Doula and Birth Photography

Birth photography is an entirely different and wonderful beast — it is a chance to be a witness to the most candid, raw, and unposed love that exists in the world.

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I have been a natural light photographer for the last ten years. My favorite moments to capture are the love and joy that naturally exist in any relationship. Birth is a brief moment in time that you will never forget.

Allison and Caleb

Allison and Caleb delivered their third son, Rufus, on the morning of my son’s 5th birthday. I remember hearing that doula life was an “on-call lifestyle” and that I should expect to miss soccer games, planned outings, and birthday parties. Rather than being upset about this, I was delighted that my first birth as a doula coincided with the memory of my first birth as a mother. When I showed up at their house just a few hours before Rufus’ arrival, I was expecting Allison to be doubled over in pain with contractions 2-3 minutes apart, but instead she was standing at the kitchen table looking well-rested and perky at a time when she would normally be going to bed. She reminded me that dogs often put on a happy face for visitors even when they aren’t feeling well, and she thought she was doing the same. Allison’s first two sons were both presenting face forward at the time of delivery, which made their deliveries longer and more challenging in every way. Rufus’ birth was quick and smooth and redemptive. Allison’s contractions were very fast and intense by the time we all made our way to the hospital. About two hours after walking into the hospital, Allison was relieved to learn that she was 10 cm dilated and ready to push. Rufus was born only 15 minutes later with bright red hair and weighing almost 9 pounds. Rufus means “red-haired” and he is adored by his big brothers Forest and Merle.

Natalie and Andrew

Natalie and Andrew were expecting their first little girl with the intention of allowing life and labor to take place as naturally as possible with the Moana soundtrack playing in the background. Natalie’s water broke about a week after her due date, and Natalie spent the next 15 hours bringing on contractions at home. Once told she needed to come to the hospital, Natalie and Andrew tried all the tricks to manage her contractions: counter pressure, comfort in the tub, a shower, walking, swaying, and of course, music. Stella Jo was born at sunrise on a Thursday morning, and even though all of the lights in the hospital room were off, the first rays of sunlight were spilling in through the windows. She was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck twice, but this did not have any effect on her delivery or her lung power, as she came out singing, clearly musical just like her parents.

Lizz and Damian

Lizz and Damian welcomed their beautiful son, Jackson, into the world on Mother’s Day. Lizz was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and was induced at 39 weeks. We spent the first 9 hours of her induction talking and laughing and getting to know one another because even though she was receiving intravenous pitocin to start labor and having contractions, she couldn’t feel them. The next 9 hours through the night were much more gruelling and emotional with several instances in which the OB team rushed in the room to place an internal fetal monitor or to change Lizz’ position because Jacskon’s heart rate was decelerating. At one point, Lizz asked me to come talk with her about what it might look like if she needed to have a cesarean. With worry for Jackson’s well-being, it was decided that a cesarean birth would be the best outcome. This was the first time that I stepped foot into the OR during a cesarean, and I was not anticipating it to be as beautiful as it was. There was a spectacular moment when Damian brought Jackson back to be with his mother, while she was still under the big blue tarp. Lizz began talking to Jackson and telling him about the world, and he just stared at her completely engrossed in what she was telling him. Lizz and Damian were already at peace with the end result of a cesarean birth, but that was the moment I made peace with it too. I thought of the classic children’s book, Are You My Mother, by P.D. Eastman because it was so clear that Jackson knew the voice and presence of his mother so well.