Does anyone do birth photography???

[Eli's_mommy]

I am a doula and I have been doing birth photography as well. I wanted to see if anyone had any good tips for me. I've noticed that more often than not there is low light and mama does not want flash (believe that or not! )

Any tips on that or anything else would be much appreciated!

[perstephone]

I've been looking into this, only because I want a birth photographer, and there aren't any. I'd been thinking of freelancing some children's portraititure since my son was born, but I just keep putting it off. I've done (all ages) studio work, and also quite a bit of kiddie portrait work, but the idea I had in my head (where it's stayed, unfortunately) was to be a natural light, simple setup.
Now I'm pregnant, and I pushed the idea of the freelancing to the back burner. Decided what I really wanted to do was have a birth photographer here for my upcoming vbac, and started looking. There's nothing, at least not in my area- and of course, that got more wheels turning in my head.
Though, with a 19m old and a soon-to-be newborn, I don't think it's feasible, at least not right now. I could probably tag along with a doula in the area and get some portfolio work done, at cost to the moms for now, but I'd really have to wait until the little one could be left with daddy to do any real (birth) work.

I have noticed that the vast majority of birth photogs are also doulas- I would just be doing the photography (if/when I get to it). I'm interested to see what kind of responses you get!

And as far as low light, have you tried pushing the film, or dragging the shutter? Both can be 'faked' with digital, although I'm not sure about the specifics there- I shoot film; mostly black and white, at that. All my professional digital experience has been in studio lighting situations, so I don't know exactly *how* you'd do them, just that you *can*.

stephanie

[Jane]

A tripod is nice for those longer exposures in low light. I "try" to take labor photos, but they mostly suck.

[perstephone]

Speaking of tripods... this is a nifty gadget that I've been eyeing. Would probably be a good addition to the gear bag for births- compact and can be used on anything. The POD

steph

[Charmie981]

I have taken some REALLY GREAT birth photos. I've also taken really, really terrible birth photos (for the same mom, different births, actually ).

Things that I've found:
-my clients who think they want someone there to take pictures usually end up deciding they don't want the extra person there as the birth plans progress and the crowd gets weeded down.
-it is really unpredictable what the birth environment (and your lighting) will be. Sometimes you can get great pictures and other times you just can't (though pushing the film would probably help)
-it's just about impossible to take pictures if you have another job, so birth photographers who are also doulas or husbands or some other labor support usually don't do as well as someone who is specifically there only to take pictures (but this then goes back to #1)

The idea is a really good one, but it is also a logistical nightmare.

[Eli's_mommy]

Originally Posted by Apricot

A tripod is nice for those longer exposures in low light. I "try" to take labor photos, but they mostly suck.

You're hilarious

Did you do any for me? I don't remember...

[memiles]

I'm always totally surprised and thrilled when any of my birth photos turn out. I think I've taken one really good picture, ever, and it was in full sunlight streaming through a window. Give me a dark room and I'm useless.

I have other skills, right?

[Jane]

Originally Posted by Eli's_mommy

Did you do any for me? I don't remember...

I can't remember - did any of them suck? If they did, there's your answer. I think you had someone taking them that was good at it, so that decreases the liklihood.

If there's a camera lying around, I usually will take a few, just to make sure there are some pictures.

PS - I love your ultrasound picture - it's really clear and cute!

[1stimestar]

I've managed to take many really good photos. A lot of times I will just set my camera's automatic setting to Action and click away. It helps when the parents tell the careproviders before hand that someone will be taking pictures and they would like some clear shots. Of course, all the doctors and nurses know me by now so they nicely let me get in to get good pictures.

[ananas]

Originally Posted by perstephone

Speaking of tripods... this is a nifty gadget that I've been eyeing. Would probably be a good addition to the gear bag for births- compact and can be used on anything. The POD

steph

I've seen those before and wasn't too impressed. However, I LOVE the GorillaPod. :

[perstephone]

ooooh, ananas, that one's cool, too. Not like I don't have enough camera dohickeys laying around....

