Form submitted successfully, thank you.

Error submitting form, please try again.

j.ro photography {sweetness + light}

Hey there! You've made it to the online home of j.ro photography. Besides my photography journal (also known as a blog ... scroll down), it's also my website. My guess is you'll find much of the information you're looking for under the about section above. Check out my galleries for a look at photographs from the past, and look through the different genres to narrow your search on my favorites from recent sessions and projects posted in the journal. And always feel free to contact me with any questions or thoughts. If you ever want to get back to this page, just click journal. Okay, with all that said, grab youself a Dr. Pepper, take a moment to relax and enjoy the view! I look forward to hearing from you!


i am loved | gas city, indiana newborn photographer

This is a long overdue post, but one I am still giddy about showing off.

Welcome Baby Cameron! The newest member of the American Eagle family of models ;o)

You are most definitely well loved by your mommy and daddy!

And it’s pretty obvious you love them right back!


And how perfect is this beautiful necklace that Luke bought Tiffany for Valentine’s Day (I told you I was behind on blogging this!)?
Engraved on the side is “I Am Loved”

Indeed you are. Guaranteed.

{CLICK HERE to see the video}

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

louis picasso | muncie, indiana photography

To go along with the other post about my cubism modern artist, here are some photos of the master artist himself at work:

And my little Picasso? Turns out he’s color blind. I don’t have a lot of details at the moment, but we had a big ro.fam excursion to the eye doctor yesterday. Tommy had been complaining of headaches, Mark always has headaches, it’s been 10 years since I’ve had my eyes checked, so we decided to all get checked together.

The diagnosis?
Mark needs glasses
Tommy needs glasses
Louie is color blind (thanks dad!)
and me? perfect vision. I know. Hate me. But if it makes you hate me less, I still break out at age 33 and my once perfect teeth (thanks to braces) are now slanting.

So that’s all pretty big news isn’t it? Tommy is pretty excited actually. He had already picked out his glasses in his mind before he even had his eyes checked. I blamed my hypochondriac genes for his thinking he needed glasses. Turns out not all hypochondriacs are wrong in their diagnoses.

With Louie, he couldn’t pass the color blind test, but at the same time the doctor said he wouldn’t say for sure he was color blind at this age. We’ll have him rechecked again before he starts kindergarten. In the meantime, if there were any dreams that Louie would be a pilot, those have been dashed. Then again my colorblind dad somehow made his way into the Navy working with electrical wires. We’re lucky his ship didn’t blow up.

I’d also like to take this moment to say:

I told you so!

Yes, I did say I thought Louie was colorblind when he was around 2.

Turns out this hypochondriac has some legit diagnoses too sometimes!

And Mark, well, that guys needed his eyes checked for a long time. I hope glasses will tone down some of those headaches.

Stay tuned for pictures of my four-eyed boys soon.

I haven’t forgotten about Baby Cameron either. We had some sad, unexpected losses over the last week and have been busy traveling and comforting our friends in need. If you’ve emailed me, I’ll be back in contact soon … promise!

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

motobaby | muncie, indiana newborn photographer

Anyone out there remember my little motobaby?

I am happy to report that the 24×36 canvas gallery wrap of this image was accepted into Minnetrista’s Annual Juried Artshow.

I consistently miss the deadline for entering every year, and just made the deadline this year (I’m talking same day friends). This being my first competition … it’s safe to say I feel pretty special that motobaby made the cut. I felt even more special walking into the opening reception at the Minnetrista art gallery on Friday night and finding it displayed among so many amazing works of art.

The show is on until May 2, 2010. I’m sure all those fantastic works of art would love to see your face ;o)

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

human beings | muncie, indiana photography

I’m starting another Anne Lamott book. Grace Eventually. Love me some Anne Lamott. I mean really love me some Anne Lamott (just in case you didn’t catch that the first time). This is my third book of hers in a little over a month? I read this yesterday and this might just sum up one of the reasons why I love her so much:

Being human can be so dispiriting. It is a real stretch for me a lot of the time.

You can imagine that since the first three chapters are titled:
ski patrol
wailing wall (i.e. my lesson learned from the secret life of bees)
and dance class

… that I’m gonna relate.

