Finally, in their arms is the emotional journey from loss to a celebration of birth years in the making.
Many of the clients who find me have walked long journeys to expecting their baby, whether it be struggles with IVF or the heartbreaking experience of loss. Of course, all clients who hire me do so because they see the value in documenting these momentous life events, but there is something extra special about arriving in these moments after such emotional roads.
This family found me after experiencing loss in their journey to a third baby. When Ashley first reached out, she had just passed her first trimester of this pregnancy. She was so joy-filled to be there, finally feeling like she could take a breath, enjoy this pregnancy, and begin planning.
Their older two children are school-aged, which meant all that anticipation was even greater. To make it extra exciting, they didn’t find out the gender, instead wanting it to be a surprise, and were just happy to be expecting!
Ashley’s biggest fear in hiring me was that I would miss their birth as her labor with their daughter was crazy fast! The concern was she would go fast again, and I wouldn’t make it in time to capture all the moments that were so important to them. We talked through those concerns and decided I would start call at 37 weeks, and we would communicate often. The other concern was that I had a trip planned right around her due date, but she had gone early with her other two, so we had a backup plan but hoped we wouldn’t have to utilize it.
As Ashley’s due date approached an induction date was scheduled because of her history. It was the day before I was set to leave for my trip. As can happen with induction dates, the unit was busy and had to bump her induction time back putting it the night before my trip. Because she had gone fast with her previous labor we hoped it would still time out perfect and talked often throughout the night.
As luck would have it, it took awhile for her contractions to get going and just was things were starting to ramp up, it was time for me to head to the airport. We were all so bummed but my backup photographer Krystal (who is incredibly amazing, so please check her out) totally saved the day, and rocked this whole birth. Their story is a prime example of why a backup photographer is so vital to a birth photography business. She treated this sweet family just like she would one of her clients and captured their story so beautifully!
Be sure to watch their birth film at the end of this post to enjoy the pure joy of them finding out gender!
This is right when I was getting on the plane and less than an hour after Krystal arrived.
Once contractions became regular, things changed quickly. Luckily, Krystal was packed and ready to go and got there quickly, even coming from the other side of town.
Their OB was called and got there quickly, and before you knew it, she was holding their new baby in her arms. She had dreamt of this and waited for it with such anticipation.
Their OB had dad glove up and help ‘catch’ their baby, and it was a…….GIRL!
Ashley and Isaiah really hoped everything would time out where we could capture big brother and sister meeting their new baby. I’m so grateful Krystal was willing to stay and capture these precious moments for this family. I mean, look at their faces!
And, of course, I have to include this picture of Krystal she captured at this birth. I adore her!
If you’re wondering how births are managed with a backup photographer, here it is! The backup typically shoots the birth and then delivers the files to the primary photographer to edit and deliver. I would only ever use a backup with skills comparable to mine. Although Krystal had backed me up many times while I was tied up at sessions, this was the first time she actually had to attend a birth for me and the first and only time I’ve had to have a backup shoot a birth for me. Although I was so sad and disappointed to not have been there, I was 100% confident she would shoot it beautifully, and boy, did she!
Tuesday, October 29th, 2024
This redemptive home birth story is full of strength and emotion. It is incredible to capture the expressions and emotions when a mother experiences the birth she dreamed of! It is an honor to see healing and power firsthand and then capture it for families to relive that victory and strength over and over.
This is the second birth this family hired me for. I had the honor of documenting their first birth experience, and boy, were there differences between the two. Both stories are incredibly beautiful, powerful, and so full of love. Still, their first birth left them with a lot to process and recover from.
Their first birth experience started at home, where they planned to welcome their first son at home and in water. Becca had spent so much time preparing for his birth, both mentally and physically. Her labor ended up being days long, which left her physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. As she moved into the transition phase, their baby began to experience fetal distress, and the decision was made to transfer to the hospital. Their first child was born in 2021 when our hospitals were still very restricted here, and so I wasn’t allowed in to capture the climax of their birth after hours together at home. Of course, it wasn’t the birth experience they dreamt of, and in the years following and during their subsequent pregnancy, Becca worked hard at processing, healing, and preparing for their next birth experience. She remained resolute and committed to not letting that experience hinder her second attempt at a home birth.
