Barb Levant Photo

05/14/2026

More time in my happy place!

05/12/2026

05/10/2026

“MOM” — an ode to Mothers, in appreciation of my 50th year making money with cameras.
Some of my favorites are here. Enjoy the outtakes of BarbLevant Photo — they may not make the next downsize. I appreciate you all. It’s especially heartwarming to see those babies all grown up, and even more so to photograph their babies. Even after 25–30 years, I can still recognize them.
I want to thank all of the moms, past and present, who put in the effort. I know what goes into it all — the clothing, props, bathing, hair, nap time, and attitude (because you never know how your child will react). I’ve pulled every crazy thing imaginable to get a response: Goofy ears, birds on my head, Cheerios, Smarties, and the dreaded lollipop.
I included a few images of my own children, because they were my motivation to work so hard creating these priceless memories for all of you.
Happy Mother’s Day 🤍

05/04/2026

From the archives of Barb Levant Photo:
October 24,1994
Today I scanned this selection from an original negative in my collection. It is amazing to me how many outtakes I love even more than the images that were ordered as prints! I am so excited that this baby now has a baby!

04/23/2026

Michael

“Michael” opens this Friday, and it sent me straight back to 1982—flipping through old notebooks and memories from the set of Thriller.

I was working for Dick Zimmerman, the man behind that iconic cover. Third assistant—loading film, dialing in lighting, and running the Mole-Richardson fog machine… from under the table where Michael Jackson posed.

I made $65 that day.
What I gained? A masterclass in lighting, precision, and being exactly where you need to be.

44 years later… still doing what I love—creating portraits, headshots, and images that last.

📍Chicago-based photographer | Available for bookings

03/19/2026

Before lawyers became TV stars… we made justice look iconic.

February 1980. A downtown law firm. A cover shoot for the LA Law Journal. My boss, photographer Bob Gardener, behind the lens. Rosha on makeup. Props styled by me—Barb Butrymowicz. And in true assistant fashion? That’s also me… covered head to toe in paint, standing in as a living, breathing Goddess of Justice.

Scales in hand—balance.
Blindfold—objectivity.
Sword—authority.

A universal symbol of fairness… brought to life in a studio, under hot lights, with equal parts grit and imagination.

The irony? Let’s just say life has a sense of humor when it comes to justice.

From concept to chaos to creation—this is what photography looked like before shortcuts.

03/17/2026

Portrait photography of remarkable women | The Ukulele Girls — Deerfield, Illinois, 1997

On December 2, 1997, I photographed a wonderful group of women who gathered regularly to play music, laugh, and celebrate their friendship. Their president, Patty, arranged for group portraits and mother-daughter photos in her Deerfield home.

Patty was a force all her own. I like to think that before fierce was a thing, there was Patty.

And one unforgettable detail—she casually mentioned she invented and named the Egg McMuffin, right there in the kitchen where I had my camera gear spread out.

When people are creative, it shows up in more than one way. Moments like these are why portrait photography preserves stories for generations.

03/08/2026

Kicking off with one from the archives.
Wilhelmina model J. Lawrence, shot 11-8-1981 in Long Beach, CA. My makeup artist Rosha had piled her hair so high we had to recline the seat of the VW Bug all the way back just to get to the location with the hair intact at well over 6' tall.
The point of the shot was power—with the smokestacks of the power station quietly rising in the background.
Over the next week I’ll be digging into some of my oldest archives, featuring a few of the cool, strong women I’ve met along the way in my photographic journey.
Hope you’ll come along for the ride.
📸

03/07/2026

Happy Belated…. It’s a twin thing. Love watching what’s next for you both!