But honestly, this isn’t a post (entirely) about how dispiriting being human can be at times. I have some bright pockets of sunlight that I’d like to share that shows that God and humor come through in the most dispiriting of times.

First off. Real sunlight. And real sunlight that highlights Louie’s Legal-Length Lashes.

{Louie making his maps: Italy, California, Alaska, Owen’s house, and McDonalds … all the most important places, right?}

And secondly, what Louie does when he’s told he can’t have any apple juice.

When I saw he had gotten a Capri Sun out, my blood pressure started to rise. When I saw that he had only gotten the Capri Sun out to use the straw for his “apple juice”, I couldn’t help but laugh … and take pictures of course.

And another bright spot this week? Community at work. I’d like to take this moment to thank Beth Buehler who is taking my Preschool Drop Out under her wing so he can attend Buehler Preschool. It’s a perfect fit. She enjoys Louie. Meghan enjoys Louie. I enjoy Louie after I’ve had a break from him. Beth likes crafts. Louie likes crafts. I like to hang up crafts all around the house that I had no part in. Now pray I can get him there with all our emotions in one piece.

And now it’s time to fly.

In the words of my favorite Scrubs’ characters: Eeeeeaaaaggggle!

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

{sweet} valentine | muncie, indiana newborn photography

This is how I got to spend part of my Valentine weekend:

Yep. I’m pretty lucky! I only made it through the first ten images from the shoot before my heart stopped with this one, and I couldn’t help but share.

… more to come from this session …

And a little Valentine from my oldest to you!

Because of 4 snow days in a row and a President’s Day vacation on Monday, (which Tommy has now referred to this time as Valentine’s Day Break) he won’t have his Valentine’s Party until Tuesday. He picked this photo of himself. Lost in a sea of other Tommy photos, I’m glad he found this one! I had totally missed it!

{love & hugs}
jayne

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

tyler+erin | muncie, indiana engagement photography

Meet Tyler and Erin.

He’s in a band, she’s an assistant softball coach, both are elementary school teachers and both have ridiculously beautiful smiles … and I gotta to say, I love all of the above!

Despite the drawbacks of our first location (i.e. bird bones, a seriously dirty floor, and ginormous dust bunnies which later lent my oldest to ask me if dust bunnies were alive), I’m still pretty excited we took advantage of some warm(ish) indoor pics before heading out into the snow.



{Lovin’ Tyler’s laugh so much here}

{in retrospect it’s kinda funny that I had them sitting on a blanket and then later took them out to sit on the cold, wet snow without one}

{safe}



{could have probably photographed these two all day with all their great smiles, laughter and bright blue eyes … oh wait I just about did!}

Then we bundled up and headed outdoors.

Hello Sunshine. It was so nice of you to show up today.

And now let the real fun begin.

Playgounds + Snow + Elementary School Teachers = Lots.O’.Fun! (And lots of frozen-ness too, but I didn’t notice that until after the session when my pants were soaking wet and half frozen … I’m sure Erin and Tyler felt the same way!)

Whenever I look at this next batch of images, my heart seriously does a little flutter …

I can’t tell you how much I love Erin right then and right now for diving into the snow at me! I guess as a former collegiate softball player I should have expected that from her!

And this picture makes me happy because, you see Tyler, he didn’t dive into the snow. But he’s awfully nice to brush off his fiancé, isn’t he?

I’d like to give Erin props for the this next shot. I think she envisioned it from the time Burris was mentioned as a location. (I’d also like to say that at our first location she found a huge light bulb and with her art direction–used it as a prop. Just so you know what you’re seeing when you see that photo pop up in their video).



{yep, love it}

Sunshine. Snowy Slide. Wet Pants. Sunshine. Worth it.

Once again, so loving their ability to have so much fun in a freezing environment!

Snow Angels!

So as you can see, I had a blast. And both (including Tyler) said they had fun too.

And you might be wondering why I’m shooting an engagement session when I don’t shoot weddings? Thankfully every once in awhile some still come my way. And the best part is, I get to hand this beautiful couple off to the insanely talented photojournalist, Jill Nance who will photograph their wedding.

