Thank you for the opportunity to capture your birth day. I have no doubt it will be a beautiful, love-filled day with many amazing moments. Big and small. This guide is mostly a collection of suggestions. Birth is a mysterious force and it often has a mind of its own. Don’t worry: as your birth photographer, I’m able to adjust and adapt to whatever course your birth will take. My hope is that this guide will prepare you for what it’s like to have a birth photographer in your birth space and give you the tools to best plan for what will certainly be a memorable day.
WHEN SHOULD I CONTACT YOU?
Please send me a message when you feel like labor is beginning. This allows me to think about the next few days with your birth in mind. I won’t get in my car, but I will make sure that my bag is packed and ready by the door.
Once contractions have intensified and you’ve decided it’s time to call your midwife or head to the hospital, please send me a message or give me a call. My goal is to arrive when you are in active labor. This ensures that my presence won’t distract you or prevent your labor from advancing. If you aren’t sure if you’re in active labor, your care provider will be the best gauge. Below are a few rough guides that can hint at active labor (but remember, active labor looks different for each woman!)
- Contractions are 3-4 minutes apart, for one hour
- Contractions are too intense to walk or talk through
- Contractions are accompanied with rectal pressure
- Dilated to 6 centimeters
Remember, I need one-hour notice. Please don’t hesitate to contact me once you feel like active labor has begun.
WHAT ABOUT LIGHTING?
Many women like to give birth in a dark environment. My camera is equipped to handle low light situations. That being said, I do need SOME light to capture those incredible moments. If I feel like there isn’t enough light in your birth space, I may make some small adjustments. If these bother you, please let me know.
During birth, I will often bounce my flash off the ceiling so I can capture the quick and fleeting moments of birth. My external flash is very different from the flashes that most people are accustomed to. The flash will never be directed near or towards your face and most of my clients aren’t even aware that I’m using it.
WHEN CAN I EXPECT MY IMAGES?
All of my birth packages include several sneak-peek images that I process and edit within 24 hours of birth. These images are specifically sized for the web so that you can easily and beautifully announce the birth of your baby on social media.
The rest of your images will be edited within 2-3 weeks. You’ll receive a link to your private and custom gallery where you’ll be able to view all your images and purchase prints.
WHERE SHOULD I GET THEM PRINTED?
All of my birth packages include a copyright release, which allows you to print photos for personal use. However, I work with a professional printer and I highly recommend that you consider purchasing prints through my site or mpix.com. My computer is specifically calibrated to this printer, which means that the images you receive will be of the utmost quality. Remember that these images will be in your family for years to come. Your print release IS NOT valid at Target, Walmart, Wallgreens Shutterfly, Costco, Sams Club or similar labs. If you choose to buy cheap prints, please know most of my clients find that the quality is incredibly poor and the colors are nothing like the colors I worked hard to achieve.
WHAT WILL YOU SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
I will only share images that you are comfortable with. All images will be tasteful and not contain anything sensitive in nature. Please let me know if you have any concerns and we will discuss them.