Becca had gone a week and one day over her due date with their first, and that wait was tough for her. This time, she worked hard not to let dates get in her head and trusted her body and the process. At 39 weeks, multiple episodes of prodromal contractions began. These contractions would remain irregular and never increase in intensity or frequency (classic prodromal labor signs). Of course, these episodes left her tired, but instead of focusing on them, she worked hard to get periods of rest when she could and relied on the help of her husband and mother (who came to stay this time).
Then, one night, she texted to say that they were feeling different, so she was going to sit on her ball, rest, and see what happened. She then turned communications over to Kirk; he was great at keeping me updated on how things were going. They called their doula, Randi, over, and together, they decided to wait to bring me out until things were progressing regularly. Soon, their midwife group, Serenity (the same she had used for their first birth experience), was sent out to assess mom and check out the baby. They decided it was finally time to bring me out, so I grabbed my stuff and headed out!
When I arrived about 30 minutes later, things had begun to progress quickly, and Becca was clearly in transition. There was so much love and support around her from words of encouragement and physical touch by their doula, husband, and midwife in training. They reminded her that she could when things continued to increase in intensity. Becca pulled on the work she had done before she reached this point and returned to the tools she had learned to trust during all that work.
One of the many things I love about this birth story is that although Becca frequently regrounded herself (and boy, was it cool to see), she wasn’t afraid to lean into the raw, primal side of birth and literally roared her son into this world.
But best of all were her expressions and reactions when she realized she had actually done it! She had the home birth experience she had dreamed of! She was in awe of the whole experience and herself. I mean, look at her face!
I had previously worked with Barbara (one of their new midwives in training) for years when I was a labor and delivery nurse here in the Vegas valley, and so it was so fun to see her in this new role! Things moved so quickly at the end that the rest of the team didn’t make the delivery. Again, such a different birth experience from their first!
When I attend births, phrases often cycle through my head. They are often the core story thread or emotion I’m witnessing in documenting, and as I captured theirs, REDEMPTIVE was the phrase I kept hearing. This is truly the definition of a redemptive birth. It didn’t just happen; it took so much work before this moment, and knowing that made it all the more emotive.
I one hundred percent think they would have processed and handled whatever happened this time around as well and would have been happy to hold their son in their arms, but to have these moments and this experience was just incredible!
Shortly after she delivered the rest of her birth team arrived. Every single person in that room knew how hard they worked to get to this moment and there was so much joy in their birth space.
This will forever be one of my favorite birth stories because of all the emotion present throughout. What is so amazing is that I get to know these families and capture the most emotive and intimate moments in their lives. It is never lost on me; it is a true honor and privilege. Thank you so much, Holmes family, for not just trusting me once but twice!
Lastly, I have to do a plug for Becca because she is so amazing. She often contributes over on Substack and on Instagram where she talks about all things motherhood and mental health. You should go follow her, you won’t regret it!
Friday, September 20th, 2024
From Home to Hospital is a beautiful example of the beauty found in every birth story. Navigating the emotions accompanying a home to hospital transfer can be difficult, yet this family did so with strength, resilience, and love.
Briana found me through a recommendation from a friend who had hired me to document their birth story. Word of mouth is my favorite way to find clients. It means that families were happy they hired me to document their birth and were willing to recommend me, which means the world to me!
Briana reached out to me just weeks before her due date, and I was so happy that I had an opening on my calendar. I typically book months in advance, but babies tend to come on their own timing, often leaving little gaps in the calendar where their due dates were, and this was the case for them!
Brianna is a powerhouse in our community and a talented entrepreneur as the owner and CEO of Skyluna here in Las Vegas. She is incredibly creative and focused, and what stands out every time you talk to her is that her family is the core drive for all she does.
She shared that she had not documented her first two births, and this time, she wanted to remember all the details. Her first birth experience left her with much to process after it ended in cesarean. With her second child, she opted for a home birth, and that experience was redemptive for her. She had hoped for the same experience, and knowing how important these moments are, she wanted all those details in images and video footage.
Briana was a week and four days past her due date. She had gone a week over on her previous two births, so she took it all in stride and trusted her body and the process. Finally, irregular contractions began and remained for days but didn’t increase in intensity or frequency, so she tried to rest when she could and kept her regular appointments in the office. The great news was that she was 4 cms at that appointment, so she knew it was soon.
