I'm Johana, your Chicago Family Photographer

Everything I offer is meant to feel calm
— because motherhood rarely is

Having your photo taken in the middle of this season of parenting can feel like one more thing on your list, another detail to plan, another place to be. 
But this was never meant to feel like a chore.
The calm begins long before we meet. From the way I help you prepare to the gentle guidance throughout your session, everything is designed so you can settle in and simply be together.
I gently guide you through each step, using natural prompts that lead to candid, joyful moments without pressure or performance.
Because I believe the memories we create in childhood become the light we carry with us, helping us through even the darkest seasons. What you leave with is not just beautiful images, but a reflection of what already matters most.


Romantic, Timeless and full of love

Client Love

"Johana made me feel Reassured and Encouraged"

- Emily

In the chaos of toddlerhood and newborn life, there’s so much love holding it all together, and she captured all the small details that I will never forget. 

I spent over a decade working in the fashion photography world, learning to see beauty through light, shape, and quiet detail while working in cities like London, South Korea, and Mexico City.
But one of my earliest memories reaches further back, summer sunlight filling our home while my grandmother gently cooled me with a hand fan as I drifted to sleep. Her quiet love became a light that stayed with me, and over time I realized memories like these are our most treasured possessions.
As my life shifted toward motherhood, so did my work. Photographing friends and their babies grew into a deep love for documenting real connection, tenderness, and the quiet beauty of everyday life, creating photographs that feel honest and timeless, and grow more meaningful with each passing year.

How I found my way to this work

Now, as a mother myself, I see it even more clearly. The way love shows up in the smallest moments. The way time moves faster than you are ready for. The quiet ache of knowing this season will not last.
That belief shapes everything I offer, not just the photographs, but the pace and presence of the experience. So when you look back, what you see will feel just as true as it did in the moment, memories that continue to light the way long after this season has passed.

And how that shapes your experience

If This Felt Gentle, It’s Because It Is. And You Can Be Held By It Too

You don’t need a plan. You don’t need the perfect words. Just tell me what you’re hoping to feel, or the part you never want to forget. We’ll begin there.

Book your session with me here