If you're planning a home birth in Columbus, Ohio, you've probably spent a lot of time thinking about how you want your birth to feel.
Maybe you picture your own bed, your favorite music playing, your midwife moving quietly around the room, your partner beside you, and the freedom to labor in the way that feels right for you.
And maybe you've wondered:
What is it actually like to have a birth photographer there?
I get it. When you imagine someone photographing your birth, you might picture a camera constantly in your face or someone standing quietly in the corner documenting everything.
That's not how I approach birth photography.
I'm not a fly on the wall, but I'm also not there to turn your birth into a photoshoot.
I'm there to document your story while helping you feel supported, comfortable, and completely present in it.
You probably won't notice me much
When I walk into your home, I don't immediately pull out my camera.
I take a breath. I look around. I listen. I figure out what's happening and where you are in your labor.
Then I start documenting.
And I photograph so much more than the moment your baby is born.
The birth pool being filled.
Your partner filling your water bottle.
Your midwife setting up.
The music playing.
The messy kitchen.
The way your partner looks at you during a contraction.
Those little details become part of your story.
Years from now, you might not remember exactly what was happening in your kitchen at 2 a.m. But when you see that photograph, you'll remember.
You'll remember the feeling of being there.
You just do your thing. I'll do mine.
You don't need to smile. You don't need to pose. You don't need to look at me.
You can cry, moan, laugh, be completely silent, labor in the shower, on the floor, in your bed, in the birth pool, wherever your body needs to be.
Your only job is to stay present in your body. I'll worry about the photos.
And yes, I'm going to talk to you.
I'm your hype girl.
I've experienced birth myself, including three home births, and I know how powerful, overwhelming, beautiful, messy, and transformative this experience can be.
If you need someone cheering you on, I'm there.
If you need reassurance, I'm there.
If you need me to step back and give you space, I'm there too.
I follow your lead.
When you go into "labor land"
One of my favorite things to photograph is the moment you disappear into yourself.
The room gets quieter.
You stop chatting.
Your eyes close.
You become completely focused on what your body is doing.
You're somewhere else.
That's labor land.
And I love documenting it.
Not just what you look like, but the strength and emotion of what's happening inside of you.
Your hands gripping your partner.
The way you breathe through a contraction.
Your partner's face.
Your midwife's hands and comfort.
The quiet moments between contractions.
All of those pieces become part of your birth story.
Your home becomes part of the story, too.
This is one of the reasons I love being a Columbus home birth photographer.
Your home is already yours.
It's where you've lived your pregnancy. It's where you've imagined meeting your baby. It's where your older children may wake up and discover they have a new sibling.
So I'm not just photographing a birth.
I'm photographing your life.
The messy kitchen.
The blanket your mom gave you.
Your dog or cat wandering through the room.
Your toddler sleeping down the hall.
The birth pool in your living room.
The tiny details that make your house your home.
Years from now, those things will mean something.
What if the birth doesn't go according to plan?
This matters.
We can prepare. We can have a beautiful birth plan. We can choose a home birth and surround ourselves with people we trust.
And birth can still surprise us.
Sometimes plans change. Sometimes a transfer happens. Sometimes the birth looks completely different than you imagined.
And yes, I'll follow your story wherever it goes.
My job isn't to document the birth you thought you were going to have. My job is to document the birth you actually have.
If that means moving from your home to the hospital, I'll follow you there. If plans change, I'll adjust. If your story takes an unexpected turn, I'm still there documenting it.
Because birth photography isn't about getting the "perfect" birth photos.
It's about remembering your birth.
The people who supported you.
The decisions you made.
The strength it took to get through it.
And the moment you met your baby.
Whatever your birth story looks like, I'll be there to tell it.
Planning a home birth in Columbus?
If you're looking for a Columbus home birth photographer, I'd love to hear about your plans and learn more about your birth.
I offer birth photography throughout Columbus, Ohio, with on-call availability beginning at 38 weeks through birth and the first couple of hours postpartum.
Let's talk about your birth story.
