Maine Head Shot Photographer:: Another Round of Photos for The April Cohen Team

2020, right? Haha that’s just how I start all things now that involve me being behind in whatever. So, here we are, December 2020. And after a strange year and shoots that didn’t get to happen and events that were gone from the books and other shoots that got moved to later dates, I ended up having the majority of my 2020 in photo land almost all at once making this mediocre blogger and instagrammer even more behind than I normally am. That’s so 2020!

But, here we are. December and the editing is mostly caught up, the majority of people have their images and others are about to get their print orders and I’m over here looking at my lists and reminding myself to just take it one shoot, and one story at a time. So, let’s say hi to this fabulous group of realtors known as The April Cohen Team!

The April Cohen Team, 2020.

April and I have been meeting on the streets of SoPo for years now, capturing her personality, enthusiasm, and infectious smile, for all things relating to her real estate life. This year her team has grown to be 5 people strong. It’s pretty cool to get to witness these kinds of shifts over the years.

And true to our norm, there was no shortage of laughs and middle of the street shenanigans, along with all the very professional behavior needed to get the job done. I just know I always have fun with her and her team, so it seems right that in the middle of a pandemic we still found ourselves cracking up in the middle of the street and down side alleys. All in the name of getting those images that show the world who they are.

The 2020 April.

We definitely accomplished what we set out to do - capture who they are, make sure it feels like SoPo, and laugh as much as we can. And there will be no mistake going forward what year these photos were taken!

Congrats April and team on your growth and making 2020 one of your best years yet!

Thank you Lee, Jacci, April, Gina, and Megan for being so fun and great to work with. Again. I am so going to your holiday party when we finally get back to doing those kinds of things!

Lee, Jacci, April, Gina, and Megan ready for all the things.

You can them on your social medias @theaprilcohenteam and @soporealtor or listed on The Bean Group website.

From The Archives:: Dava of Portside Real Estate

Dava found me years ago as she was starting a new real estate business known as Portside Real Estate. Since then her company has gown and grown and expanded to have several locations in different zip codes. I have been doing the head shots for her company since they started, and it’s been pretty great to watch from a distance how much her company has grown and her life has shifted. She also remains one of my most decisive family photo clients. Nobody picks their final images as quickly as Dava does!

Whenever I see her, she has a smile and a hug for me, and I think it’s safe to say we are always glad to see each other. I can’t imagine how tough things were when this all started and gears needed to shift, knowing how many people’s livelihoods were relying on her. I know for many the tough part was the uncertainty and not knowing how long things would be shut down (and that is still the hard part even though things have started to shift), but I think for some too much time spent in that worry is not an option. Dig in and find a way. And maybe be grateful for some of the shifts that start to happen. Shifts like more time with your kids and at home. More time to listen and think and come up with solutions. Something a lot of smart, hard working people I know have managed to do. Dava is one of those people.

Dava and her boys in front of the Portland Museum of Art.

Name: Dava Davin

Occupation/Business: Portside Real Estate Group, Founder + CEO

1. What is one notable change in your life since Covid19 has changed how we are able to do things? I unequivocally know that I would not want to be quarantined with anyone else but my handsome, kind-hearted husband, my two smart and funny boys, and the cutest pup in Maine. 

2. What has been most challenging? Figuring out how to make this time the best it can be for the 100ish Portsiders. Sleepless nights of trying to solve the puzzle when the pieces keep getting sucked up by the vacuum. 

3. Have you found any silver linings you care to share? Oh yes, I have been strangely inspired by all of this to be a better leader, to serve more people, and to do my part to be helpful. We don't know what we are capable of until we are knocked down. 

4. Are there any shifts you are hoping to stay in place as we move forward? The less full schedule, having dinner every single night with the ones I love the most. 

5. What are you most looking forward to being able to do again? Hands down, seeing my mom and dad, those two beautiful humans that taught me to follow my dream and take risks, to work hard, and see the beauty around me. 

***

So, thank you Dava for years of photos and for sharing a piece of your story with me for this project! Looking forward to the days when Portsiders are gathering and raising money for another great local organization… whenever that can happen again!

