How I Chose Birth Photography
This first part has nothing to do with how I chose birth photography – but tonight was a difficult one in the world of parenting. The kids weren’t listening, to anything – and I try to tell myself it’s going to pass, but there’s no real easy way to get through. We rode the struggle bus all the way until bedtime until it was clear that we all needed a break from each other. Usually when I get worked up, that’s when I have the most to say because the wheels in my head are just turning at a rapid pace.
So, where did it all begin – how did I know birth photography was for me? I wanted to share a little of how I fell down this photography rabbit hole, and how I chose birth photography. To be honest, it all kind of fell in my lap. Kind of like that right time, right place, kinda deal.
I was in my final year of high school, still no idea what my calling really was but my mind was pushing me towards nursing. I’ve always had a love for science so I figured why not. My initial path was to be a life flight nurse, I was in a car accident in middle school where I was life flight’ed out and I immediately fell in love with it.
Fast forward to when I graduated high school and started college, I had an anatomy and physiology teacher who was also a fertility nurse. It totally peaked my interest. For as long as I can remember I watched ‘A Birth Story’ on TLC, and have just had an immense love for birth and babies. So, as I geared myself towards fertility I got pregnant with my first born, and it was after I had him that I knew I wanted to be around babies, not making them. Once again, I changed my path to labor and delivery.
The nursing program was ridiculous to get into, I was on the wait list for about three-four years when I finally got accepted. Which also happened to be when I found out I was expecting again. I knew in my heart I didn’t want to juggle nursing school and being pregnant – I tossed and turned the idea for what seemed like forever. When I finally made up my mind that I wasn’t going to accept my position, I ended up having a miscarriage a few days later. I won’t lie, I really felt like I was in a rut. Now I had declined my position in nursing school, I wasn’t any further along in my career, and I just lost my baby. I decided to put all of myself into being a mom at that point.
I had a love for photography, but I was so intimidated on where to even begin with it. I started reading about how to use my camera, how to change my settings manually, and just all the in’s and out’s of photography. At this point I was about to have my daughter, after she was born I took some pictures of her and I fell in love with it. Don’t get me wrong, they’re horrible pictures – but I knew my heart was in it, so I ran with it. I took a lot of pictures, all the time. About a year later my brother and his wife were expecting their first baby, so I asked to tag along while she was in labor and just took some pictures here and there, and that was when I found my love for birth photography.
It’s been a very long, uphill, climb. But I can truly say that birth + newborns are exactly where I need to be. It’s not easy with three babies of my own, but I know one day it’ll get easier, and the struggle right now makes every single part of it that much more worth it. Being apart of these birth stories just makes my heart so happy.
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.