I want to photograph a Birth Story.
What's a Birth Story, you might be asking? A Birth Story is where the birth of a baby is very delicately and tactfully photographed by a professional photographer. Instead of having the first photographs of a baby be fuzzy snaps by a blissfully happy new father, the photos are taken by a photographer, who also captures moments that would otherwise go overlooked. Dad doesn't have to do anything but welcome his new baby into the world and support Mom. A rushed nurse doesn't have to be the one to take the first family photographs.
Birth Stories are very common in certain areas of the country. I think it's still a bit of a foreign idea in the rural community we live in here in central Minnesota. Some people whom I've shared my dream with have reacted with disbelief and uncertainty, even disgust. They don't want photos of that! Gross! Obviously, the photos are taken at the best possible vantage point, and they are most always in Black & White which makes what could appear graphic seem emotional and peaceful. Obviously, having the birth of your baby photographed is not something that everyone is interested in. But if you haven't ever seen any photographs from a Birth Story, take a look at a couple of the links below. I promise you that you will be moved. Beware though - these are photographs of the births of real live babies. While amazingly beautiful, they are graphic in a tasteful way. If you aren't comfortable with that, don't look.
A home birth, photographed by the lovely Shelley Paulson.
A link to several Birth Stories, photographed by Jonathan Canlas.
See? Incredibly moving, right?
My hope is that sometime, someday, somewhere, someone who knows me will decide that they want the birth of their baby photographed. And I'll be ready. If you are interested in the possibility of a Birth Story, let's talk. Send me an email at lauraradniecki@gmail.com. One day, this dream will come true. I know it.
