Why should I pay for Birth Photography, and What is a Birth Story????

These are some of the most common questions I get when I mention that I offer Birth Story Sessions.
So, let me help you out with those

Birth is often viewed as messy and unattractive.
But really, birth is miraculous, raw, vulnerable, and amazingly beautiful.  You are about to embark on
one of the most empowering, transformative moments of your life. 
So why not capture these emotional events that tell your story?
And create memories you can share with your kids to remember these precious moments for a lifetime?

It’s a day you’ve waited for over 9 months to experience, and I want to help you remember every beautiful detail of it. Similar to your wedding day…this day can be SUCH a blur by the end. 
Especially for you as you are enduring each contraction & uncomfortable moment. 
Because of these moments, it can cause the good and special moments to blur as well. 
I am there to catch all of these little details to keep these memories alive.
This way, you also aren’t having to burden your partner or family to document these things….
They can stay living in the moment.

As your birth photographer, it’s my role to document your birth story without interfering in you & your
family’s experience…and doing so with the utmost respect for you and your big day.
It is such an honor to be welcomed into such a space, and I’m beyond grateful each and every time I’m invited to do so. If you are willing to put that trust into me, then… your birth story awaits…

Now, Birth Stories are expensive.  And let me explain why…
On the business side, it is a LOT of time spent on my part.  Not only in my weeks of being
on-call for your delivery…willing and able to drop everything I’m doing and everything my family is doing, to be by your side. But, it is also a lot of time spent up at the hospital…
usually between 10-14 hours…but sometimes up to 24+ just like you and your family.  I will be there
for nearly every moment you have, going through your labor. And all of this time equals even more photos that I will sit at home for hours on end, editing and getting just absolutely perfect for you. 
Along with creating a special, tasteful, and memorable slideshow video you can
share with family and friends!
Put all of this together…and it is a lot of hours to be paid for. 
At the rate that I have assigned the session, it’s honestly not even paying me minimum wage per hour.
But, I LOVE Birth, and I LOVE babies, and I wouldn’t trade the experiences and time for anything!

Now, put the business side away, and think about what you are getting for this investment.
Not only are these once-in-a-lifetime moments that you can never get back.  But these are memories you will want to re-live and share with your child once they are older and can appreciate them.
How cool would it be to go back in time, and see how YOU were brought into the world? 
Not necessarily the screaming or pain… but what about the awesome moments in-between? 
Your Mom & Dad’s face the first time they heard your cry and saw your tiny feet….
Your Mom’s strength as she brought you into this world…. 
Your Dad’s love & support of your Mom throughout the day….
Your cute little face after just being born…  And so much more!!!
How awesome would it be to see your PARENT’S birth or even your GRANDPARENT’S birth?!? 
To see how the medical world has changed.  And how people in general have changed in reaction to this experience over the years.  What a legacy to pass down!

Yes, there may be some “gross” photos, you can leave these out of your album when you
show your kids. Most of my photos however, are of the experience…showing the emotions.  99% of my photos will conceal the inappropriate or “gross” things, to show the absolute Beauty of Birth! 
Trust me…you won’t regret having these memories captured!
We are in such a world right now, where everything is captured in photos and shared on social media.  Have you ever heard the phrase, “If it’s not on Facebook, it didn’t happen?” 
That might be better translated to Instagram in today’s world, but it’s true!
We like to share everything we are going through with our friends, family, and even strangers. 
The ugly and the pretty…we share it all.
How is one of the biggest days of your life, any different?

Have I convinced you yet?
Listen…you are here because you know your birth experience is going to be incomprehensibly, undeniably life-changing. You are here because you know your child’s birth is going to transform you in ways you can’t yet begin to understand. You are here because you need to trust these long hours of labor, in the hands of someone who can document it in a way that will take your breath away.

I’m not crazy when I say it is a beautiful experience. 
I know there are no guarantees going into your birth experience with you.
Births are nothing if not unpredictable.  Anything truly can happen.  But that’s not stopping us.
I can’t promise how your baby’s birth journey with go, but I will put my whole heart into this with you.

I want you to be excited about your birth story.
I want you to feel like you were heard, you mattered, and your birth story mattered. 
Not just to you, but everyone on your team. Whether it goes as planned or not, I want you to walk away from this experience trusting you gave your entire self into having the story you wanted.
And most importantly, I want you to hold onto these hours of your life forever, in a way that you 
can’t wait to share.