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.  

Jessie and Jon | Maternity Session on Mount Lemmon Arizona

Wow!  It feels like forever since I have blogged!  I have had so many sessions recently I need to get caught up so I don't get too behind and just give up!!!  Here is a beautiful maternity session with Jon and Jessie.  I have been so lucky to document so many of their life events!  I had the honor to document their engagement session, their wedding and we've had a couple other sessions here and there.  WELL NOW THEY ARE HAVING A BABY!!!  I am so excited for their little guy to join the world!  Fingers crossed everything falls into place so I can sneak in one last birth story before we move to Denver.  

Jessie and Jon have always been troopers with me. I am so honored that they have always trusted my artistic eye!  Congratulations you two!!  You are going to be amazing parents!!!!

Ireland Jean | In Home Newborn Session

Like I have said before, I LOVE everything related to birth photography, including maternity and in home newborn sessions.  I truly love lifestyle newborn sessions.  There is just something magical about those first few days at home with a new little one.  The Randall family invited me into their home two weeks after little Ireland was born, brother and sister are still getting into the swing of having a new sibling and little Ireland was seriously as sweet as could be.  Thank you so much Randall Family for letting me be part of this wonderful time in your lives!

Jonea | Maternity in Downtown Tucson

I really loved thatI had TWO maternity sessions with the amazing Jonea.  It was really nice to be able to go to two completely different locations and have completely different focuses.  Our first session really focused on the bond she had with her son JJ and her new little addition.  I loved taking her and putting her in the middle of a field and letting her be this gorgeous Goddess that every women is during pregnancy.  Our second session has a completely different feel.  Her husband joined us in one of my most favorite neighborhoods in Tucson.  In fact while we were down there we ran into Kelland and Suela who informed me that after our photowalk in that neightborhood they decided to MOVE there!  They just love their new neighborhood and it's so full of life and color.  

Josh was a great sport with our photos, we tried to make it as quick and painless as possible.  I really think he enjoyed the face that I never made him look directly at the camera.. and if he did that was on him :)

I can't wait for this little girl to be born.  As always good thoughts and prayers (if you pray) are always welcome for this little family!

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!

Norah and Owen | In Home Newborn and Family Session | Tucson Arizona

You might remember my last birth back in May, when little Norah graced us with her presence a few weeks early.  She spent about a week in the NICU before she was allowed to come home and ever since then she has been growing like a weed!  She is so sweet and I definitely got my share of baby snuggles in during our in home Newborn and Family Session.  In home Documentary sessions are my favorite type of family session.  I love documenting and telling your story.  

Becca and Sean | In Love | Pecan Orchards in Tucson Arizona

These two.. what can I say?  They squeezed me in last minute before they move across the country.. literally the movers were at their house a hour before we met.  They are seriously some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  I hope you guys have a safe move and enjoy your new home, Arizona will definitely miss you!!

“Love can be so hauntingly beautiful, waking up past selves that have been wandering aimlessly through the corridors of our soul, for far too long. When someone else can take us from the ghost-town of our inner-selves, to exciting new landscapes, it's worth the risk, just to feel reborn.” 
― Jaeda DeWalt

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!!

Jule | Senior

So our time with our wonderful Jule is coming to an end in early June.  We are super bummed she is going back home to Germany and we are going to miss her terribly.  We can't wait until we can take a trip over to visit her and her real family.  She has been an amazing addition to our family for the past 10 months.  We loved hosting an exchange student this year and we hope we have the opportunity to do it again in the future.