Poll: Birth Photography

Tayrusso

Are you having a birth photographer?  Why or why not?  Trying to decide if I want to do birth photography AND a newborn session...I did neither with DD, and I really wish I had.  I think both are absolutely beautiful. 

lynsimarie

We'll have a newborn session in the first couple weeks after Baby's born with a photog friend I used to work for.

But BIRTH photography?  HELLS NO!!!

Marthafocker

We are doing a newborn shoot a few days after LO is born, my friend is a photog. I wouldn't be into a birth photography session though. 

Tayrusso

lynsimarie:

We'll have a newborn session in the first couple weeks after Baby's born with a photog friend I used to work for.

But BIRTH photography?  HELLS NO!!!

LOL - I don't mean pictures of the gory details...  The birth photography I've seen was taken during labor and immediately after delivery (mom seeing baby for the first time, baby's first expression, taking the measurements, etc).  I certainly do not want ANY pictures of my baby being delivered.  ETA:  No pushing faces!! 

patrickandkim

No birth photographer, but definitely will do a NB session.

JulesDiane

Cameras are strictly forbidden in delivery at our hospital. Not that I think I would want it anyways!

Airmans Wife

We are definitely doing a newborn session. As for hiring someone to take pics in the hospital that would be a no. However DH will take pics before and after and of baby getting weighed, etc.  And then I'll just ask a nurse to take a family picture of the 3 of us. But I personally don't want a photographer in the room during labor, I would like as few people as possible actually; just DH, Me, Doctor and nurse(s). No parents, no friends, etc.

MrsJax2011

I will do pics during the birth (taken by a friend, not photographer), but not crotch shots...and the first photos in the Hospital, as well as a newborn session if I find a photographer I like...

dani2480

I know a woman who does some really amazing and beautiful birth photos, both during and after the delivery. They're very tasteful, and flattering. So, I considered it briefly, as a way to capture that moment. But, I ultimately decided against it because it's not something I imagine ever wanting to share with anyone else, and I'm sure the memory of the birth will stick with me throughout my life without pictures -- so why spend the money on it? Instead, we'll bring a camera and have DH (or possibly our doula) take a few nice shots after the baby is born and we're cleaned up. And then we'll plan a newborn session for sometime during the first couple of weeks.

Andreabks

SIL is a photographer and will be visiting sometime in June, so i'll have maternity pics done.  i'm guessing she'll try to come back up sometime after baby is born, but she's also a teacher so we may not get "baby" picutres done untill the holidays.

we're only doing them because SIL is super sweet and wants to do them for us.

mlf625

Nah.  Some of the images I've seen are really neat, but I feel like the shots we got with our DSLR were plenty sufficient.  I'd sooner spend the money on a package to capture the baby's first year.

Josie22

If I knew someone in town who was good, and in my budget, hell yes. But that's not the case. My mom & DH are my photography assistants. So I'm hopeful they'll get some shots I love. We'll see...

As far as newborn shots. I'm taking my own. But that's because I've been doing newborn photography for a few years. I tried it with my oldest and it was a huge fail. I'm still a bit nervous about doing my own even with all my experience. But, I know I'm going to want to plaster them all over my studio. Not something I can do with someone else's photos.

julisat

I would love, love, love to do birth photography...but cameras aren't allowed during the delivery at our hospital.  I am still going to teach DH how to use the camera so he can take as many as possible before/after.  Then a photographer friend is coming afterwards to take all the after shots, like the foot print, weighing, etc.  I plan to just do newborn pics myself.  If I wasn't capable of doing them myself I would definitely hire someone.  It is money well spent IMO.

pugznploons

I considered it, but don't really want extra onlookers as I will be going natural.  Dh and my doula will be there, any more people and it's too many for me.  We are doing a baby's first year package, which isn't cheap, so there's not really any extra money for more photography after that  

the birth photograpy I have seen is AMAZING though, very tasteful and emotional. 

dangerkitty102

With DS, my doula took pictures. Not during the labor or pushing (well I ended up in a c/s so I didn't get to push anyways), but she took the first pic of DS as soon as they pulled him out, and all the pics of him being measured, daddy putting his first diaper on him, me getting to hold him the first time etc.

She is not a professional photographer by any means, they are just simple point and shoot photos. But several of them are in DS's first year album and I'll always cherish them.

To me this is the ideal situation - I got photos but they were taken by someone I would have had in the L&D room regardless. I just couldn't imagine having a stranger there, or even a friend/acquaintance that I wouldn't have under normal circumstances. I don't think I'd be comfortable. 

ETA: if anyone is interested - here's the link to the shutterfly album. the "birth" photos are on pages 2-3 (nothing at all graphic - well except newborn baby penis)
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AatGrZm3at2bp4  

cmumama

We loved the newborn pics that were taken of DS in the hospital and ended up buying a CD of the pics.  We may do that again, but we won't be hiring a separate professional  to take the pics. 

mamahawk12

Wait, so birth photography is an actual thing?? No thanks.

julisat

meaknigh:

Wait, so birth photography is an actual thing?? No thanks.

