[Bre*n*Will=Reid]

Has anyone ever considered or looked into this? I am really hoping to have a photographer at the birth of my next baby (whenever that will be, lol). I would also love to BE the photographer for one! I'm hoping that I can find someone to trade with or something I know a lot of photographers want to get into this but have trouble adding one to their portfolio. It's a very time consuming project, longer than a wedding, therefor most photographers charge a high sum- usually upwards of $2k. I could personally never pay that, but think about it....you hire a photographer for your wedding day, why not the birth of your baby? It's an even more important milestone! But yeah, I hope to find someone who will do it for free so that they could have it in their portfolio, or someone to trade my services with.

Here is a slideshow of images from a photographer that I post with on another forum. I was crying within 4 seconds! I'm a sucker for pretty music.

YouTube - Baby Sloan - Birth Photography

If you would allow a photographer in the room with you, would you want the full monty photos or just above the shoulder? I would want it ALL! But of course those would only be seen by myself and DH (and I wouldn't let the photog put any below the hips pics online)

[soImarriedAnerd]

I wanted it but the price was to much. If I could switch service or a better deal I would have in a second!

[~*Bethy*~]

I want hubby to get some during labor pics and some of her coming out (for my reference!!) And my friend will be there a few hours later (depending on what time she comes, might be the next morning) to get some hours old pics. Id LOVE to be the photographer also, I think it would be empowering!!

my doula would take photos, including explicit ones, for free. As it was, Jack's birth was pretty horrendous so I am glad I didn't get pics (I have video and I cannot even watch it - it really upsets me), but I will be looking to get them for my next I hope. Maybe try a doula - way more affordable and I know lots in my area do this.

[*kyle*]

I am quite ok not having pictures of my baby's birth, for the same reason as Michelle. My memories, unfortunately, are more than enough for me. I guess that is the risk you run if you hire a photographer (or are one) for a birth. However, in the vast majority of cases where the birth goes more or less as planned, I think you could do some very meaningful things as a photographer. I really enjoyed taking pics and video at London's birth, and felt it was quite an honor, although of course mine were nowhere near professional quality!

[Adriana's Mommy]

At the hospital I had A.J, they had a professional photographer come in and took the babies hospital pictures.. Which ours came out stunning!! But pricey (of course)

But as for the birth..I wouldn't even use my HD camcorder to film it.. lol Let alone a professional photographer there.. But my DH did take some pictures with our semi-professional camera, a cannon Xsi and I'm happy with the pictures.. I'm sure my kids won't like to see them though.. lol j/k

[Mars]

I actually think it's cool and I admire the persons who have enough "guts" to do it. But I don't think I could bring myself to do it.

[bittersweet]

No way would I want a photographer there during my labor/delivery. I would not want to pay for pictures of me looking giant, puffy, grunting...pretty much at my worst. Not to mention how things are looking down there, not exactly a great photo op. Vain, yes. I know it is about the birth, not my looks...but in this case, I'd rather have the pictures focus on the baby after being born.

I would be horrified if I found full monty pictures of my mom pushing me out.

[midnight_starr]

Personally I wouldn't want a photographer there taking pictures of everything..

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

I was about to be like heck no, but then I watched that slide show and it made me tear up lol! If I had hired one during Landen's birth every picture would be me on my left side looking like a beached wheal LOL and then the whole c/s thing would make for some pretty nappy pictures! And I know in the future a vbac might not work for me. But if none of that was the case then I would want one but none of my junk !

That would be bad baconass if you got hired to do one of these!

[sara~b]

I would probably go ahead if I could afford it but no 'down there' pics. I remember blood spraying when Gem crowned and I don't think I would want a pic of that! My labor was so short and simple that I probably would have felt jipped though. I walked the hall for one hour, laid in bed for four-ish hours and popped out a baby, end of story. I don't know how many different pics they really could have made out of that. I like looking back on Gemma's newborn pics more than the ones of me laying in the hospital bed reading magazines anyway.

Ok, I may not make much sense since I am running on very little sleep here

I looked at those photos, and I cannot believe anyone would charge around 2k for that! Unbelievable. With a wedding you are running around, doing group shots, posed shots, capturing candid shots, doing your thing. Birth photography? Hmm, lemme see, stand at the mom's crotch and shoot away! LMAO. Why anyone would pay thousands of dollars for someone to take photos of you looking like crap and an alien baby coming out, is beyond me. I think it is pretty egotistical of photogs to charge that much too. Can you imagine if all doulas charged that much? And they are actually DOING something useful at the birth. I think if I had a photog there I would smack the crap out of them.

