MOTHER OF TWO + PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
about jess
Koehler is pronounced as ‘Kay-ler’. I don’t get it either.
Los Angeles Family & Maternity Photographer
Documenting the transformation of women into mothers.
I specialize in authentically styled photo stories for families navigating the early years of parenthood, from pregnancy through life with babies and young children.
These years move quickly, and the emotional landscape of becoming a parent deserves to be remembered just as much as the milestones.
As a Los Angeles family photographer, I work with parents who want photographs that feel natural, emotional, and true to their lives—not stiff poses or perfectly curated moments, but images that reflect the real connection and transformation happening within their families.
Why This Work Matters to Me
Becoming a parent often brings a new version of yourself into the world. The early years are filled with tenderness, exhaustion, identity shifts, and moments of deep love that can feel almost impossible to describe.
Those layers are what draw me to this work.
Photographs during this season aren’t just documentation. They become part of how a family remembers who they were while everything was changing.
The Kind of Photographer I Am
First and foremost, I’m all about real talk. I’m not one for surface-level niceties. Small talk about the weather isn’t really my thing.
My clients invite me into some of the most intimate moments of their lives. Postpartum skin-to-skin. Nursing. The vulnerability of being photographed in underwear just weeks after giving birth. Navigating extended family dynamics, divorce, or grief.
I’ve lived a lot, witnessed even more, and hold space for it all.
Time and again, clients tell me they feel safe and seen with me. That’s what I strive for. Because this experience is more than a transaction.
It’s an exchange of humanity, creativity, and the deep desire to be known.
How I Approach Your Session
Because these photographs matter so deeply, I guide the entire experience with intention.
From creative planning to the final artwork in your home, my goal is to make the process feel supportive and effortless so you can focus on being present with your family.
Your photographs won’t just live in a folder. They become part of your home environment, quietly shaping the way your children see themselves and their place in the family story.
Learn more about how I help you actually get these printed.
A Little of My Own Story
My connection to this work is personal.
I was born from a teenage pregnancy and raised by a single mother who was figuring things out as she went. Years later, I found myself navigating early motherhood as a single parent too.
Those experiences shaped how I see family.
They taught me that family stories don’t always follow a predictable path, and that the most meaningful moments often exist right alongside the messy ones.
They also taught me how powerful it can be for children to see their lives reflected in photographs. Not just the polished milestones, but the everyday love and resilience that make up a family’s story.
That perspective is something I carry into every session.
Where I Work
I’m based in Central Los Angeles and photograph families throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
Many of my sessions take place in clients’ homes, allowing families to document everyday life in the spaces where their children are growing up. I also work at beautiful outdoor locations across the city and surrounding areas.
Whether we’re documenting quiet moments at home with a new baby or chasing toddlers through golden evening light, the goal is always the same: to create photographs that feel honest, connected, and deeply personal.
Some neighborhoods I commonly serve within Los Angeles
Hancock Park
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Hollywood Hills
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Culver City
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Pacific Palisades
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Pasadena
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Beverly Hills
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Santa Monica
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Studio City
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Silver Lake
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Highland Park
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Malibu
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Los Feliz
Hancock Park + Hollywood Hills + Culver City + Pacific Palisades + Pasadena + Beverly Hills + Santa Monica + Studio City + Silver Lake + Highland Park + Malibu + Los Feliz
We aren’t meant to go it alone.
If you’re navigating pregnancy, welcoming a new baby, or raising young children and want to document this chapter of your life, I’d love to hear your story.
Kind Words for Great Humans
"Thank you again for all the attention to detail and being so thoughtful with all these steps leading up to our sessions."
Emory C.
"You’re truly an artist. The heart and artistry is so there. We definitely want to sign up for next year’s photo shoot. "
Bonnie H.