Childbirth Photography

[BabyHopes]

One of the few things I regret about both of my daughter's births is that I didn't hire a photographer to capture images during labor and delivery. At my eldest daughter's hospital birth my friend took a few candid shots of the whole process... but for the most part DD1's birth is fairly undocumented. I vowed to not make the same mistake with DD2 and I spent (I kid you not) hours showing my mom how to work my simple Canon G6. I explained the basics of composition and we had a few trial runs.

During the actual homebirth, however, my mom got the silly camera set on "mountain" setting and the few images that were framed well were really almost psychadelic. (phsycodelic?)

Which is frustrating because I did ask her at several points how things were going and she explained that everything was "fine." Come to find out later she was so intent on not "bothering me" that she didn't have the heart to tell me that all the images were a blur of light and motion.

Anyway, Dh and I have discussed the issue and we both agree that when the time comes for baby three to arrive we intend to hire someone who at least knows "mountain" setting from "portrait." I certainly know that my mom would not have a clue as to how to work my Canon EOS 30D.

I say all this to make an observation and ask a couple questions.

First of all, I don't see a lot of childbirth images here at TPF. Are they all tucked away in the human form forum? Or is this just a line of photography work that not that many photographers get into? I could see how it might not be easy to schedule birth photography...

Second, how in the world does a photographer price such a shoot? It's not like a birthing mother can predict whether a given labor and delivery will be 2 hours or 8. What would you consider reasonable wages for the time spent?

[Stephen H]

Well, to my way of thinking, labor is pretty boring, visually, and actual birth is fairly icky, so I'd just about as soon have a photographic record of an appendectomy or something. So I'm all for taking pictures of fairly new-born kids, but didn't see a lot of reason to try to document the birth of our kids in detail like that. And it would be my guess that this is one reason you don't see more shots like this posted. There are other aspects of life that are important and universal, but seldom photographed or displayed, for similar reasons.

[Huck]

When my son was born in Wichita Falls 2 years ago, we were not allowed to take photos until the DR said it was okay and in most Oklahoma hospitals I know you cant take cameras into the delivery room.

Not sure what someone might charge to shot this event for you as there are false alarms and long labor times. I would still say safe bet is to teach mom how to use the camera well in advance and have her do it.

[PictureCow]

Huck is right there are MANY hospitals that do not allow photographic equipment during the delievery. Don't want evidence of mal practice I suppose.

With that said though....There are many photographers offering this service. The photographer is usually on call and they expect it to be a long draw. I think it's a beautiful moment to capture and absolutely worth capturing. I also believe in maternity, new born fresh from the womb and still wet newborn portraits and nursing portraits too!

I think you should interview lots of photographers and find someone you really click with ( no pun intended) because you could be spending a lot of time with this person. If you need referrals for your neck of the woods I can get you some! :)

[mobilezen]

Wow, I have never thought of something like this. Interesting. I'm sure there are a good amount of photographers that are willing to do something like this. My Digital Rebel would be no match for your 30D though. I'm curious what others have to say about this. If I ever become a dad, I would definitely like this documented!

[Breezy]

I could never do that, My husband was deployed for the first and I didn't want anyone in the delivery room with me lol. For the last 2 I informed him that if he shot any pics during delivery he would be eating the camera lol. So he waited until they were on the scale.
I personally couldn't deal with a "stranger" photographing such a private moment, but that is just me being a prude lol.
Good luck with it

[photobykim]

Manda,

I taught my mom to use my camera as well when my nephew was born because I was unable to be there for his birth, but I shot my niece's birth 8 yrs ago with film. I taught my sister how to use my camera as well 2 yrs ago when my daughter was born and I have shots from my sons birth 4 yrs ago that my husband and mother in law did.

In my case my kids were born in Carrollton and the only thing not allowed was video camera, but still were ok.

My sister in law is due to have her 1st baby in April and her and I have talked some about her wanting me there to take pictures. She's gone back and forth on it for several reasons.

I think that this is an amazing service that some offer, if I had the ability I would offer it, I am a mother of 2 so it's kind of like shooting a wedding, I've been there done that know the flow and can grasp the respect of what I am shooting (ie. privacy for the mom). It's the being on call part that I can't do, I am a stay at home mom and it would be to hard for me to get that call mid day and have to go and then it's what do I do with my kids, you know. but it is my plan to try that in about 2 years when last heads off to pre-k.

