Alchemy in Action

Alchemy

The practice of fundamentally changing substances. Transformation heavily informed by creation. And magic.

In February, I sent you an email that told you my word of the year was Alchemy. And then my newsletter went dark, and you haven’t heard from me since! So I’m reaching out during this veil-is-thin magical time of the year to say:

Alchemy in action is achievable! And so much magic and manifestation has occurred for me personally and professionally this year.

Since I sent that email in February:

I bought a house! In May, Charlie and I relocated to a charming home in South Portland. We have the best neighbors two girls could ask for. (Our backyard is a cemetery, and yes, that absolutely WAS a selling point.)

• We welcomed three furry friends into our new home! Two kittens - Pigeon and Sparrow - and a puppy named Cricket that has become the resident studio mascot. (He’s hypoallergenic and a total love.)

• We got vaccinated and were able to safely visit and travel and reconnect with friends and family! (Yay, science!)

• I moved about 5 tons of dirt and planted alllll the things in my backyard. (My happy place!)

• The studio got a makeover! I painted the back wall a deep teal green, added a vintage mantle piece in the darkest of woods, a drape-yourself-over-me velvet blue couch, and brought in lots of fantastic props. (Mirrors and more mirrors! Brass candlesticks! A wall of vintage gold frames that I’ve been thinking about installing for years!)

• I got really clear about what I wanted to do - intimate, dreamy, portraits - and let go of some sessions that no longer satisfied my inner muse. (Goodbye, family sessions. Hello, all the boudoir and personal branding!)

• I got an e-mail from a photographer who recently relocated to New England, and the wheels started turning about professional possibilities. (Scroll down to say hi to Evie Hansford, the new Partner in Portraiture at JDP!)

• And I practiced so much gratitude for the ways that my life is unfolding before me - and for this business that helps make it all possible.

I’ll fill you in on the professional shifts I’m making in the next newsletter, but I wanted to let you know that my social media presence is changing slightly. You’ll notice my main account on Instagram is now @jendeanboudoir - bet you can figure out what we have in store!

Evie and I would appreciate a follow at @jendeanportrait where you’ll be able to see the creative portraiture we capture with you, our wonderful clients!

Though things have shifted, the core commitments of Jen Dean Photography remain the same:

To capture images that reflect

the beauty and power

we all possess.

To allow space for safe vulnerability,

and hold sacred the trust you instill

when you get visible in front of our lenses.

And through the unique container portrait photography can provide:

To help you love yourself.

As you are. Right now.

Meet Evie!

In July I received an e-mail from a photographer who had recently returned to New England from Los Angeles. She said she admired my work, and wondered if I had any interest in meeting, or if I had any need for professional assistance. When I looked at her portfolio, I was immediately struck by her ability to connect with her subjects. Taking a picture is not the same as taking a portrait. Evie’s work demonstrated that.

Over brunch in my new backyard, I connected with Evie and a working relationship began. She immediately got my style and vision, and I was excited to have an assistant to help light smoke bombs in the woods, edit images in the unique style I’ve cultivated, and step behind the lens to capture portraits that are congruent with the name and reputation that people have come to expect when they work with JDP. 

Evie attended Emerson College, studying Media Arts with a focus in Photography - her favorite camera is a Mamiya 6, and she has a soft spot for shooting on film. (Though her inhouse work with JDP is digital, and she is equally adept at both!)

After graduating, Evie moved to LA, where she spent 3 years living and working in the production industry. Her return to New England is a win for our community, on multiple levels. 

Want to strike up a conversation with her? Evie loves music of many genres and is always looking for new song obsessions. (Top artists include Frank Ocean, Fleet Foxes, Beach House, the Gorillaz, and Radiohead.) Her favorite concert venue is Prescott Park in Portsmouth, where she loves seeing live folk music. 

Her passport has multiple stamps including New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Austria, and Hong Kong. But she also loves waking up on a Saturday and climbing into her Kia Forte to explore a back road in New England - bonus points if it includes a run down farmhouse, or easy access to a waterfall. 

Evie loves strong coffee, cold brew, cream, no sugar. She's also a sucker for a honey lavender latte - the best thing she discovered in LA! She is still searching for the perfect pair of vintage jeans. (Levis. Black denim. High waist. Straight leg. Zip Fly. Long enough to cuff at the bottom.)

 Her favorite photographer is Sally Mann. (We both agree on this subject!)

Evie has been a joy to work with, and I know you will be thrilled when you have the opportunity to work with her, too!

As my new Partner in Portraiture, you can expect to find her assisting with our shoots, taking your headshots on location or in the studio, and answering your questions and inquiries through studiomanager@jendeanphoto.com. Say hello and welcome her aboard!

Curious about velvet couches and smoke bombs? Next month we’ll be filling you in on all our focus on boudoir portraits, and showcasing some of our favorite sessions from these past few months.

Until then...

Yours in Alchemy,

Jen and Evie