Your story is unique.

Let me help you tell it.

Where every image captured represents a sentence that is a part of your story.

Acadia, Maine, + Destination Engagement,Elopement, & Wedding Photographer

  • "Janelle was an INCREDIBLE photographer to work with— she has a keen eye for getting the best shots and compositions while capturing us in our best angles and best light. I was blown away by the aesthetic she was able to create, which transformed our photos into timeless, romantic, and striking snapshots that we will cherish forever. In addition to her artistry, Janelle was very professional, friendly and a pleasure to interact with throughout, I highly recommend her and her work."

    Linna G.

You already know that your love story is better than any writer could dream up. Why not have that documented?

Having your portrait taken means that someone loves you so much that they want to be able to remember you forever.

SEEN BY THE EYES

&

FELT BY THE SOUL

In the end, portraits are what will be left of us to tell our story. Those who remain will look at your portraits to tell stories about you to others. And the stories that our loved ones tell about us after we’re gone, are the ones that matter most.

Our portraits are our legacy.

What do you want your legacy to say about you?

Consider me your personal paparazzi

You’re here because you’re looking for a photographer. But you’re actually here because you’re looking for someone to deliver you portraits that:

make you feel like you’re viewing a “behind-the-scenes” gallery, almost as if they were shot on your best friend’s phone who followed you around for the day or evening, capturing every moment and every moment in between those moments;

make you feel like you’re the star in your own feature-film-documentary. Portraits that you see on Pinterest that you immediately pin and think: “I want THAT”;

&

allow you to see yourself the way others do, especially those who love you most.

Portraits that look the way you feel.

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MEET JANELLE

Capturing portraits is my love language

I consider myself what you call a “docu-torial” photographer: someone who is an expert at simply noticing moments happening around them and capturing them on camera, but also someone who can capture you in a way that makes you look and feel like you should be in a magazine.

Hello, hello! I’m a Maine photographer, traveler, former teacher, lover of dessert + coffee, reader, and adventurer. I started photographing people in 2014 to share my travels throughout Asia with friends and family back home in Maine, and I fell in love with its ability to capture authentic, raw, and real moments. My camera and I are ready to tell your story!

I lived abroad throughout China, Thailand, and South Korea for 7+ years, working in education and photographing in my spare time. I began my photo project, "The Human Experience", in 2014 and completed it in 2018 with a final book of my photos and thoughts on how the human race is all interconnected. During my time abroad, I traveled extensively throughout Asia, capturing phenomenal sights and people. In 2018, I moved to South Korea and switched to fashion photography briefly. I had the unique opportunity to shoot for street wear brands and models and was even published!

In February 2021, I moved back to Maine and launched my photo business. I took everything I learned as a documentary and fashion photographer and melded them together for a unique style that blends documentary , candid, and editorial styles. My time spent living and working abroad, traveling extensively and documenting various cultures, mixed with my love for all things style and who I am as a person makes what Janelle Lyford Photo is today.

As a full-time Maine photographer, I’ve worked with over 275 clients and captured 50+ weddings and elopements. I’ve photographed across the beautiful state of Maine - from Bar Harbor to Portland, even as far as Lubec - the most eastern town in the US - and everywhere in between! I love sunrise photo sessions and sunset photo sessions even more. Contact me today to set up your session!

My vibe is documentary, mixed with a little editorial, mixed with a little candid, mixed with a lot of love.

If you’re looking for a photographer who can catch all those candid in-between moments full of unplanned laughs, smiles, and looks of love, but also want a photographer who can pose you in a natural yet editorial way, making you feel and look as though you should be on the cover of Vogue, then I’m your photographer! You get the best of both worlds: seeing yourself exactly how you are naturally but also seeing yourself in a way you only ever dreamed of.

So why choose me as your photographer?

But most importantly…

Growing up, I hated having my photo taken (and even still today at times!). I refused being in photos for fear of what I looked like, and almost no one could convince me that I was photogenic. I dreamed of the day I could see a photo of myself and absolutely love myself in that photo, and want to share it with others. I’m here to make sure you never have to feel that way again when looking at yourself in photos!

As your photographer, I’m here to give you:

photos that you’ll want to hang up all over your home;

photos that you’ll want to share everywhere on social media;

&

photos that you’ll make your computer AND phone wallpaper

… because you’ll be that obsessed with how you look and feel!