Haha!  Definitely a real thing!  

https://birthphotographers.com/?p=790 (Link possibly NSFW)

sourapplemartini

We're doing birth photography. With DS I have no pictures of him after he was born-- nothing until he was almost 5 hours old. That makes me so sad. I am looking forward to having a record of those moments right after birth that are just a blur. I told the photog that I don't want any crotch shots though. I'll leave that up to my own imagination.

mrsjenni

If you're deciding b/w the two, then go for the newborn session.  But if you can do both, do it!

I had my sister take pics during delivery and you can see the post here.  I adore these pictures and tear up every time I look at them.  I wish  I had them with DS as well.

https://www.jennifromtheblog.com/2010/06/y3w-birth-in-pictures.html 

pawstech09

My H is my birth photographer, that's good enough for me!

JLRHNR

I would have loved to have a local photographer take the birth pics but when I contacted her about the price, it was just too much for us right now. She does beautiful work. All the birth photos that she does are black and white, timeless, and magical. No pushing pics, ladies! Just the joyful moments and babies first moments; weight, measurements, parents holding baby for the first time, mother seeing baby for the first time. If you guys haven't looked into it, it's a great idea if you can afford it or have a friend willing to do it. That's what we are going to do.

I wanted to share some examples of the local photographers work. Stefanie Fisher:

 

 

 

 

hcurley03

I am a photographer myself, so I love photos and think that they are important to have. When I was considering whether to have someone do birth photography, I had the same thoughts that some of you are expressing (I will look horrible, childbirth is messy, etc.) but then I looked around on some websites and saw some beautifully done birth photography and I thought, "How could I not have photos from such an important event?". So yes, I am having a photographer there for the birth and for newborn photos I can do them myself. For family photos with our new addition, I have a friend taking them, she is the same photographer friend that is doing the birth. 

I am in a little bit of different situation because I'm not paying a photographer for any of these sessions. I know photography can get pricey, especially if you're doing maternity, birth, and newborn sessions. So, if I had to pick one of them, I would choose the newborn session. Another thing you can look out for is college students or other people just getting into photography as a business, they charge significantly less than more experienced photographers. I know when I first started out I hardly charged anything, I just wanted the experience! 

BrieanneB

SO - I would have posted HELL NO etc etc etc had I read this with my first pregnancy BUT now that I've had TWO labor and delivery's and not one decent picture I am really really considering it with my third.  It's super expensive.  I could give a crap about someone being in the room - with my first I cared, I joke now that with my third I have an 'open door' policy, anyone is welcome .  Seriously though, I hate that I don't have any decent pictures, and the 'birth photography' is done so classy and beautifully - it's such a crazy, emotional and hectic time, I would love love love to have some decent pictures to look back on   I say go for it!

BrieanneB

this is who i would hire - i love her work

 

https://kimcharie.myshowit.com/showitslideshowkrause/index.html

Tash13

I am having a birth photographer and she will be capturing "all the gory details".  We're releasing our shots to her to be used in a book she's working on so she's doing the session for free and giving us digital copies of all the photos.  She's truly amazing and I'm so excited.  I don't have any good shots of my DS during or after birth.  My DH fell asleep almost immediately after he was born and I had to use my crappy camera phone to get what pictures I could.  I'm so excited to have this magical moment captured on film. 

For those that say they aren't doing it because they wouldn't want to share with others, I don't take any pictures for other people.  This is a miraculous moment in our family, where we go from 3 to 4.  It's one moment that alters all of our lives forever.  Why wouldn't I want those to look back on later on?  Birth is a beautiful thing. I enjoy other people's birth photos and stories, so I'll definitely enjoy having my own captured as well.  To each there own but I think it'll be great. 

Mama_B

You may want to ask your hospital about the birth photography/video.  My hospital will not allow video taping or photography while the baby is being delivered.  

WiFeY 4 LiFeY

birth photograph hell no! Yes, birth is a beautiful thing, however this is NOT something I would ever want to see or have, or have anyone else see pictures of! EVER.

We did have newborn pictures taken at the hospital, they turned out amazing! That was all we had done with DS.. And unless the pictures are awful with #2 we will do the same.

andreay82

If I hadn't just moved across the country, I absolutely would have done birth photography. A friend of mine in Colorado is a photographer and she does gorgeous work. I'm not so sure about here in CA where I don't know anyone good, but I may do some research in my area and see if there is anyone good.

Grins04

I would LOVE to hire a birth photographer to capture baby's first moments (nothing gory and not of me pushing), but as the doctor holds the baby up, meeting baby, getting measured, etc.  DH was so caught up in the moment, and I was so focused on being done pushing, that I didn't get to see DS's first moments...not even in photos.  There is no one in my area I like though, and I'm not going to pay for someone I don't like...so it doesn't look like we'll be hiring.

As for newborn photos, I'm into photography so I will be doing my own. 

pixieprincss

Our doula offered it as an add-on with DS, so we did it. I am a photo enthusiast and pictures were important to me. She was not very good or thorough and most of them show boob, but they are precious to me nonetheless. Here is a PG-rated sample...

First cry
 

 
Breast crawl

DH holding baby for the first time

Kira Lopez

I've been thinking about it as well...but the very few that i've found are pretty expensive