Find the Best Photographers in Waukesha
Uncover the top-rated photographers in Waukesha, handpicked for quality, professionalism, and creativity.
Top Rated Waukesha Photographers

Delicate Art Photography
google reviews ()
why choose this photographer
Delicate Art Photography operates a studio in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a short drive from Waukesha, offering maternity, newborn, child, and family photography to families across southeastern Wisconsin. The studio has been recognized as one of the best newborn photographers in the Milwaukee area for four consecutive years, an accolade reflecting a consistent, established newborn portfolio built over many years of session work. Delicate Art Photography’s newborn images favor a soft, gentle aesthetic with delicate wraps, layered textures, and close attention to lighting, aimed at creating heirloom-quality portraits parents will want to display for years. While based in Brookfield, the photographer also travels for sessions when needed, making the studio accessible to Waukesha families who prefer either an in-studio appointment or a session in their own home. Beyond newborns, the studio’s maternity and family offerings give clients the option to book a connected series of sessions covering pregnancy, the newborn stage, and ongoing family milestones with the same photographer. For Waukesha-area parents seeking a nearby, multi-year-recognized newborn specialist with an established portfolio and flexible studio or in-home session options, Delicate Art Photography offers a well-regarded choice just outside the city.

Makena Lee Photography
google reviews ()
why choose this photographer
Makena Lee Photography operates a photography studio in Delafield, Wisconsin, specializing in newborn, wedding, and branding photography while serving the greater Milwaukee area including Brookfield, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, and Waukesha. Makena’s newborn sessions are built around a curated selection of outfits and props available for clients to use during their session, removing one of the more stressful planning decisions for new parents preparing for their baby’s first portraits. Her newborn portfolio shows a mix of classic wrapped poses and softer, lifestyle-influenced images, giving families a range of styles within a single session. Client reviews consistently praise the quality of her work and her easy, comfortable studio presence, reflected in a 100% recommendation rate from past clients on social platforms. Makena also documents weddings and offers branding photography, but newborn sessions remain a core part of her studio offerings, and her Delafield location puts her within easy reach of Waukesha-area families looking for a nearby studio option outside the city itself. For parents who want access to a studio’s outfit and prop inventory without having to source everything themselves, Makena Lee Photography offers a convenient, well-reviewed newborn photography option a short drive from Waukesha.

Whitney Nicole Photography
google reviews ()
why choose this photographer
Whitney Nicole Photography specializes in emotive family, motherhood, and newborn photography serving Waukesha and the surrounding Milwaukee-area communities, including Brookfield, Delafield, Wauwatosa, Cedarburg, and Whitefish Bay. Whitney’s newborn sessions focus on capturing genuine emotion and connection between parents and their new baby, favoring soft, natural light and candid moments over stiff, formal posing. Her portfolio reflects a documentary-influenced style, with an emphasis on the small, fleeting details of a baby’s first days: tiny fingers, sleepy expressions, and the exhausted, joyful look of new parents. Clients note that Whitney offers helpful, practical guidance on outfit and styling choices ahead of the session, easing the stress many first-time parents feel about preparing for newborn photos. Her relaxed, easy-going approach during sessions has been highlighted repeatedly in client feedback, along with praise for the quality and warmth of her final images. Whitney serves families across the greater Waukesha area, often traveling to client homes or meeting in a studio setting depending on the family’s preference. For Waukesha parents who want emotionally driven, lifestyle-focused newborn photography rather than a strictly posed studio experience, Whitney Nicole Photography offers a warm, personable alternative grounded in genuine family connection.

Katie Emanuelson Photography
google reviews ()
why choose this photographer
Katie Emanuelson Photography is a family and newborn lifestyle photographer with a photography studio located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving clients throughout Milwaukee, Lake Country, and the North Shore region. Katie’s newborn sessions lean toward a lifestyle approach rather than heavily posed portraits, capturing authentic, in-the-moment details of a baby’s first days alongside their parents and siblings in a warm, natural studio setting. Many of her newborn clients have worked with her across multiple stages of their family’s story, from a motherhood mini-session, to maternity portraits, and finally a studio newborn session once the baby arrives, giving her a documentary-style familiarity with each family she photographs. Client testimonials describe Katie as talented and down to earth, noting that sessions never feel rushed, an important quality when working with a newborn whose schedule can be unpredictable. Her Waukesha studio location makes her a convenient choice for city families who want an in-town, lifestyle-focused newborn photographer rather than a traditional posed-portrait studio experience. For parents who value authentic, relationship-driven photography and want a photographer who gets to know their family well before the newborn session, Katie Emanuelson Photography offers a genuine, unhurried alternative to more formal studio setups in the Waukesha area.