  • "I recently had the privilege of working with Janelle and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. From the initial contact and recieving the finalized photos, every aspect of her service surpassed my highest expectations! Janelle is an absolute master behind the lens. Her unique vision and creative approach to photography are unmatched. What truly sets her apart is her dedication to capturing beautiful, timeless moments in her photos while allowing her creativity and artistic talent to shine through. I was extremely nervous about getting my engagement photos taken, as I am usually not photogenic and pretty awkward when being photographed. Janelle directed us on how to move and really found a beautiful way to capture the connection between my partner and I. I could not be happier with the results. It also helps that Janelle is a very sweet person and really has a way of making you feel comfortable! I strongly recommend Janelle's services! You will not be disappointed!"

    Kaela O.

PORTFOLIO

WEDDINGS

INVESTMENT

View more of my work on Instagram!

changing things up with a sunny daytime proposal 🤍 golden hour may be favorable for most, but I actually think bright sun can really elevate your session! ☀️ learning to photograph in ALL lighting scenarios will really benefit you in the long run
changing things up with a sunny daytime proposal 🤍 golden hour may be favorable for most, but I actually think bright sun can really elevate your session! ☀️ learning to photograph in ALL lighting scenarios will really benefit you in the long run - you may have to capture a wedding in the middle of the day with harsh sun at some point, so put your clients (and yourself) at ease with being comfortable shooting in those conditions! ✨
didn’t get a sunrise, but still got a “yes” 💍 we love a surprise proposal, even when it’s cloudy and overcast with a chance of rain 🤍
didn’t get a sunrise, but still got a “yes” 💍 we love a surprise proposal, even when it’s cloudy and overcast with a chance of rain 🤍
just another casual day of me hiding in the trees with my camera on a mountain capturing a proposal 🫶🏽
just another casual day of me hiding in the trees with my camera on a mountain capturing a proposal 🫶🏽
I really love when I tell my couples to frolick down the beach and the male always takes it very seriously 🙌🏽 finally got to meet these two! we had so much fun for their engagement shoot in preparation for their wedding this October 🥂
I really love when I tell my couples to frolick down the beach and the male always takes it very seriously 🙌🏽 finally got to meet these two! we had so much fun for their engagement shoot in preparation for their wedding this October 🥂
finally some sun 🤍 don’t be afraid to book your session even when the sun is bright and high in the sky! ☀️ loved adventuring with these two in the park on a sunny afternoon, just days after their engagement! ✨
finally some sun 🤍 don’t be afraid to book your session even when the sun is bright and high in the sky! ☀️ loved adventuring with these two in the park on a sunny afternoon, just days after their engagement! ✨
July took a lot from me. I wish I could say that it gave me that much more… but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. It changed me in ways that I never expected nor wanted, and changed my relationship with photography forever. But I will
July took a lot from me. I wish I could say that it gave me that much more… but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. It changed me in ways that I never expected nor wanted, and changed my relationship with photography forever. But I will continue to create and allow people to see love in portraits the way that they feel it. I will tell stories of your love through portraits that are almost too good to be true. I will tell your story, even when you can’t find the words. Because in the end, when we have moved on from this world, the stories that are told about us by our loved ones to remember us are the ones that matter most. 🖤 J
💍🤍🫶🏽
💍🤍🫶🏽
just chasing my couples up and down the beach 🤍
just chasing my couples up and down the beach 🤍
summer beach nights 🤍
summer beach nights 🤍
💍🤍✨
💍🤍✨
changing things up with a sunny daytime proposal 🤍 golden hour may be favorable for most, but I actually think bright sun can really elevate your session! ☀️ learning to photograph in ALL lighting scenarios will really benefit you in the long run didn’t get a sunrise, but still got a “yes” 💍 we love a surprise proposal, even when it’s cloudy and overcast with a chance of rain 🤍 just another casual day of me hiding in the trees with my camera on a mountain capturing a proposal 🫶🏽 I really love when I tell my couples to frolick down the beach and the male always takes it very seriously 🙌🏽 finally got to meet these two! we had so much fun for their engagement shoot in preparation for their wedding this October 🥂 finally some sun 🤍 don’t be afraid to book your session even when the sun is bright and high in the sky! ☀️ loved adventuring with these two in the park on a sunny afternoon, just days after their engagement! ✨ July took a lot from me. I wish I could say that it gave me that much more… but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. It changed me in ways that I never expected nor wanted, and changed my relationship with photography forever. But I will 💍🤍🫶🏽 just chasing my couples up and down the beach 🤍 summer beach nights 🤍 💍🤍✨