Baby is the new black

Ater Demi Moor graced a 1991 Vanity Fair cover round with pregnancy and nude to boot, photographer Annie Leibovitz found herself overwhelmed with expectant mothers craving their own portraits. Soon her studio manager began referring another lens woman for the job: Jennifer Loomis.

Boosted by the endorsement, Loomis began photographing pregnant women in various states of undress—sometimes with partners, children, and even pets. Though based in San Francisco and Seattle, Loomis recently recruited Atlanta photojournalist Kael Alford (disclosure: Alford contributes to this magazine) to help satisfy requests she receives from Southeast moms-to-be.

Using Loomis's photojournalistic approach to capture natural, candid looks, Alford first gets to know the client. "We learn what they like about their bodies, what they're going to want to hang on their wall," says Loomis. Then, after a little yoga or meditation, the session begins. The popular "Signature Session," for example, yields eighty shots on film, contact sheets, a website link to the shots, an edit session, and a custom-printed eight-by-ten of the chosen portrait, starting at $1,450.

"It's become more about the celebration of pregnancy itself and not just about the baby," says Loomis. Book eight to ten weeks in advance, about six to ten weeks prior to your due date, through jenniferloomis.com. - AKB

Photo curtesy of Jennifer Loomis Photography/jenniferloomis.com