A few fave pics I took at North Jersey Pride Fest in June! Thank you @prideinnj for the opportunity 🌈 It’s a beautiful thing to be surrounded by joy, acceptance, and the celebration of love in all forms. One of my favorite gigs of the year! (Maplewood, NJ) https://www.northjerseypride.org/pride2024
A huge honor, and very moving, to photograph families @isaiahhouseeastorange this spring. 💗 What these families have experienced throughout their lives…most of us will never know. I hope these images remind them just how loved they are. It means so much to be a small part of their lives, and I couldn’t have done it without my dear friend and photographer Lisa Rayman Goldfarb Photography. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
On Feb 16 I had the honor of participating in The Co-Co’s panel, “WHAT’s OUT and WHAT’s IN for 2024”
Two of my points really resonated with the audience:
OUT: Hustling to Exhaustion | IN: Valuing Sleep and Rest
Taking a page from Jamie’s book on rest, we recognized the crucial role of rest and sleep as foundational pillars for long-term success and wellness.
OUT: Undervaluing Work & Taking on Misaligned Work | IN: Raising Prices & Saying No Swiftly
Affirming Jamie's advocacy for fair compensation, we recognized the dual importance of demanding what we're worth and embracing the power of 'no.' This dual approach ensures we commit only to work that meets our value standards and aligns with our core values and goals.
BEYOND excited about my new little slice of heaven - our bedroom! 🛌
This wallpaper is feminine, bold, and makes us happy!
Thanks to Evan Fleischer @wellhungwallcoverings for the paper install! Tell him I sent you and get 15% off his services in Jan and Feb 2024.
Room designed by moi 💁🏻♀️
Photos by @livelovelens 📸
Wall paper @lust.home 🌼
Mirror: Amazon
Bed: Wayfair
Pillows and bedding: mix of Amazon, Target, HomeGoods, etc.
(need to get some good shams/maybe more pillows, and might paint the trim and other walls!)
IN LOVE 🛌
Better later than never??! 🥳 Winter break ideas in and around the area - some free, most not. Have you tried any of these? Comment with what I missed 🎄🎉
📍 Local, Free:
Turtle Back zoo- holiday lights
Hike the fairy trail, South Mountain Res
Hike Hemlock falls after the rain, South Mountain Res
Walk/scoot the west orange reservoir loop
Check out THE Christmas house in Union or the big display in Livingston
Dickens Village in Maplewood
@officialturtlebackzoo @maplewoodvillagenj @southmountainconservancy
📍 Local, Not free:
Ice skating, west orange
Dingers batting cages
Movies
Local show— MAYO PAC, SOPAC, or Paper Mill
@westorangeinfo @dingers_nj @cinemalabtheatres @sopacnow @papermillplayhouse @mayopac
🎟️ NJ, ticketed:
American Dream: ice skate, indoor water park, amusement park, big snow ski park
Trampoline park - Sky Zone
Mountain Creek— made snow
Gravity vault indoor rock climbing
Bowling
Roller skating
Six flags - holiday in the park
Liberty Science Center - holiday train ride
Yestercades arcade
Holiday pop ups - Miracle Bar & restaurant
Grounds for Sculpture lights
Sojo Spa (no kids)
@americandream @skyzone @mountaincreek @gravityvaultmontclair @libertysciencecenter @miracleonbloomfield @groundsforsculpture @sojospaclub @yestercades
🏙️ NYC, free:
Department store windows
Central Park
Bryant Park Winter village
Union Square holiday market
Rockefeller Center tree
Little island
Brooklyn Bridge Park
The Highline
🎟️ NYC, Ticketed stuff:
Pier 17 - Santa’s Wonderland
Top of the Rock - The beam
Museum of Ice Cream
Brooklyn bridge park - ice skating (new)
The Edge
The Nutcracker, A Christmas Spectacular, Broadway tix
The Balloon museum
What did I miss?? #livelovemaplewood #winterbreakideas
CONGRATS to 2023 MAPSOSCARY Winners!!
13 Yale Street and 211 Jacoby Street, Maplewood!!
20 Final Houses were on the #MAPSOSCARY Google map!!
Thank you to our 2023 sponsors, SOPAC and Estrella Consulting Group!
Local news/shout outs on #MAPSOSCARY:
Read The Village Green article
Listen to the SOMAPSO podcast
The SOMA Fox Running Group takes the #MAPSOSCARY tour
The #MAPSOSCARY winners received $100 and tickets to a SOPAC show of their choice.
