Chicago Documentary & Family Photographer 
 RoGina Montgomery
I’m RoGina Montgomery, a photographer based on Chicago’s South Side working across editorial, lifestyle, documentary, and family photography. My work focuses on documenting real life as it unfolds through editorial assignments, personal documentary projects, and family portrait sessions for clients who want images that feel honest images specific to their lives. I photograph families, communities, and everyday moments with minimal direction, creating photographs that are of a particular time, place, and relationship.
Published Chicago Photography Work
My photography has appeared in major publications including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Real Simple, Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Travel Noire, and Sony Alpha. As a Getty Images contributor, my work is licensed for commercial and editorial use worldwide, alongside personal and family photography focused on long-term documentation rather than one-off images.
Photography as Preservation
I treat photography as both art and archive. Each family session, editorial assignment, personal project serves a dual purpose: creating beautiful images  while documenting the family experiences. I work with the understanding that photographs outlive us, becoming the stories our grandchildren will tell about who we were and how we lived.
Community & Service
In addition to portrait, documentary and editorial work, service is an important part of my practice. I volunteer my photography to support high school seniors who may not otherwise have access to formal yearbook portraits, helping ensure their milestone is documented and seen. I also provide portrait photography for foster youth, creating images used for adoption profiles as well as personal keepsakes they can carry with them as they move through care. Beyond photography, I donate handmade cards and creative work to senior living and assisted care facilities. This work reflects my belief that photography can be both documentation and care, an act of preservation centered on people, access, and community.
Working with Me
I photograph families throughout Chicago and take on editorial assignments, along with a limited number of pro bono projects connected to community needs.
Contact me here to inquire about availability and fit.
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