Why You Should Hire a Birth Photographer

Why Should You Hire a Birth Photographer?

Many women say, “I would never get pictures of myself giving birth.” We live in a society that tells women that birth is dirty, hard, and painful. Guess what Mama……they are WRONG! Let me change your mind and show you how beautiful birth really is. During birth a woman is transforming in many ways. She is learning what her body is capable of. She is learning how strong she is. Everyone around her is in awe of how courageous and beautiful she is during her journey of labor and delivery. Mama is focused on breathing, contractions, rest, and delivering her new baby Earth-side, safely. Birth is a raw, transformative, beautiful, emotional, and empowering experience. Weather you have a hospital birth, home birth, or deliver at a birthing center, your birth story deserves to be documented and told!

Often I hear moms says, “I don’t remember the details of my birth.” Or “I remember my birth, but I do not remember the sequence of events or the emotions I felt. Everything was fogged and blurred from the adrenaline and exhaustion.” If this is you, you are not alone. Labor and delivery is hard, hard work. However, I can do the remembering for you! I will document your story through active labor until the golden hours (1-2 hours after birth) after your baby is born. Your story will be told showing the raw, transformative, beautiful, emotional, and empowering birth journey. With my knowledge of the birth process, I will be there to capture all the important moments so you will never forget the day that you gave birth. Details and ideas eventually fade, but a picture will keep your memories fresh many, many years! I love the quote, “Sometimes you will never know the value of an experience until it becomes a memory.” As special as birth is, you never want to forget the moment and all the details leading up to the birth of your baby.

What memories are documented during my birth journey?

From my experience talking with clients, the first question is usually, "Is my vagina going to be photographed?" Mama, this experience is as much or as little as you want it to be. I will never photograph something that you are uncomfortable with. BUT.... let me tell you the special photos you CAN get with birth photography!

Have you even seen a photograph of a mother-to-be in labor and her husband is holding her hand, rubbing her back, kissing her forehead, or simply looking at her with the upmost respect and love he's ever had for her... (because lets be real, she is an acting goddess during labor!)? Many mamas, including myself, do not recall the support we had during labor and delivery. You are so focused on overcoming each contraction that leads you one step closer to meeting your baby. The adrenaline that is pumping through your body often overrides the memories of details and people in their acting roles during your journey. With birth photography I capture all the details and more. But Kc, what does that look like? Well, I get photos of your fierce strength through contractions. I document your support people (partner, parents, doula, friends) helping you navigate your experience. I can (if position is available) get photos of your baby crowning (head coming out), and baby being delivered. The first time you hold your baby should never be forgotten. Every mom goes through two phases immediately after birth. The "I did it" moment-realizing you strength and persistence payed off, and "my baby is here" moment-um how can I love someone I just met, SO SO much? Both are, in my opinion, worth hiring a photographer just for the two pictures alone! We are trained to know when these moments happen! What about your partners first reaction and all the emotions leading up to their new baby being earth side? Definitely not something they will want to forget. Weather you, your support person, or the medical team cuts baby's umbilical cord, it will be documented. Are you choosing to breastfeed, or bottle feed, you will want your newborns first meal to be remembered. After-all, it is a bond you and your baby will continue to share for a very long time. With time permitting, I love to document baby's first assessment-all the measurements and tests. Do you have other children that will be meeting their new sibling at the birthing center/ hospital? Not only will you want these pictures forever, but someday your children will cherish the memory of meeting their younger sibling!

Kc, what if I end up in a C-Section? Most hospitals allow a birth photographer in the operating room! You deserve a birth photographer just as much as a mother who is having a vaginal birth. You will still get such special pictures that you wouldn't have other wise. Usually (not guaranteed) I can get baby being delivered from your abdomen, your baby being raised over the curtain, meeting and holding your baby for the first time, and much much more. Regardless of the way you choose to deliver your baby, photography can be worked into your birth plan. Just be sure to talk to your medical provider and birthing team about wanting a birth photographer to document your journey.

In short, birth photograph is not 'just' taking photos of your vagina. Mama, it is so much more than that. I am documenting your journey to becoming a new mom-for the first time or for the 8th. I am giving you memories about the day your new baby was born. After birth, your experience can become a blur. You are now responsible for a new life and that comes with many tasks. Your labor and delivery becomes muted and sometimes forgotten. Hiring a birth photographer allows you to look back on that day and always remember the smallest and biggest details of your birth journey!

I truly hope I was able to give you a new insight and perspective on birth photography. If you take away anything from this BLOG, I want you to know that birth truly is a beautiful, emotional and transforming experience. Your birth journey deserves to be documented, and your story to be told. If you are on the fence about it, just hire a birth photographer! You won't regret having a professional photographer, but you may regret not having your birth journey documented if you don't.

If you live in New Mexico and are wanting to hire a birth photographer (or simply want to know more about this field) please reach out to me and we can talk. If you have friends or family that are currently pregnant, send them this blog and inform them of birth photography services.