If you’re considering birth photography, you’re probably wondering what it actually looks like to have someone there during one of the most intimate days of your life.
Where will they stand?
What will they photograph?
Will it feel intrusive?
Will I even notice them?
These are all valid questions—and ones I hear often from families across southeastern Wisconsin. So let’s talk honestly about what it’s like to have a photographer present during your birth.
First, let’s clear this up: you are always in control.
Birth photography is not about forcing moments or documenting everything at all costs. It’s about honoring your space, your preferences, and your experience.
Before your birth, we talk through:
- Your comfort level
- What you do and don’t want photographed
- Who will be present
- The kind of story you want remembered
Some families want everything documented. Others prefer a softer, more minimal approach. Both are valid and both are respected.
What I’m doing while you’re in labor
Most of the time, I’m quietly observing.
I’m paying attention to:
- The way your partner supports you
- The atmosphere of the room
- The subtle moments you won’t remember later
I’m not directing. I’m not interrupting. I’m not asking you to “look here.”
I blend into the room in a way that feels calm and unobtrusive. Many families later tell me they forgot I was even there and that’s exactly how it should feel.
Where I am during the birth
This looks different depending on your birth setting….hospital, birth center, or home—but the intention is always the same: to stay out of the way while being ready.
I’m mindful of medical staff, midwives, and nurses, and I work respectfully alongside them. I don’t interfere with care, and I move only when appropriate.
Sometimes I’m near your head. Sometimes I’m across the room. Sometimes I step out completely.
Birth is fluid and I follow your lead.
What families usually say afterward
Almost every family tells me some version of this:
“I didn’t realize how much I’d want to remember this.”
Birth is intense. Powerful. Overwhelming. And later, so much of it feels hazy.
Photos don’t just show you what happened they show you what you missed:
- Your partner’s face when your baby was born
- How strong you looked
- The love and support surrounding you
These are moments no one thinks to document in the moment—but they become priceless later.
Does it feel awkward to have a photographer there?
This is one of the biggest fears and one of the biggest surprises.
Most families are nervous at first. And then labor takes over.
Once you’re focused on your body, your breath, and your baby, the camera fades into the background. What remains is the experience and later, the gift of remembering it clearly.
Birth photography isn’t about perfection
It’s not about aesthetics.
It’s not about posing.
It’s not about a “pretty” birth.
It’s about truth.
Your strength.
Your vulnerability.
Your story.
If you’re considering birth photography, know this: it’s okay to have questions. It’s okay to be unsure. And it’s okay to take time deciding.
My role is simply to hold space, document gently, and give you something tangible from a day that changes everything.
If you’re located in Wisconsin and would like to talk more about what birth photography could look like for your birth like your setting, your preferences, your comfort level—I’m always happy to connect.
No pressure. Just an honest conversation 🤍
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