Good Bottle Refill Shop {Live Love Lens Photography, Maplewood, NJ}

Good Bottle Refill Shop

”We can help you to stop buying your trash.” These words are central to the mission at the Good Bottle Refill Shop, NJ's FIRST refill shop and zero waste store. This was my second time capturing brand photos for Deanna Heacock's business in Maplewood, NJ, which is also a part of the The General Store Cooperative!

It's totally worth the ride if you live in the area and have not been yet (1875 Springfield Ave). The General Store Coop is like a mini "Chelsea Market" - it even has an amazing coffee shop and bakery! The Good Bottle Refill Shop is brilliant and revolutionary - no wonder a second location in Montclair, NJ is opening early spring 2021!

Want to bring your digital presence to the next level? Contact me about your brand photo shoot today! Check out more #livelovelens brand photos here.

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SOMA celebrates 2020 Presidential election in the streets!

November 7, 2020: Biden Beats Trump

Best. Day. Ever. My community of Maplewood and South Orange, NJ spontaneously celebrated in the street and it was AMAZING. The announcement of Joe Biden + Kamala Harris winning the 2020 presidential election came around 11AM, and by noon hundreds cheered in the street with elation. On a perfect sunny fall day, this celebration lasted for several hours into the night! Kids held “Biden/Harris” signs high out of their sunroofs, families proudly waved American flags out of car windows, Black Lives Matter signs and rainbow flags could be seen at every corner. THIS is my community, I have never been more proud.

This was not just an election for a new Commander in Chief, this was a vote for human rights, Black lives, equality, respect, truth, science, and justice. And a vote for WOMEN. To be a female now, and to have daughters, to watch a woman (of color!) be elected as Vice President…. the emotions are difficult to explain. Such an extraordinary amount of pride and appreciation for this moment. Here’s to love, peace, equality from here on out! Let’s go - we have lots more work to do. #livelovelens #livelovemaplewood

View slideshow below!

Happy Graduation to the Class of 2020!

I LOVED capturing so many awesome graduates during the month of June: Kindergarten, 5th Grade, 8th Grade, and 12th grade! A bunch of schools were represented, and lots of different opinions and feelings about this most unusual time. Thank you families for trusting me with these memories and milestones!

To inquire about a 2023 graduation session click here.

Maplewood Duck Race is ON!

Maplewood’s Duck Race is ON!

Not the Duck Race we want but the Duck Race we need.

While Maplewood’s infamous Duck Race is unable to operate “in person”, it WILL still go on.

How? Through a virtual Duck Race on Memorial Day, Monday May 25th. 

Watch my chat with James Goodger, Executive Director of the South Mountain YMCA, Maplewood, NJ:

Here’s everything you need to know:

🎉 Visit the Y online now to get your tickets! Sponsor a duck at ANY level that’s right for you, with funds supporting the local economy as well as the Y’s essential programs. Donor family names will be written on ducks!

🎉 Join the Y for a virtual Duck Race on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. The race will be filmed once all ducks are sold and results will be announced on Memorial Day, Monday May 25 — tune in at 11am to South Mountain Y Facebook or YouTube Channel.

🎉 Amazing prizes!! First three ducks to cross the line win a socially distant visit from THE DUCK MASCOT. Top 10 ducks get to schedule a ‘Duck Zoom Bomb’ appearance (my personal favorite!!). And, EVERYONE who picks a duck will get an invite to the ‘Duck hunt’ where you’ll search for your duck and take home as part of our local history!

🎉 Where do the funds go? “Local businesses in Maplewood + South Orange have supported the Duck Race with sponsorships and race prizes for over 20 years, and now it’s our turn to give back to them. This year the Y will commit 25% of Duck Race proceeds to SOMA small businesses,” said James Goodger, District Executive Director of the South Mountain YMCA. 25% of proceeds to be donated to Maplewood Village Alliance, Springfield Avenue Alliance and the South Orange Village Center Alliance.

Chatting with James Goodger, ED of the South Mountain Y, at “Duck Headquarters” in Maplewood, NJ