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Take note, Demi Moore.
Andréa Cimini has made a career out of transforming pregnant women into superstars worthy of any magazine cover.
Now living in Los Angeles, Cimini made a trip back to the East Coast in the fall to shoot one of her oldest clients to date – a 48-year-old with child.
"She had the most amazing figure ever," said the photographer, who has been behind the lens most of her life.
Cimini, a former Southwest Philly resident with strong family ties to South Philly, has specialized in prenatal photography, along with family and wedding portraiture, for the past few years. Her passion has made her a bicoastal commodity, as she continues shooting clients in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas.
Cimini’s ability to encapsulate the pregnant figure in portraits has mothers-to-be embracing their femininity and body-altering experience.
"It is a wonderful, amazing feeling to see these women just glow in front of my camera," she said. "Every woman is a supermodel."
And Cimini is capable of making this generalization; she has photographed various A-list celebrities prior to her specialized occupation.
She credits her success to family support and a bustling city that served as a backdrop for her first photographs. Since her grandparents resided on the 2400 block of South Rosewood Street and the 1300 block of Bigler Street, she would frequently photograph homes in the Girard Estate area.
"The neighborhoods were really cool," she said. "There are some really beautiful architectural designs in South Philly."
COMING FROM A family of "very creative people," Cimini said she frequently stole a camera owned by her older sister, Marla, who also possessed a love of photography.
"Even at a very young age, I had no problem going up to people or trying to be a fly on the wall," she said.
Cimini would explore South Philly and Center City with her eyes behind the lens. The people she came across – just like her mothers-to-be – always were a unique bunch. She remembered taking pictures of Eagles fans in between working concessions at the games.
My camera "was like a permanent companion with me," she said. "In Philadelphia, there were a lot of great people who tell a story just by looking in their eyes and I was just trying to capture them as best as I could."
Majoring in history while minoring in photojournalism, Cimini enjoyed photographing the nude figure depicted in dramatic lighting at college. But the University of Delaware graduate found it difficult to find models to pose for her.
She may have entertained doubts about developing a career in photography, especially when an instructor – addressing the challenges associated with the field – told her, "if you could do anything but photography, do it."
The comment "did rock my world for a while because I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do," she said. "But I didn’t let that stop me. I don’t let pessimistic people get in my way. There’s a lot of that around and you have to put all those thoughts away."
With $7,000 in her pocket, Cimini relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1990s. She eventually landed a job at a photography studio that was hired to take pictures of red-carpet events and celebrity outings.
"For a girl from [Philadelphia] to be on the red carpet with Billy Bob Thornton and Robert De Niro … it was pretty exciting," said Cimini, whose photographs have appeared in InStyle, People and Us Weekly.
But the job was more than glitz and glamour. Cimini said she spent countless hours reviewing the film and making prints before finally sending the images to top magazines.
While enjoying her job, Cimini, who always craved studio work, yearned for more.
"Just like anything, after you do something for a while, creative types of people like myself need to be challenged," she said. "I’m always looking for the next creative avenue."
Her present career, she said, took off after photographing her pregnant friend, Tracie. Word-of-mouth increased her client base.
Cimini said she makes sure to have intimate conversations with her clients before the shoot, since they choose to be photographed nude, semi-nude or in clothes. The photographer also offers wardrobe choices and special music to create a relaxing mood.
"It is such a special time in a woman’s life," she said. "It is the most life-changing time for a woman. It’s very unique, very private and very personal. They want to document this. They love their bodies. They’re proud of this moment in their lives and they want to celebrate it."
This experience, Cimini said, usually leads to tears of joy.
"Eighty percent are crying during a point in the shoot," she said. "It’s exciting for me to be a part of that."
Clients can be photographed in various positions, including a mother looking down at her unborn child or looking outward toward the future. Some women like to have their family members included in the photograph, Cimini said.
With clients on both coasts, Cimini demonstrates a career in photography is attainable, according to her sister.
"I think she’s an inspiration for people who want to get into photography and start their own business," Marla said.
While Cimini occasionally shoots corporate events, she is most proud of her work with her clients. And she is sharing her dream with husband Mark.
"I’ve had the camera in my hand for 20 some odd years now and I don’t see putting it down anytime soon," she said.
To contact Andréa Cimini, call 323-899-9963 or e-mail her at [email protected]. Visit her Web site at www.andreacimini.com.
