Back in the studio


Hey there, been a long time, howdy! I never quite know how to start these posts, but I wanted to get right into it!


We've got a studio again! What a long, strange trip since I closed the doors of my first studio in 2023. My biggest struggle back in that time was my health - I had just found out I was pregnant with my second child, and hyper-emesis (morning sickness) plagued me the entirety of that pregnancy. My body seemed to revolt against the idea of growing a new life, and decided to drain every last ounce of energy from me and poured it into making the tiny, beautiful bouncing daughter I now have running around these few years later.


When I look back through my work over the last few years, I am proud of what I accomplished in spite of the struggles we faced. I do not have much to show for it, as I was definitely in post-partum-mom mode and not necessarily in Photographer Natalie mode. I did a few gigs for clients already in my orbit, survived off of a headshot gig here, a bat mitzvah there... But I was ALWAYS looking along the main corridor of our town for what I wanted most... A chance at redemption for the studio I lost.


Just a few months ago I heard that one of the dry cleaners in town was closing. Their spot was directly on Main Street, and had a bounty of space! PERFECT, I thought!


Until I found out they wanted a lot more money than I could afford, and a three year contract, to boot...


That got me started looking elsewhere, which led to my finding that 6 West Avenue in town was up for lease! I worked out a deal with the landlords for a two year lease and now I have my own little corner of the world again in which I can create the art that you want hanging on your walls the most - the smiles & (im)perfect moments created during the candid, documentary style family sessions and the plethora of themed mini sessions, sometimes with characters we bring through.


I am in the process of creating a cozy studio that allows for an effortless flow through the room to give a wide variety of images, while providing the traditional posed photos that really capture the moment in time. When you book a session in my studio, I most importantly want you to feel like you're at home... I want to create a sense of safety and a place where you can relax, be yourself, and allow me to gently coach you through the session with prompts & moments to bring out those genuine, heartfelt smiles.


Personally, I know I wouldn't want an in-home photo session... I love the space we've created as a family, but it has its flaws that I would wind up hyper-focusing on with the resulting photos. I know that this is a sentiment felt far and wide, which is why I want to have a living room type space that works for maternity, newborn, family, and other types of sessions.


One of the benefits to this setup is that you do not have to worry about what your home looks like, you don't have to clean up any messes, you don't have to keep pets up and away, you just have to show up and just be.


As we go into this fourth month of the studio's existence, I am so excited to bring Mom & Me sessions to life with both of our wicker peacock chairs, the gorgeous front window laden with vibrant plants & vintage aesthetics, and the pure love between you and yours.


Let's see what we can capture <3


Much, much love,

Natalie Serwan

Owner, South Jersey Portraits

Stylish matching boots shown in four progressive detail shots sitting on woven rattan chair with decorative plants nearby.
Decorative wicker peacock chair surrounded by warm lighting and floral arrangements creates a cozy indoor setting.
A series of candid photos showing two children sitting together on a wooden chair in a bright interior setting.
A series of action shots showing children practicing martial arts moves in a studio with hardwood floors.
A heartwarming sequence of candid moments between parent and child sharing laughter while sitting on a beige tufted sofa.
A family sits together on a cream colored couch playing and bonding in a warm living room setting.
People sitting on a couch sharing pizza and enjoying a casual gathering together.
Two people share a tender moment while sitting together on a cream-colored tufted couch.
Two people share a tender moment on a couch, with one leaning close to the other in warm lighting.

Ready for your closeup?

Let's see what we can capture.


Studio:

6 West Avenue Woodstown, NJ


Inquires:

Natalie@SouthJerseyPortraits.com