Business Details
Professional Maternity & Newborn Photography in Kalamazoo, MI
Ellen Dykstra Photography has been dedicated to capturing the beauty of life's earliest moments since its founding. With over a decade of experience specializing in maternity, newborn, and baby photography, the business combines artistic vision with a deep understanding of family dynamics. Ellen's background as a registered nurse and mother of four brings a unique sensitivity to handling infants, ensuring both safety and comfort during sessions. The business prides itself on providing in-home services throughout Southwest Michigan, eliminating the stress of transportation for new parents. Every session reflects a commitment to organic, timeless imagery that preserves the authenticity of each moment.The team's expertise extends to creating personalized experiences that cater to the specific needs of expectant mothers and growing families. With over 700 newborns photographed, the business has established itself as a trusted name in the community. All sessions include access to a curated collection of 243 props, ensuring each shoot remains unique and personal. The business maintains membership in the Professional Photographers of America and holds Certified Professional Photographer status. This dedication to excellence ensures clients receive not just photographs, but heirloom-quality art that tells their family's story.
Services
Newborn Photography
Maternity Photography
Baby Photography
In-Home Sessions
Outdoor Sessions
Family Portraits
Prop Photography
Timeless Imagery
Highlights and features
- We offer over a decade of specialized experience in newborn and maternity photography
- Our photographer is a former ICU nurse with expert infant handling skills
- We provide in-home sessions for maximum comfort and convenience
- Certified Professional Photographer status demonstrates industry-recognized expertise
- We serve Southwest Michigan including Kalamazoo, Portage, and Battle Creek
Associations and certifications
- Professional Photographers of America
- Certified Professional Photographer
What people say
Baby whisperer
Calming presence
Stunning photos
Unforgettable portraits
Speechless
Services
Newborn Photography
Specialized newborn photography capturing organic, timeless moments in your home. Sessions include expert posing, prop selection, and safety-focused handling by a former ICU nurse. The service emphasizes natural lighting and authentic expressions to create heirloom-quality images that preserve your baby's earliest days.
Maternity Photography
Artistic maternity sessions celebrating the beauty of pregnancy in natural settings. The service focuses on elegant compositions that highlight the mother's connection with her unborn child. Sessions include wardrobe guidance and positioning techniques to create flattering, emotive images that capture this transformative period.
In-Home Sessions
Convenient in-home photography services eliminating transportation stress for new parents. The team brings all necessary equipment and props to create a professional studio environment in your living space. This service ensures optimal comfort for both parents and infants while maintaining the familiar surroundings that make for authentic storytelling.
Outdoor Sessions
Natural light photography in scenic outdoor locations throughout Southwest Michigan. The service includes location scouting assistance and timing recommendations to achieve optimal lighting conditions. Sessions focus on integrating natural elements with family interactions to create vibrant, dynamic images that reflect your personal story.
Family Portraits
Comprehensive family photography capturing multi-generational connections and milestones. The service includes coordination of group compositions and individual portraits to document evolving family dynamics. Sessions emphasize natural interactions and emotional connections to create cohesive visual narratives that preserve your family's unique story.
People
Ellen Dykstra
Photographer & Owner
Former ICU nurse turned award-winning photographer with 10+ years specializing in newborn and maternity photography. Certified Professional Photographer with 700+ sessions, known for calming presence and ability to capture authentic moments. Mother of four with extensive experience handling infants.
Questions
What areas do you serve for photography sessions?
I serve Kalamazoo, Portage, and throughout Southwest Michigan including Battle Creek, Paw Paw, and South Haven. I travel to your home or preferred outdoor location for all sessions.
What should we wear for our maternity/newborn session?
I provide detailed wardrobe guidance including color palettes and styling tips. For newborns, simple wraps and accessories from my 243-piece prop collection work best. Parents should wear comfortable, neutral-toned clothing.
How long do photography sessions typically last?
