Finding Your Ideal Birth Photographer; Questions to Consider
Welcoming a new life into the world is one of the most intimate, emotional, and transformative moments of your family’s journey. Birth photography allows you to preserve these raw and beautiful moments forever—capturing the strength, love, and connection shared during this extraordinary time. However, choosing the right birth photographer is a deeply personal decision, and knowing what to ask can make all the difference. To help you find the perfect fit, I’ve compiled a list of essential questions to guide you through this process, and I’ve included my answers to each question to help you get a feel for me to see if we might be a good fit.
Birth photography captures fleeting moments of love and connection.
“What is your experience with birth photography?”
Understanding how many births they have photographed and the variety of birth settings they have worked in (hospitals, home births, birth centers) will give you insight into their expertise.
After attending and photographing dozens of births, I have experience working in different settings, including home births, hospitals, and birth centers. Each birth and location provides a different atmosphere, lighting, and unique challenges. From this, I have become highly adaptable and quick to accommodate any circumstance.
“How do you handle unpredictable timing?”
Birth is unpredictable, and can happen at any time. Ask how they manage on-call availability and ensure they will be available when you go into labor.
We’ll stay in close communication throughout your pregnancy, and I’ll begin my on-call availability at 37 weeks. I remain available at almost the drop of a hat around the clock, 24/7. This means I stay in town, am prepared with childcare lined up, and my phone is on full volume ready for your call day or night.
“How do you handle sensitive moments?”
Birth is an intimate experience. Ask how they approach photographing personal, vulnerable, and complicated moments to ensure you’ll feel comfortable.
I come with an open heart. Birth is a vulnerable experience and I don’t take that lightly. I’ll ask you thorough questions and over-communicate beforehand so I understand what you are, or are not comfortable with. I feel I am pretty good at reading a room and adapting to the vibes. Sometimes things are light, playful, and interactive. Other times it’s quiet and focused. There are times when the situation is serious and it is best to pause for a moment and hold off on taking photos at all. I can adapt to any situation as needed to ensure you feel safe, respected, and comfortable at all times.
“How do you ensure your presence doesn't disrupt the birth process?”
Respecting your space and emotions.
You’ll want a photographer who knows how to remain unobtrusive and respectful of the birth team and environment.
My goal is to be a fly on the wall, and I have often been described as such. My superpower is being a wallflower and blending into the environment. I strive to bring a calming, peaceful, and hardly noticeable presence to your birth space.
“What is your photography style?”
Are they more candid, documentary-style, or do they aim for more posed shots? Make sure their style aligns with your vision for the birth photos.
My approach to birth photography is entirely documentary. I never want to intervene or disturb the birth environment. My purpose is to capture fleeting, real-life moments as they happen. I am here to document your birth story, not curate it. If we speak ahead of time about something specific you may want in the golden hour after your baby has arrived, and the situation allows, I will do my best to prompt that as long as it feels right in the moment.
My editing style is mostly true to color with a touch of warmth to evoke comfort and closeness. I love a crisp image with high contrast for births to highlight textures, details, and expressions to create a sense of intimacy and emphasize the story being told.
“Can you share testimonials or examples of previous birth photography sessions?”
Reviewing their portfolio and hearing from other clients can help you gauge the quality of their work and how well they handle the birth setting.
Testimonials and Google reviews kindly describe my presence as peaceful, warm, and unintrusive. I have images on display on my website and social media, and I am happy to share entire birth story galleries upon request so you can get a feel for what it’s like seeing all of the images together telling the whole story.
“What is your approach to post-production and delivery?”
Ask about the turnaround time for receiving your images, how many are included, and whether they provide prints, albums, or digital copies.
I do my best to provide a handful of images as a sneak peek within 24-48 hours after leaving the birth for sharing/announcements. My turnaround time for the full gallery is typically about 4-8 weeks, depending on the time of year and life circumstances. I deeply value every one of my clients, but I am also a mother of two young children and things like school, health, and general life with small children can slow things down. I promise to always be in open communication with you about my process and the projected timeline of your photos.
Digital images are all included in my pricing, so you have the freedom to print on your own time and at the place of your choosing. I do however offer prints and albums upon request and always appreciate the support of ordering through me.
“Do you offer consultations to go over birth plans and preferences?”
Some photographers offer pre-birth consultations to get to know your preferences and understand your birth plan.
I always offer a phone or Zoom consultation to get to know each other, learn about your personal history and preferences, and see if we are a good fit for each other. (This is free of course!) If you are local to me and would prefer to meet up in person for coffee or a treat I’m always up for that too!
“Do you have a backup photographer?”
In case of illness or emergency, it's important to know if they have a backup photographer on standby.
I work closely with another birth photographer, a dear friend of mine who will be on standby as backup.
“What is included in your birth photography package?”
Find out about pricing, how many hours are covered, what type of photo edits are included, and how many images you can expect.
My birth photography investment is $2,000. This includes:
On-call time 24/7 from 37 weeks until the birth of your baby
Photography during active labor until up to 2 hours postpartum
Editing of images, chosen by me. This includes a mixture of color and black-and-white images based on my artistic discretion.
Sneak peek of a handful of images for announcements/sharing
High-resolution and web-resolution files
Online gallery of 100+ images carefully curated to tell your birth story thoughtfully
Prints available for purchase upon request
To learn more about the value of birth photography, as well as exploring easy payment options such as financing, check out my other blog post!
Hiring a birth photographer is an investment in memories that you’ll treasure for a lifetime. By asking thoughtful questions and finding someone whose style, experience, and personality resonate with you, you’ll feel confident knowing your birth story will be captured in a way that feels authentic to you. If you’re considering hiring a birth photographer, I’d love to chat and answer any questions you might have—let’s create something truly special together.
Ready to capture your birth story?
Let’s chat!
