Why You Should Hire a Birth Photographer
I get so many mixed responses when people find out that I’m a birth photographer. Some are totally intrigued by the idea, and some just don’t understand it whatsoever; and that’s okay! As a society I think people need to understand that birth is beautiful. And you absolutely should hire a birth photographer if that’s apart of your birth plan!
When you get engaged, and you start planning your wedding, you want a photographer (and possibly a videographer) there to document the day that you and the love of your life become one, right? So why wouldn’t you want a photographer/videographer there the day you meet your child. Let me tell you, there is no greater moment in your entire life, than the moment you meet your baby for the first time.
You’ll be the very first thing they see when they open their eyes, you’ll rub your lips over their little forehead, count all their tiny little fingers and toes – and just when you thought you were already at peak love with your spouse, it opens up a whole new level. And you’ll just be absolutely smitten. You, the love of your life, and this brand new baby that you created together, and that you grew inside of your body. When you have someone there to document your birth, you’ll have those memories forever.
I would say the top two concerns I hear from potential clients are:
1. They’re concerned about modesty.
2. Their spouse is unsure about the idea about having a totally random person in their birth room with them.
Let me start off by saying birth is what you make of it – if you don’t want any nudity, I can make that happen 99% of the time. However, if you’re laboring completely naked, then don’t expect to have clothes on in your gallery. But I’ll also say that, every client who was unsure about crowning shots, or baby coming out, absolutely loved them in their final gallery. Sometimes I don’t have an option as to where I get placed between doctors and nurses, and we just have to go with it.
As to the point about their spouse, I don’t think there’s much I can say to that because spouses are spouses, and this is their birth story too. I so often see posts on social media about women being upset that their husband doesn’t want to go along with something that they had on their birth plan – and so many women comment ‘to do it anyway, or who cares what he says’. You guys, this is his baby too, and yes while I understand the woman is birthing the baby, the man helped create the baby. The hardest part about parenting, is parenting. You won’t agree one everything, you’ll compromise a lot. But if it’s something you’re so passionate about – talk to your spouse. Use facts, express your feelings, and have a real conversation about it.
What I can say on the flip side, I can be as quiet or involved as you guys want. One thing about birth photographers, we know how to work in tight spaces and we know how to respect your birth space. I will say most of my couples like the interaction and conversation while I’m there. We talk about their kids, my kids, whatever – just something. On the other hand, I can be a fly on the wall and do what I’m there for, without saying a word. My job is not only to document your birth story, but to also respect your birth space, and your birth plan.
Guess what, if you hire a birth photographer – I’m there to document all of it, your spouse doesn’t have to. They can be fully present to support you throughout the different stages of labor. They don’t have to worry about trying to hold the phone while holding your hand; I got it.
The biggest thing you need to consider when looking for a birth photographer is finding someone who specializes in births. Yes, you’ll find a lot of people who know how to shoot births, that doesn’t mean they specialize in it. The conditions in a birth space can provide some very tricky shooting elements, and your person needs to be confident and know how to navigate through it. Also, being on call isn’t convenient. Your birth photographer needs to have made a lifestyle for being on call. That means dropping everything at the drop of a dime and leaving, not to mention 24/7 childcare if they have kids of their own.
Can I tell you a true story real quick, so I was about a year into birth photography when I was pregnant with my last baby and I tossed around the idea if I wanted to hire a birth photographer – and I slacked and just never made it happen. I regret it so much. I told myself I would just hand the camera to my husband, he can snap some and I would edit later on. Did that happen? No. My husband took some pictures with his phone, and three months later he jumped into a pool with the phone in his pocket and we lost everything from my birth. I have literally five pictures that my mom took while we were in postpartum; might I add how grateful I am that she did. These are the only memories I have from his birth:
I recently asked on my instagram some reason why/why not regarding a birth photographer, one of the responses I heard over and over again was cost – and I refuse to consider this a reason as to why they didn’t hire. I addressed this on my instagram stories as well, but if having a birth photographer is important to you, and you value it, you can make it happen. Say you’re 4-5 weeks pregnant when you find out, if you put away a little over $100 a month, you can afford a photogrpaher by the time you deliver. It’s possible. I mean, the new iPhone starts at $1,100 and it’s sold over 12 million devices since it launched. Wanna bet how many of those people paid cash up front.. No, they financed it and are making payments. If a birth photographer is part of your birth plan, it’s absolutely possible.
If you’re ready to set up your birth session with us, or have any questions on how to prepare for a birth session (with me, of course) – feel free to take a look at our package list and contact us!
If you’re searching for an Arizona birth photographer, please contact me to schedule your session today; I only accept a limited amount of births per month to ensure adequate time around each due date.
