If you could only choose one - which would you choose?
The birth photography would hopefully include a full family photo at the end as big brother will be nearby.
-
My birth wasn't glamorous. It was unmediated, fast and furious. I ended up having 3 docs, 4 nurses, and 3 techs with me while I pooped everywhere and pushed in positions I didn't know were possible. With that context, I would prefer a newborn session. The birth photographer would've gotten in the way and wouldn't have been able to take shots I would want displayed. I love birth photography, but I wouldn't share a post birth family photo until I had a chance to wash my face and fix my hair. Newborn photos are much more sharable.
-
No birth photography for me! I was a hot swollen sweaty mess by the end of my 24 hour labor. Plus I wouldn't feel comfortable showing a lot of the pictures to others. We did a family session at home when LO1 was about 2 weeks old and will do the same with LO2. We also did buy some prints from the hospital photographer that were taken the day after LO1 was born. I thought that was a nice middle ground.
-
I feel the same way as the previous posters. I have long labors and I know I look like a hot mess by the time the baby is born, so I would prefer newborn photos where I can be showered and in clean clothes.
-
My doula took pics at the birth- before and after my cesarean- and then a few weeks later as a family. If I had to choose I would wait and do the NB shoot. She didn't get in the way of the birth, but in terms of having frame worthy pics the NB pics were best.
-
What if you give birth in the middle of the night and big brother isn't there? Or there are complications, or you just feel like crap, etc. I would want to know I'm going to get pics preferably of us in a calmer more natural state, so I would definitely choose the newborn/family photos. We did this with our second and they turned out nice. I know I probably mostly would have looked overwhelmed at the hospital though.
-
Oh, and of course we took our own pictures at the hospital.
-
I didn't do either but looking back I wish I had birth photos more than newborn photos. Logistically I don't know how a photographer would have been able to capture either one. The first labor was ridiculously long and the second was ridiculously short.
-
I had to make the same decision and I chose newborn.
-
I would prefer newborn photos.
-
@Mrs. Pen: as a photographer and a mommy, I'd say newborn.. there are so few birth photographers who do excellent work. Are you able to say what photographer you are looking to use? That might help me advise you. Congratulations!
-
newborn/family for sure!
-
We did newborn. If I could go back in time, I think I would choose both if I could. They are moments I'll never get back.
-
We did newborn/family pics at home, and I wouldn't change it for anything!
-
I was a birth photographer and opted out of birth photography for myself (hypocrite!!
). We had a homebirth, and I really just wanted the essential bodies in the room. Because we have professional photography equipment, my husband was able to snap a few (maybe 20ish) photos throughout the labor and right after birth. I love them.We hired a lifestyle photographer to capture our newborn photos ... we didn't want the standard posed baby photos, so this was an awesome option for us.
-
Newborn/family photos. My mom and DH took photos during the birth. I love them but don't think a professional is necessary for me.
-
No birth photography for me either. I hated myself pregnant. Everyone kept telling me I'd want pictures afterwards, and I still hate looking at pictures of myself pregnant. I would have much rather do a newborn/family session afterwards.
-
Just an update: we went with the family newborn photos. Partly because I had my son three weeks early unexpectedly! And he was born via unplanned caesarean! So while I may have liked birth photos even for that, it definitely couldn't have captured my sons meeting for the first time like I'd hoped.
I'm very happy we went with the family session we just had the photos done today so I can't wait to see them!!
-
@Mrs. Pen: Congratulations on your new baby!!
-
@2littlepumpkins: thank you!! Eventually I will get around to posting my birth story here
-
We ended up with an informal lifestyle fresh 48 session with our dula and a formal newborn session at about a week old with the same people who did our wedding. We hadn't planned on the fresh 48, but our dula missed the birth so she did that instead and I'm sooooo glad we got those pics!!! I love having some good pics of those first squishy hours as well as the stylized and polished newborn photos. It's amazing how much they change in just that first week. So skip the actual birth photos but definitely consider a fresh 48 session.
ETA. Oh poop, I just realized this was an old thread lol. Congrats on the new baby!!!
). We had a homebirth, and I really just wanted the essential bodies in the room. Because we have professional photography equipment, my husband was able to snap a few (maybe 20ish) photos throughout the labor and right after birth. I love them.Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
20 comments