Baltimore Birth Photography, My First Birth

I was asked to photograph a birth a few weeks ago. (We are still in Austin) Actually, it was more like I asked if I could photograph the birth. It’s been something that I’ve been CRAZY wanting to do since I had Alice. When I was pregnant with Jacob I NEVER thought about it. Birth photography? I didn’t even know there was a market for newborn photography let alone birth photography. I didn’t even have a good digital camera back then and film was slowly going away. I don’t even have those ugly hospital photos of Jacob. You know, the ones on that ugly generic blanket from when we were babies?? (If you were born in the 80’s you know what I am talking about 😉 ) I do have some of Owen in the room AFTER he was born and I have some of Alice that are all out of focus. My husband can’t take an in focus photo on full auto! And Dean’s whole process was “interesting” so once again I have nothing of him even in the hospital 🙁

So if I don’t have anything and I’m a photographer then why would you want a birth photographer? Because it’s the most amazing, beautiful, emotional, wonderful, pure, real, sweet, I could go on experience ever. It’s such a personal experience, such a very RAW (pun intended) experience that I think is not celebrated enough. And it’s all over. Just like that.

I really wish and I’m so mad at myself that I don’t have any of these types of photos of my own children. There is nothing like holding your baby in your arms for the very first time. That feeling.. I can’t even really remember what it was like.

My recent birth doesn’t really either. She said it was all over so fast. But she was very thankful that I was there to get it all for her. While she was doing the after birth doings I was happy snapping away at the little things the nurses do afterwards, daddy doting on his new son,  the baby just laying there turning from that gray-white color to his normal color. Everyone was so inviting and so welcoming and the nurse even told me that she loves it when the babies put their feet on the sides of the little warming tray they are put in (sorry mom and dad for so many of those, I just love baby toes and couldn’t pick the best one). And watching the dad be so loving, supportive and just “taking all the hormone anger”, lol. I know that when I had Alice I wanted to judo chop my husband’s you know what off.

Moms just often think, “Oh I will just have my husband take the photos and they will be good enough”. You want the father or support person to be there for your moral support. They do not need to worry about taking photographs. Let them enjoy this experience with you. For some it is a once in a lifetime type of event. And no two births are the same (I know, I have four and they were all very different). And you want photos of dad during all of it. “Where was dad when I was born”? LOL Just sit back, relax if you can and let me get it all for you. I might even sneak you in a burger for afterwards 🙂

Here are just a couple of my favorite photos from that very exciting time. Enjoy!

Baltimore Maryland maternity, birth, newborn, family photography hellolaurashort@gmail.com 760-402-7287