How to Choose the Right Birth Photographer for YOU
Pregnancy comes with so many decisions, doesn't it? Home birth, hospital, or birth center; which provider; what birth class?
Often choosing to hire a birth photographer is the last decision soon-to-be-parents make. By then, you're so over making decisions, how do you choose the right birth photographer for this important moment in your lives?
Choosing the right birth photographer for this once in a lifetime event is important - it truly is the one love story in your life that will never fade. You will love this baby more than anything else in the world; You know you want these photos, but this isn't an everyday moment and it can't be repeated.
Here are a few tips to help you find and choose the right birth photographer for you.
Look for a photographer who specializes in birth.
We love our family photographers but not every photographer is a birth photographer. Birth tends to be a dark, unexpected photography challenge, and with the uncertainty of labor, it requires a photographer to stop, drop what they're doing and head to your birth location without any notice. Photographers who focus on portraits, families, or weddings might not be familiar or prepared for either of these aspects of birth photography. By booking a photographer that specializes in births, you can take comfort knowing they understand the nature of birth photography and confident they will be there for you.
Here's a story about a mom who booked their engagement photographer for her birth. Click here to see what happened.
TIP: If there are no example birth photos on their website anywhere, say bye Felicia! and look elsewhere.
Ask the doulas.
The birth network is pretty tight. If you're working with a doula or midwife, ask for recommendations. They know their favorites to work with - for imagery, personalities, and experience and they will give you honest opinions - trust them. Grab a couple of names, take a look at their websites, and schedule a few consultations.
Read reviews and evaluate their imagery.
First and foremost - don't turn to the Facebook groups for recommendations. Chances are you'll get a lot of names of folks who have no experience in birth photography and end up overwhelmed by the list of names. Head over to google and read all the reviews you can. Then browse their websites.
There's a lot of different photography trends and styles. Whether it be light and bright, or artistic and moody, or purely journalistic, choose the style photographs that make your heart sing. But don't expect one photographer to shoot like another. Go with the photographer who's look aligns with the style you love.
Choose someone that makes you feel comfortable.
Your birth is one of the most vulnerable experiences of your life. You get to be selective with who is and isn't in your birth space. Schedule consultations with a few photographers, and choose a photographer who makes you feel comfortable and at ease when you meet with them beforehand. This takes a bit of the awkwardness out of the process when you're in labor and helps you feel more at ease.
Evaluate the value of what you're getting for your investment.
Much like a wedding, birth photography is an investment. Before choosing your photographer, consider the value you're getting with your investment. Why do you want birth photos and how do you want to use them, and most importantly, what's included with your birth? Are you just getting digital files you have to spend time and energy doing something with later? Or does it include products? Are you guaranteed the person you actually booked, or are you subject to availability with a backup stranger? You may spend a little more with one photographer over another but you may be getting more bang for your buck depending on what is included in your investment.
Found a great value that doesn't work in your budget? Ask about payment plans, and some birth photographers offer gift registries like this one to help you get the birth story you really want. At the end of the day, or 20 years, investing in a photographer you want with the greatest value rather than the cheapest option will pay off. Like most things, caveat emptor is real and expecting to get great birth photos from the $100 offer in your Facebook group is setting you up for disappointment (see Tip #1).
No matter which birth photographer you choose, be sure you get those photographs printed either individually or in an album.
Technology is ever changing and failing. Hard drives crash, and files get corrupted. Printing your photographs is the only way you can ensure you'll have them forever. If you book a photographer who does this for you, that's just a helpful bonus.
Speaking of helpful, before you run off and start looking for your birth photographer, I have a free checklist that helps you plan your birth story so your photographer doesn't miss the moments most important to you. You can grab at that the link here: http://bit.ly/birth-story-plan
Bio
Fort Worth Birth Photographer Alex Shelley, Birth & Life Photography
Alex Shelley is the birth photographer behind Birth & Life Photography – photography focused on documenting the real moments that matter most in your family’s life. This journalism & PR/Marketing pro went full-time with her photography for busy moms - and realized birth photography just fit like a good pair of maternity jeans.
When not spending all night with camera in hand at a birth, she’s usually clumsily figuring out the mom-of-tween thing and spending her time under the Friday Night Lights as a coach’s wife.