What better day to be born that New Years Day! Needless to say I started off my 2017 the best way possible, celebrating a new life!
This mom right here battled her unmedicated labor like boss. LIKE. A. BOSS. Her husband, by her side supporting her every need. Sweet Alexis pushed just shy of two hours, but she never once gave up. She would rest between each contraction and come back even more determined to meet her precious boy.
NEW 2018 BOOKING INFORMATION:
As many of you may have heard I am taking a much needed sabbatical from birth this summer. It’s been a long time coming. Since specializing in birth nearly 4 years ago, I’ve never had an extended time away. I felt this break was needed, and necessary to truly avoid a burnout from something I love so dearly. I desperately needed some self care time as well. There are surgeries I’ve put off that need to be addressed, and I’m SO looking forward to turning my phone off and living presently and spontaneously with my family. Needless to say, I’m pumped to start this time away.
BUT I am not leaving the birth industry. I think there has been some confusion, and rumblings around town and the internet that I’m done shooting births. That is not the case at all. A sabbatical simply means a break. I have booked a handful of births this Fall after my summer break, and plan on taking more on in 2018.
I’m writing this blog as moms are now finding out they are pregnant for 2018, and I’m getting questions and inquiries so I thought a blog post to clear the air of any confusion would be best.
My approach moving forward, to avoid burnout of on-call life, will be to have seasons of On-Call time. The taking two a month scenario, well, it never really seemed to be two a month. And the longer I do this, the more repeat clients I gain. Between April-May I had 8 moms in 8 weeks. 7 of those were repeat clients. That’s double what I “say” I will take on in a month. Not to mention the 3 I took on in March, one of which wasn’t even a client of mine, but rather me backing up another birth photographer. So the two a month is great in theory, but I often found myself overbooked.
So moving forward these will be my On-Call months, with a priority given to previous clients first:
February (2 slots available)
March (2 slots available)
April (2 slots available)
May (1 slot available)
June – August: OFF-CALL
September: (2 slots available)
October: (2 slots available)
November – January: OFF-CALL
If you find yourself expecting during my Off-Call time, it will be up to my discretion as to whether or not I will choose to take the session. Again, priority consideration will be given to past clients first.
During my Off-Call months I will be taking on Family Documentary Sessions, and Mentoring Sessions, with the possibility of quarterly mini-sessions.
I hope that this will allow a more healthy balance of On-Call life and family life. And I hope you all will stay along for the journey! Thank you to everyone for your love and support, and prayers as I’ve navigated this difficult journey of finding peace and balance as a wife, mother, and business owner!
The longer I do this, the more repeat clients I have… and this precious momma has had two very important firsts for me as a birth photographer. Her first baby was my first family centered csection, and this baby was my first csection with the use of a clear drape. I witnessed both births completely change the perception of birth for this mom and dad. The family centered csection created that physical immediacy, dad was able to cut the cord, mom instantly cradled her baby within her arms. And this birth, with the clear drape… it gave mom the visual of seeing her baby born. It removed that barrier, that mystery of birth happening to you. She lifted her head, looked past her tummy, and saw her child being birthed. No she didn’t see anything she didn’t want to, neither did dad, they simply watched their child come into this world, and truly there’s nothing more amazing. My heart is encouraged and humbled to have been a front seat witness to the changes and choices that are being made available to these families. I’m so proud of our community!
Completely not intentional that I have two back to back, multi-racial birth/adoption related stories to share. But brace yourselves for big brother by 9 months to steal the show when he smother’s his new brother in kisses.
Brianne and Marc had a rough road to conceiving, they had tried for quite some time, but always knew adoption was part of their bigger plan, regardless of conceiving biologically. Baby Zeke came into their lives, and took the world’s heart by storm. His big brown eyes, and a smile that lights up a room… not to mention the hugs he gave as he got older.
I’m not sure if Brianne remembers this or not, but shortly after they adopted Zeke, they were at my house shooting his now famous Milk Bath session. Disappointedly, Brianne said she felt crampy, and was frustrated at the thought of her impending upcoming cycle. And I very stupidly (as I never would want to cause emotional pain on the subject) said, “Maybe it’s implantation cramps!”. Well little did either of us know, but she was in fact pregnant. Sweet baby Spurgeon was crashing his big bro’s Milk Bath session!
I’ve never met two people more on fire for the Lord than these two. I mean they live it, they don’t just talk the talk. I can’t imagine two greater parents, for these two precious boys. The Lord knew what he was doing when He knit these lives together. Their family, their testimony will live out for years to come… as they show the world what God’s love looks like.
