​5 Valid Reasons You Are Hesitant to Hire A Professional Birth Photographer - Spokane, Washington Birth Photographer

Birth photography has become more and more popular over the past 5 years, but many families are still apprehensive to hire a professional birth photographer to join them on this memorable day, and for very valid reasons...! I have come together with friends and clients to help me with this article, and I so appreciate all the insight that was given. I feel like every point cascades into the next, each just as important as the last:

1. "This is one of most private experiences of my life, and I would prefer to not have a stranger be present"
   On all levels, I completely understand this feeling! As a first-time mother back in 2011, privacy and modesty was my #1 priority. This is an intimate moment between you and your partner, and you may feel so odd with the idea of sharing that experience with someone else. 
   
   A licensed Birth Photographer is a birth professional, just like your OBGYN, Labor & Delivery Nurses, baby nurses, Anesthesiologist, Doula, or Midwife. They too were strangers at one point, but after many in-person consultations and meetings, you trusted them to do their job because you knew they have seen this many times over and know what to expect, even in the worst of situations. A professional birth photographer is someone who has gone to great lengths to be extremely knowledgable about not only the birth process itself, as well as their extensive equipment, but has found the best ways to respect the birth space both for the mother and their partner. The best birth photographers have clients that forget they are even there, and just let the beautiful birth process unveil itself. Not to mention, I always meet up with my birth clients and form a pre-birth relationship with them to ease that stranger tension.
   Tip: If you are an extremely private person, and the thought of a birth photographer still makes you uneasy, then a Fresh48 session could be an option for you! This captures the still-present birth "high" you will be on, without being exposed to someone you are not comfortable with. (Also see #5 on the list)
   
   
2. "My partner isn’t on board, and I want to respect their feelings on this"
   Birth photography is a relatively new concept, and I think an even more difficult one for husbands/partners to grasp the importance of sometimes.  
   
   Not only am I able to capture the real, in-the-moment reactions they have (which are just, the best), but just that: they are able to be present for your birth. They can support you fully in the time you need it most. I can only say that many fathers have pulled me aside, hugged me, and thanked me for such an amazing experience, before even seeing any images. To see the look on their face when they see the final images, re-living those moments with the woman they love the most in the world, and to see her so happy, pays for itself. 
   Tip: If your partner is unsure of hiring a professional birth photographer, find out the source of the uncertainty. It may be a bigger issue than just being uncomfortable with a photographer...they may be uncertain about something completely different (see the next point). Communication is key.
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3. "Fear of the unknown"
   Whether this is your first child, or your last, birth can be unpredictable. The thought of your intended medication-free birth turned into an emergency C-section, or having to transfer to the hospital after an intended home birth, can be a very unnerving feeling, making it hard to really want to plan on documenting it, for fear of what may happen (or not happen).
   
   …What if it goes better than planned...? Birth may not go as you had imagined, but it is part of your story, either way. What if this birth was the most empowering experience of your life? What if that little girl, turned out to be a little boy, even after ultrasound confirmation? Can you imagine those reactions caught on camera? What if, even after a long labor, your spouse was able to stick by your side, unwavering, because they didn’t have to man the camera, and could focus on you? I could go on forever, but the moral of the story is, fear will only hold you back and create guilt (case in point: me).
   Tip: Education is incredibly important: Look into hiring a doula to help ease these fears. Interview your OB or midwife, and don't settle if they don't make you feel comfortable. Take a tour of your local birth centers and hospitals, and ask questions (like, "What is your cesarean section rate?"). 
   
   
4. "This big of an investment is too much for our family at this time"
   This is kind of an obvious one: You’re having a baby, and want to SAVE money, not spend it! Having a family is an expensive adventure, and let’s face it: Birth photography is a luxury item. It is something that I wish everyone could afford, because everyone deserves it. Unfortunately, that is not a reality for every family. ​
   
   Lexia Frank said it best at a WPPI conference speech (an exaggerated and comical comment, obviously):  “Shooting a birth is like getting an inquiry from a bride saying that she wants you to come photograph her wedding, but isn’t going to set a date. She’ll just call you whenever. and when you ask her how many hours of coverage she would like, she says she’s not sure, probably around 24, but maybe only 2. And you ask her when she’d like for you to start coverage and she says she wont know, but probably around 2am. And also, that she doesn’t want any use of flash. So when you ask her if there will be bountiful natural light she says that she’ll be getting married in a dark closet with no light whatsoever. And, she’s going to want the images right away to send out announcements. AND you’re not going to be able to use them anywhere on your website or blog because she wants to keep her privacy intact. We’d all be quoting this bride $50,000.00+.”
   
   ​​Tip: Hire early on, that way you will have more time to pay off whatever package you purchase. Many photographers offer flexible payment plans, so just ask! Barter/trade: It never hurts to ask your photographer if you have services or goods to trade. Pinching pennies can help more than you think: Brewing coffee at home instead of buying your latte at your favorite coffee stand. Meal planning + cutting out restaurant eating (this is a big one for my family). Consolidate monthly bills, and get rid of anything extra you don't need (Netflix costs, large cell phone plans, etc.)  In lieu of baby shower gifts, think about a baby registry for your birth photography costs. If your wallet still seems like it is stretched too thin, but you still would like to hire a professional, think about additional ways to create income: Sell unused items (clothes, electronics), making items to sell (I had one client who baked goods and sold enough for a down payment!), and look to the internet to generate income. 
   
   
5. "I don’t want pictures of my vagina"
    I hear this almost every.single.time I mention that I am a birth photographer, so it is a very common concern for families. As an extremely modest person myself, I completely get this one. I totally respect the women that feel empowered and confident enough to put these types of images online, or even have them photographed, but I was not that mother when I was having my first child.
   
   Unless specifically asked to get crowning images, I really don’t get images that include genitals, keeping my birth photography fairly modest and PG. Looking beyond the body fluids, focusing on the emotion, and documenting each birth in an artistic point of view, more than a literal view. There are actually many births that I have attended where I never even see the mother's vagina (specifically water births, or non-hospital births tend to be more modest in general).
   ​Tip: Communicate your modesty to your photographer. Any professional should respect your needs/wants, and still document your birth story to the fullest. 

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***If you are even the slightest bit interested in hiring a professional birth photographer, please send them an email and ask for an in-person consultation to get to know each other better! I am always available to set up a free consultation, whether it is in-person (at my studio or public location of choice) or a chat over the phone. Email me today: Smile@NatalieBeePhotography.com***

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