Rife Ponce Photography

Rife Ponce Photography for life’s most important moments…emotive, storytelling photography for every stage in life.

09/03/2026

The thing about photographing a true maximalist is that nothing needs coaxing. Samantha Saifer Berngard () showed up with a rack of options to wear for Modern Luxury’s Top North Shore Women of Style, (and a overflowing closet as backup).

Journalist by training, Head of Brand Experience at Monica + Andy, mom of three, and a devoted hunter of vintage treasure—Pucci, Missoni, Ralph Lauren, Moschino, collected one trip at a time.

Congratulations, Sam. Thank you for the juicy setting, stunning pieces, good vibes. (Also, my secret delight in these pictures: the women watching on in the background. I’m here for it).

If you’re a vintage lover, drop your favorite find or source in the comments.

Makeup: J. Esther Han

You can usually tell which photos a grandparent has been quietly wishing for. This was one of them, every grandkid in on...
08/28/2026

You can usually tell which photos a grandparent has been quietly wishing for. This was one of them, every grandkid in one place at one time, ages stacked from barely, walking to nearly-taller-than-grandpa, all of them dressed to match whether they liked it or not. It takes some doing to get a group this size onto one set of steps. It takes about four seconds to see why it was worth it.

Who in your family has been hoping for a photo like this?

08/27/2026

Fall Marathon Days are back 🍂🧡

There are only a few slots per date, and fall in Chicago is not known for taking its time.

If updating your family photos has been on your list since roughly last November, this is the low-effort version of finally doing it. Booking is open — link in bio.

Here’s how they work: I block off a handful of afternoons, set up at some of my favorite spots around the city, and photograph families back to back until the light goes. Short sessions, quick turnaround, but still the real stuff — your kid(s) doing their thing , you actually laughing instead of holding a smile.

I sent out a newsletter this week to my legacy clients, so many slots have already been scooped up. Here they are for everyone else. Individual sessions are also available for a more personalized experience.

Dates:
Sunday, Sept 13 — Winnemac Park, 5:00–7:00 PM
Monday, Sept 21 — Skokie Lagoons, 4:45–6:45 PM
Saturday, Oct 3 — South Pond, 4:30–6:30 PM
Monday, Oct 12 — Elmwood Beach, 4:00–6:00 PM
Saturday, Oct 24 — Montrose Harbor, 3:45–5:45 PM
Tuesday, Nov 3 — West Ridge Nature Center, 2:30–4:30 PM
Saturday, Nov 14 — in studio, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

Also, if you want to join the newsletter for future announcements and deals, DM with your email.

Excited to create together. 🍂

08/26/2026

Her husband found three photographers. She looked at all three and thought, no. None of these feel like us.
So she started her own search, which is how they ended up in front of my camera for their first family session. They told me later they connected to the work before they connected to me, which I love. That’s usually how it starts.
But connecting to someone’s photos and trusting that your own family will look like that? Two different things. At the end of the shoot she said, half laughing, “I hope we got some.” I knew we did. She had no way of knowing that yet.
Then the gallery went out, and she wrote:
“Oh my goodness!!! I’m so impressed and absolutely love so many of these photos! I was a little worried since she wasn’t in her best mood that it might be hard to capture her joy and personality, but you truly did it! Thank you so much for capturing our family so beautifully. We will absolutely be reaching out to you again in the future!”
Here’s the thing about a toddler having an off day: I’m not trying to talk her out of it. I’m waiting. There’s always a moment where she forgets we’re doing something, and that’s the frame. It’s not luck and it’s not a trick. It’s just staying long enough for her to be herself.
If you’ve been scrolling photographers and none of them feel like your people — keep looking. It matters more than you think.
Booking link in bio.
realandthepretty

08/24/2026

Red satin, vintage lace, and that late-day light that makes everything feel like a memory you haven’t had yet.
Dana said Lana Del Rey and I said say let’s.

07/27/2026

The WNBA trusted me to bring a black & white portrait studio to life at the Way Lounge for All-Star Weekend — and the guests showed up and showed OUT. So much style. So much presence. So much inspiration in one room. This is why I love what I do.

📍 Chicago

Summer’s finally here, and the beach is calling, it’s hands down my favorite place to shoot this time of year. 🧡☀️There’...
06/28/2026

Summer’s finally here, and the beach is calling, it’s hands down my favorite place to shoot this time of year. 🧡☀️

There’s about a two-hour stretch before the sun actually sets when the light goes soft and golden and makes everyone look like the best version of themselves. That’s the window we’re after, so when we book, we’ll start about two hours ahead of the real sunset to catch all of it.

A heads up though, those sunset slots are going fast, and I’m almost out. If a beach session has been on your mind, now’s the time to grab one before they’re gone.

Thinking about it? Send me a message and we’ll find your evening.

New headshots for Jennefer Folsom—realtor, top 500 Chicago real producer, and one of the genuinely good ones (both at he...
06/27/2026

New headshots for Jennefer Folsom—realtor, top 500 Chicago real producer, and one of the genuinely good ones (both at her job and in my life).
Here’s what I love about photographing someone like Jennefer: she’s already the real deal, so my only job is to make sure the camera catches it. The warmth. That sharp, get-it-done energy that’s made her the person you want in your corner when you’re buying or selling in this city.
A great headshot was never about looking buttoned-up and perfect. It’s about looking like the person your clients are going to feel lucky they found—the second they meet you.
So proud of you, Jenn! And so glad I’m the one who gets to be behind the lens for it.
Is your headshot still keeping up with who you are now, or is it a few chapters behind?

Spent an afternoon following these four around all their spots before they scatter—the library where they logged more ho...
06/24/2026

Spent an afternoon following these four around all their spots before they scatter—the library where they logged more hours than they’d admit, the Gothic courtyard, the lakefront with the whole Chicago skyline sitting out across the water.

That’s the part I love about photographing grads on location instead of against a backdrop. You’re not just getting a nice picture of them, you’re getting the places that made these years what they were.
The stairwell they ran down a thousand times. The bench. The shelf of books they walked past without a second look

These guys made it so easy, too. Showed me around like tour guides, cracked each other up, totally themselves the whole time. The kind of shoot that doesn’t really feel like a shoot.

Years from now these won’t just be grad photos—they’ll be a map of who they were, and who they had beside them, right at the end of it all.

Where would your grad want to be photographed?

Address

2416 W. North Avenue #2
Chicago, IL
60647

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14023044057

Website

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