Jennifer & Demetre are getting ready to add a little boy to their family and I jumped at the chance to do some maternity portraits with them about a month ago. If either of them sound or look familiar to you it may be because Demetre, Creative Director at Wonderful Union, is responsible for designing my "Photography by Jenny Jimenez" logo or you've been to Halo Salon in downtown Seattle where Jennifer works the chair next to Robin. If the boy will be anything like them, and science says he should, they're going to have one sweet, creative and good looking baby in their hands in a couple of weeks!

My first maternity portrait took place in the employee lounge of Annie's Affordable Art 8 years ago. I came in to frame a live image I shot of Elliott Smith and the pregnant lady behind the counter asked if I owned a Polaroid. She wanted to take photos of her belly as a gift for her husband. I went home, grabbed the Sun 600 LMS my parents bought me for Christmas in 6th grade, stopped by Ballard Camera for film and returned just in time for her 10 minute break. She was shy and insisted her face not be included in the composition. She pulled up her sweater, arched her back and cradled both hands beneath her belly button. We looked at each other, then around at the ripped couch, strewn newspapers and half filled coffee mugs that littered the small back room and laughed so hard that I too was holding my belly.

My last maternity portrait session took place a few weeks ago in a house in the Central District and we laughed just as hard. The two ladies below are cousins, due around the same time and so much fun to shoot. I'd love to do some more maternity portraits... or perhaps you have a non pregnant belly you'd love to show off?