I shared some of my thoughts recently as a post on my personal facebook page and I thought it would be beneficial to share to anyone who is looking into birth photography and/or videography. To anyone looking in the Nashville area, I’d love for you to take a look into my life as an on call birth worker!

I wrote this specifically after speaking with someone who had a less than desirable experience with a birth photographer she hired who then planned a spontaneous week long trip out of the state just a week before her due date. I was shocked, to say the least, but it spurred me into sharing more of the work “behind the curtain” and why quality birth photography is a true investment. Here is what I shared, interspersed with some of my work. I want to give you a chance to see some of my births in a variety of settings and conditions from the last four years. You’ll be able to see a few full galleries to catch a glimpse of what to expect. I think it is VERY important for clients to see a full body of work- not just a highlight reel on a website or social media. You want to make sure your photographer will be able to capture your birth under ALL circumstances. Some clients wish for their galleries or films to be private and I will always respect that to the fullest. If my clients are willing to share I am always appreciative, because that’s how my new clients get to have a glimpse of what I do and what they’re hiring me for. I thank all of you who allow me to share your beautiful journeys!

This is going to be a long post…bear with me! But this is all so important to read if you’re planning on hiring a birth photographer (and videographer).

This client of mine had the absolute shortest labor/birth I’ve ever attended! From the very first contraction to baby coming into the world it was only about 1.5 hours long. He was ready to meet everyone! This is a VERY rare occurrence but it does h… — This client of mine had the absolute shortest labor/birth I’ve ever attended! From the very first contraction to baby coming into the world it was only about 1.5 hours long. He was ready to meet everyone! This is a VERY rare occurrence but it does happen. They didn’t have time to tell me to come- I got a phone call that things “might” be happening. When I didn’t hear back after trying to get back in touch with them I immediately grabbed my gear and headed for the birthing center. (I will always err on the side of caution when it comes to birth!) This sweet boy was born not long after I arrived.

Thoughts for today:

How much did you invest in your wedding photographer (and videographer)? Here in Nashville a decent wedding photographer is going to run you a minimum of 2k, add videography and it’s that price or higher as well (for video alone, not the two combined).

I’m a birth photographer and videographer. I am at a birth no less than 6 hours, which is typically going to be the absolute minimum. The longest continuous time I’ve been at a birth was 24/25 hours- this was because it was a homebirth an hour away and when labor stalled none of us were risking leaving! We all crashed in the living room (myself, a midwife and a doula). I’d say the average time I’m at a hospital or homebirth is anywhere from 8-12 hours. But every birth is different.

This client of mine had plans for a home water birth but you never know where your body and labor will take you once you’re in it! She ended up in her tiny master bathroom (laboring on a toilet is HIGHLY effective!) and her sweet boy decided he was … — This client of mine had plans for a home water birth but you never know where your body and labor will take you once you’re in it! She ended up in her tiny master bathroom (laboring on a toilet is HIGHLY effective!) and her sweet boy decided he was ready to come into the world. This is also an example of a birth using only natural light. I typically utilize a flash for my births- I always advise clients of this upon booking. It helps keep your images clean and clear, especially during middle of the night births or in hospitals with very uneven and less than desirable lighting. But some clients do prefer not to have the distraction of a flash (though most of my clients tell me afterwards that they never even notice it- I am very cautious with my use of it and it is never directly pointed at anyone. I largely direct them at a wall or ceiling to use as a natural reflector of sorts.). Not using a flash means a higher level of grain and softer images, but they are still beautiful as long as we have some sources of light around you! This can mean lamps at night, or in the case of this image, a tiny window to the upper lefthand side of her bathroom. CLICK HERE to see her full photo gallery to see what a birth with no flash might look like.

I’m on call for every birth for 4 weeks, contractually speaking. That is from 38-42 weeks (what is the typical range for expecting a baby that is to term, though medically speaking full term is now considered no earlier than 39 weeks; read the updated literature from the National Institute of health HERE).

I’ve had clients go into labor both before 37 weeks and after 42 weeks and I was able to be there for them. I don’t travel during my contracted on call time (and typically have a cushion even prior to that time). I don’t plan anything that I can’t comfortably and reasonably leave in the event I’m called in. I try not to buy tickets for events. I very cautiously plan our homeschool field trips if they cost money. I have had to miss non-refundable events to rush to a birth. It’s all part of the job. My phone is glued to my side. It’s also under my pillow as I sleep at night with the ringer as loud as it will go. Birth is unpredictable by nature. I have to be ready to jump up and go every minute of every day.

