Professional photographers in the delivery room: Would you do it?
In this episode, The Shine's Host Allison Fishman is wearing:
Dress, LOFT Ann Taylor
Necklace, Melanie Auld Designs (www.melanieaulddesigns.com)
Bracelet, Jessie Lane Jewels
Cuff, Dennis Higgins (www.dennishigginsjewelry.com) Shoes, Aldo
A new trend is on the rise for expectant mothers…birth photography in the delivery room. No, we don’t mean dad with an iPhone snapping a picture when baby is born. We mean, a professional photographer, right inside the delivery room, capturing all the moments – sweat, tears, and all - of the birthing process. Lori Richmond, editor of TheBump.com, says while this trend is not for everybody, it’s on the rise. “When you first hear about a birth photographer, I can see why some people might be skeptical. While it’s not mainstream, it’s definitely gaining in popularity.”
Why would you want a stranger in the delivery room, you might ask? Well, as Lori tells The Shine, “A photographer is not really a stranger at the moment that they are photographing the birth. Because there’s a whole process that happens before that, where you choose the photographer, you meet with them, you talk about what you want, the birth experience that you want. So it’s not like you are meeting them for the first time on delivery day.” (Think wedding photographer.)
Once delivery day arrives, what are the types of images moms want to capture? According to Lori, “Moms want everything. They want labor pains, messy hair.”
Lori says the “money shots” are the “firsts” as in the first moment dad sees the baby, first time the grandparents see the baby, first time a sibling meets the new addition, and of course when the parents first learn the gender of the baby.
(Related: What's the Perfect Age to Have Kids?)
If you’re wondering: are these images super up-close and personal? Lori says there’s a misconception that the photos are all anatomical. “There’s only a small amount of moms that want the shot of the baby crowning. Most of them want the emotional, beautiful moments that happen.”
If this is something you’d consider, know this: baby birth photography doesn’t come cheap. Prices range from $700 to $3500. “But think about what you are getting. These are priceless images that you’ve got one shot to do it,” says Lori.
(Related: Top Rated Strollers At Every Budget)
Lori predicts this trend will go mainstream. “Parents are not afraid of the birth experience anymore. Parents recognize it as this moment they want to capture, that can never be repeated.”
As parents, we tend to document all the "firsts" in our children’s lives: first steps, first tooth, first day of school, first touchdown. Why not the first moment he/she enters the world?
Check out a recent episode about how to take some stress out of cleaning.