From The Archives:: Victoria, State Legislator

I fell behind in my blog posts for this project and in that time our country has shifted and the news cycle is no longer leading off with corona virus related information. I have been trying to absorb, listen, understand, and think about what work I need to do. So, as I post these blog posts in an effort to catch up and share people’s stories during this time, I have my head and heart on those articles I still need to read and the book I just got about race in America. I am trying to learn that balance of finishing the work in front of me and working on growing and being better.

So, remembering this day with Victoria and her family helps. We took these photos for her campaign. We were in the process of scheduling her next round of campaign photos when our lives shifted and our town issued stay at home orders. So, like all my sessions that were in the calendar this Spring, this one got postponed until the time allows.

I’m looking forward to seeing them all in real time again, but also trying to be patient so we do that when the time is right and we can all be around each other safely and comfortably. For now, and as I catch up on this From The Archives project, enjoy Victoria’s story she so generously shared with me several weeks ago. A lot has changed and shifted since then, but her words still feel very fitting for now as well…

This family ❤️

Victoria Morales.

State Legislator.

1. What is one notable change in your life since Covid19 has changed how we are able to do things? My dad had a stroke during the pandemic.  Not being able to visit the hospital, worried he was scared, confused and alone, and not knowing how he was was until we got him home was terrifying. 

2. What has been most challenging?  So many things Taking care of my dad after his stroke, supporting my children through online learning, working from home in a small house with everyone home, helping my constituents navigate unemployment issues and many concerns and fears related to Covid-19. The two most important things that have been last on my priority list and shouldn’t be are spending quality time with my partner and with myself.  Deep self care during this time is absolutely necessary to strengthen our foundation of resilience. 

3. Have you found any silver linings you care to share?  My children are bonding in new ways, everything seems to be in the blooming process, the garden is growing, and the birds are singing in harmony.  And, as a policy maker, it is becoming very clear that people have to come first, particularly when it comes to essential foundational needs such as safe affordable housing, food, quality education, and health care. 

4. Are there any shifts you are hoping to stay in place as we move forward? Less car travel. 

5. What are you most looking forward to being able to do again? Go outdoors on hikes and to the beach with friends and family

6. Anything else you want to share..?  I have been thinking about grief a lot lately, about the loss of our lives as they were, both generally and through specific tragedies, and I keep coming back to the word transformation, and the idea that through this crisis we will be presented with many opportunities to create and accept change for the better. 

Thank you Victoria for always encouraging people to want and work for better! I’m ready!

From The Archives:: Rachel

Next up in the From the Archives project is Rachel. I photographed their wedding and have done a few shoots for her and her husband, Chris, for their entrepreneurial endeavors. Lucky us, we got their recent round of photos done this winter, before our lives shifted so drastically. We slid down ice trails in the woods by their house, and laughed and captured various bits of each of their personalities for various marketing needs. This image remains one of my favorites from that day.

Name: Rachel Horton White

Occupation/Company: Soulful Work Intuitive Consulting, Founder/Owner

What has changed for you since this all began? At the beginning, the only thing was switching to virtual client sessions and my children being at home for me to homeschool, along with my mother's help. However, since then, my grandfather got the virus, and we decided to move to a new house, which we are currently hunting for. 

What has been the hardest part? The past 2 weeks have been some of the hardest in my life. The hardest parts are conflicts with a few family members and my sadness at the vast amount of disinformation and fear being spread and absorbed. The stress of worrying about my grandfather's health and now looking to move has been quite overwhelming. 

And what, if anything, has surfaced as a bit of a silver lining during this time for you? My children are enjoying exploring in nature and doing hands-on projects. We have had nice connections with some neighbors and seen more people out in the streets and families together than ever. My business and the work I do with spiritual seekers and clients who I feel a deep connection with has brought me great joy. I have been blessed to have people seeking out intuitive readings with me from around the world

Are there any shifts you are hoping stay in place as we move forward?  I like the simplicity of cooking at home and finding family activities to do here. Our society was consumerism in overdrive and it imploded. I realize now that we really don't need to go out to eat or to entertainment to enjoy ourselves.

What are you most looking forward to being able to do again? I am looking forward to going back out into the world and seeing people in person as opposed to just on the computer. I can't wait to hang out with friends again and have cookouts and potlucks! 

