Theo. T. | NICU Session Tucson Arizona

I have known Ian for many years.  When he told me that he and his girlfriend Katie were expecting, I couldn't be more thrilled.  Ian and Katie found out when she was around 18 weeks and little did they know that they would be meeting little Theo just a few short weeks after finding out.  Theo is considered a Micro Preemie - Born before 26 weeks or weighing less than 1lb 12oz, Theo fit both of those criteria.  He was born at 24 weeks 4 days and weighed 1lb 10oz.  

I was able to visit Theo in the NICU with Ian when he was 2 days old.  Let me tell you.. it takes a special kind of person to be a NICU nurse.  I was in awe of everything that was going on around me. I spent about an hour with Ian and Theo before we headed out to visit Katie who was recovering from her emergency C-Section.  I am so honored that they let me into their very personal space during this crazy emotional time. 

Theodore James was born at 24 Weeks 4 days weighing 1lb 10oz.  Today he is 50 days old and weighs 2lbs 14oz.  From all of the updates I have been getting he is such a strong little fighter.  I can't wait to visit him again when I am back in Tucson in March. 

Photo: Art by Jessica offers free NICU sessions for those families currently in the NICU that would like this time in their lives to be documents.  Please email me for more details. 

R. Family | Family Lifestyle Session on Mt. Lemmon AZ

I met Haylea in a local photography group when I was still living in Tucson.  She and I became fast friends and I consider her one of my best friends!  I really LOVE photographing other photographers, photographer families are just naturals in front of the camera.  I can such minimal directing, if any at all.  I don't really do much directing in my sessions anyway, I kind of just plop people in a field and tell them to interact with each other, but R. Family just made it so easy.  I highly recommend checking out some of Hayley's gorgeous work on her website   I hope when I am in Tucson later this year I can get them in front of my camera again.  

Jonea | Maternity in Tucson Arizona

This is actually the first of two maternity sessions with this amazing woman!  Her husband was out of town for her first session and her second session will be just them without their adorable son!  I can't lie, I was extremely nervous to photograph Jonea..  this girl is literally famous. She was photographed by the AMAZING Jade Beall for The Beautiful Body Project and several of her images have gone viral.  it did take me a while to get over my nervousness and when I finally got comfortable we hit an amazing groove and created some because art together.  I am SO HONORED she asked me to photograph her!  

I have finally decided I am just obsessed with anything about birth and mothering/nurturing.  I love being able to photograph these amazing women who are caring for and nurturing their children.  Now we wait Jonea and Josh's beautiful little girl to grace us with her presence, I can't wait to share their images from their next maternity session with the world!

Kiersten | Nursing Session in Tucson Arizona

I love nursing sessions.. Heck I love feeding sessions in general.  Watching a family member nourish their baby is such an amazing thing.  Kiersten is an amazing mama who is currently nursing her 1 and 3 year old.  We only had about 20 minutes of shooting time in the orchard this evening, the mosquitoes were unbearable, I left the orchard with over 30 bites all over the place.  I am so honored that Kiersten asked me to take these shots for her to commemorate her nursing. She is one client/friend I am going to miss terribly once I move to Colorado.  She has been with me since the very beginning and when I look back on her first set of images I took I can definitely see how much growth there has been within myself and my photography.  I am so proud to have those images to look back on.  We all start somewhere and I am so glad that she has stuck by me through the years.  

To book your feeding session with me please email Hello@photoartbyjessica.com.  I would really enjoy adding a few more sessions to my portfolio.  These sessions are not limited to nursing, I would be honored to photograph you bottle feeding you child or even pumping for your child.  

End of Summer | Personal Images

“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies.” - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Last week my husband went away for work for a week so the day he left we went and cooled off with my aunt and uncle and took advantage of the pool in their neighborhood.  Lilian was working on diving, Aria was working on well... being a toddler in a pool.  We have been working with her on flipping to her back in the water and this day she finally did it!  I was super proud of her!  I really love documenting my family and finding beauty in the everyday things in our lives. It wasn’t until relatively recently where I discovered how much I love documentary photography, and by recently I mean in the past year or so.  I rarely picked up my camera in our home because it was always cluttered or a little bit of a mess and then one day I just did it.  Who care if my house is a mess or I have a pile of laundry on my couch.. this is my life and it is so beautiful!  Now there is rarely a day where I don’t pick up my camera.  I take it everywhere with me.  My kids will definitely have a wonderful story to share with their kids when they grow up.. Speaking of that, do yourself a favor and take some time and print your images from the past year.  I am really excited for our move to Denver Colorado later this year and I will be changing my business to a Full Service, Print and Product based business model. 