I even cancelled my one vacation I get a year last summer, because despite not booking any births or fresh 48s in a month span, the following happened: a clients due date got moved later by two weeks and I wasn’t notified until the due date (it happens! Such is the nature of birth). Another client had to have an emergency cesarean three and a half weeks early. Another client developed full blown eclampsia at 32 weeks with a baby who was already high risk and needed surgery immediately upon being born so it was a perfect storm of events. Could any of my clients control this? Absolutely not! So out went our beach trip and into the hospital I went. Because that’s what I do. That’s what I’m paid for. And I love my job. I love my clients. I’m going to do what I have to do.

Here is a hospital birth with flash! We also shot video with this birth, I’ll include both links. One thing to keep in mind for video- I tell my clients to prioritize one over the other for the actual moment of birth. I can easily switch back and fo… — Here is a hospital birth with flash! We also shot video with this birth, I’ll include both links. One thing to keep in mind for video- I tell my clients to prioritize one over the other for the actual moment of birth. I can easily switch back and forth between the two and typically get more images of baby on mom before baby is whisked to the warmer but this sweet little guy needed a little extra help right after his birth. It didn’t take too long before he came back to his mama though! CLICK HERE for photos, CLICK HERE for video.

To further provide a comfort to my clients and to ensure that their birth is documented, I work with a local network of experienced birth photographers and videographers to work as a backup for my clients. This ensures that even if I happen to be out of town prior to our contracted on call time, if I am contagious with an illness, or otherwise temporarily detained, your birth will still be documented by someone just as qualified as I am. I am extremely selective with who I choose to work with- I want these individuals to work as similarly as I do. To be a calming presence in the room with you. And to have the skill level that I demand with my own body of work. I will still be the artist editing your work in the event that this happens, and I am happy to share their names and body of work with you when you book with me so you can be assured that their quality is absolutely on par with mine.

In four years of working as a birth photographer I have utilized a backup for a full birth three times. One such time I was out of town and they had an emergency delivery at 36 weeks. (This trip was planned prior to them booking with me and I made sure they knew before they ever signed a contract. I will never make an out of state trip without my clients knowing, and never during my on call time.) Another time we had a stomach virus in my household. And my last one I had the flu. My final example of a birth with a backup was one I was able to still come and photograph immediately after baby had arrived- I happened to be with another client for an emergency cesarean when I got the call from my second client. (I only book 1-2 clients per month to try to avoid this overlap- this particular instance is the only time this has happened to me.) I was able to send my backup to cover my second client until I could jump in my car and head there myself. I arrived mere minutes after baby was born and was able to shoot the rest of my contracted time with them. You can’t tell the difference between our photos whatsoever because they were both still edited in my style! These were all certainly circumstances beyond my control; birth is, after all, an unpredictable event! But I had a backup each time ready to head out the door the moment I was notified. I want to be absolutely transparent about this side of birth photography.

Not every birth photographer has a true, qualified network of backups. This is vital to ensure that your photographer has everything possible in place to avoid missing a birth. I do know birth photographers- very experienced ones- who have still missed the moment of birth. This hasn’t happened to me yet…and I hope it never does! But sometimes birth just doesn’t go the way you expect. Perhaps you don’t notify your photographer in time. Perhaps you have a birth like I did with my second baby- 32 hours with uneventful contractions, a transfer from my birth center to the hospital, all the while staying at 4 cm dilated! I was so discouraged during this labor that I asked my photographer not to worry about coming yet. Then in an hour and a half my body kicked into high gear, going from 4 cm to 10 in no time. I stood up in alarm and yelled I’M PUSHING to a nurse who looked like a deer in the headlights. While standing, not trying to push at all, my body took over and out she came. My poor nurse had to run over to me and put her hand on my daughter’s head to keep her from falling on the floor as my husband pulled me onto the bed. Sometimes our bodies have their own VERY unpredictable timing! My doctor wasn’t even there…my poor, wonderful nurse had a lot of paperwork to fill out that day.