[Eli's_mommy]

Originally Posted by Apricot

I can't remember - did any of them suck? If they did, there's your answer. I think you had someone taking them that was good at it, so that decreases the liklihood.

If there's a camera lying around, I usually will take a few, just to make sure there are some pictures.

PS - I love your ultrasound picture - it's really clear and cute!

Thank you When I'm not doing what I really want to do, I work for an huge diagnostic imaging corporation.

You've inspired me to post a better photo on my blog- I have an awesome 3D

[Eli's_mommy]

Originally Posted by memiles

I'm always totally surprised and thrilled when any of my birth photos turn out. I think I've taken one really good picture, ever, and it was in full sunlight streaming through a window. Give me a dark room and I'm useless.

I have other skills, right?

You are super duper skilled!

[NavelgazingMidwife]

I've done birth photography for over 20 years and it helps a LOT to know birth intimately because anticipating what is coming ahead is exactly what is necessary in order to get the great shots.

Besides knowing what you are shooting, the camera is vital to taking great pictures. A digital SLR (or standard, but it's *incredible* to me that anyone would still even want to use film!) will make SUCH a difference compared to your typical Point & Shoot. The delay that P&S's have is beyond annoying - it causes tremendous amounts of quick action shots to be missed. I can't tell you how many times I've been brought in to do the next birth simply because of the P&S's failure from the previous birth. If you *only* have a P&S, you have to be incredibly anticipatory - make sure your batteries are charged like fire and you are on the tips of your toes ready. And save up for a DSLR.

I used to use film and now use a Canon 20D and while I do fine without flash and know my camera fabulously and all of that, I *always* use my flash at a birth if I am being hired to take pictures. I let them know: If you want to be SURE to have crystal clear photos, then flash it is. I haven't ever had anyone *ever* tell me to stop taking pictures - they never even notice the camera or the flash, but I try to be unobtrusive, too.

I use a lens that can see a gnat's eyes from 200 feet away (55-200mm), so I don't have to be right on top of mom, either. I *highly* suggest getting yourself a long lens. Take a look at this photo-story I did of a hospital birth recently.

http://observantmidwife.blogspot.com...tos-words.html

This gives an idea of my work.

Going through my blog, you can see examples of my work, too.

When you take pics, have fun, but don't get so lost in the birth that you forget what you're there to do! I find that when I am doula-ing, the actual birth is the time I am needed the least and taking pictures is easy as pie. Grab that camera! They will thank you forever!

Barbara E. Herrera, LM, CPM

[SCbirthphotography]

Hi,
Barbara, I just had to comment on that birth - beautiful photos and stories.

Eli's_mommy - I do not have any answers for doing both doula and birth photographer, but I can help a little with the photographer side. I am not a doula. I have been the birth photographer for 4 hospital births so far. I have a hospital-midwife one due after Christmas and a repeat customer due in March. Another previous birth client is due in January, but she has moved and her husband is in Iraq, so she prefers to wait to have pictures until her husband and first child are both with her. My blog is where you can find slideshows of my first 4 births at www.faithpiper.com.

I recommend digital SLR. When not using flash in lowlight situations, you will need higher ISO settings and higher apertures for sure! My most recent birth coverage was my second overnight labor coverage. For overnight births, they keep the lights dimmed to promote rest between contractions more than they would during the day. There was no natural light coming in through the window (which is your best friend during the day). For this lowlight birth, even my 28-70mm, 2.8 lens did not let enough light in. I ended up solely relying on my 50mm, 1.4 lens for this birth. For the daytime births, I am able to use either of those lenses. I also use my 70-300mm, 4.5-5.6 lens for the coverage once the baby goes to the nursery and daytime coverages with good window light (and non-tiny hospital rooms). I am currently limited to 800 ISO or less due to using Pentax. Any Canon 20D or higher should be able to pull out 1600+ ISOs without much noise. The ideal cameras for high ISOs in low light without noise is the newer Canon 40D and Canon 5D. There are some Nikon birth photographers, too. (D200+?) The Canon 5D or 40D is what is on my wishlist. I also want to get my long lens in a higher ISO once switching to Canon. I'm considering the 85mm, 1.2 or 1.4 lens in addition to the 50mm 1.2 or 1.4 and the 24-70mm 2.8. You can email me if you want more details about all this. Hopefully it is not greek to you.

