Photographers - don't "try out" birth photography without doing your homework
Alright.
There is something that needs to be addressed in the world of birth photography.
Too often there are variations of these questions in Facebook groups for photographers:
"I'm shooting my first birth soon. Any tips?"
"I'm heading to the hospital to photograph a birth for the first time. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!"
First of all – you do not wait until close to birth to do your research. Ideally, you do your research before booking your first birth.
Second of all – photographers in a Facebook group aren't there to serve you. Do your own research, and then ask questions in the group based on the information you find out. Having a specific question is ok; "Where did you get your birth photography contract from?"
But asking others to put their time and energy into listing all the things that they have learned over maybe years and years of work – that's a bit lazy.
There is so much information to be found online, that there is no excuse to not do your homework.
I shot 8 births the first year I tried it out and loved it. But the logistics of being a birth photographer isn't for me at this stage in life, so I am on hiatus from births. Here are some things that I learned during my first year:
10 birth photography tips and things to know
#1 Births can be addicting, because they're frkn magical!
It is the most amazing experience ever to watch a woman bring a child into the world, to witness the instant change that happens when people become parents.
#2 Always be prepared
Birth photography is no joke. You might be there for 3h, you might be there for 24h. Have a bag packed with a change of clothes, toothbrush, water bottles, snacks.
Births pretty much happen anywhere in a 6 week window - you are basically always on-call. You can never have more than that one drink, you need to bring your gear with you everywhere, and if you have kids or dogs you need to have babysitters or dog sitters you can call middle of the night – ANY night.
You need to have a backup photographer (or two) who can step in incase births overlap with each other or coincide with other sessions, or if you get sick. Most birth photographers I know book 3-5 births a month. I would also be very clear with both birth and portrait session clients that you may not be the photographer they work with, maybe have back-up dates for portrait sessions in place.
#3 Pricing
Photographers seem to be scared to charge a good price for their birth photography services. But photographing a birth is like someone told you "we will have our wedding somewhere in this 5-6 week window, it might be at 2am, we might need you for 24 hours". So really, birth photographers should be charging more than wedding photographers.
That being said, you may want to do a few discounted births to build a portfolio if you are going to pursue it. But remember – you may still have to pay for a backup even if you are portfolio building unless the scenario of you not being able to attend has been otherwise discussed with the parents.In your birth photography pricing, you have to account for paying a backup photog to cover incase you are tied up at another session. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the going back-up rate has seemed to be around $500 (as I’m writing this in 2018).
#4 Contracts
Amelia's Birth Day | Storytelling Bay Area Newborn Photographer
Always have a contract. It is especially important to have clauses about what happens if you don't get there on time, depending on their late heads up, or because of your own mistake.Make sure the contract states your on-call period and what happens incase baby is born outside of that period.
#5 Logistics
Always, ALWAYS have an extra contact number for the clients to reach you at, incase you have accidentally turned sounds off.
Have mom check with the hospital what their rules are, unless you've been there before. Are you allowed in the room? Can you photograph staff?
The "standard" time to leave for the hospital seems to be when mom is at about 6cm, but this depends on how fast or slow things seem to go, how the mom's previous births were , what traffic is like, where you live in relation to where they are etc.
I would stay for 1-2h after the birth to capture all the magic that happens afterwards.
Let your clients know all your "logistics" during your consult, so that they are prepared. Maybe even send them a reminder email about all of this a few weeks before their due date.
#6 Equipment thoughts
There really should be no reason for you to have a longer lens than 35mm. Delivery rooms are usually not very big, and 35mm or wider will make the pictures feel like you are right in the middle of the action.To think about: Do you have equipment that can handle dark situations, if the birth is middle of night or if drapes are closed?
#7 Be kind to the nurses
Always introduce yourself and ask new nurses coming in as their shifts change – "Are you ok with being in pictures?" And respect their decision. The nurses are going to be your best ally – when you are kind to them they'll usually give you access to good pictures and don't mind being in the pictures themselves.
#8 Get close
As long as you have discussed expectations with the parents (do they want crowning shots, are they ok with flash) and are working within those expectations, don't be scared to get close. Remember that you have been invited to document this occasion for them.
#9 Show the labor of labor
Show how hard mom is working, as well as how the others around her are supporting her.
#10 Don't focus on just the baby
In the world of birth, newborn and baby photography, so much attention is given to the new life. Remember that this same momentous occasion is transforming others into parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The day those pictures get passed on to the kiddo, they're going to want to see the adults, too!
"If you are shooting the birth at home you can include the details of their home that show how their environment has changed to get ready for a baby." - Kaleen Enke
I hope these tips are helpful and encourage you to prepare for the magical world of birth photography.