Newborn sessions take 2-3 hours to allow time for feeding and breaks. Maternity sessions typically last 1-1.5 hours. I work at your baby's pace to ensure comfort and capture natural moments.
What makes your newborn photography different?
My nursing background gives me expert infant handling skills. I bring 10+ years of experience and 243 curated props to create timeless images. My in-home service ensures maximum comfort for both babies and parents.
How do we book a photography session?
Contact me through the website or phone to discuss your needs. I recommend booking maternity sessions at 28-32 weeks and newborn sessions within the first two weeks after birth to secure preferred dates.
Reviews (7)
Ashleigh Colpetsir
Jun 26, 2022
Report
Ellen was extremely patient and professional while photographing our newborn. Ellen came to our house and set up her studio which was so convenient and helpful being a new Mom. Ellen truly has a gift for photographing newborns and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for this style of photography. The pictures were beautiful!
Mrs. Jill Plesko
Jun 12, 2022
Report
I met Ellen at a neighborhood event this spring and am so glad that I did! I quickly scheduled a photoshoot with her for our foster son. She was wonderful to work with! She knew babies so well and was so professional, friendly, and patient. With any photographer, you can discuss your ideas for backgrounds and props beforehand so that you're all on the same page. Thanks, Ellen! We love our shots!
Jillian Karbowski
Jun 11, 2022
Report
Ellen was super easy to work with! Her communication was frequent and thorough. I used her for maternity and newborn photos. Love the outcome and how the photos looks! She's was great with my toddler! Best perk was she brought the studio to me, I didn't even have to leave my house! Her prices are also super reasonable! Will definitely use her again in the future!
Catherine Henshaw
Jun 04, 2022
Report
We choose Ellen for our newborn photos and she did an absolute amazing job. She came well prepared and we loved watching her work. She was professional and understanding to our wants/needs and gave us really good tips to make sure the session went well for our daughter. Everyone we showed the photos to loved looking at them. Ellen did amazing work and we highly recommend her.
Ted Drews
Mar 31, 2021
Report
Ellen was fantastic and very accommodating. She was fantastic with our son and I learned a few tricks as well. She has everything she needs, and was more than happy to work with our requests. From start to finish we could not have been happier with our experience and of course the photos. They turned out great and have been so enjoyable to share with friends and family. Thank you Ellen!
Olivia Allen
Jan 07, 2021
Report
Ellen Dykstra (aka the baby whisperer) is simply AMAZING. My son was born early November 2020, my boyfriend and I were hesitant on weather or not to get newborn pictures done due to covid. After deciding we had to, the search was on for someone who not only had good quality content, but also the professionalism when it came to precautions they took with covid. When we found Ellen's website we couldn't have been more excited!
Not only did we love her style and look of her photos, but the fact that she comes to YOUR home and brings EVERYTHING (wraps, props, hats, lighting, back drops & more) was worth it to us on its own. Even more so, Ellen truly is radiant in what she does. You can tell she's passionate about her work, very professional, and was an absolute saint when it came to working with/handling our son. The photos came out beautifully, and we will cherish them for many years to come. I would highly recommend Ellen to anyone wanting to get family/baby pictures done!
Not only did we love her style and look of her photos, but the fact that she comes to YOUR home and brings EVERYTHING (wraps, props, hats, lighting, back drops & more) was worth it to us on its own. Even more so, Ellen truly is radiant in what she does. You can tell she's passionate about her work, very professional, and was an absolute saint when it came to working with/handling our son. The photos came out beautifully, and we will cherish them for many years to come. I would highly recommend Ellen to anyone wanting to get family/baby pictures done!
Katie Phan
Oct 31, 2020
Report
Ellen has taken newborn photos of both of my children. It's great that she comes and takes pictures in the comfort of your home so you don't have to worry about taking your newborn out. She provided all of the outfits and props. She is so kind and patient especially when the babies were fussy. I would definitely recommend Ellen Dykstra for photos!