Her husband Ryan texted me late that night to let me know they had finally changed and were increasing in frequency and intensity, so I gathered my things and headed over. When I arrived, she was breathing well through her contractions with Ryan by her side, emotionally and physically.
After midnight, their birth team arrived. I often work with the Serenity/Baby’s First Day midwives, who are such a breath of fresh air. They are incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and so welcoming of me. This was their second birth with their team, so it was extra special.
Contractions continued to increase in intensity, and she began to feel pressure. Frequent fetal heart checks were done, and as her baby descended lower, he began to show signs of stress.
The midwives were quick to try different positions with mom to alleviate some of that stress for both mom and baby, but there were no significant changes for either. So, the tough decision was finally made to transfer to the hospital. EMS was called, and Sarah, their midwife, followed along.
The memories that they had held from their first birth that ended in a cesarean, of course, brought up so many emotions. They both allowed themselves to feel those emotions and advocated for themselves so well. Sarah stayed with them until they were able to get an epidural placement and some rest. Her vaginal exam upon admission was 6 cms.
Their nurse was just amazing. She listened to Briana and Ryan, was hands-on with position changes, and did all she could to help their baby rotate and descend. She also advocated for this family many times. But despite all the rest of the interventions and position changes, there were no changes in dilation or fetal descent, and their baby continued to have episodes of distress.
Finally, the decision for a cesarean section. Although it was such a difficult decision, this time, this family felt that they were part of the decision-making process for their birth, felt heard, and had done a great job of advocating for themselves.
One of the toughest parts of this decision for both families and myself as a birth photographer is that often, only one person is allowed in the operating room with mom. I have had staff, OBs, and anesthesia allow me in for deliveries at the request of families. Still, most often, it is a “no.” I could write a whole post about that. But I also prepare families for this when we have our face-to-face so they aren’t blindsided. I offer two options, either take my camera back to the operating room with dad, or have dad continue to document via phone and incorporate those images into their birth story, then, I pick back up when they come back to the room. Very few dads take me up on this offer, but Ryan did. I did a quick tutorial on using my camera, and he totally nailed it!
Once sweet little Phoenix Blaze was finally here, his difficulty descending was pretty clear… he was almost 10 lbs!
One of my favorite parts of documenting birth stories is being there when siblings meet. It always makes for the most adorable and tender moments. Grandma brought them right over, and I was lucky enough to still capture them in the hospital!
I believe documenting your birth is powerful in all circumstances; after all, it is full of irreplaceable moments. However, the changes to the anticipated plan often bring so many emotions to navigate. These images will help families see the beauty present there all along.
Tuesday, August 27th, 2024
Having the opportunity to document these moments for families always feels like witnessing miracles. The birth process itself is miraculous to think about, from growing a tiny human inside of our bodies to the process of babies transitioning from a dark, fluid-filled, quiet environment to a bright, noisy environment where their little bodies go through so many changes from alterations in circulation to breathing air for the first time. The fact that it occurs naturally most of the time is impressive!
This birth story is even more miraculous not just because of the usual miracles that unfolded on this day as they welcomed their baby girl into their arms but because of the years, tears, and anticipation that preceded this day. You see, this family had struggled through infertility for years.
Finally, through fertility treatments, they were able to have their first baby together in 2020. During this pregnancy, this mom found me when searching for a photographer to document this momentous time in their lives. This family savored every second of that pregnancy and delivery, and they were so happy to have their sweet baby girl in their arms finally. Being born during 2020 and all the pandemic restrictions made it challenging for me to attend their delivery, but things worked out perfectly in the end, and I was able to be there for them. Sadly, her family could not attend because of those restrictions, which was really hard for Ashlie as they are so close.
Again, in 2021, Ashlie reached out to me to let me know they were pregnant again! The transfer of another frozen embryo was successful, and they were expecting their second daughter. Again, there were continued hospital restrictions, but I was able to be present for their birth, and her sister was able to be there this time! It wasn’t quite what she wanted because she still had to decide who was there and wanted her mother there. Their second daughter was born after a completely different labor and her own unique birth story.
This sweet family had two beautiful daughters and still had another embryo should they decide to grow their family again. And then, the most amazing and miraculous thing happened, they became pregnant on their own! It meant that they would have three babies under the age of 3, and although that felt a bit overwhelming at times, they truly leaned into that miracle and rejoiced! This truly was a miraculous surprise!
