Birth photography questions answered

Birth Photography Questions Answered by a Seattle Birth Photographer

Documentary birth photography raises a lot of questions — and understandably so. Inviting someone into such an intimate, unpredictable moment can feel daunting. Below, I answer some of the most common questions families in Seattle, Bellevue, and the greater Seattle area ask about birth photography.

Let’s start with the why.

The day your baby is born is one of life’s most transformative moments. Even if it's not your first birth, everything changes — your family, your identity, your rhythm. Having a Seattle birth photographer present means capturing the anticipation, the raw emotion, and the moments that can’t be planned. I believe these images will be among the most treasured you ever own.

How does booking a birth photography session work? What is the first step?

• Reach Out & Chat
  Send me a message (you can contact me here). We'll schedule a call, video chat, or meet locally (e.g. near Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, or Bellevue) to make sure we’re a good fit.

• Review Proposal & Options
  I’ll send proposal options — whether you want just birth coverage or bundled packages like maternity + birth, birth + newborn, or all three. I also offer payment plans.

• Secure Your Date
  Once you're ready, you’ll sign the agreement and pay a deposit online to confirm.

What if I have a c-section, a home birth, or what if plans have to change?

I photograph births in homes, birth centers, and hospitals throughout the greater Seattle area.

• If you have a scheduled C-section, I can often be in the operating room — depending on hospital policy.

• If you planned a home or birth-center birth but need to transfer to a hospital, I’ll coordinate with your care team and join you there.

• Flexibility is key: birth plans often change — I’m prepared to adapt with whatever your birth day brings.

Birth photography is a financial investment. Why?

Documenting such a big life moment requires a unique dedication of time and special equipment. Think of the costs involved with wedding photography. It’s a specialized craft capturing once in a lifetime moments. You want an experienced photographer to document your wedding and a birth is no different. These sessions require your photographer to be on call the weeks surrounding your due date and with you documenting for several hours on the big day. Baby’s often come in the middle of the night and your photographer has to make sure that leaving to meet you at a moment’s notice is possible any time of day. This also means that bookings have to be limited. I currently take only one birth per month so that I don’t have any conflicting or overlapping birth’s. The equipment to document a birth beautifully also comes at a premium. Professional cameras and lenses built to capture clear and beautiful images in an often very low light setting is necessary.

You can check out more examples of my birth photography work as well as pricing and additional information about working with me here.

How will it feel having a photographer present during labor and delivery?

There is no denying that the space where you give birth is an intimate one. Having someone who is not only familiar with the environment and processes during a birth but also understands how to be respectful and aware is an important part in hiring someone to document the birth of your baby. I decided that it would be helpful for my birth photography work to take the time to train also as a birth doula. That experience has given me the additional awareness and education to be a supportive and respectful member of your birth team.

FAQs & Final Notes

• Will there be extra costs or hidden fees?
  No. Everything is laid out upfront in your proposal, including any travel within the Seattle–King County area. I deliver full edited hi-res galleries with no regulation on downloads. All images in your gallery are yours. Birth galleries are often sizeable with a minimum of 100 images.

• Do you travel outside Seattle?
  The short answer is yes, but not too far. I need to be able to get to you quickly to make sure I don’t miss your baby’s arrival. I try to stay within a travel distance of 30 minutes from my home. I have photographed births in Tacoma, North Seattle, and Issaquah without issue so if you live just outside of the Seattle area we can discuss options.

• Can I see past work and pricing?
  Yes — take a look at my birth and newborn photography page (linked on my site) for full galleries and details.

If you have more questions about how birth photography works or want to explore whether it’s right for you, I’d love to talk. Let’s connect.

Take a look at my birth and newborn photography page here with additional information. Or reach out to me directly by clicking the link here! I would love the opportunity to answer your questions personally.