What is Storytelling Photography?

Storytelling photography is pretty much as it the title suggests. It’s the story of your birth with all the little details, the relationships, the little moments, the laughter and the tears. How you labored and held on to your supportive partner, squeezed hands (and tears!), the little massages and secret whispers in your ear are all caught on film for you. Birth Photography is documentary. There is no posing. Laying eyes on your baby for the first time, seeing the little toes, the cord that supported your baby and the emotion and love are all part of the story.

How Does Birth Photography Work?

Once you know you are pregnant and you talk with your partner, start your search for a birth photographer. This is much like looking for a wedding photographer, you talk to them and see if you click. Does their personality, artistic style and price resonate with you? Is being a doula as well as a birth photographer important to you? I have an informative blog post about what a doulatog is (doula+birth photographer) if you are unsure.

Once you have chosen an artist, it’s imperative to get on their calendar. Unlike wedding photographers, birth photographers are extremely limited on the number of births they can take in a given month. Babies can come early, late or right on time. There is no way to predict when it will happen, unlike a wedding.

Assuming you do not have a doulatog (doula + birth photographer) and just a birth photographer, it is important you call them when you feel you are in labor. This will give them time to get their affairs in order (get children to babysitter, grab their bags, snacks and drive to your location). Birth Photographers generally get to you when you are in active labor which is 6-7 centimeters dilated or when you call your midwife. I have an easy to read blog post on the types of labor here. A more in depth look at the physical changes during labor can be seen here.

The birth photographer documents your story from active labor through birth and until about 90 minutes postpartum or after the baby exam. Don’t want anything graphic? No problem. Tell your birth photographer your preferences and they will oblige. If you want everything shot from where your head is, some really beautiful shots can be taken from there.

Typically, the birth photographer will send a few sneak peaks 24 hours after you give birth. These are great to share with friends and family who are waiting to see the new baby. The rest of your images should come between 2-6 weeks later, depending on the artist.

I hope this was helpful in explaining how birth photography works. I wish you a divine adventure!

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