Of course, this pregnancy and birth had to have their unique birth story, and I love that each of their girls was different! Although there were continued restrictions in most of our local hospitals in 2023, the staff was much more empathetic and, with communication, agreed to let them have her mother, sister, Greg, of course, and myself all present! This meant so much to Ashlie; you could feel the energy in their birth space shift when she had that support around her.
This pregnancy went the longest for her gestationally, which made those last weeks extra challenging, but once labor finally started, she had such a fast labor! Although it was so much quicker than her previous two, it was also more intense, so that period waiting for her epidural was a bit rough, but once she got that, she was able to relax and enjoy the support around her.
Ashlie continued to progress quickly; before you knew it, she felt intense pressure. She leaned into breathing and her support team, and what I loved was that she focused on the blessings in her life and pulled out her phone with a picture of her sweet girls to fo
Just before she was ready to deliver, she gave each of us these sweetest gifts. How thoughtful and kind is that? It meant so much to me. I’m always blown away that I get to witness these moments and am trusted in these spaces. This birth was additionally emotional for me, and I processed the fact that I’ve been there for all three of their births!
Because things moved so quickly, they waited for her obstetrician to arrive before pushing. Dr. Adashek is amazing and was on call for her regular doctor; Dr. Wilkes. Greg had been able to assist in the delivery of their last baby and had hoped he would have the opportunity again. Dr. Adashek went above and beyond and gave Greg the main role of delivering his daughter. It was amazing!
Each of their girls have been named after grandparents which made each so unique and extra special!
You can feel all that emotion and love in their still images, but video has an extra special way of showcasing all those emotions!
We have done newborn sessions with each of their girls, and each girl had a designated color that they incorporated into their sessions. Again, Ashlie is so thoughtful and intentional, and I love that, among a million other things about her.
Tuesday, July 30th, 2024
This super fast homebirth is such a beautiful birth story and a great example of the wide range of important and beautiful moments there are to capture around birth, even when I’m not with your for a long period of time.
I had been following this beautiful mama on Instagram for quite some time (you should follow her now; she is amazing). I was drawn to her outlook, love for her family, and sense of humor. I ended up reaching out to her when I had a gap in my birth schedule. I was so happy it worked out!
Her biggest concern was whether I would make it in time. We live on the opposite sides of town, and there isn’t a quick route to get to her house. Her first baby was crazy fast, with the midwife just missing their birth. She described that birth as going from “maybe I’m in labor” to “the baby is coming” in a very short amount of time. So, we came up with the plan to communicate often, and I would come out on the earlier end and even hang out in their area if needed when things started moving along.
One night, she texted to let me know she was having some labor signs but nothing consistent, and she wasn’t sure it was the real deal. I offered to come hang out in their area in my car (I’ve had lots of car naps and sleep breaks during births), but she didn’t want me to drive that far if it ended up dying down. The following day, I woke up surprised there was no texts or calls, but got ready just in case. Sure enough, I got the call at 7:30 am that things were moving fast and to come now. I jumped right in my car and headed out. Of course, traffic could have been better this time of day, but luckily, it was not too horrid.
As I was pulling up to their community the midwife called to see how close I was. She was right behind me and not sure she would make it either. When I pulled up out front her dad was out there waiting for me, to let me know things were happening fast and she had the urge to push.
This is where having my cameras on and ready to go is vital. I’ve learned that lesson along the way, and always walk in ready to start shooting immediately, if needed. As I walked in dad was calmly delivering his son, and their doula right by her side offering such calm support. Their midwife’s operator was also on speaker with them ready to give any guidance they might need. Their birth space was incredibly calm and quiet. This mom is a serious rock star!!
The funny thing is she delivered even faster than last time and in the exact same position she had her first baby in.
The best part of this story is that this baby was delivered by his father.
What a cool birth story, right? This dad will always get to hold and cherish the moment of delivering his son. You could see the pride all over him!
They make the most beautiful babies. I mean look at that gorgeous head of hair and beautiful skin!
Their midwife Sarah from Serenity walked in right after he was born. I just love Sarah, she has such a beautiful heart and is such a gift to our community.
Their doula, Melissa was the same as their last baby as well, and their connection and the trust there was beautiful to see.
