I’m Jess.

And I’m so glad you’re here.

My most treasured photographs have never been the perfectly posed ones.

I believe photographs should take you back to a moment and help you remember not just what it looked like, but what it felt like.

The anticipation of wondering who the baby in your belly would become.
The way your newborn curled into your chest.
The year your toddler insisted rain boots matched every outfit.
The quiet glance your partner gave you that you didn’t notice.
The laughter that filled your home on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.

These are the moments I never want families to lose.

That’s why I photograph the way I do.

I document the seasons of family life that I know pass far too quickly. From pregnancy to the newborn days and every chapter that follows, each season deserves to be preserved.

My sessions are based in and around Rochester, NY, and are calm, relaxed, and gently guided. My goal is always to create an environment where everyone is comfortable to be themselves and where I can capture the connection that makes your family uniquely yours.

Before starting Jess Palmer Photography, I spent over a decade as a high school math teacher. That experience taught me patience, flexibility, and how to meet children exactly where they are. Those qualities continue to shape every session I photograph today.

When I'm not behind the camera, you'll usually find me somewhere with my two girls. During the week we're bouncing between gymnastics, dance, swimming, and (in the spring) softball, which I coach. My husband is a firefighter, so life at home is wonderfully busy, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Becoming a mom changed everything.

I know how quickly the little things become the things you miss most. That's why I believe every family deserves photographs that bring them back not only to what life looked like, but to what it felt like.

Book a session

I’d love to document this chapter for you.

“I cannot recommend Jess Palmer Photography enough! She has photographed our family photos AND my business for years. I love the natural take she has when photographing and each picture comes out wonderful. She is professional, caring and most importantly very talented. Jess is fabulous!”

— A.M.

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Your family already has a story worth photographing. The routines you've learned to navigate with a baby on your hip. The laughter you and your partner share in the middle of everyday life. It doesn't always have to be perfectly planned or an extra
The sprint from the car to the front door. Ringing the doorbell ten times before walking in. Playing "restaurant" with a board game none of us actually remembers how to play. Pouring half the bottle of rainbow sprinkles onto their after-din
Boots and bunnies. Years from now, they'll be what defines this season. Not just because they were favorites, but because they were reached for every single day. Because they were part of the stories your children told long before they had the wor
Childhood isn't found in perfect smiles. It's found in the wandering. The climbing. The tiny hands that have to touch every rock. This evening wasn't planned. The outfits weren't planned. Maybe that was the magic all along ✨