Ummm…why birth photography?
Yeah, we know, it sounds different! A few years ago I was asked by a friend to document the birth of her second child (the baby girl you see on the right). She told me that she could barely remember the birth of her first child for many reasons…fear from never experiencing child birth, the rush of the situation…who knows, but she had a mental block and regretted not having good documentation of the day. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to remember birth the second time around, too.
I was so excited to photograph this event for my friend and her family. I had no idea just how moving the experience would be for me, and how beautiful and emotional the images would turn out to be. I was floored…and hooked.
To my surprise, the concept of birth photography was not new, even though I had never heard of it at the time. Obviously, it is not as widely accepted as other forms of family photography, but for families that want to document this part of their story, it is a priceless gift.
Why should I hire a birth photographer? Can’t a family member or my husband/partner take pictures for me?
Hiring Open Book Studios to document your child’s birth will allow your husband, partner, and family to relax and focus on supporting you during the birth process. Rather than worrying about operating a camera, they will be able to enjoy the experience with you and actively participate. This is a huge responsibility that you can take off the shoulders of your family.
And shouldn’t dad be in the pictures, too? What about your family sitting with anticipation in the waiting room..wouldn’t you love to see all that they have been doing? Let your family be in the pictures, not taking them. And let us give you the gift of professional art on this amazing day!
How many birth photography sessions do you schedule each month?
We only schedule a maximum of three birth sessions each month, so it’s important to schedule your session many months before your due date, if possible. We do our best to stagger birth sessions far apart in regards to due dates, as no one can predict when your baby will decide to make his grand entrance into the world. We will even be there on Christmas Day to celebrate with you, if that’s your baby’s chosen birthday.
I really want to document this day with photography, but I’m rather shy…especially about this topic. Will you share my birth story on your website for everyone to see?
No. This is a special kind of photography…everyone has a different opinion of comfort in regards to sharing this day. Well before your labor, we will meet in person to get to know each other and discuss your comfort zone. We will only document the day in a way that you feel comfortable.
Your contract will include a model release form, which gives Open Book Studios the legal freedom to use your photos on our website and for promotional purposes. However, we will not share photos that you are not comfortable with and will never post photos that we feel would cause discomfort. If you do not want your photos to be shared on the website or blog at all, just let us know and we will be sure to give you your privacy. We will discuss this when we meet in person before your baby’s big arrival.
We pay special attention to the nature of the photos we display here on our site, and these galleries will hopefully give you a good indication of our discretion and image sharing style. We assure you that most of your images will never appear on this site, in promotional material, or be seen by anyone other than you and those who you choose to share them with.
What if my labor lasts for much longer than planned? Will you charge me extra for this time?
No! No one can plan for how long your labor will last. We’ve documented a birth that happened in a few hours, and another that lasted for 9 hours from the time we arrived. There is no reason to be concerned about extra photography costs for any labor. You will only pay more than your package price if you want to purchase additional albums, prints, or canvases.
If I go into labor at 3 am, will you still be there?
Of course! We are on call 24/7 for your labor, and we will be there no matter what time your little one decides to arrive. However, sometimes there are circumstances that might prevent us from making it to your labor on time ~ such as an emergency situation or unexpected change of location. Situations like this are covered in your birth photography contract.
I’m having a scheduled c-section, so I have doubts about even considering documenting the birth. What are your thoughts on photographing c-sections?
Your birth story is just that…yours. Not everyone’s day will be the same, and we feel that c-sections should be captured and photographed. Every birth is memorable, and whether you will have a c-section birth or not does not change the fact that your baby will be placed in your arms for the first time, cry out for the first time, and change your family forever on her one and only day of birth. Your c-section birth, whether scheduled or unplanned, is just as memorable and important as any other birth. Our images from Abigail’s birth gallery are from a scheduled c-section birth, as well as the images below (I’m always a sucker for family looking through the nursery window!).
