BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY - WHY YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT :)

Are you interested in birth photography but have concerns? The most common concern for expectant families is that of privacy. You want this intimate moment to be shared between you and your spouse or your closest loved ones and you aren't sure if having a photographer would intrude on this most sacred time. Before explaining what a birth photographer's role truly is, let me share a little bit of my heart with you. 

I have been there! I didn't have a birth photographer with either of my girls, and let me explain why I would do things differently if I could go back. I honestly think that my decision to not have a birth photographer with my children is what drives me to give you what I don't have. We have photos, and for that I am thankful...... But, they are not good. Blurry images, terrible angles, and bad lighting that we didn't know how to compensate for. My husband was responsible for taking video and photos instead of getting to be "in the moment". There are NO photos of just the two of us immediately after birth. These moments cannot be given back. I remember trying to soak in every minute and in the thick of it you think that you will surely remember every detail of the most important days of your life. But I was wrong. I do not remember the details. Maybe because time has passed, mommy brain fog, or maybe because of the meds, but I hardly remember any of it. And I wish so bad that I could see all of the beautiful moments so clearly. I will always know that they are our best days but man what I would give to be able to live in those moments through photography and video. It would be such a gift to relive over and over for the rest of our lives. 

So now on to what birth photography is really all about!

My job as your birth photographer looks a lot like this. We message back and forth throughout your pregnancy and you give me updates after each visit and let me know anything important like complications or a scheduled C/S or induction date, things of this nature. Once you get to 38 weeks, or 2 weeks from your expected delivery date, I am completely "On Call" for you. This means that my personal life is put completely on hold!! It is a sacrifice for me and for my family. No vacations, no weekend trips, no traveling more than an hour away from your delivery location. It is my TOP priority to be available to you during this time. My phone, as well as my husbands, will be on and with us everywhere we go and will be visible during church, dinner dates, family time, etc. to make sure that I can quickly respond to you. I do not take this commitment lightly. 

It is your job to let me know as soon as anything starts happening. If your water breaks or you start having contractions and the doctor tells you to come in for an evaluation, I wanna know about it! Even if you aren't sure and its 2 am in the morning. Text or call me so that I can start getting my back-up plan in order for my children so that I can be with you if it is the "real deal". 

I am so excited about doing births that I usually arrive way too early at the hospital :) If at all possible, I will be there with you several hours before you give birth. I want to document this whole experience for you. The excitement, the starting of medicines, the pain, the unfailing love of a husband or loved one who is there with you meeting your needs, the determination of a Momma to do whatever is asked of her to bring life to her child. Seriously, I could go on and on!! During these times I will sit quietly to the side and just take all of it in through the lens of my camera and you will hardly know that I am there. For vaginal births, once pushing begins, I will move around and capture the events going on all around. The nurses and doctors gearing up and getting tools ready, counting and breathing during contractions, the time on the clock as it ticks by,  and most importantly, the most beautiful moment when your child enters your life and you are forever changed! For C/S births, I will be right there with you just as a vaginal birth. There is so much to take in inside of the OR and I will document all of those tiny amazing details for you, a lot of which you might would miss because of curtains or the constraints of the OR.  I have been with Momma's that have labored all day and then ended with a C/S late into the wee hours, Momma's that deliver vaginally with and without any issues or complications,  and I have been with Momma's that have gone in for a scheduled C/S and been in and out within an hour. No matter where your birth path leads, I will be with you!

For vaginal births, most shots that I take are from the head of the bed, I usually stand right up behind mom's head during the actual birth and rarely see any actual parts on Momma. If at any time there are some "said parts" in the photo, you can rest assured that your privacy is safe with me. We will have all of this outlined in your contract and you will have full control over what is taken, shared or not shared. I feel positive that this potential issue is what led me away from birth photography and I want your mind to be at ease on this issue. 

For both types of deliveries, I will stay with you after delivery and capture the moment you hold your little miracle for the very first time, their first bath, measurements and weight, and the wonderful time of introducing them to siblings and your family and loved ones. 

With a birth photographer, you can just live in the moment. No worrying over your camera and if you have all of the batteries and cards ready. Dad can truly be by your side and take it all in with you. And most importantly, when you are old and gray (or still young and brown headed), and your memory starts to fail you, there it will be. Your story, your incredible, one of a kind, beautiful birth story. This is what I desire for you Momma. Not just a few snapshots to look back on like I have. I want you to have it ALL. The entire beautiful messiness of birth. I want you to be taken back to this time and for your feelings and emotions to experience again and again THE BEST MOMENTS OF YOUR ENTIRE LIFE!!