Thank you, Rachel, for trusting me to capture you and for sharing a bit of your story during this time!

From The Archives: Maureen of Locations Real Estate

Through my time photographing realtors and families, I have been lucky enough to work with Moe a handful of times. She always says things that get me laughing, and is a (somewhat) willing model in times of needing to figure out where the best light is. She also has a gift for being honest and saying what she means. Something I very much appreciate. If she doesn’t like a photo of her or one of her colleagues, I know to keep trying!

So, this winter we were working on getting a location and photographing 25 people at her company. We were able to use The Press Hotel in Portland, spread the shoots out over a few mornings, and then practically as we were taking the last few photos things started to shift quickly and Covid was here and regular life of being in groups inside restaurants and galleries and various other small rooms with nice light was over. I feel very fortunate that we were able to get this job done in the time we did. Minor delays turned out to be almost perfect timing. We rushed around and then all of a sudden we felt like we were standing around. But we weren’t really just standing around because we’re small business owners! We were just forced into a phase of uncertainty, perhaps.

So, thank you Moe for always being a fun photo subject. Thank you Locations Real Estate for trusting me with the task of bringing your 2020 website up to your company’s standards. And THANK YOU, Press Hotel for letting us use your beautiful space!

Below are Moe’s words about her experience(s) navigating our new current normal….

Name: Maureen Zemrak (Moe)
Occupation/Business: Owner and Broker, Locations Real Estate Group

1. What is one notable change in your life since Covid19 has changed how we are able to do things?

With my profession I am always on the move and in my car, traveling from place to place. Conducting work and life all in the same place has been a very big change, especially how to separate the two under one roof.

2. What has been most challenging?

Staying home was hard for me at first. Being home feels like you have more hats to wear and tasks throughout the day, which made keeping a daily schedule hard to adhere to at the beginning. In addition to the usual professional responsibilities I have as a real estate broker and company owner, I am now an elementary school teacher for my three children, full-time chef, dishwasher (so many dishes!), and event planner. For my family, a large challenge has been getting our kids to understand why we cannot go to the fun birthday parties, or to the movies. We can't spend time with friends and family, and that we have to talk to them and see them in different ways right now.

3. Have you found any silver linings you care to share?

Family time. We're spending our time together differently and making really fun memories - creating time capsules, having pedicure nights, game nights, movie nights, face painting, crafts, long days of playing outside - taking our time and not being rushed to get anywhere! Crossing a few long-time house projects off the list has been amazing too. 

4. Are there any shifts you are hoping to stay in place as we move forward?

I have really been impressed with the creativity of our local businesses. I hope that a lot of these new approaches to business stay and continue to flourish, as they are proving to be incredibly popular and supported by fellow Mainers. Opening up so many cool new doors for possibilities!

5. What are you most looking forward to being able to do again? 

My children being able to socialize and play with others. I miss going out to eat, grabbing a coffee out, booking social events, and meeting up with friends and family. 

6. Anything else you want to share..?

I hope that everyone out there is feeling safe. While this has been an emotional, mental and financial time of stress, there has also been an abundance of incredibly thoughtful and generous acts by those in our communities and neighborhoods - I hope folks keep smiling and staying strong. Slow and steady wins the race. 

From The Archives:: Michelle

Weeks ago I reached out to my friend Michelle to get her perspective. I knew her salon was in the early stages of figuring out how to open back up. Since she shared these words with me, they have re-opened. I’m sure there is more I can add to her story at this point, but this is what happens when I don’t blog at the same time as I share the images on Instagram! (* note to self).

Anyway, it’s Thursday so apparently that is blog catch up day and I’m here to share more stories of people’s now with a photo of them from my archives. A photo project I can do in my yoga pants and favorite red sweatshirt?! YES, I’ll do that thankyouverymuch.

One of my faves from a session with Michelle on a very cold day.

Michelle King || Hairdresser/ Co-owner Studio 119

1. What is one notable change in your life since Covid19 has changed how we are able to do things?

On March 19th my business partner and I made the very difficult decision to close before a mandate was put into place, we made this decision to keep ourselves and our clients safe. My day to day life has changed incredibly staying home now with my two young daughters who would normally be in daycare and school. 

