Frequently Asked Questions

When should I book a birth photographer?

As soon as possible. At the very least, schedule a consult so you get the first opportunity of getting on my calendar. Because birth is so unpredictable, I’m only able to book 4 birth clients a month and that can fill up pretty quickly.

Do hospital policies allow birth photography?

Yes! Some care providers are most sensitive to what I’m allowed to shoot than others, but for the most part, as long as I’m respectful and stay out of the way, I’m able to shoot without anyone noticing a whole lot. Of course, some of this trust comes with the fact that I’ve been photographing in delivery rooms for the better part of 9 years and have earned the trust of many care providers and staff.

Privacy is very important to me, how will my images be handled in the future?

Your trust is the most important thing I can earn. Most of my clients approve some level of sharing, but your beautiful, intimate birth images will not be shared to social media, online, or marketing materials without your express permission.

After your birth story gallery has been delivered, you’ll have the opportunity to create a list of images that you’re comfortable having shared.

What if I have a long labor? How long will you stay?

This is part of the service of birth photography. Regardless of how long your labor is, I will stay and document until 1-2 hours after your baby is born, right through that golden hour and those first precious bonding moments.

The longest I’ve ever been at a birth is 3 days.

What if I have a C-section?

Birth photography isn’t only for natural births with twinkle lights!

If allowed, I will absolutely document your c-section. If you’re planning to a c-section birth and wanting to document your birth, talk to your care provider. Whether or not additional support people are allowed into the OR usually comes down to hospital and anesthesiologist policies. I’ve been welcomed into several operating rooms to photograph cesarean births, but policies can differ between hospitals and even individual care providers. But the best place to start is by visiting with your care provider. If you haven’t yet chosen a care provider or birth location yet and having your birth story documented is important to you, let’s chat- I’d be happy to point you in the direction of photographer-friendly providers and hospitals.

You deserve to have your baby’s birth photographed, no matter what that looks like!

What does “on-call” mean?

“On-call” means that I have all of my life arranged to drop everything and go when I get the call that it’s baby time! Babies don’t have clocks or calendars, so being on-call means that I’m ready to jump out of bed at a moment’s notice. I’ve paid a babysitter to be available, my batteries are charged, my bags are packed, I have clothes laid out.

Typically, I go on-call at 38 weeks of pregnancy, unless there’s some reason to think you may go into labor before then.

Do you stay in the delivery room through the entire process?

It depends. Most of the time, yes. However, if I get the sense that the birthing family needs some privacy, I’ll hang out in the waiting room and step in and out to photograph as needed. Also, I won’t take it personally if you ask me to step out.

Are you comfortable documenting home births?

Yes! I’ve had 3 home births myself and come from a family background where home birth is accepted as the norm— between my husband’s and my own family, there are over 30 babies, all born safely at home.

Some of my best friends are out-of-hospital midwives.

So yeah, you could say that I’m very comfortable in that space.

How many final photos can I expect?

I guarantee at least 80 final images for your birth story, but most of the time, I’m able to deliver at least 150.

What about COVID-19?

Local hospitals have been consistently allowing certified birth doulas with their clients into labor and delivery units since summer 2020 and I don’t foresee that changing, although it’s always possible. If I were unable to attend your birth due to Covid policies, your fee would be rolled over into SCP credit to be applied to other sessions in the future. A fun alternative is to do a Going Home session, documenting as you leave the hospital and take your baby home for the first time!

Ok, but will you be shooting everything on the “business end?”

Not unless you want me to. And not unless your care provider is cool with it. Some clients really want those crowning shots and that’s AMAZING, and others simply want the emotion happening at the top end of the bed. Either way, this is something we’ll discuss when we visit during your pregnancy.

One

Schedule a consult call!

I know, I know, who wants to talk on the phone? But I promise to make it fun and painless, and hopefully you learn some helpful things by the time we’re done chatting.

Two

Choose your Birth Story Package

Choose a package that suits your needs and place a non-refundable retainer that reserves your spot on my calendar- remember, I’m only available to photograph 4 births a month!

Three

Check in!

As your due date gets closer, we’ll meet for a quick check-in around 36 weeks, so that you can bring me up to speed on any potential changes to your plans, etc. After that, we’ll stay in close contact as you go through your last prenatal appointments and make final preparations for your baby’s arrival!