Where does the photoshoot happen?

At Chi Yoga Shack, 1942 N. Leavitt St. in Bucktown, Chicago.

Who takes the photos?

Nora Gonshak, with Rich Gonshak as artistic director. You can see their work on Instagram at @chicagoyogaphotography.

How much does a yoga photoshoot cost?

It depends on what you have in mind. Tell us about it with the form on this page, and we'll write back with pricing and dates.

Do I have to be a yoga teacher or an advanced student?

No. Come as you are. Teachers and students both come for photos of their own practice.

Yoga photoshoots in ChicagoYour practice, in pictures.

A private photo session in the calm of the studio, with Nora Gonshak behind the camera and Rich Gonshak as artistic director.

Ask about a photoshoot See the portfolio

A dancer's pose, one foot held high overhead, against the painted sun mural

Movement and stillness

A photoshoot at Chi Yoga Shack is a private session, planned around you and your practice. We shoot right here in the studio, in front of the painted sun, against the old brick wall, or by candlelight, and you get a collection of beautiful photographs of your yoga journey.

Teachers use the photos for their classes and social media. Students come for pictures of their practice as it is today, on their own or with a partner or friend.

With a partner or friend

Come with someone and shoot together: partner poses, a little acro, or a shape only the two of you would think of. That heart is two side bends.

Two people in side bends, their arms joined overhead in the shape of a heart, at the sun mural

Acro yoga at the sun mural: one partner on the mat holds the other up in the air

Two people lying head to head with their legs lifted and crossed, at the sun mural

Strong and rooted

Old brick and warm wood make a calm background that keeps the eye on you. It suits arm balances, backbends and handstands.

An arm balance with the knees tucked onto the arms, in front of the old brick wall

An arm balance with one leg stretched long behind, beside the brick wall

A full backbend, hands and feet pressing the body up into an arch, by the brick wall

By candlelight

We turn the lights down and set salt lamps around your mat. The light is soft and warm, made for seated poses and slow, quiet ones.

Arms raised overhead in a seated pose, ringed by glowing salt lamps

A seated side bend, one arm reaching over, with salt lamps glowing on the floor

Resting on the floor, long dark hair fanned out between glowing salt lamps

Between the poses

Nora keeps the camera up between poses, so you also get the laughs and whoever wanders into the frame.

Nose to nose with a dog, between poses in the studio

Laughing in the middle of a deep pose, arms reaching back overhead

Into the light

The bright center of the painted sun sits right behind you, so the whole shape of a pose stands out. It's the most colorful frame in the studio.

A low lunge reaching back for the rear foot, salt lamps glowing at the foot of the sun mural

A kneeling pose with the arms flung wide and the head tipped back, in front of the sun mural

A seated balance holding one foot up high, in front of the sun mural

From Nora's albums

Nine sessions at the studio, a few frames from each.

A candlelight session

One evening, with the lights down and the salt lamps lit.

A seated twist with one knee up, salt lamps glowing across the floor

Seated cross-legged with the hands open at the shoulders, salt lamps glowing

Seated with the palms pressed together high overhead, by candlelight

Seated with both hands raised and open, salt lamps around the mat

At the sun mural

Seated and kneeling poses under the painted sun.

Seated cross-legged with the arms raised, framed by the sun mural

A side plank variation with one arm reaching up, in front of the sun mural

A low lunge with the chest lifted and the arms swept back, at the sun mural

Seated in meditation and smiling, in front of the sun mural

Backbends and balance

A long session at the brick wall and the mural, with Rich helping shape a pose.

A dancer's pose against a halo of white light

A deep backbend with one foot drawn to the head, beside the brick wall

Rich helping a student deepen a seated pose by the brick wall

A standing backbend, the arms reaching down toward the floor behind

Slow flow by candlelight

Candles along the brick wall and a slow, quiet practice.

Seated cross-legged with the palms together overhead, candles lining the brick wall

A kneeling stretch on a block, candles along the brick wall

Lying back with one leg raised straight up, candles along the wall

A supported backbend over a bolster, candles along the brick wall

Arm balances, with company

Strong poses, and a dog who wanted to be in every frame.

An arm balance with the knees on the upper arms, in front of the brick wall

Sitting cross-legged and laughing beside a dog

A backbend with one hand down and the other arm reaching over, by the brick wall

A headstand with the legs straight up, in front of the brick wall

Yin by the salt lamps

Long, slow holds, at the mural and against the brick.

A smiling portrait in front of the sun mural

A standing balance holding one foot out to the side, at the sun mural

Seated cross-legged, ringed by glowing salt lamps by the brick wall

Lying on the floor holding both feet up, salt lamps nearby

A session for two

On their own first, then together.

A headstand in red, against the brick wall

A partner pose at the sun mural: one person arches over the other in a backbend

Upside down by the brick wall

Handstands and arm balances, and a smile at the end.

A forearm balance with one leg raised high, against the brick wall

A straight handstand between two wall lamps

A deep squat with the arms wrapped forward, against the brick wall

Seated and smiling, the palms open forward

Balance at the mural

Standing balances and a long stretch along the wall, in front of the painted sun.

Seated cross-legged with the palms together, centered in the sun mural

A triangle pose reaching along the mural wall, the long studio behind

A standing balance holding one foot out to the side, in front of the sun mural

Tree pose with the hands together overhead, framed by the painted sun

Nora Gonshak in a low lunge with her hands raised, in front of the painted sun mural

Who's behind the camera

The studio's photoshoots go by the name Chicago Yoga Photography. Nora Gonshak, who opened Chi Yoga Shack with Rich in 2016, takes the pictures. Rich Gonshak, a longtime Ashtanga and vinyasa teacher, is the artistic director.

Nora's photos of teachers and students from the studio are on Instagram at @chicagoyogaphotography.

Tell us about your photoshoot

Share a little about what you have in mind, and we'll write back with pricing and dates.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the photoshoot happen?: At Chi Yoga Shack, 1942 N. Leavitt St. in Bucktown, Chicago.
Who takes the photos?: Nora Gonshak, with Rich Gonshak as artistic director. You can see their work on Instagram at @chicagoyogaphotography.
How much does a yoga photoshoot cost?: It depends on what you have in mind. Tell us about it with the form on this page, and we'll write back with pricing and dates.
Do I have to be a yoga teacher or an advanced student?: No. Come as you are. Teachers and students both come for photos of their own practice.