Here is an example of a cesarean birth. Cesareans are unique for a multitude of reasons. If it is a scheduled cesarean our timeline looks a bit different than a vaginal birth. You will arrive at the hospital, check in, and pretty swiftly go to the b… — Here is an example of a cesarean birth. Cesareans are unique for a multitude of reasons. If it is a scheduled cesarean our timeline looks a bit different than a vaginal birth. You will arrive at the hospital, check in, and pretty swiftly go to the back to be prepped for the OR. You are typically in the OR for one hour or so, and then moved to recovery for 1-2 hours. After this you are moved to your room. Because of this, I will typically stay for the duration of your scheduled time there until you are in your final room, arriving when you do to the hospital. I am allowed into the OR myself in some circumstances, in others I send my backup camera in with dad and dad can take a few then pass the camera to a nurse (nurses are usually excited to get a chance to capture all of this for my clients, and I set the camera up so it’s super easy to just point and shoot- then I do the rest of the work correcting any lighting/framing issues while editing!). In the case of this birth, only one individual was allowed in at a time. Dad brought the camera in, chose to take photos himself, then once baby was out and mama and baby were both in the clear and settled he switched places with me. I was able to take some of the clips in the film because of this! A lot of times it’s difficult to film or flat out not allowed. Some hospitals are moving to change this so clients can have a more positive experience overall during their cesareans. This is always a conversation to be had with your medical team. I can guide you on how to have those conversations in order to have the most success! Check out her photography gallery HERE and her film HERE.

Back to my opening analogy: If you think it’s worth it to invest in a wedding but not in a birth that is TOTALLY okay. If you don’t want to invest in either and prefer to be more budget conscious as a whole that is totally okay too! Both genres of photography are a luxury service. Neither is a necessity. But if it’s something you want, and can budget for, I recommend that you invest in quality artists who are worth every penny and then some.

Here is an example home birth turned hospital birth transfer. Sometimes baby might not tolerate labor so well and a midwife will make the decision jointly with the mother to transfer in order to keep both mom and baby safe. This isn’t a common occur… — Here is an example home birth turned hospital birth transfer. Sometimes baby might not tolerate labor so well and a midwife will make the decision jointly with the mother to transfer in order to keep both mom and baby safe. This isn’t a common occurrence, home births are low risk by nature (as only low risk pregnancies are elligible for home births in the first place). This mama did a fantastic job- she barely made it in time, and baby was pink and crying and perfectly healthy as she entered the world! Check out the photo gallery HERE, and the video HERE.

If you want an experienced, dedicated photographer and videographer by your side, if you want someone who specializes in this area, who dedicates their life to this and doesn’t just dabble in it while they shoot every other genre of photography they can get their hands on, if you want someone who knows exactly what they’re doing in every single scenario from home births to birth centers to hospital births to shooting in the operating room for a cesarean...hire someone like me.

Yes, I charge what I’m worth. Because my skill level and dedication to my clients is absolutely worth it.

Perhaps one of my most well known birth photos- taken during a daytime birth at Nashville’s only birthing center, Baby + Co.

KIND WORDS FROM CLIENTS

“All I can say is…WOW!!!!! I am so deeply touched by the birth film and photos that you did!!! Every time I watch the birth film I get so teary-eyed. I am truly amazed how perfect you captured footage on that day and how the film is in perfect sequence, from the beginning to the end!! Thank you, thank you so much for what you do. May God continue to bless you!! YOU ARE THE BEST RACHEL!!!!!!”

-MJ, Simply Birth (Photos and Film)

“Just over here blubber slobbering over our yearly photos. So much of Rachel’s brilliance is that she manages to simultaneously capture us exactly as we are and make us look better than we actually do. All the chaos, all the silliness, all the mess, enshrouded in golden glow. I look at these images and see us at our best, most free, our truest selves as play. Thank you, AluraWayne. You’ve done it again.”

-L. Magner, Family Session

“We had such an amazing experience with Rachel. She was fun and easy to work with from the beginning, and produced such gorgeous photos for us. We did the full package with her- maternity, birth, and newborn photos. And I love all of them. I wouldn’t hesitate to hire her again for future photos of our son and family.”

-A. Shwartau, The Birth Experience (Maternity, Birth, Newborn)

“Couldn’t of asked for a better photographer. Her energy was amazing making me feel comfortable! Love my photos so much!!! Would recommend her in a heartbeat!”

-D. Surfus, Maternity Session

“Rachel is AMAZING! She captured such beautiful pictures. Her joyful and laid back personality made this a breeze! I am so grateful for the time and effort she put in. It was so worth it!”

-C. Crozier, Family Session

“I can’t thank you enough for all of my amazing images Rachel! I just loved them all!! You definitely helped this mama rock her third pregnancy and very LAST maternity session! I can’t wait to see you again in a few short weeks!!!”

“Just watched my birth video for the millionth timed I still tear up and cry every time!! Hiring a birth photographer was one of the best decisions I ever made!! Rachel Henderson you are amazing!! Thank you so much for documenting the birth of our precious boy.”

-T. Miles, Maternity + Simply Birth (Photos and Film)

To learn more about booking a session with AluraWayne Photography + Film, please click here for more session information.

So you want to book a birth photographer... | Nashville Birth Photographer + Videographer

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