[photobykim]

Originally Posted by Breezy

I personally couldn't deal with a "stranger" photographing such a private moment, but that is just me being a prude lol.
Good luck with it

on that note, I would say find someone where you automatically feel a casual bond, then months prior to your due date go and have coffee with them, just get to know whoever more, see about doing a maternity session with them, get a feel for them and their work and create a friendship, because really if this is someone you're willing to let in on what is an extremely private moment they should be willing to get to know you too. plus if you like them after the birth you will probably hire them to do your kiddos pics. just my thoughts

[Detonate]

As many already mentioned. Most hospitals won't allow it. Home birthing and Birthing centers will obviously be different. But that's a very niche market.

Personally I hope that birthing photos don't end up here on TPF, as it's just not going to be visually appealing to most people except for possibly the immediate family members.

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by Stephen H

Well, to my way of thinking, labor is pretty boring, visually, and actual birth is fairly icky, so I'd just about as soon have a photographic record of an appendectomy or something. So I'm all for taking pictures of fairly new-born kids, but didn't see a lot of reason to try to document the birth of our kids in detail like that. And it would be my guess that this is one reason you don't see more shots like this posted. There are other aspects of life that are important and universal, but seldom photographed or displayed, for similar reasons.

I'm with you, man. I don't have kids yet but that is NOT something i need photographed. I'll wait till the kid's all cleaned up.
And my family members do not need to see anything that personal. My wife feels the same way.

[BabyHopes]

Originally Posted by Detonate

Personally I hope that birthing photos don't end up here on TPF, as it's just not going to be visually appealing to most people except for possibly the immediate family members.

That made me laugh. No sure why, but it did. I can't help but think you're imagining straight on coochie shots as the baby is born.

I've seen some amazing birth photography so I don't really understand the opinion that births are not visually stimulating. Births are charged with a lot of raw emotions and it's one of the few really honest moments in a persons life. As a photographer I can't imagine not being fascinated by the idea. But then I'm a birth advocate, a mother, and all that blah blah blah. So my own life experiences taint my view.

For a couple years there has been this homebirth slideshow circulating the internet of the birth of Jude Roman Fairbanks. Unfortunately I just tried to pull up the link and it looks the owners have moved or removed the slideshow. It was a great representation of how a birth can be accurately and discretely documented without all the "guts and glory" people often imagine.

I could never do that, My husband was deployed for the first and I didn't want anyone in the delivery room with me lol.

That must have been rough not having your husband there. Dh spent 6 and a half years on active duty and I was fortunate to have him present at both births.

Births are, by nature, private events. However, my experience with my hospital birth was that "strangers" inevitably were part of the experience. Heck, even the OB that caught DD1 I had met only a couple days before. (Rotating physicians at the hospital I chose.) The German midwife who labored with me the whole night through (and whom I was the most comfortable) went off shift at 7:00 a.m. Olga, the-German-midwife-who-didn't-speak-English-and-whom-I'd-never-met, was the one who attended DD1's birth at 7:21 a.m.

So much for no strangers at the birth! ;) lol.

I do agree with Kim that any photographer I hired I would want to meet, interview, and feel comfortable with prior to the birth. I can't trust my mom to photograph the next birth. (Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.) It's obvious that my husband and my mother aren't the best choices to rely on for Birth photography. It wouldn't be so bad if all the graphic (albiet coochie-free) shots didn't process well, but even the post birth pictures of my eldest snuggling with her younger sister and the midwife weighing DD2 (all 10 lbs 10 oz's!) came out off center and a swirl of lights.

Imagine:


Edited to add that I found a link to the Jude Roman Fairbanks slideshow.

[BabyHopes]

Originally Posted by PictureCow

If you need referrals for your neck of the woods I can get you some! :)

I would love that. We're still a long ways off from making baby three decisions... but I'd love to have some names on hand to refer to when the time arrives.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

If asked to shoot a childbirth I would politely refuse to do so, not my thing.

Some of the higher end cameras can be set up to take automatic shots every x time period (time periods can be set) so put the camera on a high tripod,with wide angle lense, on autofocus and set it to where it adjusts F stop for exposure (set time to 30th of a second or so-punch up ISO so that you don't need flashes going off) and load in a big Flash Card and just have someone check to see how many shots are left on the card and when it gets low to change out the card. Or get a remote firing camera and give the remote to the mother and let her punch that button whenever she wants. Or just set up the video camera and that way you can record her screaming like a wild jackal too!

[LadyShutterBug]

i would be incredibly honored to be asked to be responsible for capturing such an incredible event.

how all the scheduling would work out, what with me being a wedding photographer-- that is a logistics matter i can't even begin to fathom.

[adirty1]

you dont need the OBGYN look at the birth. You would be there to shoot the mood and feelings of the event with out being seen. It would be tuff but one would probably get some really strong and powerful images.