Photographers – Linnea Lenkus Fine Art Portrait Studios

A few pieces from my fine art nature photography will be in a show this month at the Long Beach Gallery Expo. It’s an Earth Day Exhibit entitled “Elements”,
Earth, Wind, Fire & Water.

You can see my photography at the Artists’ reception is this Saturday, May 14, from 6pm to 8pm. There will be Live Music & Snacks and a No-Host Donation Bar.

You can also visit the Gallery tomorrow for the First Fridays’ walk through Bixby Knolls.

Please visit and support our local arts.

Oops, while I was away last week my pregnancy photography was on The Rachael Ray Show and I missed it (sob). I have been so busy that I just realized that I forgot to tell you about it. Luckily they have the segment on Rachael Ray’s website and I hope you enjoy it.

The Dahm Triplets, whom I was fortunate enough to create fantastic pregnancy photography last year, were on The Rachael Ray Show talking about their new workout video for new moms called “321 Get Your Body Back”. My pregnancy photography appears around 1:30 minutes in. They also loved my pregnancy photography so much that they put my images on their workout video website. I sure could have used this video after my twins were born.

Being a pregnancy photographer, I can tell you that it’s such a rarity to photograph pregnant sisters together, much less triplet sisters, that I jumped on the chance to work with The Dahm Triplets and their husbands. And it was so much fun, whimsical and creative that it was so difficult choose the images from the portrait session.

This week I photographed 3 sets of wonderful returning families with 2nd or 3rd babies and it made me remember something I’ve been wanting to post.

It’s very easy to treat the 2nd or 3rd pregnancy as a “been there, done that” event, but I truly believe each child is an individual and must be celebrated. These 2nd pregnancy and baby portraits can easily be rushed due to toddlers running around and the new baby fussing, but please consider for a moment, what it means to somebody when they aren’t photographed as much as their sibling.

Many 2nd time and 3rd time parents tell me that they “just” want a picture of the children together or a new family portrait. But I have to stop them and remind them, “Do you remember what we photographed with your first baby?” I feel we must honor all of our children and so, you really should photograph your second or third or fourth children equally.

I was that youngest child who was never photographed, and I really think that’s why I became a photographer. Children look for all sorts of reasons why they aren’t loved as much as their other siblings.

My older sister was photographed EXTENSIVELY, probably five times more than I was. I understand that now, as a busy parent, because those first baby portraits were for my parents experiencing their first child. But in doing so, or rather, doing less photography of me just by myself, my parents, unknowingly, made me very aware that my sister was more important. Decades later I understand that they were busy and they were 2nd time parents when I came along, but growing up that way, believing that I was not important enough to warrant a portrait as much as my sister, was difficult. I remember pouring over her prolific baby photography and noticing that there was only one baby portrait of me by myself and any others were sibling portraits.

You may have heard of the Second Child Syndrome or the Third Child Syndrome. Please be aware that in your rush, your hectic schedule, your own rush for family portraits, that we are all individuals who make a family and we must leave behind memories of love for each one of our children. So as a youngest child, I will remind you to think of your child first.

Check out Dr. Phil this Monday.

It’s confirmed! The producers of Dr. Phil called and will be showing Linnea’s maternity photography of the celebrity Dahm triplets in the next episode airing on Monday, next week, on CBS called

The Dahm Triplets are big fans of Linnea and the portraits she took of them. Their maternity photography first appeared on the television show, “The Doctors”. Click on this photo below if you missed it to see what they said about Linnea when they appeared on the show. (The part about Linnea is about 30 seconds in.)

I just got word from Jones Coffee that the artist reception for the floral display will be on Thursday, March 31st at 6pm to 8pm(see the post previous to this). Please come! They sent me this flyer:

My photo studio in Pasadena used to be next door to a great espresso cafe/roaster, Jones Coffee. They, unfortunately, moved this year just down the block. I still go for a visit for one of their wonderful Italian sodas for my son, and amazing cafe mochas for me. They are a forwarding-thinking company and have the hippest location that is one of the best kept secrets (not for long) in Pasadena. And they showcase various artists!

This month they have a floral theme and when they called me, I knew I had to contribute my flower photography to their exhibition. Please go and visit this month while it is still hanging. And check out one of the coolest coffee roasters in town. I have several flower portraits hanging there from a 24″x30″ to a 30″x40″ Gallery Wrap.

Did you see the recent Pink self-maternity photos? I was contacted the other day by iVillage.com and asked to comment about it and also asked for advice on what women can do to take better maternity photos of themselves. Frankly, I don’t recommend it.

Those few times where I have photographed myself, many of the images were out of focus and it was frustrating. You can try, but why not let an expert maternity photographer help you look the most amazing and give you feedback during your maternity portrait session to help you. I know how light, posing and perspective can make you look your very best. If this is your first pregnancy consider that professional maternity photography is the best way to go.

Click on Maternity Photography to see the article in iVillage.com where I was interviewed.

And Pink, give me a call and I’ll show you what a professional maternity photographer can do for you.

We do get calls to photograph boudoir photography, however, I have to make a distinction regarding the difference between fine art nudes and typical boudoir photography.

To me, boudoir photography focuses on seduction and is dependent on lingerie and the environment. Fine art nude photography is generally considered a study of the body in regard to art and form. I like to use light, shadow and perspective to create a shape and a love for the human body and so, fine art nudes are what I prefer to do.

Need an idea for Valentines Day? How about you as art? Or how about the both of you as art?

We’re closing in on the last minute nude photography sessions. Call now to book as soon as possible.

I photograph commissioned fine art nudes and increasingly, couples will ask me to photograph them together. Many people like to surprise their mates with a series of nudes, perhaps a coffee table book or compelling nude art for their walls. I say, “Bring them along!” The gift can be the experience too.

Some partners, most often men, do not want to be IN the nude image, but they sure do love to watch and be a part of the process of editing the nude photographs. I find that during a session your partner knows what they like and enjoy being a part of the process. Often they will stand to my side and even help with art direction. That’s fine with me. Creative collaboration is fun and from my years of working with art directors and designers I am used to it!

Give us a call right now to talk about creating personal nude art of you! If you call now, we can put you in touch with a reality-TV producer who is interested in couples for a reality show being created right now.

I get very many emails from photographers all over the world asking me how I do things. I am grateful for those emails because I know I am touching a cord. I have seen many aspiring photographers attempt to copy what I do.

For the first time ever, I am offering a series of online seminars to you, aspiring, beginning, and seasoned professional photographers. These will be taped for you to learn. We begin production in a few weeks. However, if you sign up now, for a very short while I am reducing the fee for the six seminars, AND, here’s this big one: you can be a part of it by asking questions in advance. I will answer all reasonable questions.

Here’s your chance. Please go to this webpage to sign up with your Paypal account: http://www.linnealenkus.com/seminars/