Few things in this world are as joyous as welcoming a new baby. Seeing such a tiny and perfect little human being stirs emotions in everyone. It’s no wonder that there has been a significant rise in the number of photographers offering their services not only for pregnancy and newborn images but also for photographing the birth itself as a way to tell the story of that particular moment in time.
That said, while photographing childbirth can make for deeply meaningful pictures that parents will treasure for decades, it’s very tough to do well. I’m sure you can understand why: your photographic subjects will not be focused on you, you’ll likely be in a busy area with medical professionals moving around, and the parent(s) will be extremely stressed (to say the least).
And let’s not forget the privacy concerns, the low light, the raw emotions, the responsibility that comes from a complete lack of do-overs…it’s enough to make any professional photographer think twice before agreeing to such a photoshoot.
(Note: If you’re thinking of photographing the birth of your own child, only some of the above difficulties will apply – but you’ll run into additional problems, such as the need to divide your attention between your partner’s labor and your camera, all while feeling unbelievably stressed. It is possible to do your own birth photography, and during COVID, a lot of couples took this approach out of necessity. However, before you commit to photographing your partner’s upcoming childbirth, you should think long and hard about hiring a professional.)
If you’re still reading, then I’m guessing you do indeed plan to photograph a childbirth in the near future. At the very least, you want to know what birth photography involves so you can make an informed decision. Below, I walk you through considerations, tips, and techniques to help you handle such a difficult but profoundly meaningful photoshoot.
1. You are always on call
If you are interested in birth photography, you will want to make sure that you have the time and flexibility for it. Your client can go into labor at any time (even with a cesarean birth because a doctor’s schedule can change if there is an emergency!). You might get a call at 3 AM, or when you’re running your own child’s birthday party, or two months before the baby is due.
That’s all part of the job, so make sure you have arranged for child care for your own children and that you can clear anything off your schedule if the need arises. Also remember that births can be short or they can be very long, so you may find yourself spending long hours at the hospital, which again requires extreme schedule flexibility.
Oh, and because you’re always on call, you must be reachable; in other words, once you’ve been hired to photograph a birth, you must keep your phone on at all times, and you cannot head off for an off-the-grid yoga retreat in the mountains.
2. You can’t set the scene
During a childbirth, nurses, doctors, techs, and interns will all be walking in and out of the room. This is something that you’ll have to accept because you simply cannot ask medical professionals to stay out so you can set up the perfect shot.
You have to just go with the flow and work within the space you have and around the people in the room. This means being ready with a variety of different lenses and compositional strategies, and it also means working fast, since photographic opportunities will appear and disappear in the blink of an eye. You must know your camera exceedingly well; otherwise, you’re bound to end up with a bunch of missed images while you’re fiddling around with your exposure or focus settings.
3. Don’t use a flash
The parent(s) will be working hard, and flash is a distraction. Therefore, you should not bring any speedlights of your own, and you should make sure that your camera’s pop-up flash stays off throughout the birth.
Yes, you’ll be working in a relatively low-light environment, but you’ll need to compensate for that in other ways: by paying attention to the artificial lighting within the room, by adjusting your position to make the most of any window light, and by raising your ISO as needed.
4. You’re there to photograph, not learn
Asking questions about procedures and medications, or offering your own opinions on childbirth and on what the medical staff is doing is neither necessary nor appropriate. You’ve been hired to document the childbirth, not to quiz medical professionals or provide input. You wouldn’t want a client to instruct you on how to properly conduct a portrait session, would you?
Let the medical professionals and parents do their jobs, while you focus on doing yours!
5. If at all possible, arrange to meet the doctor before the birth
Meeting the doctor ahead of time can give you an opportunity to talk to them and find out if they have any particular rules for photographing or recording labor and birth.
It also gives you a chance to talk to them about what happens if your client has a cesarean. Some doctors will arrange with the anesthesiologist to get the photographer back into the operating room in non-emergency cases. (In an emergency, you will not be allowed back there.) In most cases, the anesthesiologist has the final say because you would be in their area to shoot. Don’t take it personally if they say no to a photographer in the OR. They are looking out for your client.
Speaking of which:
6. Have a backup plan
If your client does have an emergency cesarean and you’re not allowed into the operating room, it’s important that you’re ready to make the most of the time you do have to photograph. While you never know for sure what’s going to happen, with a backup plan in place, you’ll be much more likely to end up with shots that your client will love.
This means making sure you know where the nursery is and where your client will be brought to after delivery. The doctor will fill you in during your meeting about their standard protocol (see above!), but make sure you know where everything is once you are there.
7. Be prepared for the unexpected
As I explained at the beginning of this article, babies pay no attention to your time frame, the doctor’s time frame, or anyone else’s. They come when they want to. Be ready for a short labor and be even more prepared for a long one. Make sure you have a battery supply for your camera and your phone and extra memory cards. Make sure you have money for vending machines.
It’s better to have all of that and not need it than to suddenly find yourself on hour 13 of a birth, needing something to snack on but having no money and with a near-dead camera and no extra batteries or chargers.
Bottom line: Be overprepared, not underprepared. Not only will it give you the best chance at photographic success, but it’ll keep your stress levels (and your client’s stress levels) from going higher than expected.
8. Make sure your images tell the story of the day
Birth photography isn’t just about photographing the actual birth. It’s about telling the story of the entire day, both before and after the birth itself.
Flowers, balloons, visitors – they all help tell the story. Capture the moments that you think your clients will want to remember. Even take a photo of the dry-erase board where their nurse writes their name and room number. The parents will want to remember their nurse’s name. And if there is a shift change, take a new photo of the board. Record it until the baby is born! They may have a favorite nurse, and you will help them remember their name. Some parents send thank-you cards to the staff, and it’s nice when they can include the names of the people who took care of them.
9. Remember that the day is not about you
Don’t try to chat with everyone and make yourself the focus of the day. It’s easy to get consumed in the activity and not even realize that you have distracted from the real star of the day! Let your clients know that you are there documenting everything that they want you to. That makes their job a little easier and allows them to focus.
Relatedly, meet with your clients ahead of time (well in advance, to be safe!) and discuss any concerns they might have and the photos that they do and don’t want you to take. Different clients will have different preferences and comfort levels, and you want to make sure you cater to their needs. Your goal shouldn’t be to capture the pictures that you think matter but to capture the pictures that the client thinks matter.
10. Convert the images to black and white (but give color versions, too)
Give your clients color versions of your photos, but also black and white. The reason is very simple:
some people do not like medical stuff. Some people can’t stand the sight or even the idea of blood, while others prefer not to view the vernix (that cheesy-type substance that covers newborns).
Even for parents who aren’t bothered by medical stuff in color, it’s a good idea to provide the black-and-white files. When they put together a scrapbook for the birth, they might want black and white. Don’t let them be the ones to convert the images. Take control of the edits and make sure you include the black-and-white versions. They might use all the color ones anyway, but give them the option.
(Make sure you capture the little details of the baby like toes and ears when you take the photographs as well! Those are always loved and appreciated by the parents.)
How to photograph childbirth: final words
Birth photography is unlike conventional portrait photography. You may not get everything perfect. People may walk into the shot. Someone may turn on a light or turn off a light. Things happen. The scene can move quickly.
Make sure you are prepared with camera in hand and make sure to expect the random things that may occur. Document the moments and learn from your experience. The next birth will be easier, and you will gradually learn to adapt and navigate your way through the whole birthing process. You’ll tell better stories each time. Your clients will love you for it, and you will grow as a photographer, an artist, and as a person with each moment you help bring to life!
