Lena's Birth Story | Puget Sound Birth Center in Renton, WA | Seattle Birth Photographer

Lena Bean. That’s what her mama calls her. I can’t believe she’s almost a year old. Jenna and Bunthay invited me to be part of their birth team and it was an incredible honor to be present.

Jenna birthed on the eve of a pandemic. She birthed with power and in community. She birthed with a deep connection to culture. To family. To past and present and future. Because that’s the kind of thoughtful and powerful human she is.

We were called to witness Jenna’s vulnerability and courage as she brought forth a baby girl. She claimed motherhood on her own terms and it was SACRED to behold.

This family and this birth : I don’t even have words.

Are you crying yet? A parent catching their baby will always get me teary. Every dang time.

Look, I talk a lot about birthing people. A lot about women. But let’s give some space for these portraits of fatherhood. The presence and adoration and nurturing. To all the dads out there who are strong and soft. The ones who are THERE for their partners and their children — we see you.

OK - this doula. Well, she’s actually a midwife now. Terri Chi-Lee brings her whole heart to birth work. She is calm, compassionate and incredibly generous. Tell your friends in the south Puget Sound Region that Generations Midwifery is here for her community.

Ms. Lena Bean, as you approach the one year anniversary of your birth, I hope you feel all the love that surrounds you. Thank you for coming earthside and letting us witness your beautiful beginning.

Jenna recorded this incredible story for Lena - give it a listen. It’s powerful work and we should all sit with it. #Blackhistory #Blackfutures #Khmer #liberation

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To connect with the folks in these photos, follow them and support their work.

Parents : Jenna Hanchard and Bunthay (he’s more private, but they are BOTH doing the work for Black and brown liberation)

Midwife : Jenn Linstad from Rainier Valley Midwives

Birth Assistant : Mercedes Snyder (Black midwife alert!)

Doula : Terri Chi-Lee

Summer Maternity Session | Richmond Beach | Seattle Maternity Photographer

He spoke love to their baby boy, out there on the beach. He told him of all the reasons they were excited to welcome him to their family. Babies are born knowing the voices of their parents. Before they ever lay eyes on you, they know the cadence of your breathing and the sound of your words. As their child grew in her womb, he was surrounded by the sound of laughter and joy and the calming whoosh of amniotic fluid - like waves lapping at the shore.

If you’re expecting a baby in the greater Seattle area and want these memories preserved for a lifetime, please get in touch! I offer birth photography and newborn sessions as well. Your journey to parenthood matters and you deserve photos that capture the beauty of this time.

5 Reasons to Hire a Birth Photographer | Seattle Birth Photographer

There is so much to consider when having a baby. Where to deliver? Which care provider? Epidural or no? Doula? Birth Photographer? It can feel overwhelming, to be sure. And this is all before the baby comes and you are responsible for a new life! In my daily conversations with couples considering birth photography, there are certain themes that come up again and again.

1. Birth is a once in a lifetime event. We photograph important events—it's just what we do. It's one way we show that this moment meant something to us. Our parents posed us with prom dates, we hired photographers for our weddings, we plan to snapshot each milestone of our baby's life. What could be more important than the day of their birth? My daughter's birthing day was far more exciting and emotional than my wedding day. What I wouldn't give to have professional photographs of the first time she took a breath, the first time I kissed her face—those first moments I became a mother and my husband a father.

2. Birth photography is for you. You grew this baby inside you, you dreamed of this baby, and now you will birth this baby. There is a lot you will miss on the day you give birth. You're kind of busy having a baby! But those small details are so meaningful. I love sitting with women as they look over their birth photos. They see their own strength and fortitude in a brand new way. Many of my clients have found birth photos useful in helping them process their labor and delivery. Whether it was a whirlwind birth or long and slow, dramatic things happen during the birth process—things we don't always anticipate. My photographs illustrate beauty and provide context—often a needed healing balm for new parents. They also give you the chance to just reflect on your own incredible power. You brought a life into the world! It's an amazing feat.

3. Birth photography is for your partner. My husband was my rock during three very different labors. I've never felt so loved and so held as I did in those hours as we worked together to bring our children to earth. I still remember his steady gaze as I centered myself through each contraction. It's a look I see again and again as devoted partners prepare to become parents. When your baby is born, it's such a gift to give your partner the opportunity to be completely present and engrossed in that moment. Let me photograph your first precious minutes as a family—so you can just live them together.

4. A birth photographer brings reassurance and support. You may not know which doctor delivers your baby. Will the provider on call be the one you really like? And chances are you've never met the labor and delivery nurse who will be with you during the bulk of your birthing experience. Bringing someone along with you, someone you know and trust, someone who has spoken with you at length about your birthing desires, your fears, your hopes—it really helps you feel supported and safe. As your birth photographer I have a connection with your family and also a familiarity with the process of labor and delivery. Nothing makes my heart soar like hearing my clients say what my presence in their birthing room meant to them.

“Whitney was amazing at capturing every moment, seemingly unnoticed. She has an uncanny ability of being in the space while not being distracting, and creating a soft and supportive energy wherever she is.”

— Averry

5. Birth photography is about telling your family's story. I love to tell stories—whether gathered in the living room with friends, tucking my kids into bed, even on stage in front of strangers. But the stories I tell with my camera—those are honest and real and incredibly meaningful. Hiring a birth photographer is about inviting a storyteller to make art from your most intimate moments. The transition into motherhood—it's a doozy. You experience the highest highs and lowest lows. This is why I fell in love with documenting birth. There's no primping or posing or faking it. It's raw and emotional and I've never seen a more compelling story than the day a child is born.

“Whitney and I connected instantly and her warm and calming presence put me at ease. All my concerns were addressed and as promised, she was an absolute ninja. I barely even noticed she was in the delivery room. And the final images? They still make me emotional. I love being able to re-live this once in a lifetime event. And seeing your birth from someone else’s perspective is quite amazing - like an out-of-body experience. We’re so happy to have had these memories preserved. I only wish Whitney was with us for Bowie’s birth as well! ”

— Shannon

If you're looking for a Seattle birth photographer to tell the amazing story of your child's birth, reach out and let's schedule a consultation! I look forward to capturing the beauty of your story— however it unfolds.