The cutest little moments unfolded as they brought in big sister to meet her new baby brother. She was a little unsure at first, and was a bit confused to wake up to a house full of strangers. Sibling meetings are some of my favorite moments to capture.
This is a great example of how unique each birth story is! Feel free to peruse other birth stories I have shared!
Thursday, May 9th, 2024
This is the second birth I’ve documented for this family, and both times, I was so inspired and blown away by the intentional space this mother created to welcome her children. As I tried to think of a title and ways to describe just how beautiful their birth was, I kept coming back to Beauty, Light, and Love. It is the perfect way to describe the physical space she had created, the dynamics of their family, and their love for each other.
Jessica is incredibly talented and spent weeks preparing her master bath for her son’s delivery, and as she shared bits and pieces of it through the process, I got more and more excited to see it in person. The biggest fear was that she would go incredibly fast like she had with her third baby, which brings the risk of me either running in at the end or missing it entirely (always a major fear for me and my clients). Her last baby came so fast I arrived just 20 minutes before she delivered!
Although her birth space was gorgeous, as you can see, what made their whole birth story even more beautiful was that her girls happened to be on spring break and all home as she labored, and so besides being surrounded by this lovely space, she was surrounded by her children, her husband, fantastic midwife (that has now delivered all four of her children), and her friend and doula, Lori(also present for all her deliveries). Their birth film is full of all the beautiful details, so be sure to check it out.
Jessica’s labor is the perfect example of just how unpredictable birth can be. Although moms tend to follow the patterns of their previous pregnancies, there are always surprises and unknowns. After all the worry about it going so fast and making it in time, her son’s labor proved to be long and steady. In fact it stalled out a bit right after everyone arrived (not uncommon), so she laid down and took a little nap and reset with her youngest, then got up and moved around with the girls; dancing, cuddling, and just loving on each other. That worked on bringing more oxytocin into play, and soon things were moving along again.
Not only was her birth space filled with beautiful twinkle lights and gorgeous candles, but she was also lucky enough to have a daytime birth, so light-filled all the spaces she was in.
She had hoped her daughters would be interested and engaged when she delivered but kept the option always open to them to come in and out as they felt comfortable and only when ready. They came in at different stages, sometimes individually, sometimes together, but always sweet and tender.
Finally, after some intense pressure and surges, she held her sweet boy in her arms.
I am so impressed by so many things about Jessica and her beautiful family, but one thing that is so obvious from the time you meet her is how much her family means to her. Her love for all of them permeates everything. After three girls, welcoming her first son added an additional layer of excitement and joy for them all.
Big sisters are big enough to always remember just how special this day was, and how they were a part of it all.
Birth is so full of beauty and story, no matter how it unfolds. I love that this family was able to create their own beautiful birth space, and hopefully, it inspires you as much as it did me!
Friday, March 1st, 2024
As we close out 2023, it’s the perfect time to review the year!
One of my favorite ways to end the year in gratitude is to revisit all the sessions I’ve had the honor of documenting throughout the year, picking a favorite from each. Favorites change throughout the year, but in this exercise of revisiting images, I am almost always drawn to joy, love, connection, and sometimes the memory of what happened in the moments surrounding that image.
This is also the time of year I set or adjust my annual goals for business and personal growth, always with the desire for balance to ensure I can be fully present in both. My word of intention for 2024 is Present.
I believe it’s essential to evaluate each year as far as what has worked, areas I feel worked for my clients and schedule, and ways to improve and grow (because I believe we never stop growing!)
2023 was a big year for me, business-wise as well as personally. After coming out of a creative rut that lasted two years, I finally felt my creativity re-ignited. I believe it was more burnout than a creative rut, but either way, I felt somewhat zapped and often struggled to pick up my camera. In this reset, I found that when I make time for myself and feed my soul spiritually and creatively as well as my body physically, I come to you, my clients, refreshed and much more creative and passionate, hopefully providing you the best experience I can. I’ve built solo vacation times for myself for the last two years, and it has been an incredible way to reset. I will continue this into 2024 and am still working on how this year will look.
I’ll address things I will keep the same for 2024 and changes I will make in each of the services I provide in the appropriate sections below.
In 2023, I documented 13 births, each unique and special. Six of those births were repeat clients. This year, I documented two families that have now trusted me with three of their birth stories! What an honor!