  If you're interested in a Documentary Family Session I have some availability before we make our big move!

Ireland Jean | Maternity in Tucson Arizona

I am so excited for the birth of Ireland!  She is expected to bless us with her arrival any time now and I am just waiting for the call!  This session almost didn't happen.  Right now in Tucson it's Monsoon.  Many afternoons we experience lots of rain and wind.  Well the evening of our session we decided to chance it and I am so glad that we did.  When we were walking out the door the rain clouds opened and it down poured on us until literally 5 minutes away from our shooting location.  I was so excited that we got in front of the storm and we wasted no time and got to shooting.  The rain held off for our entire session but on the way home the sky cleared and gave us a gorgeous sunset so of course we had to pull over into the first open field I could find!  It was a pretty adventurous shoot!

Stan, Rachel and Layla | Family Photo Session | Brandi Fenton Park Tucson AZ

When we move to Denver this is one family I am truly going to miss.  Tucson has been so good to me and I am really excited that I will be able to shoot here several times a year even after our move.  

Happy Birthday Sweet Layla!  I can't wait to get you in front of my camera again!!

Danielle and Girls | Mommy and Me in Tucson AZ

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.

-Richard Bach

Ramona | Mommy and Me

Mommy and Me Sessions have a really special place in my heart.  As a mom I know I am not in front of the camera enough with my kids.  I am working on it... I swear... I love watching mom's interact with their children and I LOVE documenting that bond.  Moms... GET IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA WITH YOUR KIDS..  and not only that but don't just let these images sit on the web or computer.. PRINT THEM and hang them.  Get in front of the lens...

Melanie and Caleb | Expecting in Tucson

Melanie and Caleb have been great friends for a couple of years. They are the only people we trust with our fur baby Pocket, he loves visiting their house when we go out of town.  Melanie is due in July with their second little one and I am so beyond thrilled for my amazing friends!!

Amber | Mommy and Me

Amber, Danni and Ava, were just a dream.  I know I say that a lot but seriously, these three were awesome.  These three are also waiting to welcome home the man in their lives.  Amber is such a great mom to these two crazy girls, and Danni is seriously one of the most respectful (yet hungry) little 7 year olds I have ever met.  I am lucky to have this crazy group just down the street and I have become fast friends with them.  Mommy and me sessions are on going through Mothers day, please to all the mama's out there.. do your kids a favor and get in the frame with them.  If you're interested in one of these limited sessions, please do not hesitate to email me. 

Stephanie and Danny | Expecting in Tucson

This family was such a dream to work with. When Stephanie contacted me, I was so excited for this session.  She is a labor and delivery nurse here at the Birth Center.  She has attended a few of the births I have photographed!  She is expecting her new one (they will find out the sex when he/she is born) in just a few weeks.  I can't wait to work with them again!!!

Escaping [Lilian]

Seriously Lilian loves the beach.  If we lived near the water she would be in it everyday even if it's freezing out.  I took a beautiful set of photos in the water while we were on our trip.

Valentines Day

So around our house Valentines day has never been a big deal.  Luke and I try our best to show each other very often how much we love and appreciate each other so we feel we don't really need a day to tell us to do so..  This year however- with having Jule in our home and Lilian "getting it" we decided to go all out.  In the morning I made pink and purple heart shaped pancakes and we went on a simple picnic where we made flower crowns and played in a field of dead tall grass for a couple of hours.  It was simply splendid and I think we have a wonderful new tradition to look forward to.  Our crowns were far from perfect but I thought they were wonderful.  We even had extra flowers that we gave to some hikers to brighten their day a little bit.  

