Maternity Photography in Chicago

Maternity photographs are the only family photographs you can never take later. You will have a thousand pictures of your child's first year and, for most parents, three or four of the pregnancy itself — usually taken on a phone, in a bathroom mirror, in bad light.

This session exists to fix that. We photograph you the way you actually look at this stage: soft, strong, a little tired, entirely yourself. No dramatic veils, no wind machine, nothing that will feel embarrassing in fifteen years.

When to book — the 28 to 34 week window

For most pregnancies the sweet spot is somewhere between 28 and 34 weeks. Early enough that you are still comfortable standing, walking and sitting on the ground; late enough that the bump reads clearly in photographs. Twin pregnancies usually photograph best a few weeks earlier.

Practically: message me when you are around 20 weeks and we will put a date in the calendar for seven to twelve weeks later. Chicago weather gets a vote here — a January due date is a very different plan from a June one.

Three ways to shoot it in Chicago

• • Lakefront at golden hour. Lake Michigan gives us an enormous, soft light source and a clean horizon. Montrose Beach, Belmont Harbor, Promontory Point and Northerly Island all work well in the hour before sunset.
• • At home. The same natural-light approach as my in-home family sessions, with the nursery half-finished behind you. Ideal from November to March.
• • A park with structure. North Pond in Lincoln Park, the conservatory grounds and the South Lagoon give depth and greenery without a long walk. More on that on the Lincoln Park page.

What to wear (and what to bring)

Long, flowy and one colour works better than anything structured. Dresses in cream, sand, terracotta, sage or black move beautifully in wind off the lake and keep the attention on your face and shape rather than on a pattern. Avoid small logos, busy florals and anything that digs in at the waist — you will be sitting, kneeling and walking.

Bring a second option if you can, plus flats for the walk in. Partners photograph best in a plain shirt or knit in a tone that complements rather than matches. Older siblings are welcome and usually steal the session — which is exactly the point.

What you get

A mini session ($175) is 30 minutes and 15 edited images — enough for a lakefront sunset with your partner. A full session ($325) is 60 minutes and 35 images, which is what most maternity sessions become once a toddler and a change of outfit are involved. Galleries arrive within 7 business days.

If you want the pregnancy and the newborn in one continuous story, book both at once and I will reserve a newborn window around your due date. After the birth, most Chicago families continue with an in-home newborn session.