Artist Statement

The pregnant female form continues to fascinate me even after photographing it for 30 years. This body shape not only represents birth, rebirth, creation, and transformation, but this shape also represents declining birth rates, increased infertility, the changing landscape of the nuclear family, and the pollution of the environment as pregnant women are at the top of the food chain. By abstracting this form, I wanted to focus on this sacred shape, which is the vessel, or holding place, between cosmic spirit and earthly presence. The pregnant body is a landscape worthy of pause and consideration of the many social and cultural challenges that it represents.  

Artist Bio

Jennifer Loomis is an award-winning and internationally recognized portrait photographer, artist, and educator known for her groundbreaking work with the pregnant nude. She pioneered the maternity photography genre, which is now popular around the world.

Jennifer’s main influences are many during her 30-year career including Robert Mapplethorpe’s beautiful photograph of bodybuilder Lisa Lyon, Ruth Bernhard’s innovative photographs of nudes of women, Sally Mann’s portraits of her children, Rineke Dijkstra’s photo series of women right after giving birth, Caravaggio’s paintings, Bernini’s sculptures, and Henri Cartier-Bresson’s concept of the decisive moment.

In 1995, Jennifer received her first referral from Annie Liebovitz’s studio in NY and demand for her work grew rapidly. Jennifer opened studios in Seattle, New York, and San Francisco, photographing more than 4000 pregnant women including celebrities, well-known musicians, and major-league sports players. She has been featured widely online and in all major media and has been shown in galleries in the US and Italy. Jennifer’s first book, Portraits of Pregnancy: The Birth of a Mother, is available on Amazon.  

Jennifer pivoted her career seven years ago and instead of accepting the offer to become the photographer on Bravo’s Pregnant and in Heels, she decided to walk across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. She is saner now than ever, and still gets to co-create with her subjects around the United States, capturing not only pregnancy but also children for both pregnant and non-pregnant clients, some of whom she has worked with for more than 18 years.

Jennifer lives on a small island near Seattle with her young son, partner, and big black dog. She enjoys the community of wonderful families and friends, meditates every morning, likes to garden, and hopes to one day have chickens and goats.

SOLO & GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019

Fell From the Sky. Group Show, Gail Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA

2016

Icon, The Lynn Hanson Gallery, Seattle, WA

2015

Adornment, Curated by Rebekah Maxim, Columbia City Gallery, Seattle, WA

2014

The Photographic Nude, Curated by Mark Sink, Lightbox Photographic Gallery, Astoria, OR

2013

King County (Seattle) Bus Mural Project, Seattle, WA

Handle with Care. Group Show. Corridor Gallery, Seattle, WA

2012

Phone-Ography. Group Show. Firehouse Art Center, Longmont, CO

Lost. Group Show. Phinney Center Gallery, Seattle, WA

2011

Portraits of Pregnancy: The Birth of a Mother. Solo Show, Palazzo Della Penna, Perugia, Italy

2004

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

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

2003

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

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

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

Visions of Motherhood. Solo show. Mom’s the Word. San Francisco, CA

2002

Voices of Hope, Catholic Community Services, Seattle, WA

Voices of Hope, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, Seattle, WA

Through Mother’s Eyes, Glow Natural Health Center, Seattle. WA

2001

Diversity in Vision, National Press Photographers Association, San Antonio, TX

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Memezine, Italy, August 2012

Professional Photographer Magazine, February 2012

Il Messagero, Italy, July 2011

Corriere Nazionale, Italy, July 2011

Professional Photographer Magazine, July 2010

KUOW, NPR, October 2009

Entertainment Tonight, “An Ugly Betty Star’s Pregnancy Photo Shoot,” May 20, 2009

King 5 Seattle, ”Live interview about Portraits of Pregnancy: The Birth of a Mother and The Changing Attitudes

of Society Towards Pregnant Women on King 5/Kong 6 Morning News Hour,” August 11, 2009