Vanessa Wyler Photography
google reviews ()
why choose this photographer
Vanessa Wyler Photography operates a dedicated photo studio located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, just off I-94, offering newborn, family, maternity, and milestone photography to clients across the greater Milwaukee area. Vanessa’s Waukesha studio was purpose-built for newborn sessions, featuring all-natural light, white walls, light flooring, and a simple, neutral prop selection designed to create clean, timeless portraits that won’t feel dated years down the road. Her newborn portfolio spans years of client work, showing a consistent, soft aesthetic focused on genuine, unposed moments alongside classic wrapped portraits. Beyond the newborn stage, Vanessa also photographs milestone sessions at three, six, and nine months and first birthdays, giving families a reason to return to the same studio and photographer throughout their baby’s first year. Because her studio sits directly in Waukesha, she is a convenient option for city residents who want an in-town newborn photography experience without traveling to Milwaukee. Vanessa works directly with clients via email to plan session details, outfit choices, and timing around a newborn’s unpredictable schedule. For Waukesha parents who want a true neighborhood studio option with an established newborn portfolio and a soft, natural-light aesthetic, Vanessa Wyler Photography is a locally based choice worth considering.

Megan Papachristou Photography
google reviews ()
why choose this photographer
Megan Papachristou Photography is a Milwaukee-based custom portrait studio with more than 10 years of experience specializing in maternity, newborn, family, headshot, and personal branding photography, regularly serving Waukesha-area families along with Brookfield, Cedarburg, Hartland, Mequon, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, and surrounding Milwaukee suburbs. Megan is a member of the Professional Photographers Association of America and has earned multiple Bronze awards in the maternity and newborn categories through the International Portrait Masters Competition, an industry recognition reflecting the technical quality of her posed newborn work. Her studio is designed around a comfortable, unhurried experience, with a wardrobe and prop selection that lets parents customize their baby’s session to match their home decor or personal style. Megan has been recognized as one of the best maternity photographers in the Milwaukee area since 2016, and many of her newborn clients originally book with her during pregnancy for a maternity session and return for the newborn portraits soon after delivery. This continuity gives her particular insight into a family’s story and preferences by the time the baby arrives. For Waukesha-area parents who want a decorated, award-recognized studio experience backed by a decade of specialized newborn and maternity work, Megan Papachristou Photography offers both technical expertise and a personalized, boutique feel.

Julie Collins Photography
google reviews ()
why choose this photographer
Julie Collins Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with a Master’s degree through Professional Photographers of America, bringing more than 13 years of experience to her newborn photography sessions from her studio in Oconomowoc. Julie has completed extensive training in newborn safety and posing, a critical skill set for creating the intricate wrapped and posed portraits that many parents request for their baby’s earliest photos. Her Lake Country studio serves families throughout Oconomowoc, Delafield, Pewaukee, Hartland, Sussex, Brookfield, Waukesha, and Milwaukee, making her a popular choice for Waukesha-area parents willing to travel a short distance for an experienced newborn specialist. Julie’s approach emphasizes a warm, guided studio experience designed to help nervous new parents feel confident and comfortable, while she handles the technical details of safely posing a days-old infant. Beyond newborn photography, Julie also offers family portraits, senior photography, and professional headshots, along with custom wall art and album design for newborn clients who want a lasting keepsake of the session. With more than a decade of specialized experience and a professional certification most local photographers don’t hold, Julie Collins Photography stands out as a credentialed, experienced option for Waukesha families seeking a true newborn photography specialist.

