Hi, I'm Jennifer Elizabeth Durst.

I'm the photographer behind Jen Elizabeth Portraits, but more importantly, I am a wife, mom, grandmother, birth worker, storyteller, and someone who believes that the moments we often wish we could hold onto forever are the ones worth documenting.

Thank you so much for being here and taking the time to learn a little about me. Truly, it means more than you know.

My husband, Anthony, and I met in high school and have been married for 26years. Together, we have built a big, beautiful, sometimes chaotic, always love-filled family with eight amazing children and two precious grandsons

And if there is one thing you should know about me, it's that family is everything to me.

It is the reason I picked up my camera in the first place.

My Heart Has Always Been With Families and Children

I became a mom in 1999, and from that moment on, my life revolved around children, families, and caring for others.

Over the years, I've worn many different hats.

I've currently am a fine arts director (part-time)  at Paddington British School, I've operated in-home daycares, studied Psychology and Health in college, volunteered at CCCRM Hospital, and eventually became a certified birth doula.

Every experience taught me something different about people, connection, motherhood, children, and the importance of simply being present during life's biggest moments.

Those experiences have also shaped the photographer I am today.

I understand that children don't always cooperate.

I understand that pregnancy can be exhausting.

I understand that birth rarely goes exactly as planned.

I understand the chaos of a big family.

And I understand just how quickly life changes.

My Journey Into Birth Photography

Photography has been part of my life since high school, and I continued studying photography in college.

But in 2015, everything changed.

My cousin asked me to photograph her birth.

I walked into that experience with a camera in my hand and walked out completely in love with birth photography.

There was something about witnessing the strength of a mother, the support of a family, the anticipation in the room, and that incredible moment when a new life takes their very first breath.

I knew I had found something special.

Since then, I have had the honor of photographing dozens of births and documenting some of the most powerful moments families will ever experience.

Birth photography isn't just about the moment a baby is born.

It's about the journey.

The strength.

The surrender.

The tears.

The laughter.

The hands being held.

The first breath.

The first cry.

The moment two people become parents—or a family grows by one more.

These moments happen once.

And they deserve to be remembered.

A Special Place in My Heart for NICU Families

One of the most personal parts of my photography journey comes from my own experience as a mother.

I have had four babies spend time in the NICU.

I know firsthand how emotional, overwhelming, and uncertain those days can feel.

Because of that experience, NICU families will always hold a special place in my heart.

I am honored to volunteer as a photographer for NILMDTS, and I proudly offer complimentary NICU sessions for families whose babies remain hospitalized as they prepare to go home.

Sometimes the beginning of a family's story doesn't look the way they imagined.

But that doesn't mean it isn't beautiful.

And those moments deserve to be remembered, too.

Beyond Birth

While birth photography will always hold a piece of my heart, my love for documenting families doesn't stop there.

Newborn photography quickly became one of my greatest passions.

There is something so special about those first few days—the tiny fingers, sleepy smiles, little wrinkles, and the way a baby fits perfectly into their parents' arms.

I also absolutely love watching babies grow.

From maternity sessions to newborn portraits, milestone sessions, birthday celebrations, and cake smashes, I love being able to document the chapters that make up your family's story.

I specialize in:

• Birth Photography
• Newborn Photography
• Infant and Milestone Sessions
• Children's Photography
• Cake Smash & Birthday Sessions
• Maternity Photography
• Family Photography
• Sports Photography
• Dance Photography

My Studio & Photography Style

I photograph families from my cozy in-home studio and also offer travel sessions for an additional fee.

My approach to photography is simple:

I want your photographs to feel like your life.

Beautiful, emotional, imperfect, chaotic, joyful, and completely yours.

I want you to look back at your images years from now and remember more than what everyone looked like.

I want you to remember how it felt.

Because someday, the babies you are rocking today will be grown.

The tiny hands will no longer fit inside yours.

The chaos of raising children will become stories you tell around the table.

And the moments you thought you would never forget will slowly begin to fade.

That is why I do what I do.

I can't stop time.

But I can help you remember it.

I Can't Wait to Tell Your Story

Whether you're preparing to welcome a new baby, celebrating a birthday, gathering your family together, or simply wanting to freeze this season of life before it changes again, I would be honored to be your photographer.

Thank you for trusting me with your memories.

I can't wait to meet you, get to know your family, and create photographs that you will cherish for generations.

With love,

Jennifer Elizabeth Durst
Jen Elizabeth Portraits