Working Mother, ”Celebrity Moms Picturing Pregnancy,” July 2009

Urban Baby, “You Ought To Be In Pictures,” June 29, 2009

KnockedUpCelebrities.com, “Ana Ortiz Shows Off Her Baby Bump” May 2009

MomintheCity.com, “5 Tips on Selecting a Pregnancy Photographer,” May 19, 2009

GoodyBlog.com, “Mother's Day Gift Idea,” May 7, 2009

lil sugar: Mommy’s Little Helper, “Belly Worship,” May 22, 2008

Seattle Magazine, “Scoop: The Naked Truth from Jennifer Loomis,” April 2009

Pregnancy Magazine, “Feature on Portraits of Pregnancy: The Birth of a Mother,” April 2009

The Nest, “Jennifer answers questions: 2nd Trimester,” April 22, 2008

Time Magazine, “The Art of the Womb,” April 14, 2008

San Francisco Examiner, “The 3-Minute Interview: Jennifer Loomis,” December 10, 2007

Atlanta Magazine, “Jennifer opens a studio in Atlanta,” November 2007

Inside City Limits Cable TV, “Jennifer talks with stylist, Katie Rice Jones,” October 10, 2007

CBS Morning Show, “Jennifer photographs moms-to-be, Tammy Witt and CBS reporter, Kelly Wallace, and

discusses the trend of maternity photography,” July 17, 2007

Daily Candy, “Jennifer’s Show: Feel Beautiful: a Celebration of Mothers; as #1 for their Mother’s Day Weekend

guide,” May 10, 2007

Pregnancy Magazine, May 2007

The New York Times, “Baby Album: The Preface,” April 15, 2007

PoshCravings.com, “Photographer Fantastique: Jennifer Loomis,” January 9, 2007

Toddlers Today, “Get Great Pictures of Your Toddler!” January 2007

Fit Pregnancy, “Fit Pregnancy Magazine selects Jennifer as the San Francisco choice for photographers We

love,” January 2007

Contra Costa Times, “Interview with Jennifer about her fine art photography,” December 2006

Plum Magazine, “Feature of Jennifer’s family and maternity photography. The launch of the Plum Essay

Contest.” Fall/Winter 2006-2007

Plum Magazine, Summer 2006

View from the Bay, TV, San Francisco, “Jennifer and her client answer questions about the unique

photography experience.” July 2006

Marin Magazine “Jennifer’s maternity photography as a Father’s Day gift,” May 2006

Chicago Tribune, “Story of a Chicago Mother who traveled to Jennifer’s studio in Seattle” April 2006

Associated Press, “Celebrities Make Pregnancy Glamorous: From Demi and Angelina to You and Me:

Pregnancy Has Become Glamorous,” April 2006

NPR, “Ruby De Luna visits Jennifer’s studio,” November 10, 2005

Seattle Post Intelligence, “Babymoon---Sweet! Couples relax while they still can” April 2006

New York Daily News, “Oh, baby! Moms-to-be pose for pics,” August 11, 2005

The Wall Street Journal, “Letting It All Hang Out: Pregnant Women Pose For a New Type of Family Portrait,”

August 14, 2005

Inside Edition, TV, August 2005

Sunset Magazine, “The bare truth - A photographer helps mothers embrace pregnancy,” May 2005

Popular Photography, ”Meet the experts: Jennifer Loomis, 36: Maternity Photographer,” May 2005

Marin Magazine, “Romantic Marin Getaway for Expecting Couples” September 2004

Seattle Times, “Photographer’s work helps society rejoice in pregnant bodies,” August 3, 2004

San Francisco Chronicle, “Shooting for love in gay family photo exhibits,” July 2, 2004

Los Angeles Times, “Pregnant pose,” June 19, 2004

FOX Television, June 15, 2004

Houston Chronicle, “Photographer’s work helps society rejoice in pregnant bodies,” February 1, 2004

ePregnancy, “Celebrate your Belly, “ November/December 2003

King 5 Evening Magazine, “Jennifer Loomis, her photography of pregnant mothers and unique photo

sessions,” May 10, 2002

Northwest Baby and Child Article, November 2001