Birth photography tells one of the most important stories of all time.
Birth is a powerful and artistic demonstration of the glory of motherhood yet, it's pushed into the cobwebbed corners of our culture, hardly remembered and rarely discussed. My goal is to capture the details, the anticipation, the looks, the thrill, the unknown and the beautiful work of giving life as a testimony to the glorious work of motherhood. I love to display the artistry of birth and motherhood in albums and quality prints so your memories are off the "cloud" and into your hands and home. My love for documentary style photography is perfect for birth and my experience as a doula helps me read the room and know what to anticipate. Let's tell your birth story.
What to expect:
I. Let's chat
Birth is one of the most intimate moments of your life and it's so important that you feel safe and comfortable in your birth space and with everyone who is going to be there. Our initial phone call will help us get acquainted and determine if we are a good fit. During our call we can talk through your hopes for your birth story, what images are important for you to have and what images are off limits. There is no obligation to move forward after our first call, but if we decide to work together, I will send you my contract and your retainer will hold your spot on my calendar. I am happy to schedule additional calls to talk through more details, if necessary.
II. On-call
I will be officially on-call for your birth 24/7 at 38 weeks. During this on-call time I will stay close and anticipate a phone call from you or your birth team any time, day or night.
III. Birth
I will arrive at your birth when you are between 5-7 cm or in active labor (around the time when contractions are happening every 5 minutes) and stick around for all the important details that happen after birth (around 2-3 hours after birth). My goal is to capture all the necessary details of your birth story no matter how long it takes.
III. Photo Delivery
Your digital photo album will be sent to you online. My digital galleries are double password protected so you don't need to worry about your images being public. You can easily download your photos and order prints and other products at your leisure and for an additional cost we can create an album of your favorite images.
FAQ
Birth Photography?
Yes! Birth photography is story telling, and I love stories. Birth is such a powerful experience for a woman, no matter if it is the first or 10th baby, but the details are often lost in the intensity of it all. Each birth story is unique, each has a new perspective and lesson to offer, and each should be honored and told in their own right. Having a visual story to go back and look at can help women as they process their birth experiences and fill in the moments and details that they don’t get to see.
When should I call you?
I will be “on call” from 38 weeks until the birth of baby, prepared to come, day or night, when baby is ready. I typically join the family during active labor, around 6-7 centimeters, but am happy to consider arriving earlier. I suggest that families designate a person at the birth to be in charge on contacting me when the time comes.
What happens if you miss the birth?
In order to ensure I am available for your birth, I only take 1-2 clients per month. This exclusivity allows me to be as available as possible to make it to your birth. But birth is birth, and I can’t promise 100% availability! In the case that I miss the birth for reasons outside of my control (examples include not getting a call from a client, precipitous births, not permitted to enter birth room or OR, etc.) the down payment can be used toward a Fresh 48 or Newborn Lifestyle Session. If I miss a birth by my own fault, a full refund is offered or can go toward a Fresh 48 or Newborn Lifestyle Session.
How long will you stay?
While I don’t cap my time at births at a specific hour, I typically spend between 6-8 hours at each birth. This time limit keeps me from arriving too early during labor when there isn’t much change to capture, but allows me the flexibility that we know labor and birth often require. The important thing for me is to get all that I need to tell your unique birth story, so I will stay as long as it takes me to do that. I do offer custom pricing options for women who want me there the moment they believe that are in labor, even if it isn’t active labor.
If I have an emergency caesarean will you still be able to take photos?
This is a question for your care provider. While I will likely be able to enter the operation room, ultimately this decision is determined by the care provider on call. I always encourage my clients to prepare for this possibility by talking to your care provider beforehand and making sure this option is available to you.
How long do you stay after the birth?
My goal is to tell the complete story of your birth, before and after. Typically, I will stay 1-3 hours after the birth to get pictures of first visits with other family members and another other important moments for the family and baby that tell the story well.
Do you offer doula support?
I was trained and have served as a doula on and off for a little over 8 years. I am happy to be available to provide doula care for an additional fee. This may include basic doula care such as writing a birth plan, offering support and comfort measures during labor, providing insight to help labor progress, and helping your partner support you as much as possible. I will also work exclusively as a doula. Please look into my "doula care" tab and contact me with further questions. I am willing to work with my clients to help meet their unique needs.