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Childbirth

Birth Photography

34 replies

OnLife · 22/12/2015 13:47

I really want to start doing this. Is it something that anyone has considered doing or having done during their births? I'd love to chat to some people who have thought about it and considered having someone present at the birth.

Thank you :-)

OP posts:

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GingirlBells · 22/12/2015 13:49

I'm not the most photogenic person at the best of times, but can't really think of anything worse than this!
Close up of your foof, anyone?

Sorry, Op.

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Runningupthathill82 · 22/12/2015 15:49

Oh god no! Even seeing the few photos DH took during labour brings back memories of what was an extremely traumatic, terrifying and incredibly painful day (and night, and day again).

If I'd paid good money for professional shots I could never face looking at again I'd be devastated.
Pics of newborn DS, yes. Great, lovely. But pics of me delirious with pain, looking sweaty, huge, bloodied and wet? No thanks.

Even if the birth had gone well, I can't imagine wanting to share such an intimate time with the camera lens. How can you really relax when in the back of your mind you know a stranger is there trying to get a good shot? It's hardly conducive with letting go and allowing nature to take over.

Sorry OP, I'm sure some people would be up for it, but it's not for me.

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Lj8893 · 22/12/2015 15:52

I don't think there would be much call for it to be honest. And you would be hanging about for ages, especially since nobody knows exactly when they are going to be giving birth, would you be on call for 4 weeks for each client?!

Also, most hospitals/birthing units only allow 2 birthing partners (some only 1!) which I would imagine you would be classed as. Would be ok for a home birth I guess.

And you would do the midwifes head in!

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PerspicaciaTick · 22/12/2015 15:53

I can't imagine this being a popular option.
You might get takers for a course aimed at birth partners teaching them how to take intimate, but respectful photos of newborns. But I can't imagine having a stranger aiming a lens up my fanjo mid-contraction...which might not be an accurate perception of what you are proposing, but is probably a fairly common reaction.

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AgathaF · 22/12/2015 15:57

I'm fairly sure that most labour wards would take a dim view of this because of the increased chance for litigation if events happen to go less than perfectly. That was certainly the case when I was working as a midwife.

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lilac3033 · 22/12/2015 16:06

I know this is increasingly popular in the States, but most of what I've seen was of home births, not hospital births. Afraid it wouldn't be for me though. I think it's just too personal.

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AmyLouKin · 22/12/2015 18:51

Just a big 'no way' from me!

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elliejjtiny · 22/12/2015 22:14

I've seen professional photos of peoples births and some of them are really lovely and very tasteful, no fanjos on show, just things like close up of the ctg machine, mum's hand gripping the bed rail etc. I remember seeing a photo of a new dad stood in a corridor a labour room introducing his brand new baby to a load of very enthusiastic friends and relatives. However, even with tasteful photos the photographer will see a lot more than I'd be comfortable with. DH had a go at taking photos when I had my calm section with DS4. He started off with photos of our older 3 boys, them sat in FIL's car. Then he did ones of the operation and finished with photos of our older 3 boys meeting him for the first time. I'm glad I've got them and I like to look at them sometimes but they're not for sharing, apart from the 4 very tasteful ones that DH turned black and white (Him with DS, me with ds, ds in nicu and a close up of ds's face) and we've got one of our 3 older boys on the wall next to a photo of the 4 of them together about a week later.

With DS5 I was very poorly with sepsis and DS was born by crash section, unresponsive and had to be resuscitated out of my sight which took a long time (about 40 minutes). I had no idea what was going on or even that ds had been born so DH snapped away manically trying to capture his first moments, not knowing if they would be the only ones we would have of him alive. I was really glad we have those as I have very little recollection of what went on during that time. It was also really helpful when I had my birth reflections appointment because I could bring the photos and ask the midwife who the people were and what all the different tubes and wires were for.

So the short version is it's a nice idea but definitely no.

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RNBrie · 22/12/2015 22:20

One of my friends had this done by a photographer friend. She then made the pictures into a little hard back book. She showed it to me the second time we met. I was horrified. It nearly prevented us from being friends (there were some extremely personal photos!!)

I honestly can't think of anything worse. My brain has conveniently blanked out the worst bits of labour and that's the way I'd like it to stay!!!