This is my second year creating a compilation of the beauty of birth. Here is 2023:
6 home births, 5 hospital births, and 2 birth center births. Two were transferred to the hospital from home and birth center, and one was delivered via cesarean.
Achievements in birth for 2023 included being published in NAPCP‘s Inspired Magazine, being awarded first place in the birth category of Shoot and Share, and multiple placements in the birth category.
I also had a new website revamp, and I couldn’t be happier! Louise with The Autumn Rabbit has done it again (this is the second website she’s built for me). I wanted to emphasize my focus on birth photography and videography, as these are my specialties.
My 2024 goal is to continue to grow creatively and in filmmaking, focusing on continuing to develop my storytelling skills, applying to at least two competitions, and expanding mentoring other photographers in this incredible genre. I plan on adding at least five more birth clients in 2024.
If you plan to welcome a baby in 2024, please reach out! I tend to book out quickly and have openings in February, May, and August.
I documented 12 maternity sessions.
Maternity sessions are tied with family sessions as my next favorite after births. It is a unique period filled with anticipation and the beauty of waiting to meet your new baby. Watching mothers open up and shine in front of the camera is the best.
In 2023, I added a few more beautiful dresses and gowns for client use.
In 2024, I will keep the number of maternity sessions pretty equal to this year; it was my happy place and ensured I had space on the calendar for birth clients. This year’s changes will be that my birth clients will get first dibs on maternity, fresh, and newborn spots on the calendar.
I photographed 5 Fresh sessions and 13 Newborn sessions.
I’ve transitioned into calling these sessions ‘Fresh’ sessions versus ‘Fresh 48’ because, as life goes, it isn’t always possible to get those Fresh sessions in those first couple of days whether it is a NICU transfer or families just needed an extra day or two to settle in. The purpose and goal of Fresh sessions is to capture all those sweet little newborn details and precious first days of getting to know each other. These days pass quickly, and those little details change so fast! They are more lifestyle in nature with minimal posing.
For 2024, planning to focus on birth clients while managing the schedule well, I will keep the same number of fresh and newborn sessions, with birth clients having first choice on availability.
I’ve added a studio option for newborn clients utilizing a shared studio space. This is great for families who don’t want to worry about their home’s appearance or the prep for an in-home session. Although it may seem like more work to have them in your home, these sessions are a great reminder of how this period of your life felt. Your home is where your memories will be made, and there is something so unique in that.
I have had a dream and goal to teach and mentor, and in 2023, I finally saw that long-time goal come to fruition! I had the privilege of teaching my first course, Family Filmmaking, at Click Photo School. Their community was the first I found in my drive to become a better photographer and storyteller and where I have grown the most. Teaching a course in this beautiful community 13 years later has been the best!
In 2023, I documented 18 families, twice the number in 2022.
I loved that I could accommodate more families this year by spacing them out throughout the year. This year was definitely my favorite family season! I had so many returning clients and families who wanted to capture connections and personalities over posed images, and that right there is my language! My goal is always to remind you how this season of your life felt, and the best way to do that is to encourage connections and joy during sessions. Thank you to all the families who trusted me in these moments and with your precious families.
For 2024, I will take on fewer family clients to allow space on the calendar for increase in birth clients. I wish I could do it all, but with the weeks of ‘on-call’ time for clients and the unpredictable nature of birth, it just isn’t feasible.
Previous clients will have the first choice of available family session spots, and rather than having you choose months so far in advance, I will open the family calendar quarterly, with an email going out to regular clients first. Hopefully, this will help take the pressure off of you as well!
Thank you all for trusting me again and again with your most precious moments and most precious people! I am continually in awe that this is what I get to do. Here’s to an amazing year ahead!
Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024
The birth of Adeline is a belly-to-home birth story that captures so much more than the birth of their sweet girl. It captures this family’s love for each other and this mom’s determination and strength.
Kaitlyn found me when searching for a birth photographer here in Las Vegas. Her goals were to capture everything about this stage of their lives, from the anticipation of awaiting their little girl to their birth at our local birth center, Serenity Birth Center, to bringing her home with an in-home newborn session. More and more families have chosen this birth package over the last few years. The Whole Story birth package includes maternity, birth, and newborn sessions. It captures so much more than just the day your baby arrives. After all, there is so much more to birth stories than the day you deliver!
