Jennifer's Biography

Jennifer Loomis is an award-winning and internationally recognized photojournalist and fine-art photographer known for her groundbreaking work with the pregnant nude. Jennifer got her start photographing pregnant women after a referral from Annie Liebovitz’s studio — where Demi Moore was photographed pregnant for Vanity Fair. Since she began working 15 years ago, Jennifer has photographed more than 1000 mothers, including the wife of pro-golfer Rich Beem among other celebrities.

Jennifer on TV QuickTime (4.5 MB) WindowsMediaPlayer (6.2 MB)

Identified in 2003 as one of the emerging photographers of the northwest, Jennifer uses her training as a fine art photographer and her expertise as a documentary photojournalist to tell the story of each woman. "More than a portrait, I want to photograph a feeling that captures and celebrates each individual woman's beauty of motherhood," she said in a recent interview with Sunset Magazine. Her business motto "Feel Beautiful" came about because many women said they felt beautiful during and after photo shoots. This saying is important to Jennifer because she is passionate about changing the way pregnant women see their bodies as well as the way society sees pregnant women.

The passion shows through in both her photography and professionalism. "I have always wanted to make a difference with my photography," says Jennifer. She's not only a pioneer in pregnancy photography but she's been instrumental in bringing semi-nude photography into the mainstream. "For years pregnant women have been hidden, I hope my work can challenge and redefine society's definition of beauty. Just look at the pictures, and you can see the beauty that has always been there."

Not only do Jennifer's photos capture the beauty of each woman, but they also have the look and feel of a painting. Most of her clients frame the images and hang them like art found in a gallery. "My clients are embracing their bodies," Jennifer says, "and together, using my experience, we are creating a unique photograph which not only becomes part of their art collection but also reminds them of this brief moment in time."

Creating art and making women feel beautiful is Jennifer's specialty. Her personable style helps each client feel comfortable, even when this is for many their first nude or semi-nude sitting. "I felt more beautiful during and after working with Jennifer," says Lindsey, a client from San Francisco, "than I did during my entire pregnancy. I never thought I could look so good or feel so comfortable. Just her personality, who she was, made me connect with her right away." Every photo session starts with tea, a brief yoga pose, and a lengthy discussion about the photography to come. She is listening to their stories, getting to know them, so she can better photograph them and their changing emotions.

For Jennifer, she gets as much out of it as her clients. "I get women hugging me because they are so excited. I get dads crying in the studio because their wives look so beautiful. I get great relationship stories. I get a lot!" she told the Seattle Times reporter.

To keep her work fresh, Jennifer breaks away to do documentary work all over the world. Jennifer's work has taken her to Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Mongolia, Singapore, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Denmark and many cities within the United States.

Jennifer has a masters in photojournalism from the University of Missouri, School of Journalism. She has studied with Joyce Tenneson, Michelle LeVigne, and her biggest influence is San Francisco photographer Ruth Bernhard. She was a Visual Communications Fellow at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies for six weeks and then returned for two years as a Visual Communications Faculty Member. In addition, she has taught at the University of Missouri, School of Journalism, Cascades Photography Academy, and was a guest teacher at the Frye Art Museum of Seattle during their Women and the Arts Program. She also teaches classes and workshops throughout the year at her studio in Seattle and San Francisco. Jennifer was recently asked to join the Advisory Board of Photographic Professionals for Freestyle Photographic Supply as an expert on Maternity Photography. Jennifer speaks Japanese, some French, studies Spanish, and currently plans on getting certified as an Iyengar Yoga Instructor.

Jennifer has focused on many international women's health and education issues for a wide range of editorial and non profit clients including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MSNBC.com, CARE International, TIME Magazine, Catholic Community Services, Washington Education Foundation, University of Washington's Center for Health Education and Research, Rainier Scholars, U.S. News & World Report, Los Angeles Times, JournalE, The Humanist, Kansas City Star, Evansville Courier. She has produced several online documentary photo projects with audio and video including several projects on birth and home birth. These projects are available on the Web.

1. www.suburbanchicagonews.com
2. www.journale.com/flowersfall
3. www.journale.com/riftvalley

A portfolio of her documentary work can be viewed at www.loomismedia.com. Her editorial photography is represented by Aurora Photo Agency in Portland, Maine.

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Awards

Jennifer's awards for her work include:

Small Business Administrations, HERO Award, 2006

National Association for Women Owned Businesses, Finalist Trailblazer Award, 2004

Society for Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi Awards, First Place, "China at 50," 2000

Pictures of the Year, First Place, Best Use of Photography Interactive, 1999

Documentary story listed in the top five on MSNBC.com for two weeks, 1998

College Photographer of the Year, Award of Excellence Documentary, 1998

Overseas Press Club Scholarship, 1997

Foreign Correspondents Club of Tokyo Photography Grant, 1997

Fuji Journalism Scholarship, 1997

Kodak Film Grant, 1997

Duffy Journalism Award, 1997

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Exhibitions

Jennifer’s work has been exhibited in the United States, Japan and Mongolia. Recent exhibits include:

A Celebration of Motherhood, Bump Urban Maternity Wear, Seattle, WA 2007

Legacies, Group Show. Women in Photojournalism. Kansas City, MO 2004

Form and Figure. Solo show. Childbirth Educators Association, Seattle, WA 2004

Mind, Body, Spirit: New Perspectives in Pregnancy. Solo show. Gracewinds Space, Seattle, WA 2003

Who is My Mother? Solo show. Association of Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health Conference, San Francisco, CA 2003

Lens Studies: Contemporary Works by Northwest Photographers. Featured artist. Martin-Zambito Fine Art Gallery, Seattle, WA 2003

Visions of Motherhood. Solo show. San Francisco, CA 2003

Standing Tall. Group show. Phinney Ridge Midwives Association, Seattle, WA 2002

Voices of Hope. Solo show. Catholic Community Services, Seattle, WA 2002

Children of Rwanda. Solo show. Torrefazione Italia, Seattle, WA 2002

East African Women. Solo show. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, Seattle, WA 2002

Through a Mother’s Eyes. Solo show. Glow Natural Health Center, Seattle, WA 2002

Diversity in Vision. Group show. National Press Photographers Association, San Antonio, TX 2001

 

In 2001, Jennifer left her staff photographer job at MSNBC.com to focus on her maternity photography business full time. Because of demand for her style, Jennifer now photographs in three cities, Seattle, San Francisco and New York. She also has clients who come from across the United States and the world to visit her in her three studios. She lives in both San Francisco and Seattle. When in Seattle, she lives with two cats and big black dog in a 1904 Victorian house with bright yellow walls that she is fixing up. When in San Francisco, she lives in a modern apartment off Filmore Street near her favorite yoga studio. When in New York City, she stays in Brooklyn near Prospect Park and her favorite wine bar, Total.