Erin and Tyler, thank you for loving the snow with me. Best of all thank you for loving each other and letting me be there to capture it!

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

listening | muncie, indiana photography

A couple things I forgot how much I loved:

Sitting in a quiet, almost empty, very comfortable and roomy coffee shop
Reading a good book
Enjoying my new favorite coffee shop drink — soy hot chocolate
And taking photos of these things.

… oh and all by myself so I could actually hear my heart and my mind speak.

and it was good.

“The sound of the surf, the big washing machine of ocean, sometimes seems to rinse out my brain, or at any rate, it expands me and it slows me down.”
Anne Lamott in Traveling Mercies

If only I were actually near the ocean. Until then, Muncie will have to do, and I will continue to hear that big washing machine in my heart.

And besides, if I were at the ocean right now I might not be a part of this big fluffy white snow storm we’re having.

I ventured out on the deck to snap these and right into the first couple frames a nice, wet clump of snow fell on Louie, and then it fell on me and my camera.

Personally, I think it was worth it.

But, again, I’m from Michigan.

And check out my poor boys sweet red cheeks. He actually did a faceplant in the snow from the swing and just kept right on playing.

That’s my boy!

(p.s. thanks beth for lovin’ on louie and giving me the time away ;o)

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

a cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost {marion c. garretty}



We celebrated Christmas in January with my brother and his family a couple weekends back. Our visits are few and far between, but it’s always a blessing when we can get together. I especially love the opportunity to have a little girl in the house. Don’t get me wrong, I love my nephew Nick too, but how often do I get to dress up an American Girl doll and draw a princess party on our white board? Gotta say, I loved it! Next time Mackie comes she’s going to bring both her American Girl dolls so we can play together ;o)

Before they left on Sunday we had an impromptu photo shoot in my living room. I love these four cousins so much. Their friendship amazes me and the bond they share is so special.

And I’m so lovin’ their laughs and giggles!

{I’m pretty much loving everything that’s going on in this photo. Especially Nick thumpin on Tommy and the expressions they both have!}


My brother had some art direction with these next two shots. He really wanted this one, and despite all the craziness, I love all their expressions!


And this was the football pose Mike set up, thus Tommy’s tough lips!


Tommy on his way to be tackled by Nick J:


And finally tired of me:


Love You Family!

I’ve been on vacation for the month of January. February, however,  is already booked up, so be on the look out for so more beautiful faces!

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

| help share the love : fan me on facebook |

sunshine is my quest {winston churchill} | muncie, indiana photography

Yesterday while playing countless rounds of The Great States game with Louie in the playroom I felt almost in a trance. “Louie can you find the six states that have a cardinal as the state bird? Louie, which state is the Grand Canyon in? Louie, which state’s flower is the red clover?” And then I would make jokes about Red Clover, Red Clover Send Louie Right Over, and he’d ask as he does for just about every location on the globe, “Can we go there sometime and see (in this instance) a Red Clover?” And I say, “You never know!” Thinking how funny it would be to head on over to Vermont and find a Red Clover in the grass, then turn around and come back home because we accomplished what we wanted to see. Or my personal favorite, “Louie, which state’s flower is the Rhododendron? Oh, you need a hint? Well, this state is mentioned in one of your favorite songs …” And then he starts to sing John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads and it makes playing this game over and over again worth it. Seriously, to hear him sing “mountain mama” is the cutest thing ever.

But something else brought me out of my trance yesterday too. It seemed that suddenly my eyes were aware of a shadow. Yes, a shadow. In what seems like weeks I realized I have not really noticed any shadows. And there it was, bouncing off the globe and onto the wall transitioning into different shades of gray. And I thought, I must get a picture of this as proof that today there was actual sunlight. That the soft, dreary gray of a day has come to an end for a moment and tiny glimmers of light have broken through the playroom window.

So here my friends is your proof of light. I think I’ll try and find some more of it today.

Happy Shadow Searching.

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer

orange is the happiest color {frank sinatra} | muncie, indiana photography

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color” Maya Angelou

“Straws” by Tommy Rohlfing

© j.ro photography | muncie, indiana family and kids lifestyle photographer