Los Angeles Photographer, Fine Art Pregnancy Photographer

Begin the Creation of Your Family History

Documenting with Photos from Pregnancy to New Family

By Michelle Shortencarrier

Photographs have the unique ability to evoke the emotions and memories that often fade with time. They are experiences that can never be regained or recreated. When newlyweds or expecting couples are looking for a family photographer, they should seek out the experts in the genre. Too often new families will turn to friends or their wedding photographer to capture the early days of their lives together, but it is the fine art portrait photographer who knows best how to begin the creation of a family's visual history.

Ever since a very pregnant Demi Moore posed nude for the cover of Vanity Fair, the pregnancy photography industry has been completely transformed. Today, talented photographers around the world are working with expecting mothers to capture their bodies magical transformation.

As one of the early pioneers that helped catapult pregnancy photography into fine art, Linnea Lenkus has spent nearly 20 years capturing those rare and precious moments. With an exceptional combination of experience, talent and artistry, Linnea has mastered what is known as the decisive moment; capturing the instant when a look, an emotion, a movement, or an expression seems to embody the essence of the subject. Instantly a work of art is created.

The story of the new family starts the moment that the expecting parents receive the exciting news. Today, the combination of pregnancy and newborn photography has become a celebratory ritual among expectant parents and their families to capture these ephemeral moments.

Linnea believes the best time to schedule a pregnancy portrait session is in the 3rd trimester, between the 30th and 33rd weeks of pregnancy (20 to 30 weeks for multiples moms), depending on how the mother is showing. Any later and she says mothers risk water weight and may look more tired and fatigued. Plus, there is also always the chance of early labor, which means the mother-to-be could miss the opportunity to be photographed while pregnant.

For an expecting mother, life is filled with wonder. There are many exciting but contemplative moments as she appreciates the new and exciting direction her life is taking. As a mother of three, Linnea has a deep appreciation and sincere understanding of what it means to carry a growing child. She has a natural repertoire with both men and women and she easily relates to what expecting couples are going through. Like so many of the women she photographs, Linnea says she absolutely loved being pregnant.

"I felt strong, beautiful, and empowered," says Linnea, "And I see these same emotions in many of the women who come to me…their own inner beauty and the beauty of the child they are carrying begins to fill the studio."

Like many of the women who choose her as their fine art pregnancy photographer, Linnea was in her 40's when she finally had children. "A number of the women who come to me tell me they always knew they wanted to have children, but for one reason or another, they just kept putting it off," she says. "So when it finally happens, they have an immediate desire to capture the expressions of the emotions swirling within them."

As a wife, a mother, photographer and artist, Linnea pulls from a unique skill set to master documenting the art of the human connection between a mother and her unborn child. She thrives on understanding her subjects and creating a visual representation of what they are feeling during this significant time in their life.

"The truth is I absolutely love photographing soon-to-be mothers, many of whom will be new moms for the first time in their lives," she says. "It's a privilege and honor for me, and I often walk away feeling like I'm a part of their family."

Having been through two pregnancies herself (the second time with twins), Linnea is empathetic to those woman, who, at times, can feel unattractive and a bit out of sorts. She understands the changes their bodies are undergoing and assures them that through her lighting and re-touching expertise she will show their true beauty.

Using her signature lighting techniques, Linnea captures the glow and feminine curves of her pregnant subjects. Specializing in silhouette, fine art nude/semi-nude, and couple pregnancy photography, she knows exactly what image she is looking for and will not stop until she gets it.

Using swaths of silk and lace cloth, Linnea strategically wraps the body while exposing the pregnant belly. If there is a partner or siblings participating in the session, Linnea creates images of them kissing or placing their little hands on their mommy's round pregnant belly.

Linnea encourages her subjects to be as authentic as possible. In other words, she is not a fan of a lot of make up or overly-styled hair. Using her unique lighting style, Linnea uses the glow of her clients' skin and the shadows created by her lighting to produce a clean, pure and natural look that embodies her subjects as they truly are.

"I love photographing mothers with their families, especially with little siblings," says Linnea, "To see a family focused on the belly that it carrying a future son, daughter, brother or sister, creates a visual sense of family connection that is simply magical."

Linnea loves photographing newborns in their birthday suits, which makes the images timeless works of art because they cannot be dated by context or wardrobe. One of her most prized poses is "The Bridge," where the parents extend their arms toward each other and the baby is cushioned in between their forearms and palms. "The image represents how the child serves as a bridge between the parents," says Linnea.

The pose is primarily used for newborn babies, because they are the most flexible and cooperative during this early period in their lives. Many will simply snuggle in and gracefully look straight into the camera; others will peacefully fall asleep in the warmth and comfort of their parents embrace. But in all circumstances, the love and support given by both parents emanates like the glow of a star for all to see.

If Linnea could truly have her way, the first stop for every newborn on their way home from the hospital would be one of her three studios. She treasures the skin tone and delicateness of newborn babies and the absolute look of bewilderment in their eyes.

Linnea strongly suggests to her subjects that they bring their tiny new bundle of joy back into the studio within the first three weeks of life. She believes it is during this time that some of the most precious and unique gestures are expressed by the baby and when parents' overwhelming emotions of love and excitement are at their height.

Linnea understands it is exactly during this time when parents feel stretched to their limits. However, she believes that due to sleep deprivation and adjustments to their new lives, parents will forget much of what happens during this extraordinary time; it all goes by in the blink of an eye.

Life is filled with precious moments that too often remain only in memory: the glow of an expecting mother, the curly smile of a newborn baby, or the soft embrace of a loved one. A photograph can not only document these irreplaceable times, but also transform a glimpse of life into a work of art for the ages. Capturing life's significant events not only preserves them for personal nostalgia, but tells the story for all posterity.

Linnea Lenkus is a fine art portrait photographer, specializing in pregnancy, baby, family and classic nude photography, and has studios in Pasadena, Long Beach and Irvine. She will be featured in WE TV's upcoming "Platinum Babies," which premieres in November 2009.