image of me
Hey there!
I’m Janine, a solo photographer based in Davison, MI. I grew up as a military brat, traveling all over the place, both here in the US and in Europe. I've been living in Michigan since high school, which is where I met my husband, and together we have two grown daughters forging their own paths in life. These days, the only "kid" in the house is my Chihuahua, Hansel, and he definitely knows he's the baby!
I started learning photography as a child through my own natural curiosity and hands-on practice with rolls of film alongside my dad who often had his camera with him. We spent a lot of time walking trails and observing nature. I moved on to digital when my kids were young, and later strengthened my skills through coursework at NYIP and Cornell University’s Professional Development Program. What I’ve learned most along the way is that I have a deep-seated desire to create images that aren’t always “on trend” and embrace the imperfect - I like a mix of honest and simple, intentionally authentic, with a touch of creativity. I want my clients to look at their pictures and feel good about them today, tomorrow, and decades from now. I like to meet my clients where they are at in lives and celebrate them for exactly who are.
I’m Janine, a solo photographer based in Davison, MI. I grew up as a military brat, traveling all over the place, both here in the US and in Europe. I've been living in Michigan since high school, which is where I met my husband, and together we have two grown daughters forging their own paths in life. These days, the only "kid" in the house is my Chihuahua, Hansel, and he definitely knows he's the baby!
I started learning photography as a child through my own natural curiosity and hands-on practice with rolls of film alongside my dad who often had his camera with him. We spent a lot of time walking trails and observing nature. I moved on to digital when my kids were young, and later strengthened my skills through coursework at NYIP and Cornell University’s Professional Development Program. What I’ve learned most along the way is that I have a deep-seated desire to create images that aren’t always “on trend” and embrace the imperfect - I like a mix of honest and simple, intentionally authentic, with a touch of creativity. I want my clients to look at their pictures and feel good about them today, tomorrow, and decades from now. I like to meet my clients where they are at in lives and celebrate them for exactly who are.
My two passions in photography are portraiture and nature/details and I love any opportunity where I can combine the two.
Within portraiture preference is using natural light, simple poses, and a mostly candid shooting style to bring out the wonderful characteristics of each person I have the absolute privilege of photographing. I do also really like to have fun and get creative with films, lens filters, and ambient lights to produce unique photographs in an analog sort of way. The most important thing is that I want us to have fun while we're creating.
Within portraiture preference is using natural light, simple poses, and a mostly candid shooting style to bring out the wonderful characteristics of each person I have the absolute privilege of photographing. I do also really like to have fun and get creative with films, lens filters, and ambient lights to produce unique photographs in an analog sort of way. The most important thing is that I want us to have fun while we're creating.
Outside of portraiture, I am most inspired by nature’s details - the organic colors and forms are truly amazing and the tinier the detail, the more fascinating it is to me. I’m often found walking in natural settings searching for captivating subjects while listening to the birds sing and the critters rustling through the foliage. I also love documenting the unique features and elements of small towns and vibrant cities when I travel. Beauty can be found everywhere and my ultimate dream is to be able to travel the world and document the natural beauty of our surroundings, as well as our fellow humans celebrating their various cultures and customs.
Some words that have resonated and inspired me over the years:
"Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." ~Elliott Erwitt
...And these simple words by Jean Luc Godard: "Photography is truth."
"Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." ~Elliott Erwitt
...And these simple words by Jean Luc Godard: "Photography is truth."
My take on these two thoughts is that I will wait for the perfect moment to unfold as I observe the scene and maybe give a gentle prompt before I press the shutter button, allowing everything to develop on its own without me forcing it - I truly believe in authenticity, instead of manufactured moments. If I AM creating an image with effects, I do it all at the time of capture instead of heavily manipulating my work digitally later.
Some not so random facts about me:
-I'm a "word nerd" - my current favorite word is facetious but the more obscure the word, the better.
-I love tattoos and tattoo art and have some of my own
-My lucky number is 8
-I have a serious sweet tooth and European candies are my absolute favorite
-Christmas is my favorite holiday: I'm fond of the old-world traditions
-My favorite color is blue
-I can knit and crochet - my go-to projects are hats and scarves
-I drink copious amounts of coffee and tea
-I can't handle scary movies at all
-My favorite flavor of ice cream is black cherry
-I travel as often as I can - learning about different peoples & places is important to me
-If I ever won the lottery, I'd become a global nomad and achieve my life goal of really immersing myself in every region I choose to visit
-I love tattoos and tattoo art and have some of my own
-My lucky number is 8
-I have a serious sweet tooth and European candies are my absolute favorite
-Christmas is my favorite holiday: I'm fond of the old-world traditions
-My favorite color is blue
-I can knit and crochet - my go-to projects are hats and scarves
-I drink copious amounts of coffee and tea
-I can't handle scary movies at all
-My favorite flavor of ice cream is black cherry
-I travel as often as I can - learning about different peoples & places is important to me
-If I ever won the lottery, I'd become a global nomad and achieve my life goal of really immersing myself in every region I choose to visit
image of me
Kind Words
“I can see that you've been thoughtful about how you've worked with your chosen subjects and considered your approach. There is a quiet, contemplative tone to your photos that I think works well to create a sense of wonder and beauty. They feel inviting.” -Lindsey Glover, photographer and facilitator for the School of Continuing Education at Cornell University
