Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

So one of my old college girlfriends is a freelance photographer.

She emailed me this weekend to ask if I would be a willing participant in a new area of photography she is getting into - "birth photography".

It is basically photographs of the actual birth (no down south shots)



here is a link to other shots with the style she is going for.

Link

I'm having a c-section so I don't think she would be allowed in the operating room, but I was just curious, would you want something like this done?

I think it can be an absolutely beautiful moment to have photographed but I'm not sure I would be completely comfortable having a stranger in the birthing room with me.

what do you think?

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Those pictures made me cry and NOT in a good way.
Some of them scared the bejesus out of me.


Just another reminder that I am not sure how this baby is going to be getting out of my body but none of the options sound very good at this point.

So for me- that would be a big no.
I just want this child out quickly and easily and I really dont' want any reminders of the pain and suffering.

The pain on some of those women's faces is not soemthing I'd want to ever remember.

Plus I can't imagine who I'd show those pictures too.

This is just me again and my opinion- but it's totally NOT for me...

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Nope.
and if one of those Men in Black mind eraser things existed - I would want to flash DH with it right after the whole experience.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Dont think I would feel comfortable with it...DH will most likely have a camera or camcorder anyways.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

The pictures are beautiful, however, not every woman giving birth is gorgeous while giving birth.

I can't see myself allowing another person clicking away while I'm laboring. I might throw her camera across the room.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Not for me & I do photography as a hobby.

I'll teach DH how to use the other settings on our DSLR so he can take some pics AFTER the baby is born.

Your friend does beautiful work though. The pics are gorgeous.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

that's kinda how I feel too.

In theory it is beautiful. I would not want it for myself.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Nope. Not a chance.

My father took photos of all of our births that were similar to those. It's one thing for the new parent to be taking them and entirely something else for a nonfamily member who was hired to take them, imo.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Posted by NervousNell

Those pictures made me cry and NOT in a good way.
Some of them scared the bejesus out of me.


Just another reminder that I am not sure how this baby is going to be getting out of my body but none of the options sound very good at this point.

So for me- that would be a big no.
I just want this child out quickly and easily and I really dont' want any reminders of the pain and suffering.

The pain on some of those women's faces is not soemthing I'd want to ever remember.

Plus I can't imagine who I'd show those pictures too.

This is just me again and my opinion- but it's totally NOT for me...

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Posted by NervousNell

Those pictures made me cry and NOT in a good way.
Some of them scared the bejesus out of me.


Just another reminder that I am not sure how this baby is going to be getting out of my body but none of the options sound very good at this point.

So for me- that would be a big no.
I just want this child out quickly and easily and I really dont' want any reminders of the pain and suffering.

The pain on some of those women's faces is not soemthing I'd want to ever remember.

Plus I can't imagine who I'd show those pictures too.

This is just me again and my opinion- but it's totally NOT for me...

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

I think the moments that the photographer would be able to capture could turn out really beautiful... but I would not want to pay to have someone take these photos for me.

If only I was friends with a professional photographer!

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Those pics are beautiful! I would totally do it as long as there were no shots taken down there or as the baby comes out The pics on that website are tastefully done and I wouldnt mind having some like that. I actually do have some pics like that, but taken by DH and my midwife.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Not for me. I want to have that mommy thing happen where you forget about how the birth actually went and the memories are replaced when your child is put in your arms.

Plus, I don't even want my mother in the room, there is no way I would invite others in the delivery room. But that's just me!

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

there are some really nice pics but i would have to say no thanks...i can't imagine dealing with it

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

I wouldn't want any down south shots for sure. The ones on that website came out beautiful and I think if I knew someone who was talented and could produce pics like those and most of all it was free lol then sure I'd do it.

I wouldn't pay for them though in case I came out looking horrid in all of them, which is more than likely what I would look like.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

I would say definitely no. It isn't my type of thing. It is such a personal moment and not something I want to share with people. The photography itself is well done, just not my type of thing.

As a side story, my brother took pics of his son within seconds of his birth, before the cord was cut. He emailed them to all of our family and friends within hours of the birth. He didn't realize at the time that he had actually snapped a pic of his wife's hoo-haa and emailed it to half the world I can't believe she didn't dump him immediately.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Posted by Superkat

As a side story, my brother took pics of his son within seconds of his birth, before the cord was cut. He emailed them to all of our family and friends within hours of the birth. He didn't realize at the time that he had actually snapped a pic of his wife's hoo-haa and emailed it to half the world I can't believe she didn't dump him immediately.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

Posted by Superkat

As a side story, my brother took pics of his son within seconds of his birth, before the cord was cut. He emailed them to all of our family and friends within hours of the birth. He didn't realize at the time that he had actually snapped a pic of his wife's hoo-haa and emailed it to half the world I can't believe she didn't dump him immediately.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

I definitely would. IF we ever had another I am doing it

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

yes, those pictures are beautiful. I would love for my child to be able to look back and see themselves being born. My DH doesn't take pics so I don't think I'll get any of the baby right when it's delivered.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

So interesting to hear so many people say no they wouldn't do this.
There is a delivery room nurse at Winthrop who does this. She's not a profesh photog - just has great camera and dabbles in photography as her hobby. She did this for my sister who had a c-section - took the very tastefully taken pics and set them to a slideshow with the most amazing songs...the words fit so perfectly with each shot. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen...anyone who saw it agreed. However the shots didn't seem so profesh...they almost seemed like you let your best friend or sister in the room to capture these sweet moments...my sisters pics seemed more real. The pics on this website are almost too profesh for my taste - almost seem acted out some of them. My sisters were just so sweet...showed the beautiful emotions of my BIL showing my sis her new baby for the first time...the cutting of the cord...the baby getting weighed...her little hand in her daddy's big hand with him gazing down at her - just sweet things like that. Wish I could show it to all of you...it really is so nice and tastefully done. They also have shots of my entire family coming in the room right after the birth to see the baby and find out boy/girl (they were team )...the fact that someone was able to capture the looks on all of our faces is just great...it's priceless...we are all so happy to have these pics. After 3 boys in the family - my sister having this girl was so exciting & you just see it on everyone's faces.

So I'd do it - but not so much with this profesh photog...for some reasons those shots are freaking me out. I actually will most likely have the Winthrop nurse do it for me since I am delivering there...she can only do it if it works out with her schedule.

Re: Birth Photography - would you ever do this?

I don't take great pictures when I'm NOT pushing a kid out... so I'm gonna guess that I definitely don't look great when I AM pushing a kid out. So I pass.