Oh wait - I bet that price is due to all the post processing to make their vaginers look all sparkly and awesome, right?

That being said, I think you should go for it if there is a market because you are awesome! And if you were my birth photog I wouldn't smack you, of course

Kyle, I think it stinks your birth sucked so bad too. Dustin was playing a video of mine the other day and I had to walk away. I was so swollen, I seriously looked like I weighed 5 times more then I did. I was slurring and it was so gross. Too bad I didn't have a photographer there to capture the nurses repeatedly replacing my blood and meconium covered sheets, and the horror that my vagina was trying to push Jack out (so I hear). Another reason maybe they charge so much: to pay for therapy after witnessing a bad birth Ok, I will stop now. Definitely go for it Bre - if it was affordable I would have considered hiring one with my first, before I knew any better

[greeneyes]

I don't think I would have done it for Lily's birth - I had no idea what to expect with my first baby and I'm pretty sure I would have been too chicken. Knowing what I know now, I would do it in a heartbeat! If somehow a third baby surprises us, I'll definitely want to look into hiring a photographer (and birthing at home, in a tub, with a doula... LOL).

[Chelnae6]

I want pictures taken for my birth. Not professional ones but for Will and my parents to snap some here and there so that I can make a scrap book and youtube clip for those who couldnt make it to see. Esp since I know soo many people want to be here to witness it but b/c of the h1n1 and me living away from a lot of my closest friends and family they wont be able too. I'll omit the gruesome ones if any are taken lol.

Plus I want to show you ladies as well.

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

Originally Posted by MomToJack

Ok, I may not make much sense since I am running on very little sleep here

I looked at those photos, and I cannot believe anyone would charge around 2k for that! Unbelievable. With a wedding you are running around, doing group shots, posed shots, capturing candid shots, doing your thing. Birth photography? Hmm, lemme see, stand at the mom's crotch and shoot away! LMAO. Why anyone would pay thousands of dollars for someone to take photos of you looking like crap and an alien baby coming out, is beyond me. I think it is pretty egotistical of photogs to charge that much too. Can you imagine if all doulas charged that much? And they are actually DOING something useful at the birth. I think if I had a photog there I would smack the crap out of them.

Oh wait - I bet that price is due to all the post processing to make their vaginers look all sparkly and awesome, right?

That being said, I think you should go for it if there is a market because you are awesome! And if you were my birth photog I wouldn't smack you, of course

Kyle, I think it stinks your birth sucked so bad too. Dustin was playing a video of mine the other day and I had to walk away. I was so swollen, I seriously looked like I weighed 5 times more then I did. I was slurring and it was so gross. Too bad I didn't have a photographer there to capture the nurses repeatedly replacing my blood and meconium covered sheets, and the horror that my vagina was trying to push Jack out (so I hear). Another reason maybe they charge so much: to pay for therapy after witnessing a bad birth Ok, I will stop now. Definitely go for it Bre - if it was affordable I would have considered hiring one with my first, before I knew any better

[♥Ashley♥]

I would LOVE to have a photographer taking all kinds of pics during my birth. Just no vajayjay pics! I think it would be awesome to have those memories captured forever!!

[**jessie**]

I don't think I would pay a photographer, but next time I would like some pics in the l&d room by my husband. I looked like a**, no joke, so the first pictures were taken from the nicu.

I think it is a neat idea. I would just wonder about the logistics of it. Like if a labor took 24 hrs, would the photographer be there the whole time? I guess for $2000 they should be. I know there were like 2 hrs straight after I got my epi where I just slept... no 'action' whatsoever, unless you count snoring and drooling! Also, in the pictures you showed, it looks like the photographer was allowed into the surgical theater. I wonder if all hospitals allow that?

[amazing_love]

I don't want pics of the actual birth. It's just not something i care to have. I did think it would be really cool to have a photographer come to the hospital afterwards for newborn shots. Is this expensive as well?

[JediRach]

I like the idea of it but we just can't afford it.

[Frozendesire]

There is a husband and wife team here that does a "pregnancy and beyond" package. They take pregnancy photos, birth photos, and then new born photos. I'd be willing to do that. Just no vagina pictures. I just don't think I need those. I wouldn't pay 2000 just for birth though. But the whole package maybe, if I had the money. I can't remember how much they charge.