddly blanket or other favourite lovey?

She doesn't have a favorite blankey nor a lovey. I've heard some scary stories when children lose, forget or won't allow you to wash their favorite thing- they can get into this rage and fuss where they're just not happy campers. I didn't want my children to be too attached to just one thing but instead be comfortable with alternating a few favorite things. They need to be flexible. I have 3 organic favs for T-a sleeping bunny, a dolly, and a ducky teether.

Fabulous Intimates

Just in time for Valentine's Day (see our promotion to the right)...Jane Photo Intimates. We are working on a dedicated blog for these since we no longer have any adult photos on our new site, but for now, just a few. Ms S was a joy and a delight to work with. I draw her, too, and it was fascinating to change my approach for these shots. We had toooo many clothing changes, lol.

My faves, though, are these shot through glass and fabric. I have been wanting to do these shots for just years now, a la my hero, Elizabeth Opalenik. Of course, I hadn't even heard of Elizabeth when I started fooling around with the idea back in rural Japan, when I photographed women half seen in onsen (public Japanese baths). When I was introduced to Elizabeth in Mexico when she was teaching in San Miguel de Allende, I knew that her images were what I was longing towards. I was not entirely certain I could get the same effect just in my studio, but I did myself proud. These images of Ms S are mysterious and evocative and yet still so sexy.

I have many more images I love, but they will be saved for the upcoming Intimates blog.

Two Too Cuties / Jane Photo Vancouver newborn photographer

These two dreamgirls reminded me of me and my sis, and also my two daughters. Little sis Ms V was just stumbling along in big sis Ms H's bigger footprints, trying to do everything she did just as soon as she did it. Sooo cute. And gorgeous. Ain't they just so gorgeous?

Please leave a comment for a can to go to the Food Bank!

And scroll down and to the side to see the great new specials at Jane Photo.

41 cans

NOTE: I do not seem to be getting my emails currently, so please do try:

janeeatonhamilton@shaw.ca


December's total for our Cans for Comments Food Bank donation is 41 cans. Congrats, everyone who participated! We are continuing Cans for Comments indefinitely, so please feel free to leave comments, everyone, since Jane Photo is committed to (a tiny portion of) feeding Vancouver's hungry. The more comments you leave, the more cans we'll donate.

Woohoo! Our new website is live, so the next project is upgrading this blog. Check out the snazzy new site at: www.janephoto.ca

There are great new specials just below and more on the bar on the right.

Cool Thing #1 for 2009; help my favourite charity

I am so excited to announce Cool Stuff #1 for 2009!! I will be participating in the National Charity Model Search to select “North America’s Cutest Kid” and to raise funds for charity.

We’re looking for cute children ages 18 months to 14 years old to model for a portrait that will then be entered into the contest.

Models Search Special:
$100 entrance fee, which includes up to a 60 minute model session and one image submitted to the competition. As a thanks for participating, I am also waiving my minimum purchase for these sessions. FYI, all shoots must occur in 2009, so I can't use any of last year's cuties!

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Anyone may vote. Each vote is $1 (US), and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, an organization which I am not only a member of, but for which I serve as one of Vancouver's Area Coordinators. To learn more about NILMDTS you can find their website at www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org.

Grand prize national winner will be determined from the 50 city finalists. Vancouver is participating in the Seattle finals. Winners selected by photography and modeling industry experts.

If your child is selected the national winner, you’ll receive many prizes, including a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera. How cool is that? And boy, do I know some cute kids who could seriously be America’s Cutest, from right here in Vancouver! Super cool prizes here!

If you’re interested in entering your child(ren), please email the studio at info@janephoto.ca. Please let all your friends know, too. Shooting has to finish up by March 15. For more information about the contest, go online to www.sandypucmodels.com.

Jane Photo: Vancouver's Newborn Photographer

I have been hammering and dry-walling and nailing my new website, logo, and blog into being...but they're still not ready! I have moved this week's sessions in the hopes that this group of "buildings" that will hold my biz will be done this week. (I may be shooting some newborns. They come on their own schedules.) I realize that in my distraction I have also neglected this poor blog again, so I'm making a post from the mountains of unposted 2008 sessions.

I have several loves in photography, and after newborns (my favourites of all) one of them is definitely photographing 6-9 month olds. This is such a splendid baby age, when the little girl or boy can't crawl away (a plus for we photographers!) but is solidly sitting. They are so jolly at this age, so full of the possibilities of their lives. I just love them to pieces.

Here is baby M from the fall. Isn't she too adorable?

And just as an aside: we finally dug our second vehicle out of the snow today, but now we are in the midst of our 8000th blizzard so far this winter, and the car is buried anew. Good gravy. I am getting seriously sick of snow.

