Overcoming Uncertainty about Birth Photography | Part 2: It Won’t be Weird

A common conversation when I tell people I photograph birth:

“The whole thing? You mean, like, when. . .like when the baby is. . .um. . .like born?”

“Yes. I photograph labor, the moment of birth, and some time postpartum.”

“Isn’t it, like, you know. . .WEIRD? To be there? In the room?”

“Nope.”

“But wouldn’t I feel. . .watched.” 😳

Let me say this loud and clear. With a professional birth photographer present at your birth

You won’t feel watched or judged.

Here’s why:

We meet before your birth.

If either of us feels uncomfortable with each other, we’ll figure this out during our consultation and politely part ways. Having someone attend a life event when you are at your most vulnerable (and, at the same time, your most empowered) takes a lot of trust. If you don’t feel it, don’t hire me.

2. I know this is a BIG deal for your body.

I understand enough about human physiology during labor to recognize that if you’re super anxious, your body might try to stall labor. It’s the whole mammal “there’s a threat and I need to stop what I’m doing and get to safety before having offspring” thing. So, I’m super painstakingly about acting unobtrusively and staying out of the way of your care team. I think it’s a privilege to be in your birth space and I treat it as such.

3. I have zero judgment of birthing people.

People who throw their garbage out their car windows, I’m judging you. Internet trolls, I’m judging you. But people who are giving birth are under my zero judgement policy. I am a certified labor doula (which you can hire me for as an add-on, BTW) and even in that work I support people however they take ownership of their birth. No matter where or how you give birth, I am not assessing your choices. This is YOUR birth. Not mine. I’ll be too busy thinking about compositions and lighting to judge you anyway.

4. You will be in the zone.

Chances are that you will be focusing so much on the work you have to do that you’ll probably tune out most of what’s happening around you. Which makes your birth photos that much more cherished because they’ll help you relive the experience without the haze of labor.