2. What has been most challenging?

Staying present with my daughters has been my biggest challenge, in the stress of the situation it is easy to withdrawn myself. I had the opportunity to stay home for a few years when my girls were infants and while I was thankful to have this opportunity I have always admired stay at home moms, it was not easy for me, this experience has reaffirmed my admiration for teachers and daycare providers! 

3. Have you found any silver linings you care to share?

I have enjoyed the slow down and have tried really hard to appreciate small moments; my older daughter for instance has her adult two front teeth growing in, I’m sure I would have noticed, but within isolation we have watched every fraction of an inch. 

4. Are there any shifts you are hoping to stay in place as we move forward?

I will be scheduling clients very differently, in larger blocks of time with no double booking. I’m actually looking forward to a slower schedule that will allow me to not only ensure the cleanliness of the space but also to focus and be more present with each of my clients. 

5. What are you most looking forward to being able to do again?

I am eager to be working freely again, I miss my clients and the relationships I share with them, it will be hard to return to the salon with heavy restrictions but it will be necessary to keep everyone safe. 

**

Thanks Michelle, for sharing a piece of your story! I am looking forward to the days when we can all be in the salon again at the same time, sharing stories, and laughing our heads off. I for one know that a visit to your salon has a way of curing whatever might be ailing me, so those days will be welcome again when the time is right!

For now, safety precautions are the hot new trend xo.

From The Archives:: Edie From Locations Real Estate

Edie Fontaine is the co-owner of Locations Real Estate in Falmouth, Maine. My photo life has brought me to her several times over the past few years. Each time I hang out with her and her team there is a lot of laughter. So, of course I had to reach out to her and include them in my current photo project.

Mo & Edie, Portland City Hall.

Even though we just did another round of photos for their company right before everything went crazy, I am sharing this one from the archives because it remains one of my favorites of her and her business partner/friend, Maureen Zemrak. And I know this image is also hanging in Edie’s house, so that makes this photo matter even more to me. If you take the time to print, frame, and display a photo then it’s an image that makes you feel something. It’s a moment that matters. And that’s worth sharing.

So, thank you Edie for making me laugh. And for being open and honest as we navigate this strange new normal we are all in in…

Edie Fontaine, Broker/co-owner of Locations Real Estate Group

“I think the most notable change is I have been forced to slow way down.  I really haven't taken what anyone would consider a vacation in about 20 years.  Ive noticed that I'm LIVING in my home now as opposed to home being a landing spot in between appointments.  I discovered I really like my house!

The most challenging thing so far is keeping my "worst case scenario" personality in check!   I really can't think about this global pandemic, shutdown, toilet paper emergency too deeply or I will become full on agoraphobic.  Right now the thought of going into Hannaford is like dipping my toe in a rolling pot of nuclear waste.

Silver linings - time with my youngest son, Taemin.  One of the finest 12 year old boys you could ever hope to know.  We are reading together, talking about life and reconnecting in a way that I would never have been afforded without this crisis.

I'd love to stay as connected to home and family as I am now.  I'm not sure that life lines up that way, we tend to lean way into the familiar.  What has been familiar, is working at a breakneck pace.

I'm looking forward to the time when I can safely injury myself and go to the hospital without leaving with a COVID-19 parting gift!!!  Slightly accident prone, I am.

I'd like to share that I officially understand now what a shit show this world is.  I discovered you can't trust "grown ups".  I understand too that we are capable of astounding things, like sheltering in place, wearing masks, and the willingness to do this with relative ease because if not we can hurt people.  That's encouraging to me.  Lastly, I find myself feeling like getting back to normal may not be what we should be hoping for.  I'm not sure "normal" was all that worthy of our affection.”

You can find Locations Real Estate (and their recent new photos!) here

From The Archives * Gab of Mad Gab's

We are in strange times. And it seems like every day is a new adventure, a new challenge, a different step in what we can and can’t do. I am in the boat that we have both an obligation and an opportunity to be better citizens right now. This is our chance to slow down down and also step up. Listen to the experts, maintain social distance, find new ways of connecting and new ways of living our day to day.

