In Richmond, Virginia, birth photography is a specialty that has really taken off in the last 5 years. Though many have embraced it, some are still skeptical. I’d like to take a moment to answer some common questions about birth photography and explain why at Samantha Parks Portraiture, birth photography can be whatever you want it to be.
What is Birth Photography?
The bottom line is that it can be whatever you would like it to be. It can include shots of mom laboring, support people, details around the home or hospital, family and friends that are present, siblings and pets, shots of the actual birth, the parent’s reaction to their new baby, newborn exam, weighing and measuring, first feeding, and anything else that the parents want captured. I always consult and meet with expecting parents before they give birth. I will endeavor to capture as much or as little as the mom is comfortable with. I will also work within the parameters set by the hospital and doctor/midwife.
Why Hire a Birth Photographer?
The birth of your child is going to be one of the most important days of your life. Most people wouldn’t dream of not hiring a wedding photographer, yet they may not have ever thought about having a photographer at their birth. By hiring me to document your birth, you and the other people at your birth have the opportunity to be truly present and immersed in this life-changing event. You don’t have to worry about a shot being missed, a camera malfunctioning or a battery dying. I come with my camera, a back-up camera, several different lenses, and multiple memory cards. By hiring me, you have purchased peace of mind that the moment you first meet your baby will be completely documented.
I also have professional gear that is made to work well in low-light. Births often happen at night, and I will be able to capture those precious moments regardless of the lighting situation (and without the use of a distracting flash).
What is the Cost?
Birth photography costs $850. $250 is due upon booking and the remainder must be paid before the images are delivered after the birth. I offer payment plans and discounts for families with special needs.
What is Included?
After you have paid your deposit, we will schedule to meet for coffee and talk about your plans for birth and what you would like me to capture. This gives us a chance to get comfortable with each other before the birth. I will then be on call for a month surrounding your EDD (2 weeks before and 2 weeks after). I will also do my best to attend should you go into labor early.
Once I receive a text that you are in labor I will typically come to your home or the hospital once you are in active labor. I will come in quietly and be discreet in taking the pictures. My goal is to be a fly on the wall during your birth.
I will stay throughout your labor and after the baby is born. I will typically stay until baby has had it’s newborn exam and first feeding. This is also a time when I often catch siblings and other family members meeting the baby.
After the birth, you will receive 2-4 images within 48 hours to share with family and friends. The rest of your gallery will be ready within 2 weeks. Your gallery will contain 50-75 images (and often more depending on the length of your labor) that you will be able to download directly from my website. All images will be full-resolution and many will be in black and white.
After the birth we will set-up your newborn mini session which is included in your package. The newborn mini session is an hour long session of baby only, with 5 keepsake size digital images (printable up to 8×10).
So just to recap, here is what you get for $850:
-consultation before birth
-on-call for 4 weeks surrounding birth
-full coverage of labor and delivery (including transfers/c-section if neccesary and allowed)
-coverage of newborn exam and first feeding
-2-4 images within 48 hours
-a gallery of high-resulution images to download from (50-75)
-a 1 hour newborn mini session with 5 keepsake size digital images (printable up to 8×10)
Still have questions? Please feel free to contact me. Beacause of the personal and intimate nature of birth, many images are not posted on my blog or website. If you would like to see more, please e-mail me at Samantha@spportraiture.com
