tips for birth photography :: feature

BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY

Life’s milestones are well documented. We photograph birthdays, graduations and weddings, but until recently, photographing the birth of a child was not common.  Having a photographer document birth is becoming more and more popular. Some people choose to hire a photographer who specializes in this field, while others prefer the intimacy of a trusted family member or close friend on hand with a camera.

Here are 6 tips to photographing a birth:

1. HAVE A PLAN
In the weeks leading up to the birth, chat with the parents-to-be about what their expectations are, the kinds of images they want and the areas that are off limits. Some parents will want everything from the labor, to the pushing, to the birth itself. Other parents will only want the moments after baby is born and they know everything is fine.  Also, ask the parents-to-be to let the doctors and nurses know you will be there and what they expect from you. Having this conversation in advance will help avoid misunderstandings during the birth itself.

2. BE READY TO GO
Babies rarely arrive on schedule, except in the case of a scheduled Caesarian. That means you might get a call during school drop-off, grocery shopping, a date with your significant other, or the middle of the night. As the due date nears, have your gear ready at all times.

3. USE AVAILABLE LIGHT
Hospitals and birth centres are not known for photography friendly light, so be prepared to work in low light situations. This means you will need a camera that can make great images at higher ISO settings like 3200 or 6400 and lenses that let in as much light as possible. Practice at home if you are not accustomed to working in low light and ensure you have the right equipment for the job.

4. USE THE MOMENTS IN BETWEEN
As you arrive at the birth, take a few moments to choose the lenses and exposure settings for the session. Doing this before things start to happen allows you to focus on what is happening in front of you and not your camera settings. This is also a great time to photograph the details surrounding the birth. Images of the clock on the wall, for example, are a reminder of when things happened, while images of the hospital bracelet, a special blanket or the comforts from home complete the story.

5. PHOTOGRAPH THEIR FACES
Don’t forget to focus on the faces of the people in the room – mom, dad, grandparents-to-be, friends, etc. If they are in the room while the baby is being born, they are important to this family. Documenting the emotion while the baby is coming, then right after birth, is incredibly powerful and will remind everyone how they felt as baby was being born.

6. BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING Births rarely go as planned and there are often complications, and quick decisions to be made. There are times when you might be asked to stop shooting – if that happens, put the camera down until you get the okay to start shooting again.

ALL IMAGES BY JENNIFER BEBB
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jen Bebb is a photographer, writer, dreamer of big things and the Director of CMpro at Clickin Moms.