If you’re considering birth photography, you might be wondering what to expect when you hire a birth photographer. What does it actually look like during labor? Will it feel awkward? Will they be in the way?
These are completely normal questions. My goal as your birth photographer is to be a calm, discreet, and supportive presence—documenting your story as it unfolds, without interfering or pulling focus from your experience.
Before the Big Day: Preparing for Birth Photography
Long before you feel your first contraction, we’ll get to know each other and make sure we’re both ready:
- The Consultation: We’ll chat about your hopes, fears, and vision for your birth. This is where you can ask me anything, and I can get to know you and your partner. We’ll discuss your birth plan, preferred lighting, and any specific moments you definitely want captured.
- Contract & Deposit: Once you decide to move forward, we’ll sign a contract outlining the services, fees, and privacy agreements. A deposit secures your spot on my calendar.
- On-Call Period: Typically, I go on call for you starting around 37 weeks of pregnancy, but sometimes earlier depending on your unique situation. This means I’m ready to drop everything and head your way when you go into labor.
- Communication is Key: We’ll stay in touch as your due date approaches. I’ll ask for you to keep me updated after appointments and any changes and check in regularly as the big day gets closer.
During Labor & Birth: What Your Birth Photographer Does
This is where the magic happens, and my job is to capture it:
- When to Call Your Birth Photographer: We’ll discuss this during the consultation and throughout your pregnancy. Generally, you’ll call me when active labor is established or when things are really picking up. This ensures I arrive with enough time to capture the progression but also respects your early labor privacy.
- Quiet & Respectful Presence: When I arrive, I’ll check in but you’ll likely barely notice me. I move quietly, use natural light, and respect the atmosphere of your birth space.
- Capturing Emotion & Connection: My lens will be focused on the raw emotion and the details that tell your story. This includes quiet moments of focus, expressions of effort, comforting touches, and the loving anticipation in the room.
- Photographing the Moment of Birth: The moment we’ve all been waiting for! There are so many special moments, but most Moms want to know: will I photograph the actual moment of birth? That’s completely up to you and something we will cover in the consultation, so we’re both on the same page.
- The Golden Hour: After birth, I typically stay up to 2 hours to get those precious early moments: first latch, skin-to-skin, weighing, measuring, and perhaps even older siblings meeting their new baby for the first time.
After the Birth: What Happens Next
Once your baby is here and I’ve left you to bond, my work continues:
- Culling & Editing Your Birth Photos: I go through all the images, selecting the most powerful and meaningful ones. Each photo is then individually edited with care.
- Your Private Online Gallery: You’ll receive a link to a private online gallery within a few weeks (turnaround time will be specified in your contract). This gallery will be password-protected, allowing you to share it with loved ones at your discretion.
- Albums, Prints, & Keepsakes: If you’ve chosen a package that includes an album, I’ll be working on putting that together, and we’ll discuss any other items you may want.
- Privacy and Image Sharing: Your privacy is paramount. I will never share your images publicly without your explicit, written permission. You always have full control over what is shared.
Is Hiring a Birth Photographer Right For You?
Hiring a birth photographer isn’t about creating perfect images or performing for the camera. It’s about preserving the real, meaningful moments of your birth: the emotion, connection, and story that unfold naturally.
If you want to stay fully present during labor and birth, without worrying about missing important moments or asking a loved one to step away and take photos, birth photography may be a meaningful investment for you.
My role is to document your experience quietly and respectfully, so you can focus on your baby, your body, and your support system while knowing your story is being captured with care.
If you’re ready to explore whether birth photography is the right fit for your journey, I’d love to connect and answer any questions you have.
Learn more about my birth photography here or go ahead and message me.
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