Amsterdam Photographer, Natalie Starks

I'm a recent expat to Amsterdam, having moved from Chicago with my husband and our daughter

As a fourth-generation Chicagoan, it'll always be "home"—but we love the ease and safety of life here, so here we are! These days you'll find me exploring this beautiful city, planning our next trip, at a playground with my daughter, or on the couch with my family watching something…lately it’s Bluey with my daughter, or Barry with my husband.

From darkroom to diapers (and everything in between)

I originally planned to study painting and drawing, but one intro photography course changed that. Using my mom's 1980s Canon AE-1—the camera she bought to photograph me as a baby—I earned my BA in film photography (with a minor in art history) from Columbia College Chicago.

In 2010, I answered a Craigslist ad for a hospital newborn photographer, and that's how I fell into photographing tiny fingers and toes. I never planned on being a family photographer—it just happened. But I can't imagine doing anything else.

My sessions are relaxed, joyful, and pressure-free, because the best photos happen when everyone feels like themselves. I genuinely enjoy the families I work with—it's not unusual for clients to become friends after a session or two.

I don't shoot film anymore (though I dream of dusting off that AE-1 someday). These days it's a Canon R6 mirrorless—quick and intuitive enough to keep up with even the wiggliest toddler.

Let's work together

I'm building my Amsterdam client family and would love to explore this city's canals, parks, and neighborhoods with yours. Local or expat, if you want a photographer who makes sessions feel easy and fun, I'd love to hear from you.