Congrats to our Giving is Awesome Winner, Brenda

I'm late posting this today, but I wanted to let everyone know that Jane Photo has now gone through all the nominations for our Giving is Awesome holiday gift.

I want to mention how inspired I am by all the nominators...I love that you spent your holidays thinking about your friends and how you might be able to help them. Thank you, sincerely.

The winner is Brenda, mom to four kiddos. The clincher for me was that Brenda's little girls recently donated their hair to help make wigs for cancer victims. That's pretty impressive.

Vivienne, who nominated this family, also receives a session and a complimentary 8x10 for taking the time out of her busy holiday schedule to think of them. Thanks, Vivienne. They are so lucky to have you in their lives.

Cheers, everyone! I will be counting up the comments on the blog, too, and taking a few bags of groceries to the fire hall where they collect Food Bank donations.

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.

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! ;-)

The loveliest baby in Vancouver, I swear

Baby H came in to see Jane Photo last week with her loving mama and I wanted to share a few of her images with everyone.

Oh my goodness, what a sweetie. She just charmed me. It's not very often one can cajole a 7-month-old into a series of strange hats without complaint, but H was a little trooper no matter what we asked her to wear. Course we got loads of perfectly ordinary photos too, but the hats are a definite favourite of mine. Her parents just loved her images, and I do too. Thanks, L family, for choosing Jane Photo, and please bring your little cutie back to see me again. H is just a doll.

The wife and I grabbed a few moments yesterday in all the hubbub of a busy client season to take some portraits of each other. Sooo long overdue; I haven't had any portraits of me made for years (although some nice ones were captured by Janet Rerecich at our daughter's wedding this summer), and I love taking photos of Joy. She is so adorable. The trees were gorgeous. I think I can safely say that we've never seen such an eastern fall in Vancouver. The weather has been stunning all September and now all October, and there haven't been any of our usual wind storms to tear the leaves from the trees before they change colour. It's really red and yellow and even orange. We had fun playing in the leaves during our "fall in an hour" drive. I really hated being on the receiving end of the photographs, though...which is a good lesson to have every once in a while as I subject my clients to it nearly every day. We ended up at MountainView Cemetery where, on Saturday, they held the first Vancouver version of Day of the Dead. Such a great Mexican festival, and every year I long to go back to photograph its wonders and sorrows. Here is my tiny piece of it from yesterday. We lit incense for our moms and said a word for all our lost friends and family members.

The photos of me were taken by Joy Masuhara, as was the photograph of the closeup of the tree in the composite. She's great behind a camera, isn't she?

Okanagan Wine Festival

Such a sweet little getaway Joy and I had last weekend. It was great to leave the city, and great to be around all that nature. We stayed at the Summerland Lakeside Resort, where the suites were unexpectedly beautiful and sooo comfy--just right for curling up with a special squeeze and a book. I loved all the vineyards, and kept snapping pix to get just the right ones--who could go wrong at such wineries as Dirty Laundry and Therapy? I didn't drink, because I don't like to, and this has its benefits, of course, as I was the easy designate for driving, for instance, and had no hangovers. But I wish Joy had had someone to tipple with...but co-tippler or no, she was happy to play, and we had a delightful time together. She was very impressed with the quality of the wines, btw, and came home with 12 bottles--and oh yeah, I'm pretty sure she saw the Ogopogo.

And there are some very very lucky newborns upcoming. In Ollala (oh la la!) I bought the coolest dough pan which I'm itching to use for baby pix.

Evangeline Grace

On the subject of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and parents who will be having a rough time this Thanksgiving, I wanted so much to share these images captured just last week of tiny, adorable Evangeline Grace for her grieving parents, S and R. She arrived much, much too early, at 20 weeks, suffering from Trisomy 18. There is so, so much love evident in these photographs. Her sorrowing parents just sent me this email:

I meant to e-mail you and let you know that we received the dvd. The photos are absolutely beautiful! It was such a relief to receive them because the photos we took with our own camera in the hospital are very dark and it is very difficult to make out Evangeline in them. When we saw the photos you took it brought such relief to me that I will be able to see her forever now. The NILMDTS organization and you are such a godsend. I don't think most people realize how important it is to capture these special "angel babies' on film for the parents to be able to look upon them and spend special moments thinking about their babies. We are forever grateful to you and the NILMDTS organization for making our situation just a little bit easier. My husband I are were commenting earlier how it takes a really special and caring person to do what you do and to be so kind with a warm heart and warm words; we can never thank you enough. You are a true inspiration. ...We would love to share with others the photos of Evangeline.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

S and R

Please, as always, feel free to leave a comment below about this or any other blog entry.