Do you have samples of the births you already have photos of? I can't wait to cover a non-epidural birth!!! The mommy due in December is non-epidural, but it is her 5th child a little over an hour away, so I'm praying that we can even get there.

My 1st & 3rd births were daytime. My 2nd & 4th births were overnight labors with morning deliveries. The 3rd one was twins that ended in a c-section. My friend is planning a home birth, but she is over 11 hours away from me, so I've just helped her find a photographer in her area, but I really wish it could be me. I have just found out about a local homebirth midwife that I did not know about before, so hopefully I can attend a few homebirths!

Good luck!

Faith

[daintyfrump]

I've managed to take some fairly good pictures of most of the births I've been invited to, sometimes. And then there are the births were nothing works. (shrug) I like to take pictures of some prenatals too-get the two year old with the cloth pelvis on her head, an action shot of the midwife palpating. I do try to clairify with the couple that I'll be glad to shot away if I'm free. If I'm needed by the midwife, then someone else can grab the camera.

Yes the flash is annoying, more than that the lens that I like is noisy. Gar! Just focus already!

My teacher is a photographer, we sometimes joke about bringing out the lightbox, umbrella thing, blah blah blah assemblies.

I learned to keep a plastic bag with the camera. If my hands are wet...or otherwise I just shove my hand in the bag and grab whatever moment I can.

I've learned so much from reviewing those pictures. I had wondered if I preferred the view from the behind the lens, so I didn't take pictures at a few. Turns out I love not thinking about the camera, but I don't remember those births as well.

Tips
at a waterbirth have a submergable flashlight
when mom wanders from a room take a few minutes to practice in that light, write down the settings if you are like me and forget
long lenses really help, esp during mid labor so you can stay in the background.
I like using an aspherical 50mm nikor (using a nikon dslr) for the actual birth, it is little and lighter in weight so I can use one hand.

[mamato3cherubs]

I just wanted to add a little reply. As was said, the camera and good lense are the key. SLR is a must (and I AM one of the oldschool ones who cant let go of my 35mm film, yes mostly black and white, but would not turn down a good digital as well).

anyhow, mostly I wanted to hit the point abou thte tripod. If you are doing homebirth, of course you would wnat to talk with the family and maybe whoever is attending the birht about using one. Many hospitals, including the one in my town, forbid them. they are a piece of equipment that can be in the way, tripped over, ect. considered a saftey hazard. Therefor one of the little table top ones could be handy, maybe on the tray they put by the bed or whatever. I havnt tried it but could be a good plan!

[herwitsend]

3 words... Black and White!!

http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q...t=3917c22e.pbw

These were all taken by my dh and our doula.

[GatorNNP]

I have photographed several births for friends. If you use your light meter, and meter off of the lightest area and then move camera over, you can get some things in focus, some not. Not all photos need to be in perfect focus if you are working in very low light. Objects will "move" in the image and that is sometimes acceptable. I prefer to convert to b/w for the labor and birth, and switch to color after baby is settled.

True black and white film gives a more grayish appearance and not as sharply contrasted if you compare to the b/w printing of an rgb machine if you are using color film. DSLR is the greatest, and I have shot one birth with one, but did not have time to get to "know" the camera well prior. One tip for not having a tripod, is to use yourself as the tripod. Stand against the wall, lean on a table, give yourself a third leg or point to stabilize yourself, hold your breath. Also, close-ups of different things can tell a story if you don't capture the whole room in an image. For example, hands holding, etc.

If you are shooting a hospital birth, some people don't want you photographing, say the epidural insertion, reassure them and say, I am only taking Mom's expressions or I will avoid the procedure etc, so they don't tell you to stop. Use the bathroom light on with the door pushed to for extra lighting instead of flash. Personally, I hate flash on a newborn, besides it makes them close their eyes.