Michelle Alyce Photography
google reviews (22)
why choose this photographer
Michelle Alyce Photography is an award-winning portrait studio based in Sussex, Wisconsin, roughly 25 minutes from Milwaukee and a short drive from Waukesha, specializing in newborn, children, and family photography. Michelle built her newborn practice around a full-service studio experience, guiding parents through outfit planning, posing, and prop selection so that even first-time parents feel prepared for their baby’s earliest portrait session. Her newborn galleries showcase the traditional posed style that has become a signature of her work: soft wraps, sleepy curls, and delicate close-up details captured in gentle, warm studio light. Michelle Alyce Photography carries a 4.9-star rating across 22 reviews, a reflection of the personal attention she brings to every session and her reputation among Waukesha-area and greater Milwaukee families. Beyond newborn portraits, Michelle also photographs children and families, often welcoming clients back for milestone sessions as their newborns grow into toddlers and school-age kids. Her studio setting allows for controlled lighting and temperature, both important considerations for comfortable, safe newborn posing. For Waukesha-area parents looking for an experienced, highly rated studio newborn photographer within a short drive of the city, Michelle Alyce Photography is a well-established option with a strong regional reputation.

Kara Reese Photography
google reviews (110)
why choose this photographer
Kara Reese Photography has been photographing Waukesha families for more than 15 years from its studio at 213 South Street in downtown Waukesha. Kara built her reputation as a full-service portrait photographer offering newborn portraits alongside family, headshot, senior, and boudoir photography, and her newborn sessions are informed by more than a decade of hands-on experience posing infants safely and comfortably. Clients consistently praise her calm, patient studio environment, an especially important quality when working with days-old babies who need frequent breaks, feeding time, and a warm, quiet space. Kara’s newborn portfolio features the classic soft, timeless posed style parents look for: swaddled wraps, family cuddles, and detail shots of tiny hands and feet, all shot in her downtown Waukesha studio. With a 5.0-star rating built on 110 client reviews, Kara Reese Photography has become one of the most trusted names for portrait photography in Waukesha County. She also offers seasonal mini-sessions throughout the year, making it easy for growing families to book returning sessions as their newborn becomes a toddler. For parents searching for an established, highly reviewed newborn photographer within Waukesha city limits itself, Kara Reese Photography combines longevity, consistency, and an outstanding review history that’s hard to match locally.

Heather Richter Photography
google reviews (9)
why choose this photographer
Heather Richter Photography is a woman-owned wedding photography business based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Heather has described photography as a passion that goes back to childhood, and she has built her business around capturing authentic images from weddings and other milestone celebrations rather than heavily staged, formal photography. Her wedding packages include full-day coverage, engagement sessions, traditional portrait options, and the ability to add a second photographer for larger weddings, with pricing starting at $1,599. That starting price positions Heather Richter Photography as one of the more accessible options among Waukesha’s established wedding photographers, without sacrificing the personalized, one-on-one attention that comes with working directly with an independent photographer rather than a larger studio team. Reviewers on WeddingWire consistently highlight her ability to make couples feel comfortable during engagement shoots and on the wedding day itself, and to capture genuine emotion rather than stiff, posed moments. Heather Richter Photography holds a perfect 5.0 out of 5 rating from 9 reviews on WeddingWire. For Waukesha couples seeking a locally based, independent wedding photographer with an approachable style and straightforward pricing, Heather Richter Photography is a well-reviewed choice worth considering alongside the area’s larger studios.

Jonathan's Portraits
google reviews (24)
why choose this photographer
Jonathan’s Portraits is a multi-generation family photography studio operating out of Waukesha, Wisconsin, with roots tracing back to 1939, making it one of the longest-running photography businesses in the Milwaukee metro area. The studio is currently led by Jonathan Roob, who works alongside a team of four certified professional photographers spanning three generations of the family business. While the studio’s history began in traditional portrait photography, offering everything from children’s portraits to senior pictures and corporate headshots, wedding photography has become a core part of its services, and the team brings decades of institutional experience in posing, lighting, and working with families to its wedding-day coverage. Jonathan’s Portraits describes its approach as creating real, raw, authentic and fun imagery alongside more classic, gallery-style wall portraits, giving couples a mix of documentary wedding coverage and the polished formal portraits the studio has built its reputation on since the 1930s. Beyond weddings, the studio also offers engagement sessions, couples’ portraits, glamour photography, and destination photography for couples marrying outside Wisconsin. On WeddingWire, the business holds a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 24 reviews. For Waukesha couples who value working with an established, multi-generational studio with certified photographers and a long local track record, Jonathan’s Portraits offers a level of institutional experience few competitors can match.

