Frequently Asked Questions
What is professional birth photography? So much more than “taking pictures”! As a professional photographer, I will bring my extensive training and expertise and my professional grade gear. I will do more than shoot random images, I will document your birth in a way that tells the story.
How much does your photography cost? I charge $1200 Birth photography.
What does the fee include? A meeting to get to know each other, 24/7 on-call from 39 weeks until delivery, attendance at your birth, and any products included in your package. Will we meet before the birth? Yes, I’ll insist on it! I think it is very important for us to get to know each other a bit, and for me to learn more about your birth plan, your support team, etc. We will also go over your preferences for photography.
What if I go in to labour in the middle of the night? That’s not a problem at all! If you need me in the middle of the night, I come! I can often come faster during the night because I’m not in the middle of anything when you call. (Except sleep, and you already woke me up, so I don’t need to do anything to wrap that up! )
I like the idea of birth photography, but I’m concerned about keeping my body private. I understand. One of the reasons I like to meet with clients before the birth is to get an idea of what they are – and are not – comfortable with having photographed. Some of my clients want photos of absolutely everything, some only want photos from the waist up. Your call.
What if I don’t want my photos on the blog? That’s fine, too. Some of my best work is not available publicly, and I’m OK with that. It is YOUR birth.
How long will you stay at the birth? Each birth is different, but I will stay after to get photos of you bonding with your new baby. If it is during the night and you plan on having siblings meet the baby the next morning, I often can leave and come back.
What about c-sections? I can still be there for your birth. I may or may not be able to be in the operating room for the birth itself. It will be up to you to make arrangements with your doctor and hospital to have me be there. If I can’t be in the room, I can still do quite a bit. There are still lots of moments before and after that are beautiful and worth documenting. What if I give birth prematurely? While I only guarantee availability from 39 weeks on, you can certainly call me if you begin labouring earlier than that. I may still be able to attend!
What if you can’t make the birth? I will only be taking on births where the due date firs in with my non photography (Mum/Wife) life- therefor will have support people on my end ready to watch my children and a empty diary. When I am finished portfolio building I will have another photographer as my ‘backup’ in case there is a reason I can not make it. Do you offer family or Newborn Photography? Yes. My studio is based in Mount Barker. Its always warm and is filled with props.
When I go into labour, when should I call you? As soon as you realize “This is it!” I probably won’t actually come that early, but having advance notice that labour has begun does speed my response time when I do get the “Come now!” call, by giving me time to get things in order, make sure all my other responsibilities are covered or cancelled, etc.
How do you handle it if I decide I don’t want you in the labour room with us for a period of time? I leave and come back. How far I go depends on the situation. If you want a few minutes of privacy, I’ll take that time to grab something to eat and rest in the waiting room. If you’re planning to take a nap, I may go home if you’re not too far from my home.
I don’t want naked photos of myself on the internet!! You won’t do that, will you? Nope. I have a rule that all the photos I post online have to be “safe for work.”
How long do you stay after my baby is born? Generally 1-2 hours, but usually I play it by ear. I’ve stayed longer to shoot the first bath or the siblings meeting the baby if there is time remaining in the coverage the client has paid for.
How soon do I get my pictures? I will post one photo of the baby on my business Facebook page within 24 hours of arriving back at home (provided you have told your family and friends the good news-) , so you can share this with family and friends. The remainder will be ready in 2-3 weeks. What will you do if something is wrong with my baby? We can discuss this at our meeting. Generally, I keep shooting until asked to stop.
Do you use flash? Because many mums and care providers would rather not be flashed, I avoid flash whenever possible, and have invested in a professional grade camera that can handle low light well without a flash. However, I do carry a flash, and I know how to use it!
Do you offer discounts? I do offer discounts to clients who book a Maternity or Newborn Session- The discount comes of these sessions, not the birth. How far do you travel? I am based in Mount Barker, however I am happy to attend most Hospitals in Adelaide.
Do you need to get approval from the staff? I strongly recommend that my clients tell their care providers that they will be bringing me to the birth. It is up to my clients to make arrangements with their care provider and birth place.
Do you interact at all or mainly stay quiet? Depends on you. I try to take the lead of the clients. I can do both chatty and fly-on-the-wall.
Are you immunised? YES! The health and safety of your new baby is the most important thing to me.
Do you pose? Are you just catching photos at the right time, or trying to let us know where to be, etc so that we can have better shots? No, my approach is very photojournalistic. I don’t interfere. I won’t be distracting you during labour or the first few moments of bonding with your baby with requests to pose.
Will my photos be in colour or black and white? I prefer black and white. I think it looks better, especially when mom is flushed, baby might have vernix or blood on the skin, etc. I have occasionally done colour, but black and white is far more common. If you have a strong preference either way, let me know.
How many images will I receive? Hard to say. While you won’t get every single image I shoot (I delete the blinks and blurs) you will get a fair number of images. Most of my clients have at least 100 images from their birth.
When should I book you? As soon as you know you would like my services. I’ve been booked as early as 12 weeks and as late as 38 weeks. I do limit the number of births I do, so the later you wait, the more likely it is that I will be booked. I usually am booked 3-4 months in advance. If you have a question you would like to suggest for inclusion in this FAQ, please click the “Contact” tab above to send it to me. Thanks!