As a birth photographer, the sound I most hate to hear is that of a baby crying while I make my way quickly down the hall. If you’re a birth professional, you know. It’s happened only three times in my 8 year career, but it’s just the worst. Some babies come faster than expected and I hate not being there to capture the whole story for my clients.

The second worst sound upon arrival - total silence. By the time I join my clients, they are in active labor and moaning is like music to my ears. When pushing is happening, there tends to be long stretches of silence (contractions often space out) punctuated by primal grunts of someone working harder than they ever have before.

So when I walked in to a calm and quiet room and heard the midwife calmly say, “Good. She made it in time,” I knew there was not a moment to lose. Get the camera put together and take some breaths because adrenaline causes shaky hands and we have NO TIME for that!

This is Breanne and she is a bad-ass. This first time mama let me know that she was laboring at home and then her husband Geoff called me to say they were heading to the birth center - the one 10 minutes from my house. Perfect.

So imagine everyone’s surprise when she started feeling pushy on the car ride over. This is what it looked like when I arrived.

I love these next few frames! Notice how pain changes to surprise, utter love and triumph in moments. Birth is incredible like that.

“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers — strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”

— Barbara Katz Rothman

Auntie and Big Sis were there to witness the miracle. It’s such a neat thing for families to welcome the new baby together.

I love this moment so much. The intimacy. The normalcy of postpartum care. The sense of community and family. This is what birth can look like. And if this setting appeals to you - perhaps you should look into having your baby at home or in a birth … — I love this moment so much. The intimacy. The normalcy of postpartum care. The sense of community and family. This is what birth can look like. And if this setting appeals to you - perhaps you should look into having your baby at home or in a birth center.

Always digging those birth details. Big Sister? Not so much. Check out her reaction to the placenta tour! haha!

Who knows what the olive oil is for? And what’s Midwife Maya teaching Geoff about diapering a baby boy? Hint: point it down or you WILL regret it.

After a car seat safety check it’s time for Jameson and his adoring fans to head home. Breanne and Geoff, thank you so much for allowing me the privilege to document your son’s entrance to the world. It was absolutely a pleasure and I’m sure I’ll be seeing you back in the birthing room before too long. Ha!

Midwifery Care : Sprout Birth Center and Natural Health

If you’d like more information about birth sessions, send me a message and we can chat.

So many things to say about the beautiful home birth of Miss Tessa. Her mama, Katie is a Seattle doula and her papa is a pastor at a local church. I arrived in the early morning hours to a home filled with warmth, the soothing sounds of worship music, and the gentle buzz of excitement as we all prepared to welcome this sweet soul to earth.

On the morning Tessa was born I witnessed the confluence of laughter, focus, power and surrender. Birth calls us to deep places within ourselves. It shows us our strength and our vulnerability like nothing else can. Katie and Tessa labored with the gentle support and confidence of all those present in their home - and they truly experienced a sacred birthing day.

The sweet voices of her little boys calling to check in. “You can do it, Mama. We love you.”

Then it was time to push. A mighty endeavor for this mama who was pregnant two whole weeks longer than she had been with her previous children. She fell into a rhythm of push and rest, push and rest. Giving her all and then floating in the support of the water and the loving hands around her. She’s almost there.

A hushed reverence descended in the room as Katie and Tessa entered the last leg of their birthing journey together. The stillness broken only by the roar of a mother who finally reached down to deliver her long awaited daughter.

I love this moment. When you look down in awe, amazed that you made something so perfect - something so miraculous. As a birth photographer in Seattle, it brings me such joy to create art that bottles this feeling for a birthing person. YOU did this! YOU are incredible. Congratulations my dear friend - and thank you for allowing me the great honor to be there.