Misconceptions about Birth Photography
Misconception #1
➜⇢➜⇢➜ "I have a scheduled induction/scheduled c-section so it should be cheaper right?"
MYTH BUSTED:
Even mamas who are scheduled can go into labor (and have gone into labor) before their scheduled date, requiring birth photographers to be on-call, exactly the way a doctor is on-call.
Misconception #2
➜⇢➜⇢➜ "My husband has a go-pro so he can film and you can photograph right?"
MYTH BUSTED:
The chances your husband forgets about the go-pro the moment his baby is being born, or turns out he forgot to hit record, or he did but then it recorded the ceiling, all are very high chances (and have happened with many past births) that's why if you know you want your birth filmed AND photographed, hire the pro.
Misconception #3
➜⇢➜⇢➜ "I don't want my photos splattered all over the internet so I would never hire a birth photographer"
MYTH BUSTED:
Anywhere from 50% to 70% of the births I photograph (or film) are never shared online. Why? Because my clients request full privacy. I would never share their photos for internet fame. I value and respect my clients privacy above any business or popularity incentive.
Misconception #4
➜⇢➜⇢➜ "I'm just gonna ask my friend to photograph my birth since we've known her for 10 years and both my husband and me are more comfortable with her, and it's free"
MYTH BUSTED:
While it's great you've identified someone you trust to include as part of your birth team, unless they've photographed at least 10-20 births under high pressure, stress, unpredictable lighting and circumstances, the chances that their images will come out blurry, overblown (too bright you can't see anything) or too dark, or none at all because they'll get too emotional are very high. So check your priorities (no one can do this for you) if quality images are on the top of your list for must haves when you meet your baby for the first and only time, schedule an in-person or virtual consultation to gauge how comfortable you'd feel having me in your birthing space, so you don't have to risk losing the most important part of your motherhood journey to chance.
Misconception #5
➜⇢➜⇢➜ "I don’t want 100 ‘crotch shots’ or bloody, sweaty photos of myself, I don’t know why anyone would want that"
MYTH BUSTED:
While birth is definitely unpredictable, and it’s the further type of “photography” from a styled, makeup and hair glam photo shoot in a studio, and YES, there will 100% be a likelihood of blood, sweat and/or tears, it's 100% real life. When you are in your 50s, 60s, etc, you’ll look back at these images and the blood/sweat/tears won’t be what you focus on. You’ll focus on the gratitude for having a legacy of the first day of your child’s life, the first day you ‘met’ your child, their first breath, their first tear, and your face and your partners face filled with the deepest love and excitement of your lives having just met the love of your lives.
Rest assured, the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ will account for a minimal portion of your images, and a very important discussion with every single client is what they value. Majority of my families are somewhat modest and want birth stories they can share with families, friends and their own children, because all of those people cannot be there to witness their son or daughter’s first breath of life. My philosophy of my birth art work is: I am modest and tasteful. I am not shooting photos to go into a medical childbirth textbook, I am capturing moments filled with emotion of the most transformative moment of your lives, and therefore, above ‘crotch shots’ I value intimacy, love, emotions, connection and above all, family.
Approximately 70% of my clients request to not have a crotch shot photo, aka a crowning photo captured, and I am ok with that, it is their birth story, not mine, not the internet’s! And when you work with a professional birth story like me, who has attended over 100 births in 6 years, they know to be sensitive about these matters so that you as the birthing family can feel celebrated and respected.
(All amazing behind the scenes images courtesy of @zenmamalove )
#birthphotographer