211 Jacoby Street Maplewood!!! MAPSOSCARY WINNER #1
13 Yale Street Maplewood!!! MAPSOSCARY Winner #2
Where I live in Maplewood, NJ, school ends pretty late!! Our district doesn’t technically finish till Monday June 26th for a half-day (*counts on one hand how many students will show up*). I had the amazing opportunity to capture a few graduates this year, and wanted to share this sassy sparkly senior who blew me away! Congrats to all the graduates! As I wrote on the gram … Go out there and find what makes you happy and lights your soul on fire - then shine your light on this world ✨🎓
What a treat!! I had the honor of photographing the North Jersey Pride Fest on June 11th - an all day celebration in Maplewood, NJ with live music, performances, tons of kids activities (including an EPIC foam party!!) food, vendors, and tons of PRIDE. It was an absolute blast. Weather was perfect and there was so much love and joy— and FREE MOM HUGS!!! It was a beautiful day of acceptance, pride, inclusivity and celebrating humans in every way! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ I’ll keep adding more photos and stay in the loop on Instagram too!
Carley Storm Branding Workshop:
Had the coolest experience with five other professional female photographers earlier this spring- we talked all about branding photography…we shared, we laughed, and took each other’s photos at the @headshotbrandbar - @carley.storm.brandingco’s amazing photography studio and event space.
So grateful to meet these amazing women and for Carley Storm who got us together! (OH — and they took my photos and I am THRILLED with the images — working on being brave enough to share them - stay tuned!!)
Enjoy these images of fellow NJ photographers Stephanie Blum, Carley Storm, Lisa Kollberg, Clara Wang, and Lauren Listor
Wow, does it take a village. There’s too much to say about the special family photo day on April 29th but I’ll start with the Isaiah House piece…
A few days before the photos…picking outfits and getting to know the Isaiah House families and staff!
I had the honor of pampering and loving on three very amazing families residing at Isaiah House.
This was made possible by ten Live Love Lens Photography family clients (see below) —and many, MANY helpers! Grateful for the best people: Thank you is not enough: Lisa Rayman Goldfarb Photography , Elana Super Color Fashionistic, Lauren Chapman, Julie Retail Therapy, Kosia Lumie Salon, Murray & Finn, Milk Money Maplewood, City Workshop Mens Supply Co.- beyond thankful!!
Behind-the-scenes: getting pampered and ready for photos!!
I can’t wait to do this all again next year! This endeavor was a huge privilege and I am so grateful for all of the generosity!! With all my heart, thank you for supporting Isaiah House. xox, Jamie
#MAPSOSCARY 2022 is here and more exciting than EVER!
There are more Halloween-decorated houses than years before…MORE spooky, MORE scary, MORE fun! We’re sharing these spooktacular Halloween homes throughout Maplewood and South Orange, NJ.
Here are all the ways you can follow along!
Follow @livelovemaplewood on Instagram. You can also search the #MAPSOSCARY hashtag.
Scroll down for photos of houses we have featured so far (adding new houses daily through Halloween!).
This is a CONTEST. Vote by liking your favorite #MAPSOSCARY photos that have been featured on @livelovemaplewood. We’ll have a 1st and 2nd place winner this year! First place wins $150 and 2nd place wins $75 to put towards next year’s decorations! The #MAPSOSCARY photos with the most votes on @livelovemaplewood win.
Click this #MAPSOSCARY MAP for addresses and photos of each home. Take a ride through Maplewood & South Orange and check them all out!
Don’t forgot to take pics!! Tag your pics on Instagram with #MAPSOSCARY when you visit — we can’t wait to see YOUR photos!
Local promos (free stuff!!) coming soon from Yellow Rose Bakery, Three Daughters Bakery, The Order, and Roman Gourmet if you show them a pic you posted of #MAPSOSCARY!!
Thank you to our partners and sponsors for their spooky support:
It was an enormous honor to photograph moms and little ones last weekend! ⚡️💓
Live Love Lens Photography was able to make a donation of $1,000 to Isaiah House in honor of strong mothers everywhere...and that does not include the in-kind donations YOU funded (photos, clothes, glam squad!!). THANK YOU!!
*graphics sourced from restaurants’ websites and social media
Coda outdoor tent
The Fox and Falcon outdoor section (part of it)
Luna Stella outdoor area
Miti Miti outdoor tent
Pickett’s Village Bar outdoor section
St James Gate outdoor area
Bloom outdoor area
Bloomfield Steakhouse outdoor area
Fig & Lily garden
Kitchen Step greenhouses
Marcus at NoHu Rooftop
La Pergola garden
Millburn Standard outdoors (not updated to reflect winter set up)
The Stirling Hotel
Good Bottle Refill Shop
”We can help you to stop buying your trash.” These words are central to the mission at the Good Bottle Refill Shop, NJ's FIRST refill shop and zero waste store. This was my second time capturing brand photos for Deanna Heacock's business in Maplewood, NJ, which is also a part of the The General Store Cooperative!
It's totally worth the ride if you live in the area and have not been yet (1875 Springfield Ave). The General Store Coop is like a mini "Chelsea Market" - it even has an amazing coffee shop and bakery! The Good Bottle Refill Shop is brilliant and revolutionary - no wonder a second location in Montclair, NJ is opening early spring 2021!
