FAQs

What is birth photography?

Bringing a new baby into the world is one of life’s greatest moments. But when you’re in the moment it’s virtually impossible to take in all the details, and even if you could, those birth hormones work to dull the memories. Birth photography is a way to capture those moments, allow you to relive the beauty of bringing your baby into the world.

I don’t want to just snap photos, I want to preserve the emotions and sensations of this day for you, so weeks, months and years from now you can still relive those moments.

How does it work?

Birth is unpredictable, which is why I will be on call for you from 38 weeks until your baby is born. I will arrive around the beginning of active labour and stay with you until 1-2 hours after the baby is born.

We’ll meet up prior to the birth to chat about your birth preferences and your vision for your images. We’ll also discuss when you should call me and any other details we need to cover off on.

What kind of births do you attend?

All birth stories are worthy of documentation. So whether you’re planning a hospital birth with an epidural, a homebirth or a planned c-section I would love to capture these memories for you!

What about hospital restrictions?

Due to COVID some hospitals are limiting the amount of support people you’re able to have with you during your labour. The best thing to do is check with your care provider to confirm you’ll be able to have a birth photographer present. 

What if you can’t make it to the birth?

If I’m sick or have an emergency that prevents me from coming I have a back up photographer who I will send along in my place. 

What if you miss the birth?

Birth is unpredictable, and can go from zero to a hundred in a matter of moments, which is why communication is super important. In our consultation we’ll discuss when and how to contact me to give me the best chance of getting to your birth with plenty of time. 

If it is a very fast birth and I do miss it I will still arrive to capture the beautiful moments following the birth, and then we will book in a newborn or fresh session to make sure we’ve still got plenty of images to tell the story of your baby’s arrival. 

How will the images be delivered to me?

Within the first 48 hours I will edit and deliver 3 or 4 images via text so you can use them to share the arrival of your little one if you wish! 

The entire gallery will be delivered to you within three weeks, using an online gallery system where you can view and download the images. Following that I will send out a USB drive with all your images.

If you’d like prints, canvases or albums you can order these directly from within your gallery. 

If you’ve selected a package that includes prints, these will take up to 5 weeks to be delivered.

Do you take photos of crowning?

We will discuss your preferences during our consultation and I’ll be 100% guided by what kind of images you’d like for me to capture. Whether you’d like crowning shots or like me to avoid those, it’s completely up to you!

Will you share my photos on social media?

I love sharing your birth stories on social media and my website, but I’m also more than happy to honour your request for privacy. When you sign your contract we will go over these details and you can opt for only certain types of photos to be shared or no photos at all to be shared and that’s completely fine.

Will you use flash?

Flash can be super useful if your birth happens in the dark, it can enable me to capture the colour and detail even in the middle of the night. However I understand some people might prefer to not have a flash going off during their birth so I’m more than happy to work with that and I have professional gear that works very well in low light. Again, we’ll discuss the options and your preferences during our consultation.

Will the photos be in colour or black and white?

This really depends on a few factors. If your birth happens in a well lit room or if I’m able to utilise a flash we can usually deliver mostly colour photos. If your birth happens in a very dark space and you’ve opted for no flash then to make the most of the images I will edit most of them in black and white. 

My aim is to always edit the images in a way that best matches the lighting, mood and feel of an image.

Why should I book a professional birth photographer?

1. Professional photographers have equipment that are suitable for many different settings and lighting situations. Though even more importantly, they know how to use their gear. There are no do-overs with birth, so making sure we get it right the first time is super important. Hiring a pro means you can trust someone who knows what they’re doing is working to capture professional quality images.

2. Having a professional photographer there means that the people that are there to support you can focus on doing just that, rather than trying to remember to whip out their iPhone at the right moment. Your partner can focus entirely on being there with you and for you, and witnessing the moment you bring your baby into the world. 

3. A professional birth photographer will not only capture photos, they will make images that evoke emotions and allow you to relive the sensations for years to come. A professional photographer knows how to tell a story with their images, so your birth story will exist even after the memories become foggy and faded.

Why should I hire you?

I am passionate about the birth of babies, and the birth of mothers. I believe the old adage ‘So long as there’s a healthy baby’, is at best incredibly misguided and at worst a conscious attack on the right of women to make their own informed choices around how their baby arrives.

I believe women should be loved, supported and honoured during this sacred time and their experience should never be discounted or brushed off with ‘but all that matters is a healthy baby’. 

My approach is gentle and unassuming, but friendly and supportive. I naturally observe the mood of the birth space through it’s constantly changes phases, and match my own energy and approach to it. I often have clients tell me that they were surprised to feel like we were old friends, at ease in each others presence. More than the work I produce I think this might be what I’m most proud of, being able to connect with people from all walks of life in a way that they feel comfortable and safe to be themselves.