While pregnant women and their ripe forms have long held a cultural fascination–going back to the cave-painting days–many modern moms-to-be remain unconvinced that their own changing bodies are worthy of the kind of photo record reserved for wedding days, or new babies. But to in-demand maternity photographer Jennifer Loomis, this startling transformation is made to be celebrated. Originally trained as a photojournalist, Loomis cites her early years as an on-the-go shooter in far-flung locales like Japan and Kenya as highly influential in helping her learn how to “capture a feeling in a photograph.” And it shows. Her new book Portraits of Pregnancy (written with Hugo Kugiya) includes examples of her work along with personal stories from each of the moms depicted. The black and white images are intimate, tasteful¬, and intended first and foremost to capture the individual beauty of each woman. Her subjects range in age from 16 to 54, and come in all shapes, sizes and colors–each with her own history written on her body. Loomis, who has photographed over 1700 women in her career, first recognized her calling 15 years ago during a figure photography class. She, as the lone female, watched her male classmates come to life shooting a lingerie-clad model, while she far preferred the simple beauty and shape of the same women completely unadorned.  In that moment she says, “I realized there were not enough women photographing women.” Early on, Loomis discovered she was on to something, and helping her clients come to terms with their bodies and seeing themselves in a positive light is one of the many rewards of her work. Often her moms will register surprise at how great they look, telling her, “Wow, I look beautiful.”  Loomis hopes that by making her sitters feel so confident during pregnancy, they will be able to “see their unique beauty for the rest of the lives.” Dividing her time between studios in Seattle, San Francisco and New York, Loomis works with each client to create the most comfortable and inviting environment possible, insisting on a personal chat beforehand. During one recent sitting in her natural light-flooded New York studio (which doubles as a meditation center) we stopped by to watch her with Ugly Betty actress Ana Ortiz.  Although Ana is more used to the camera than many of Loomis’ clients, the session had an intimate family-friendly feeling. Ana brought along her husband and their surprisingly photogenic rescue dog Fidel, who made his way into a couple of pictures. With only one other assistant, Loomis shot Ana quickly and quietly, trying several comfortable poses with varying levels of modesty. Another great perk of her job is the ongoing relationships she forms with her clients, who often return with their babies and small children for additional sessions. While taking pictures of young families has its own challenges, Loomis claims, ”The best part about it is when the babies and children remember me. They always look forward to coming back to the studio.” She adds “They love it here because I involve them in the process of making photographs. I have them straighten the backdrop or use the lint roller to get off any lint. Whatever they can do, depending on their age.“ And while beautiful images of mothers and their children are her end results, her intention is to go a bit deeper in her work. “I am not just looking for a smile. I want more than that. I want something special to come out in my photographs.” Editor’s note: Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz and her husband, musician Noah Lebenzon, welcomed their first child, Paloma Louise Lebenzon on June 27, 2009. For more on Jennifer Loomis, see jenniferloomis.com