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PurpleDaisies · 22/12/2015 22:23

My goodness. Is this a thing? I can't imagine there'd be a lot of demand for it. Presumably you'd do it as an extra job rather than your main source of income?

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EvilTwins · 22/12/2015 22:26

I have some gruesome incredible photos of my DTD's birth by c-section which were taken by the aneathetist - he told DH not to forget his camera and then took it off him and snapped away. I have never shown them to anyone but it is amazing and a bit wonderful to have photos of DTD 1&2's first moments. I have no bloody idea which is which though.

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mmmuffins · 22/12/2015 22:38

Sounds absolutely horrible, I don't even like photos of me pregnant.

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Bananalanacake · 22/12/2015 22:53

The midwife was happy to take photos after my straight forward birth on my camera and those are good enough for me but I imagine there will be a few people up for it, there's a market for everything these days.

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duckbilled · 22/12/2015 22:57

Personally I couldn't imagine anything worse. It may be worth getting in touch with your local doulas though and maybe they could help spread word of your new venture. Good luck.

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Lj8893 · 22/12/2015 23:38

Even if somebody wanted it, unless they were having a home birth I really don't understand the logistics of it? I don't understand how it would work.

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Fuckitfay · 22/12/2015 23:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovemakespeace · 23/12/2015 14:33

I have thought a bit about this and really can't decide! My first birth was very medical (I had a late diagnosis of gestational diabetes and had in my view from then on bad care) and it is all a blur - literally blanked out huge portions of it. My second birth turned out to be an unassisted one (at home) as I called the midwife too late! It was such a special experience, I think about it all the time. I pretty much laboured alone whilst my husband was sleeping/filling the pool and in a way it is so nice for that to be such a private experience between me and my daughter. But it was life changing, and all we have are a few rubbish photos. I am pregnant again, and it does appeal to have it documented in some ways. I think a lot of birth photos are beautiful. But at the same time I did find it an intensely personal time. Not sure I even want my husband / midwife around!! But I guess a photographer would be very unobstrusive and not talk to you! Anyway these are just my ramblings - probably not useful!

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ghnocci · 23/12/2015 14:35

Literally can't imagine anything worse.

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Samantha28 · 23/12/2015 14:48

One of the few things that could possibly make labour and childbirth worse that it was

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ayria · 23/12/2015 15:40

During my birth, I don't think it would have been appropriate; I was bleeding, tore, got cut, the emergency bell was pressed, I had no idea what was going on then thought my son wasn't alive. I don't think I would have wanted a photo of him covered in my blood from the damage done! So had anyone taken pictures I wouldn't have been able to look at them. My mum took some of my son when he was briefly on my chest, and in the incubator, but that's it.

However for some women I think it would be nice if they had a positive experience. There are people that also do photos for c-sections. I'm planning on filming my 2nd birth at home just so I can watch it back to see how things went and the time scale of things (that was a big issue in my first birth) because they said literally nothing to me last time.

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glueandstick · 25/12/2015 09:27

There is a very good Australian photographer called Kate Kennedy, she has a brilliant Facebook page. I'm not sure I personally would want it but then again I don't have a single bump shot and like to keep my personal life as memories not initially. The stuff she has done is fabulous however - very sensitive and very welcomed by her clients. Well worth having a look at.

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glueandstick · 25/12/2015 09:28

I didn't mean initially. Meant photographs

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VashtaNerada · 25/12/2015 09:28

Oh good lord no.

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firewithfire · 25/12/2015 09:35

It would be lovely to have something concrete to accompany my flashbacks.

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blackkat1978 · 25/12/2015 20:51

A photographer we'd used a few times (a lady I know quite well rather than a stranger) posted on facebook about doing a free shoot but them paying for photos. I loved the idea (the 1st few of my daughter are really blurry). I also figured if there weren't any good ones I wouldn't need to buy any. Annoyingly when it came to it I wasn't sure about ringing her in the middle of the night (my son was born at 4am) so stupidly I text her after my midwife arrived so she didn't arrive till he was half an hour old. I'm gutted that I didn't get the chance to get photos of me lifting him out of the water moments after he was born. So yes there's definitely a market for birth photography but judging by the majority of replies it's clearly a small market. Good luck