Indie family photo & film · Chicago & North Shore

For families who care more about connection than posing

The experience

That's not a performance. That's just what happens when a family stops trying to look perfect — and I'm there to catch it.

I don't direct. I don't pose. I follow, watch, and wait for the real moments — the chaos, the tenderness, the in-between.

Yes, you'll get a few beautiful smiling portraits too. But that's never the whole story.

Lifestyle Family Session

For families who want to live in the moment, not perform for the camera. Just you, exactly as you are.

  • 1–1.5 hours

  • 35+ edited images

  • $650

A family of three with their dog on a bed in a cozy bedroom, smiling and playing together.
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A person holding a baby's hand with sunlight and lens flares in the background.

Newborn session

The first days go fast. Let's make sure you remember every detail.

  • 2 hours, at your home

  • 35+ edited images

  • $750

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Close-up of a person lying down with eyes closed, receiving a gentle forehead massage, with hands of another person visible.

Birth Story session

The whole story — from anticipation to the first kiss. Photo and film, combined.

  • Full labor coverage + 1-2 hours after delivery

  • 70+ images + 3–6 min birth film + premium album

  • $2350

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The Artist

I'm Olga — photographer and filmmaker behind Helga Photo & Video, capturing families for over 10 years.

I'm a mom of three. So when you're wondering whether your kids will relax, whether you'll feel comfortable, whether this will feel forced — I get it. I've been on your side of the camera.

I see beauty in simple things. In light. In the quiet connections most people walk right past. That's what I'm there to catch.

Based in Chicago area. Award-winning work. Happy to travel.

Close-up of a woman with long, wavy blonde hair and blue eyes, smiling gently, wearing a black top.
Gold-colored seal with inscription 'NAPCP Master Photographer Certification 2022' and decorative border.
Logo for the 20th International Photography Awards, 2023 official selection, professional category, featuring a stylized geometric design in shades of brown and beige.
A circular badge with a dark blue background and gold laurel leaves around the edge. It features a stylized logo at the top, and text that reads "LOCBNEARME RECOMMENDS Helga Photo & Video" with the year 2025 and five gold stars at the bottom.
Golden award emblem with laurel wreath, stars, and text 'Quality Business Awards 2025' on a pedestal.
  • A woman holding a newborn baby wrapped in a blanket near a window with sunlight streaming in.

    "She has that essential talent to see what's most important - how people feel at the moment - and to catch it. Looking at the result of our 2-hour journey with Olga, I know that in 5, 10 or even 20 years I will fondly remember how happy and close we were with each other that day."

  • A pregnant woman in a light pink dress, standing outdoors with sunlight behind her, being touched on the belly by a person in a blue patterned shirt.

    "She did my maternity shoot, delivery of our baby, newborn pictures and many many more. She is the person that makes you feel comfortable in any setting. Our pictures are the best memories we could ever ask for and they are amazing."

  • Close-up of an adult's hand holding a small baby’s foot, with sunlight creating lens flares.

    "She is very talented and was so patient and sweet to our little one. The pictures look so natural and she did such a great job capturing the moment instead of a forced pose. We have received so many compliments on her work and we would use her in a heartbeat for future events."

Get in Touch

I saved this quote for you, little baby Arthur: “When love can manifest itself in its fullness, happiness passes through that person, reaching the other.” It’s what you’ve done from the moment you came into this world. I beli
Norway was all about bonding — with each other as a family, and with myself. When I think back to the hikes we did, surrounded by the most breathtaking nature, I feel so happy and content. Healthy enough to walk those trails, with my favorite p
This is how a simple in-home family photo session with me usually unfolds. You don’t need a perfect home, perfect clothes—or anything perfect at all. All you need is to be present. Laugh. Cry. Hug your kids. Just set aside your phone and
it feels so unfair to keep these pictures unseen
I see a girl. She is safe. Content. Calm—with a sparkle in her eyes. A quiet excitement. She’s ready to play, to explore the world. She is grounded and free all at once. Why? Because there is a hand. A calm, strong, supportive hand. Re

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