Be sure also to check out their beautiful birth film at the end. It perfectly demonstrates the beauty and grace she brought their sweet baby into this world.
Getting to know clients is vital in being prepared to capture the moments most important to you, so face-to-face meetings are always included in my birth packages. It is the perfect time to hear your wishes and hopes and get a feel for your personalities and family dynamics. It also helps to make the day of delivery more comfortable for everyone. Working alongside families during maternity sessions also helps as I get to see their dynamics in action, and it adds a layer of trust before delivery day. I left this maternity session even more excited to document their birth because their love for each other was tender and sweet. Their laid-back personalities and the way they interacted made it evident that their connection would be a highlight of their birth story.
Kaitlyn had an estimated due date of December 29th, which added an exciting layer of anticipation of whether she would deliver in 2022 or 2023 or even on New Year’s Eve. She is a registered nurse who has not only worked as a travel nurse but now works for a travel nurse company. She worked hard both in a staff position on the floor and as a coordinator until the week before her due date and was ready to meet her baby girl. But, their sweet girl was nice and cozy on the inside and waited until 41 weeks and three days to make her grand appearance.
Kaitlyn labored for days before finally bringing their sweet girl earthside. Contractions began after an exam in the office with their midwife and were consistently off and on and uncomfortable, but not enough to be admitted into the birth center. Finally, two days later, they changed and became consistent and intense. She was admitted to the birth center, and I was called in the early morning hours to head their way.
Their amazing doula Regina Roy, was with them, and I was so excited to finally meet her in person.
Kaitlyn was most comfortable in the water, and their birth space was quiet and serene, with Jason and Regina diligently by her side, very in tune with what she needed and when she needed it. She was tired after contracting as long as she had and rested as much as possible between contractions.
After a few hours, her contractions became a bit irregular again, and so an exam was done. She had made minimal change, and so the decision was made for her to go back home and hopefully get some rest while her body continued to work. They were, of course, disappointed.
There was little rest at home, and Kaitlyn remained uncomfortable but determined. Finally, two days later, things changed, and the intensity and frequency finally increased, and they returned to the birth center, this time with significant cervical change.
Kaitlyn’s demeanor had also changed. Her determination was awe-inspiring. She remained turned inward where she needed to be to stay focused, and Regina was consistently by her side. Their trust was evident, which helped Kaitlyn’s trust in her direction and suggestions for labor positions. Although exhausted, Jason remained by her side and calm and grounded throughout the process. I was impressed with how calm and supportive he stayed throughout, always trusting Kaitlyn’s body and the process. This is a perfect case of how important it is that your birth team believes in you and supports you. That energy becomes palpable and, I believe, can sway outcomes.
The last stages of labor required Kaitlyn to dig deep and allow her body the rest it needed between contractions. Although she was fully dilated for hours, the urge to push and fetal descent was a slow process, just like the rest of her labor, but she remained determined and committed. Finally, at one point, her amazing midwife, April Clyde, and student midwife, Alexyis Bonilla, encouraged her to sit on the toilet in hopes it would aid in fetal descent. There is a reason they call the toilet the “dilation station.” It is often the key to opening the pelvis up to allow for fetal rotation and descent, and it finally did the trick. Kaitlyn went from working so hard to her baby’s head right there! They quickly assisted her into the tub (where she wanted to deliver) just in time for her to deliver her sweet baby girl.
The pride on pure joy on Jason’s face and the pure love and joy of Kaitlyn as she finally held her sweet girl in her arms pretty much had us all in tears.
As Kaitlyn was showered and assisted back to bed, dad had some precious skin-to-skin time with his new baby girl; it was so tender and beautiful. He just soaked it all up.
And this beautiful soul, Regina. I had heard so many things about her, and I could 1000% see why her clients and the birth community love her. She is a blessing and holds such a special gift. She was so patient and connected with Kaitlyn, and so knowledgeable of the labor process.
Newborn sessions with The Whole Package clients are always a little bittersweet. We’ve communicated so often in the weeks leading up to their birth, and to be a part of such an intimate and important time in their lives always leaves a lasting connection. To see that sweet reward in their arms is the best. These two were utterly smitten with their sweet Adeline, and I loved that they included their fur babies.
And finally, their birth story in motion. The emotions and beauty of this period always carry over much better in film.