Zane [Lifestyle Newborn]

For a long time I struggled with photographing newborns..  In my head I always thought I had to have a studio, special lighting, props and provide these images of your baby perfectly posed.  I quickly learned that I didn't have the drive for that type of work but I wanted to be able to photograph newborns.  I figured why would I have to go about photographing newborns any differently than I would any other subject.  I am always so honored when families invite me into their homes just days after they've added a new baby.  I absolutely adore spending an hour or two watching these families interact and love on their new one.  

The Westbrook family has let me photograph them several times over the past year and they recently welcomed me into their home when they brought baby Zane home.  Big sister Stella was home and loved on me for almost the entire two hours I was there.  Zane is absolutely precious and I hope I get to photograph him as he grows up!

Sarah [Maternity]

This was such a beautiful nontraditional maternity session.  It's a session I will be offering to all of my home birth clients in the future too.  It was definitely remarkable working so closely with such an amazing and inspiring group of women.  

Sarah was nearing her due date and had her sweet kiddos with her, they have attended her appointments before, they knew the drill.  C. knew where all the puzzles were and he took a seat and worked on them diligently while mama got her vitals and measurements taken. Little H. was super excited to be right in the middle of all the action.  Both little ones had the chance to hear their little brother using the Fetoscope. Mama and baby were both doing great.  After everything was checked we sat around and talked about her upcoming birth.  Amy, one of her midwives, was so amazing and patient.  She answered all of Sarah's questions and even talked about things Sarah hadn't even thought about.. like making sure everyone that attends her birth had a specific job.  I have never been to such a relaxed prenatal appointment ever, even mine at the birth center weren't this relaxed.  Sarah gave birth at home just couple weeks after this session to a healthy beautiful little boy.

I would love to work with you if you have your own idea's for an untraditional maternity session!

For more information about Amy Zenizo and her midwifes please visit http://www.amyzenizo.com

Lillianna [Birth]

I have known Hartini for a little over a year.  She is the amazing person that talked us into hosting an exchange student this year.  She has provided us an amazing experience with Jule and we are forever grateful for this opportunity.  She was on the fence for a long time about having a birth photographer and actually hired me before even talking her husband into it!!  Lillianna is her 4th child and Like my previous birth Hartini warned me that she has had some pretty quick labors.  

Hartini messaged me during the afternoon, letting me know she was having some intense but really irregular contractions.  I went about my day not really thinking too much about it.  My bag was already packed so I was ready if this was "it."  Around 8:00pm Hartini messaged me again to let me know she was going to pack up and head to the hospital, so I made a pot of coffee and filled my thermos so I would be prepared for the night.  

We got to the hospital around 8:30 or so and when the nurse checked her she was only at 3cm.  They said if she made progress at 11 then her doctor would admit her.  The catch was since she had a previous C-section she had to be continuously monitored and they wouldn't let her leave her little triage area.  For those of you who have been in labor, you would know that it's really hard to progress when you're stuck in a bed.  We asked for a yoga ball but they hospital only had ONE and it was in use.  I only live about 10 minutes from the hospital so I offered to run home and grab my ball and some fresh coffee.  I left around 9:30 and I was back before 10:00.  Hartini spent the next hour or so on the ball and sneaking off to the bathroom to get a break from being monitored.  When 11:00 rolled around the nurse checked her and she was at 6cm!  What a huge change!  We had to wait for a little while for a labor and delivery room to become available for her and finally got put in a room around 12:30am.

Hartini had two really good contractions on the way to her room so it took us a few minutes to make the walk.  By the time we got to the room the nurses were there in full force (I counted 12 of them at one time).  She was hooked up to her IV and had the monitors strapped back on.  Her contractions were coming on top of each other and I could tell she was getting close.  I remember her head nurse asking for her Doctor, who had just stepped out to the atrium for her break.  Hartini's body was pushing want her doctor walked in and didn't even have time to put on gloves!  She pulled her hands into the sleeves of her gown and caught sweet Lillianna less than a minute after she walked into the room.  

I have to admit watching a hospital birth was so crazy.  I had never experienced a hospital birth from an outside perspective.  Being able to provide these images for Hartini is so amazing for me since she has been able to provide us with such an awesome experience with our sweet Jule.