Why indeed....

BAck story -

If you had asked me back in 2017 before the birth of my first child if I would be interested in a birth photographer, I would have told you "absolutely not" and honestly directly after too. It was a bit unheard of and not to mention, not many photographers did it then, especially not in small town Ohio, where I'm originally from. Even though I was in California at the time, I had seen photographers talk about it, the idea of it baffled me. But, then my son was three months, then six, and before I knew it we were celebrating his first birthday. I realized I had hardly any memory from my labor and birth, aside from things that didn't go to plan and the very moment they laid my son on my chest and how I felt in that moment. It hurt, and still hurts knowing that I'll never get those memories back.

By the time I was pregnant with my second, I was fully aware of birth photographers, but she was born during the height of COVID-19. I knew I would have a hard time finding someone, even though I gave birth in a birth center, where they were far more open to the idea of more than my husband being my support person, I just didn't book anyone for the fear COVID would rage again and we would need to limit people and exposure. Thankfully, I had the most amazing midwives I could have asked for, Ashley King, LM, CPM, with Joyful Beginnings Birth Care, New Braunfels, Texas and assisting midwife, Nikki McIver-Brown, APRN, MSN, CNM with San Antonio Nurse Midwife, San Antonio, Texas, who managed to take a few images and a video for me, while birthing my daughter. I constantly replay that video and look at those images, and my memories flood back to me.

The why-

What's my why though, well like I stated my daughter was born in a birth center, which if you get the chance to experience, is eye opening, and life changing. You feel connected to every aspect of your birth. Your connections with your midwives are quite a different experience than having nurses and an OB, you get to know them on a level of familiarity that seems to cease to exist in the medical world anymore. That connection and awareness of how important my birth was to someone else aside from my husband and myself was a phenomenal feeling.

Taking all of that in, I started doing photography again roughly 5 months after my daughter was born, and I loved it. At the same time, I felt like I was missing something, there was an emptiness to my creative flow. I started looking into being a doula, then it dawned on me. BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY!

Birth photography is a small genre in the photography world, I knew a handful of photographers who had photographed births. I talked over the idea with my husband and realized I really wanted to do this, so I started taking online classes, watching YouTube videos of births, TikTok videos, following birth photographers from all over. I booked and photographed my first birth in 2022, and I rode on that high for days. It was a somewhat long birth but not so long that the momma was too exhausted. She conquered her birth with so much fierceness and strength, I was in awe. That was the last click for me, it made my decision even more clear. I wanted, I NEEDED to do this.

I want to be a mother's storyteller, photographers already are right? I wanted to be a storyteller for the beginning of new lives, both the little one entering the world but also a mother's new life. Each baby is different so whether it's their first, or their fifth, each labor and birth experience is different. Women become a different mother with each child. I want to capture the little things that moms forget before they go home, or before the midwife leaves after the birth. Those stories will differ, maybe, it's the family in the waiting area, or adjacent room, that she doesn't see until baby is earth side. Maybe, it's how her husband was so involved in caring for her hand and foot during labor that slowly fades from memory. Maybe, it's the midwife or nurse encouraging her, letting her know she's fully capable of conquering her birth. Maybe, it's the first emotions she feels after her baby joins her earth side. That's my why, documenting her story, during her labor and birth, so that those memories don't fade, and she can relive that breathtaking chapter in her life and the start of a new life.

Your why -

Why would anyone want that right? I get it, it's a big why. Letting someone you barely know in one of the most sacred spaces in your life. It's a lot to think about, but I can promise, I won't be someone you barely know. We will be chatting regularly throughout your pregnancy, we can even meet up after appointments or before for a coffee or lunch, or whenever you need someone to chat with. Just like you get to know your midwife, or your OB, I want you to get to know me on a personal level. I want to be your friend and your support person during your labor and your birth. I want you in a comfortable space for one of the greatest moments in your life. I want you to have the memories that so many of us moms just don't have. I want to capture your labor, your emotions, your birth, and your joyful new addition.

So, that's my why. Now what's yours?