When times are tough do you still want the memories?
Birth photography is not something that everyone wants.
Why get the birth story done? You will be able to look back and remember the story, and you will also be able to show your child the story of the day you met them and welcomed them into your family.
What are things that you might want to put in the birth story?
maternity images
ultrasound images
if you do a hike, walk, bounce ball, treadmill, anything you do to try to get the labor moving along take a snap or have someone take one and include it.
- start with the surroundings. as you walk up to the building, hospital, clinic, home, whatever it may be take take a picture. This not only shows where but also the weather.
2. as you enter the building look around sometimes there are sayings on the walls or something that can tell the story of where you are. look for things that can add to the story such as the room number.
3. If family or loved ones came but are not able to be in the room make sure to take a picture of them in the waiting room. This is part of the story. The mom to be might not remember who was able to make it.
4. When you are in the room look around there are usually a few things to take pictures of but for the first little while don’t be afraid to take a seat and read or something. then take a few pictures that show what the waiting was like. also when you enter the room look for the clock. it is always great to get some pictures with the clock because it can show how much time passed.
5. This is the fast paced part! Once everything starts happening it is fast! You need to stay out of the way of the people that are delivering the baby, but you need to be where you can capture the story! Get face expressions. there is a lot to capture, things like the person talking the mom through breathing, what is the partner doing? Is her mom there what is she doing? what are the staff doing to get ready? Again remember the clock! if you can take images with the clock in them throughout it really helps in the slideshow.
6. The birth again get the clock in the image when the baby is born is really great! It can show the exact time of birth. expressions! get the expressions of everyone as fast as you can! These are priceless. The tender moments between mom and her partner.
7. Cutting the cord.
8. first cry! remember to get a small clip to add into the slideshow. Sometimes it is not the first cry…. but do the best you can.
9. measurements! scale, length, head,
- 10. bonding moments
- 11. If mom wants a picture with the midwife or anyone else in the team make sure you get that for her.
now remember that everything does not happen in a specific order. You have to adapt as everything happens!
The few birth story’s that I have had the priveledge of doing the final telling of the story has been done in a slideshow. So if you are not comfortable with a photographer witnessing some of the most intimate moments of your life you can have a family member take pictures to capture the story and then when you get the time or you can hire someone else to put it into a slideshow or story.
Here are a few things that I have learned. 1. you do not always have be taking pictures. In fact most of the time you are not. 2. phone images are just fine for capturing the birth story. A big camera can make people uncomfortable. But you need to know how to work the camera because of low light. Most of the time the room is quite dark so you do need to know how to work with the lighting. Do Not Use Flash!
Do not expect your partner to be the one capturing the birth story! They are part of the story so many of the key elements you want you will not be able to have if they are trying to do it.
The pros of hiring a photographer. If the photographer has already done a maternity session with you they can include some maternity images. If the photographer does newborn photoshoot within the first few days they can add some from that in to. Having a photographer do it can take the stress off of a family member. When everything is happening so fast a family member sometimes can forget to get the expressions and emotions.
when putting it all together don’t forget to put in the date of birth and time! If you are doing a slideshow ask if there is a song they want used. Finding the right song is one of the hardest parts of putting it together.