But, no joke - I know that’s not easy!

So, I’m here with a new photo project. A dip into my archives and a reach into people’s current lives to see how they are doing, coping, adjusting, and if there are things they hope stick around as we try to start to move forward. The community of people my camera and I have spent time with are proving to be extra awesome on the human scale, so I am going to share their stories. Or small chunks of them.

If a pandemic teaches us anything, it may be who we can rely on when things get weird. The people who are trying to work and be good humans and do the right thing are the ones I want in my corner on any given day.

First up, Gab! Owner of Mad Gab’s and big time hugger, high energy problem solver, and feeder of all the people who enter her world….

Gabrielle Melchionda, owner of Mad Gab’s Inc.

Name: Gabrielle Melchionda
Occupation/Business: Mad Gab’s

1. What is one notable change in your life since Covid19 has changed how we are able to do things?  Having my crew work remotely or not at all. It’s very lonely and quiet, and on some days I feel like I did in my 20’s when I was a one-woman-show.  (except I’m almost 50 now, so I get tired way easier). I went from being on high-alert-disaster-recovery focused, to high anxiety, to calmer, focused, and determined. 

2. What has been most challenging? Not being able to hug people I love, and feed them. 

3. Have you found any silver linings you care to share? Yes! So many!  I have found a space for gratitude that feels significant. I’m appreciate inside, and quiet, despite my extrovert nature, I have re-discovered puzzles, and I’m cranking on my book! Also, like many small business owners, I feel like we’re all in this together. Most of the other disasters we’ve survived were ours alone, but in this moment there is solace in knowing we are all going to work through this together and somehow we will figure it out. 

4. Are there any shifts you are hoping to stay in place as we move forward? I am excited to continue my local farm delivery service, and morning self care ritual. 

5. What are you most looking forward to being able to do again?  I’m excited to share space, have dinner parties, and hug. (see #2)

6. Anything else you want to share..?  I want to share this: I believe that in spite of all the horrors and realities of what we’re going through, this is an involuntary pause that we can look at as possibility and promise, and I believe we will find our way. If we embrace what we are given, find gratitude and kindness, we will get through this, and perhaps, become better versions of ourselves.

Having been to Gab’s place for dinner, I can say without hesitation that the world is a better place when you can meet in your friend’s kitchen and leave with a full belly and full heart.

Thank You, Gab for all you do and share. I’m honored to have you kick off this project! And looking forward to gathering around a table with you over eats and ‘all things welcome’ conversations.

xo ~ jb

You can follow along with this project on Instagram @judybeedlephotography :)

From My Archives I Got An Idea

I have a favorites folder on my hard drive. Usually I have one for every year. Favorites in the form of photos. I have found myself scrolling through the favorites folder more than once since we have been in this holding pattern/ new life adjustment time of not knowing when we can work like we used to or what changes may lie ahead. I look through and at first feel happy. There is a lot of joy, people laughing, celebrating, hugging, smiling. I see patterns in my work, and I feel good about some of these moments I have captured.

Portland Pride Parade, 2019.

Then I also have a mild sadness of wondering what the future holds for these kinds of life events my camera and l love to capture. Pride parades, birthday parties, theater events, weddings, sporting events, concerts, fundraisers, collaboration projects, family reunions….

I try not to think about it too much, to be honest. But that’s how I keep my head somewhat above water as we navigate the ever changing somewhat new normal of the week.

Friends in a pool.

So, I decided I needed to pull from these archives and tell some stories. Photos from before, coupled with stories of now. A very safe and wicked socially distant way to do some sort of photo project right now. And hopefully a way for us to connect while we can’t hang out.

I went through the favorites folder(s) and reached out to some humans I know and have good photos of, then asked them a series of questions. One by one, they responded. So the first chunk of this project is gearing up and getting ready to happen!

Please join me as I start a photo project I’m calling From The Archives * a very distanced photo project. I will share here at times and on instagram all the time. Feel free to follow along - you can find me @judybeedlephotography or click on the instagram logo here on my website. Perhaps some of you will see some familiar faces….