Want to bring your digital presence to the next level? Contact me about your brand photo shoot today! Check out more #livelovelens brand photos here.
November 7, 2020: Biden Beats Trump
Best. Day. Ever. My community of Maplewood and South Orange, NJ spontaneously celebrated in the street and it was AMAZING. The announcement of Joe Biden + Kamala Harris winning the 2020 presidential election came around 11AM, and by noon hundreds cheered in the street with elation. On a perfect sunny fall day, this celebration lasted for several hours into the night! Kids held “Biden/Harris” signs high out of their sunroofs, families proudly waved American flags out of car windows, Black Lives Matter signs and rainbow flags could be seen at every corner. THIS is my community, I have never been more proud.
This was not just an election for a new Commander in Chief, this was a vote for human rights, Black lives, equality, respect, truth, science, and justice. And a vote for WOMEN. To be a female now, and to have daughters, to watch a woman (of color!) be elected as Vice President…. the emotions are difficult to explain. Such an extraordinary amount of pride and appreciation for this moment. Here’s to love, peace, equality from here on out! Let’s go - we have lots more work to do. #livelovelens #livelovemaplewood
View slideshow below!
I LOVED capturing so many awesome graduates during the month of June: Kindergarten, 5th Grade, 8th Grade, and 12th grade! A bunch of schools were represented, and lots of different opinions and feelings about this most unusual time. Thank you families for trusting me with these memories and milestones!
To inquire about a 2023 graduation session click here.
Not the Duck Race we want but the Duck Race we need.
While Maplewood’s infamous Duck Race is unable to operate “in person”, it WILL still go on.
How? Through a virtual Duck Race on Memorial Day, Monday May 25th.
Watch my chat with James Goodger, Executive Director of the South Mountain YMCA, Maplewood, NJ:
🎉 Visit the Y online now to get your tickets! Sponsor a duck at ANY level that’s right for you, with funds supporting the local economy as well as the Y’s essential programs. Donor family names will be written on ducks!
🎉 Join the Y for a virtual Duck Race on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. The race will be filmed once all ducks are sold and results will be announced on Memorial Day, Monday May 25 — tune in at 11am to South Mountain Y Facebook or YouTube Channel.
🎉 Amazing prizes!! First three ducks to cross the line win a socially distant visit from THE DUCK MASCOT. Top 10 ducks get to schedule a ‘Duck Zoom Bomb’ appearance (my personal favorite!!). And, EVERYONE who picks a duck will get an invite to the ‘Duck hunt’ where you’ll search for your duck and take home as part of our local history!
🎉 Where do the funds go? “Local businesses in Maplewood + South Orange have supported the Duck Race with sponsorships and race prizes for over 20 years, and now it’s our turn to give back to them. This year the Y will commit 25% of Duck Race proceeds to SOMA small businesses,” said James Goodger, District Executive Director of the South Mountain YMCA. 25% of proceeds to be donated to Maplewood Village Alliance, Springfield Avenue Alliance and the South Orange Village Center Alliance.
Chatting with James Goodger, ED of the South Mountain Y, at “Duck Headquarters” in Maplewood, NJ
Meet The Kerner family, organizers of SOMA Kids Feed Kids! Leslie, John, Joey (11), and Ben (9) Kerner are incredible role models in their community! SOMA Kids Feed Kids, based in South Orange NJ, is fighting food insecurity while teaching kids about community service. Over 60+ families help to provide shelf stable food to kids whose families are facing hunger, in partnership with Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair, NJ and the South Orange/Maplewood School District.
The Kerner Family, April, 2020, South Orange, NJ
Join the Facebook group.
Follow on Instagram.
Donate here to support this important cause.
Learn more about Toni’s Kitchen here.
Email somakidsfeedkids@gmail.com to get involved.
SOMA INTUBATION BOX PROJECT
The people of Maplewood + South Orange, NJ continue to make an incredible difference!
From the SOMA Intubation Box Project’s Facebook post on May 2, “Please email us with any doctor, nurse, or hospital contacts who may be able to help us place boxes where they needed. We have been so grateful for donations which have covered $6000 worth of acrylic. Noah continues to build and we’re doing outreach and scheduling. We have many friends and volunteers helping and we thank you all!! If you are able to donate or volunteering to drive boxes to hospitals please email me directly: lydia@lydiajohnsondance.org”
So what is an intubation box and why are they being made?
I got to talk with Lydia Johnson and Noah Brauner, who started the SOMA Intubation Box Project about one month ago (from South Orange). Please watch this video to learn more about their amazing efforts in providing protection to our healthcare heroes.
Watch the video —>
More images of the intubation boxes and deserving hospital workers who have received them!
