I’ve been a professional photographer since 2010 but didn’t start documenting birth stories until 2013.

My friends were always pregnant right at the end of my pregnancies or just after I had a baby. So when they had their babies I was ready with my camera! I focused on maternity and posed In Home Newborn sessions. I’m so thankful for all the friends that allowed me to work on my skills with their families!

I knew I wanted to become a birth photographer after having our 4th child. I really wanted to have him at home but that didn’t work out with finances. He was my fastest labor ( 3 1/2 hours) and when we got to the hospital I thought I could walk (I had walked in with the last 3!). It was just like the movies when the characters are traveling on a long and tiring trek and they finally see their destination and have hope that it’s in sight… then the camera pulls back and they realize just how far that destination STILL is… yep, that was how I felt as I was standing outside of our car and my contractions weren’t letting up. I sat back down and told my husband he better just drop me off in the front.

When we checked in the nurse asked if I could pee in a cup and I told her no. Then they checked me and said I was ready. The midwives were delivering other babies and the Dr. was in the OR. So eventually they found a Dr and a couple pushes and our little Blake was born. I’m pretty sure he shot out. I did require a couple stitches because he came out so quickly and my husband had to sit down after crashing from the adrenaline high and feeling woozy.

I remember laying there, the Dr and I talking as she was stitching me, the baby being checked, my husband in the chair next to me almost passing out and the Dr asking, “Does he do this every time?” I laughed and said, “No, this is the first!”

At that moment I thought, “I really wish someone was here to document this!”

A year later (like I said, I was always pregnant on an off year) I had 3 friends who were expecting. They each liked the idea of having birth photos. Unfortunately when the time comes a lot of times friends don’t want to “bother” you or just changed their mind because, birth is an intimate thing and maybe they didn’t really want their birth documented in the first place.

My official first birth was a home birth for my friend Beth. This was her first home birth and my first birth (not counting the one I video taped when I was 16 for my moms friend).

The reason I’m writing this post is to talk about how birth photographs help with healing and closure.

Beth had numerous people in the room with her during her labor and delivery. She was totally fine with everyone there but she also knew it might be distracting so decided that she would keep her eyes closed the whole time and just let her body take care of what it needed to. She didn’t open her eyes until she was pulling her baby up out of the water.

She had her midwife and her husband there as her support. Her mom and dad were there to keep an eye on the kids and to offer any support necessary. Her grandma and aunt and 3 other kids were there as well.

After I delivered Beau’s birth story to Beth, she told me that having these photographs were so important to her. They gave her closure. Since she had her eyes closed the whole time she felt like she got gypped out of the whole home water birth experience, the birth experience she was so excited for. But after seeing the photographs she knew she had the birth story that she hoped for and didn’t feel like she had to “do it all over again.”

I’m so glad I was able to give that gift to Beth, just by being present and documenting the story that was unfolding in front of me!

Have you ever had a birth photographer document the Birth Day of your little one?

Would you ever want to have me photograph the first moments with your newest little one?

I’d love to chat with you about the birth experience that you’re hoping for and how I can help document that life changing day.

Contact me and we can set up a completely complimentary consultation!

Blessings,

Alaina

Alaina Nunez Photography
(562)400-2579
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