As people I have photographed share their stories with me, I find myself feeling extremely grateful for the people I get to work, share my community, and hang out with. So maybe that’s my silver lining.

Can’t wait to celebrate life stuff with people again. But I will wait because we need to.

{Maine Lifestyle Photographer}: Celebrating Day 21 of 21

Well. Here it is. Day 21. Day 21 of a challenge to blog for 21 days. Yikes/Wow/Yipppeeee!

Celebrate the things in life. Like getting your license. Or blogging for 21 days.

Real Talk: that wasn't easy. I’m trying to think about the pros and cons of this challenge. But it’s probably simple: Cons were 1) it was a lot of work, 2) there were so many days where I simply didn’t want to or had no idea what to blog about, and 3) for me it’s a CON when I start to feel like it’s too much MEmeMe HI look at ME. I’m a little weird about that.

But the PROS of course were I made the time, buckled in, created content, and I DID IT. Now there is actually more work out there and not just on hard drives. More stories shared. And for me, it’s worth it to get to share things that aren’t always about professional work.

Nephew.

Neighbors.

I have times when what I am photographing for people is not my story to tell, not really my thing to share first.. Head Shots for professionals starting a new job or rebuilding a brand (not my story to share before they do!), Images for an organization working on their website and needing to put the imagery out to the world when they are ready (so get the images for them, and let them share when things are ready for the world to know about them), and lately some work that is sensitive because it involves humans trying to get established after many hard months of uncertainty. So many things I don’t share on the blog, but maybe can eventually when the timing is right and whatever dust needs to settle does.

Dinner with friends/ celebrating birthdays.

But I liked sharing little snippets of life and small moments in photos. I’d like to think I will continue to feel free to do that. I’m also hoping that from now on when the calendar says BLOG, I will find the time to do it. If I’m smart, I’ll also be better about prepping for blog posts ahead of time. A thing that as a photographer should be part of our workflow. Being human is a funny tale in being imperfect. And I can tell you many, many tales!

Sawyer wants to show me his fort upstairs.

Because in addition to sharing photo jobs, and the ongoing 365 project, there are thousands of life moments that may not get seen because they weren’t a thing for pay or they didn’t make the cut for a single photo on a certain day. But life unfolds in front of my camera on a daily basis (even if some of those days are WAAAAY less exciting than others). There is joy and laughter and uncertainty and fatigue and victory and good food and self consciousness and exploding confidence and quiet moments of thinking to capture and possibly share. It doesn’t always have to be for pay. It can be simply to document, and maybe to spread happiness and a little humanity.

Ice cream on a cold day with Molly and Kristina.

I have a project I am currently really proud to be part of. But I can’t share until they do. I want to promise to do so when the time is right. Because capturing people who love their people and love what they do is definitely a thing we could all use more of.

After School time with the niece and my mom.

There is a belief that people photograph what they are most afraid of losing. I photograph humanity. Even if it’s on a small scale of my family/neighborhood/community/friends/local business owners and non profit organizations. Maybe this challenge helped me see that a little clearer.

So my day 21 features a few photos that didn’t make the cut this year in the world of 365 photo project 2019, but that I want to be seen and shared. Little slices of life, that seem like not much at the time. But when seen with others, it’s a good reminder that these little human moments and exchangers are what end up being full of all the good.

And I’m up for that.

Pool buddy.

{Maine Portrait Photographer}: Lifestyle Session for a Writer

I recently had the honor of spending time with Stephanie and photographing her for a second time. I photographed her a few years ago, then it was time for a new website and a shift in the look for her imagery so she contacted me again.

Stephanie Cotsirilos, writer | Portland, Maine.

If I had my way she would need to re-do her website every year because I like hanging out with her, and I like listening to her ideas and figuring out together how to get the images that will work for this next step in her life. Her background in theater, law, consulting, and writing make her a person of many talents and multiple experiences. And I love being around that.

She took her life and her talents from NYC to Maine, and now lives, creates, and writes here. This time we used her home in Portland with its amazing light and pockets of color to showcase her and varying looks depending on what she needs for different forums and marketing pieces. You can see more at her new site here

So, thank you once again, Stephanie for trusting me to capture who you are, and for the lively conversation while we make it all come together!