So you want your birth captured?

Okay, here it is, let me lay it all out for you.

Why have someone capture your birth?

The answer at first is simple. You want to remember your labour and birth in its entirety. But let’s look a little deeper. Birth documentation is about connection and respect. when I have people come to me enquiring about having me document their birth, some clients want me for the very simple fact that they want to remember and they want the freshest of fresh images of their beautiful new baby. But for some it’s much deeper than that. Birth imagery can be so healing for people who have experienced past traumatic births or births where they felt they had very little control. Imagery can help people re-write their stories and helps them gain control they may not have had before. It can also be incredible for them to see themselves in such powerful moments and to see how their birthing partners connect with them throughout. Birth for so long has been viewed as “scary” and “gross” my mission here is to undo that mindset and show current and future birthing people that while yes birth can be daunting, they are still 100% in control, it is natural, it is beautiful and sometimes imagery is the best way for you to see this control. It’s also an amazing keep sake.

Okay so what does the cost include?

If you’re looking for my price head to “investment”

Most of the clients I speak to after they receive their images see the irreplaceable value in having their birth captured. But of course it’s hard to think that way if you’ve never had a birth documented before. It’s important to note that every birth is different and these moments and feelings can be fleeting but incredibly full of impact.

Here’s the low-down:

- I’m on call from 38-42 weeks gestation (or until there’s a baby) This is where I am by my phone and ready to go 24/7 in this period.

- You will have a complimentary prenatal meeting, sometimes this happens before or after booking has been locked in. This is a great way for me to get to know you and for you to get to know me. If meeting before locking in booking please know that this is an obligation free meeting. Sometimes sparks fly and sometimes they don’t, and that’s perfectly okay.

- A beautiful customised gift box with amazing goodies!

- Continuous shooting from the moment I arrive at your birth until about 2 hours after to ensure I capture your story in its entirety.

- A complimentary Fresh 48, or Welcome Home session. (Valued at $250)

- A beautiful hand crafted wooden keep sake box with a wooden USB and 25 high quality prints.

- Support. If ever you want to debrief about your birth I am here.

Please note that payment plans are available! However, all payments must be completed by the time I go on call at 38 weeks.

Want to hear from one of my clients?

“I was so hesitant to work with a birth photographer as my first labour was very long, and I honestly felt very ‘watched', so this was a huge decision for me. As soon as I spoke to Hayley my mind was completely at ease and I knew I'd made an incredible decision that I was going to cherish forever!

She made sure to discuss all my birth plans and answered all my questions, to ensure the experience was completely perfect and tailored to suit me.

She knew exactly what shots and footage I desired, and goddam did she get all of them perfect!

I'm not sure who was more excited for my birth me or her haha! When I called her to let her know it was time, she arrived super fast, yet I barely knew she was there, as she tiptoed around me as I swayed in labour land.

I was amazed with the beautiful labour shots she captured and yet I only noticed her presence once. I looked up after a very intense contraction and saw her smiling back at me with that trusting and reassuring energy,

she knew I could do this, and it was exactly the reassurance I needed in that moment.

From that moment, my labour progressed quickly, and as I descended downstairs headed for the birth pool, I had the contraction to end all contractions and braced the stairs for dear life. Hayley was intuitively at the bottom of the stairs and captured the moment perfectly, the looks on everyones faces were so priceless and I love looking back at these images, ohh the intensity of it all!

Finally I had reached my birth pool and the photos I now have are just beyond amazing. She captured all of the emotion perfectly and trying to pick just one photo to announce my daughters birth on social media was literally harder than the entire labour!

As I pulled my daughter from the water onto my chest and looked up, I was surrounded by love. My partner, my midwife and my incredible birth photographer were smiling back at me. I did it!

And the best part? I now have the most incredible photos of this moment to cherish forever and hang all over my house for the world to see. 

As we laughed, and cried, and celebrated, Hayley honestly felt like part of the family. She stayed until she got every single magical shot, including one of my favourites of my daughters meeting for the first time.

And as I tell my daughters their birth story,

I will show them these beautiful photos and thank the universe that Hayley was there to capture the moment on that very special day.”

-Mel  

Here’s what I want to offer you.

A chance to remember every moment of your labour and birth. A chance to see yourself in all your power.

A chance to create a relationship with someone who is solely focused on your needs and wants for your birth.

While yes some aspects of labour and birth can be confronting, those moments are no less important in helping you process your experience. Imagery can bring closure and comfort to some. Some people want these images just for them and may never share them and that’s okay, for some sharing them adds to their power! Please know that no images are ever shared without explicit consent from my clients, so what you see here are images given with permission. Your privacy and that of your family is one of my highest priorities. I am an open book so if after reading this you want to know more please ask! If anything I want to create a discussion around this topic.

I know you’re probably like “Jeesh all this for some photos” or maybe not, but let’s talk about it!

Lot’s of love,

Hayley