Wednesday, November 8th, 2023
2022 has been a wonderful year for me personally and as a business! After two years of the pandemic, my heart and soul needed it. For me, 2021 was just about as disappointing and confusing as 2020.
After deciding to rebrand and specialize in births in 2018, I had just gotten my groove going and hit my happy place before the pandemic hit. I was blessed to have plenty of work throughout the pandemic, but I often took on more than I should have and ended 2021 completely exhausted.
After being unable to attend so many births for two years, I had come to question my future path. The frustration of not being allowed into hospital birth spaces and the often unwelcoming atmosphere when I was added stress for myself and my clients.
I’m still not back to the number of births I was booking pre-pandemic, but I have hope. Believing wholeheartedly in this work and its importance for families has kept me focused. Birth is the most life-changing moment we experience. Whether it is a joyous birth (which I hope and wish for all families) or a traumatic one documenting your birth is important. Documenting your birth can be incredibly healing for past and current traumas. In fact, studies show that families who document their births report better birth experiences.
Showing you how beautiful and strong you are, and how many beautiful layers there are to your birth story is what drives me. Many clients have shared how their images and films have helped them through postpartum depression and anxiety. They’ve shared how valuable their images and film footage are to them in being able to look back on those powerful moments.
I believe I have been called to birth work and have immensely enjoyed this new phase of that work; the role of documenting birth stories for families. I’ve been in it for 22 years (19 as a L&D nurse, and 5 of my 11 years in business as a birth photographer), and can’t imagine ever growing weary of it!
Being allowed into these sacred spaces and being trusted in them means so much to me. It is a responsibility I don’t take lightly!
Without further ado, on to my favorites!
I pick a session favorite from each session I document each year. It is fun to look back on the year by picking an image from each session that has inspired or impacted me. My favorites even change throughout the year, and often choose one that reminds me of how that session and time felt. (Clients who have requested their images remain private are not included in this post).
5 hospital births, 6 home births, and 1 birth center birth.
I donated two birth stories for families experiencing a loss.
This special time in the lives of my clients is one of my favorites. It is such a special phase of life, and the anticipation always feels palpable to me. I love showing mamas how beautiful they are carrying their babies. They will have these images to share with their children as they grow. I’ve also added to my client closet for maternity sessions.
Fresh 48 sessions were often the next best option for clients who could not have me attend their hospital births. I love these early days of the newborn period and all the special little details it holds. It is such a fleeting stage of life, and for that reason, I believe it is so important!
This number of family clients worked well this year. It is much less than I normally take on, but one of the areas of my business I’ve had to restrict because of the call time for birth clients. Thank you so much to all the families that have continued to trust me with their families and this time in your lives. I am so grateful to you!
For 2023, I have again limited the number of family sessions in my schedule.
I have transitioned into more lifestyle-type work when photographing families over the years. My goal is always to capture how this time in your life feels. I want to capture those silly little laughs and personalities and your loving on each other! My clients showed up this year ready to play and be fully present in their sessions and images; it was so wonderful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Yes, that’s my beautiful daughter and her sweet and handsome boyfriend. I don’t photograph couples anymore, but it’s a special occasion when she asks!
For the last four years, I have done a giveaway telling the story of one individual, organization, or cause. I have loved offering this and have been able to tell the most amazing stories! This is an area I also had to pull in 2023 to allow the space to manage my schedule best for myself and my clients. Amazing stories seem to find me, so I will continue to tell them on a case-by-case basis. So, if you feel inspired to tell yours, please reach out! If my schedule allows, I would love to share it.
Ashley is an amazing and beautiful human being. I have known her for many years as we worked together in labor and delivery. Her transformation story is inspiring on so many levels, and she inspires me daily. Ashely’s story is important, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
This is another type of session I’ve pulled from my offerings. This beautiful client is my sister, so special circumstances as well!
I adore this type of session but have had to pull from my offerings. With such limited time and space between births, I have felt referring them out has been best for both myself and my clients. I mean, look at this guy. He was a 2020 birth I could not attend because of hospital restrictions.
I’ve also created a year-in-review birth film reel, so keep your eyes peeled for that!
Thank you so much for trusting me with life’s most important moments and your most valuable and important people-your families! I am grateful for every one of you, and so grateful for this life and career. Thank you for believing in me and supporting my small business; there aren’t enough words!
Sunday, January 1st, 2023