Studio re
google reviews (31)
why choose this photographer
Studio re — the name stands for Randy and Ellen — is a husband-and-wife photography team based on Cedar Lane in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Randy’s interest in photography started in childhood shooting with his father’s film cameras, while Ellen picked up the craft after the birth of their first child, with Randy teaching her the fundamentals before she developed her own passion for chasing the perfect shot. Married for 18 years and shooting together for more than a decade, the pair have photographed well over 100 weddings across the greater Waukesha and Milwaukee area, including Brookfield, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, and Menomonee Falls. Their approach blends a photojournalistic sensibility with enough structure to guide formal portraits, balancing candid, in-the-moment images with intentionally posed shots of the couple and their families. Because they work as a true team rather than a lead photographer with hired second shooters, couples get two photographers who are, in their own words, utterly synchronized while documenting a wedding day. Studio re markets its packages as affordable, transparent, and comprehensive, aiming to remove pricing surprises for couples. The studio holds a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 31 reviews on WeddingWire. For Waukesha couples who want a genuine husband-and-wife team with over a decade of shared shooting experience, Studio re is a well-established local option.

Memory Lane Photography by Jessica Lane
google reviews (45)
why choose this photographer
Jessica Lane founded Memory Lane Photography in 2015 and has since become one of the most active wedding photographers serving the Waukesha area, with her studio documenting more than 100 wedding days over the past five years alone. Based in nearby Delafield, Jessica photographs weddings throughout Waukesha, Milwaukee, and Madison, describing herself as a creative storyteller with a mission to document the most adventurous engagements, proposals, and wedding days her clients experience. Her photography style blends classic composition with candid, photojournalistic moments, aiming to capture real emotion rather than stiff, overly posed images. Off the clock, Jessica is a mother to four boys, a detail that shows up in her approach to wedding-day photography: patient, unhurried, and comfortable working around the unpredictable moments that come with big family gatherings. Her portfolio spans woodland ceremonies, garden weddings, barn venues, and lakeside engagement sessions across southeastern Wisconsin. On WeddingWire, Memory Lane Photography holds a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 45 reviews, and the studio has been recognized with WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards in multiple years. For Waukesha couples wanting a well-reviewed, highly experienced photographer with a genuine documentary style, Memory Lane Photography by Jessica Lane is a strong regional choice.

Vital Image Wedding Studios
google reviews (99)
why choose this photographer
Vital Image has been photographing weddings from its Waukesha studio at 251 W Broadway since 2011, growing from a family-founded venture into one of southeastern Wisconsin’s most recognized wedding studios. The company is both veteran-owned and woman-owned, and over the years has been recognized with more than 80 wedding industry awards. What sets Vital Image apart from many photography-only studios is its full-service model: couples can bundle photography with videography, DJ and lighting services, wedding planning, day-of coordination, and even officiating, all under one roof, with discounts available for combining two or more services. The studio also offers interest-free monthly payment plans, a detail that matters to couples budgeting for a wedding day, and reflects the studio’s stated mission of professionally preserving a couple’s wedding memories without adding financial stress. On WeddingWire, Vital Image holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating across 99 reviews, one of the largest and strongest review bases among Waukesha wedding vendors. For Waukesha couples who want a single trusted team handling multiple wedding-day logistics rather than coordinating separate vendors, Vital Image’s combination of longevity, awards, and bundled services makes it a standout local option.

Lori Booth Photography
google reviews (29)
why choose this photographer
Capture the beauty of your maternity journey with Lori Booth Photography, your trusted photographer in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin.

Megan Marie Photography
google reviews (10)
why choose this photographer
Capture the beauty of motherhood with Megan Marie Photography, specializing in stunning maternity portraits in Luxemburg, Wisconsin.

Magic Box Photography
google reviews (5)
why choose this photographer
Capture the beauty of motherhood with Magic Box Photography in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. Specializing in maternity photography, we create enchanting memories that last a lifetime.

Josh Russell Studios
google reviews (29)
why choose this photographer
Capture the beauty of motherhood with Josh Russell Studios, specializing in stunning maternity photography in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.

Three Otters Photography and Top Branding Solutions
google reviews (2)
why choose this photographer
Capture the beauty of motherhood with Three Otters Photography in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Specializing in maternity photography, we bring your journey to life with artistry and care.

Amber Searer Photography
google reviews (38)
why choose this photographer
Capture the beauty of motherhood with Amber Searer Photography, specializing in stunning maternity photos in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Browse Photographers by State
Find trusted professionals across all 50 states: