How to capture your birth when you can’t have a birth photographer.

A 5 image list of the most essential photos to tell your birth story!

Times are crazy, each day I’m hearing more and more about families losing their birth team in the hospital. It’s a loss so few are seeing and only those of us directly affected are burdened with at this time. These are moms losing their mother’s hands, sister’s warmth, doulas knowledge, and photographer’s storytelling. My heart is broken for these moms.

I do believe that birth photography is a pivotal part of healing postpartum and a powerful way to educate and change the way the world sees women and birth itself. I think in almost anytime and setting that birth photography can be an important part of the process. But I also believe that in times like these, when spreading this virus is as easy as touching and being infected can look like nothing for weeks, that birth photography in the hospital setting is just not essential. I am so sad to be missing the few births I have in the hospital this Spring. But I think at this time hospital staff are very important, keeping them safe and spared from unnecessary risk is apart of how we can all serve our community right now.

So this blog’s intention is to salvage what we can for those who can’t have their birth photographer and for placing a few ideas and tools in the hands of moms, birthing partners, doulas, and even willing nurses so that we can still try and celebrate your birth story through powerful storytelling. The following list contains the 5 “essential” images you don’t want to miss taking at your birth. That your partner can take themselves without having to stop supporting you for more than a second! Especially if they are the only ones in the room. These are the 5 moments during each birth that I think at their core can still tell the birth story for mom. Healing and Processing are apart of the birth journey and as a mom, having these moments captured is so important!

So grab your I-phone or camera if you have it and make sure these are the moments you capture!

1.

A Moment of the Birthing Mother’s Power

Mothers are oozing with power during birth. You could say literally any image of a woman in labor evokes power so this one should be easy for partners to grab. But if you want to really help inspire momma in the postpartum, grab an image of mom in the midst of her contraction or yells of labor. Some moms start active labor with loud moans and yells while others only bring out the exclamation at the pushing stage. But be on the lookout for a moment like this to capture. Looking back on your birth images, seeing an image of your unexplainable birthing power is such a healing tool!

2.

The Last Pregnant Belly Photo

This one may feel unimportant to some. For me it was apart of my process, to see my body and self go from pregnancy to holding baby was a big mental leap. I loved being able to see my contracting belly in all it’s stretches, lines, and glory before the baby arrived. It’s one detail that just says so much of the journey your powerful mothering body has gone through!

3.

First Reactions

This moment is everything! It’s literally what I get paid to capture with birth photography. That glorious and emotive moment of meeting your precious baby. It’s also the moment that partners often forget to capture or they are so caught up in the moment themselves they can’t even fathom getting their camera out. So a few tips for those brave enough to take on the “ First Reaction” moment on for your birth.

1. have your phone on hand when mom begins pushing, typically you still have many minutes if not hours of pushing before baby arrives.

2. it’s ok to experience the moment first, don’t feel like you got to be watching the moment through your phone screen or camera viewfinder. Take those first moments and then capture your partner and their reaction. Maybe even a selfie of all three of you.

3. This moment is different from the mom, holding baby and smiling photos. This is a reaction, like capturing someone’s face at their own surprise birthday party. You want to capture the good, the bad, the ugly of these emotions. And it will be so worth it to have them captured however they look. The outpouring of love in that moment has been a healing tonic for moms postpartum all over the world!

4.

Baby Details

Nobody has to tell a new parent to take photos of their new baby. It’s second nature the moment baby arrives to pull out our phones and capture these cute little creatures we call our own. But something we often forget to capture is the little details of a baby that make them so precious and unique in those first minutes and hours of life. All scrunched, red, tiny and new be sure to capture those little details that make up your newborn. That means toes, hands, ears, lips, belly, coneheads, and hair fuzz. You will not regret having these precious details of baby captured because before you know it they will be so grown up and their faces and bodies will have changed so much!

5.

Mom & Baby Together at Peace

This is always a beautiful moment. After all that power and strength each birth ends with a moment of peace. Maybe it’s the first latch breastfeeding or a baby fist grabbing mom’s finger for the first time. The world is finally still and calm and the joyful story of your family has just begun!

BONUS PHOTOS

Ask your Nurse to help grab a few more! There are some awesome nurses out there, who would LOVE to snap a few shots for you and your family! So just ask! And if you do find one of these incredibly willing nurses make sure they grab these three Essential photos!

1. A moment of you and your partner during labor. I would literally ask your nurse in the early hours of labor to grab your phone if they ever see a moment worth capturing. leave your phone or camera right there on the table in your room with easy access so your nurse can just quickly grab a picture without disturbing the moment.

2. A moment of dad holding baby for the first time! This usually occurs while mom is still pre-occupied with the events of her birth but these sweet dad bonding moments are a beautiful part of the story and always worth a capture! Take a moment to smile with baby but also a photo of you just taking in that precious new baby!

3. A family photo of just the three of you, together at last!

If you are able to capture these moments and want help editing them postpartum, reach out! Times are crazy and I’ll be offering this service to ALL moms affected by the virus policy changes. If you couldn’t have a birth photographer for any reason, I can help edit those moments for you. Fill out the contact form to learn more about having me edit your birth photos.