birth photography :: betsy

on occasion i don't get a chance before the birth to meet the family. that's rare, and i actually try to avoid it. birthing space is such a sacred thing, and you don't want to go galavanting in there with no previous relationship, without knowing that you the photographer are someone that this family will feel peaceful about letting you be with them in this intimate event. but sometimes it just happens that way. 

as was the case in this story. diane and i just had a couple phone conversations under our belt before i got the call that they were in labor in lansing. so the first time i met them, she was having intense contractions. bless them, they were so kind. but i had to give them a little space before they were ready for me to be in the room with them. if you are a birthing/laboring mom, please know that it's always ok for you to ask ANY member of your birth team to leave your birth space for as long or short as you need. most of us will get it, and won't take it personally. you do what you have to do!

anyway, when i finally entered into the space, they were DEEPLY focused. Jeff was an amazing coach and support to diane as she labored serenely without any drugs at all. none of us knew just how close we were to meeting their daughter. 15 minutes later, diane's water broke in the bathroom. she waddled back out, endured maybe three more contractions and then announced in a sweet but firm voice that her baby was coming out and somebody needed to catch her! in the absence of OB, the nurse swiftly stepped in and gently caught the baby.

later, the nurses referred to betsy's birth as "precipitous." when they weren't in the room, we googled the term and had a good chuckle over the definition which included the phrase, "sudden expulsion of the infant." yup, that about sums it up. 

for the next several hours i watched these three bond with one another, watched and documented as betsy was cared for and her name announced, and as her parents shared a post-labor orange juice toast, and stayed until betsy's big brother arrived to meet her, grandparents in tow. it was a really special afternoon spent with this family.

WELCOME

i'm so glad you're here. 

i want you to know that as a photographer, my speciality and my greatest joy is telling stories. stories of the ordinary, beautiful, raw moments and spaces that make up your personal history. when you invite me to photograph you and your family, you won't be dressing up, having make-up artists work on your face, or even smiling at the camera. you will simply carry on, doing and being all that you do and are. 

this post is at the top of the page because here you will find links to more information and examples of my two specialities: birth photography and family photojournalism. 

take a look...

birth photography

grand rapids, mi birth photographer and birth photography

family photojournalism sessions

grand rapids, mi family photographer and family photojournalist. visual storytelling and documentary photography.

birth photography :: will

to say that i am supportive of home birth is an understatement. enthusiastic is really a better descriptor. i love almost everything about a birth story that happens in the context of home. there's the unique, homey, warm, personal atmosphere, the qualitatively excellent care of midwives and doulas, the empowered and surprised-by-her-own strength laboring mama... and the fact that once it's through you have no where to go other than to your own familiar bed, tucked in with the ones you love. 

jessica and her husband were a little nervous at first to tell their friends and family that they were planning a home birth. they anticipated some back-lash in people's reactions (things like, "is it really safe? i would be so worried if i were you!"). even after will was born, jessica still was hesitant to directly state the fact that he was born in their home. but after a few weeks, she became very bold, as the reality of how awesome what she had just accomplished really was. she was proud of the story they'd written together, the team that they were, the baby they had birthed, and the way they had done it. it was such a joy to see her confidence alongside the absolute delight she has in her son. 

i arrived for this birth in the middle of the night. it was dark. like many birthing mothers given the choice, jessica opted to keep most of the lights off. so i bumped up my camera's ISO, opened up the aperture real wide and went about photographing her labor process without using a flash (i'm pretty committed to that). but then the dawn came, and the room brightened, and a couple hours after sunrise, will was born into the lovely morning light where we could see his perfect little face clearly. 

please enjoy this amazing birth story.