Wedding Photographer
Sarah Ginder
Wedding Photographers Don't Just Take Pictures ...
Wedding Photographers Don't Just Take Pictures (Part 1)

birth story

NJ Birth Photographer

Is Birth Photography Right for You?

We are used to seeing the pretty pictures of newborn babies. And who doesn’t love that?… But how did that perfect, tiny, sleeping angel get here?

In conversations with Erika after her birth, she told me that when she looks back at the photos she feels so empowered. She also said, that these photos mean more to her than photos of her wedding day!

I had the honor of photographing Erika’s second birth. And she was AMAZING! All natural. I was so in awe of her strength. Her husband, normally a guy who loves to crack jokes and be super silly, was calm and present with her. He was attentive to support her in anyway he could, and offered words of encouragement.

I asked Erika some questions to help expecting mamas who might be interested or curious about having me photograph their birth. :)

Why did you want to have a photographer at your birth?

I decided that I wanted to have a birth photographer during my first pregnancy. we had documented so much of our journey as a couple already and I couldn’t imagine leaving this out. I knew that I wouldn’t be alone during my delivery, that medical staff would be present, so the idea of one more person being present didn’t bother me at all. I had seen so many romantic photos of labor and delivery on the others blogs and the power and beauty behind those images was something that stuck with me long after looking at them. The photos made me empowered and excited to give birth, not scared.

Why did you choose Sarah to be your birth photographer?

Sarah came recommended to us as a wedding photographer. I was struggling to find someone with her style. I was looking for someone who could capture candid moments that I might have otherwise missed. It was important that our photographer be someone who could quickly scan the room and see the beauty in the rawness of the moments, without everything being posed. Sarah’s style delivered. So it was an easy decision to have her also capture our birth, as those moments can’t be posed and the images rely on the photographers ability to capture candid moments that depict the emotions in that moment. It was also pretty special to have her be there for another one of the major moments in our family journey, as she’s been there for our engagement, wedding, maternity and family photos.

Would you do anything differently?

Absolutely nothing. It was such an amazing experience!

What was your biggest worry before birth, about having a photographer at your birth?

My biggest worry was having the photographer miss the delivery!

As I rushed into the room at 3:30am or something like that, Erika said “Sarah, Hurry!!!” This baby was coming fast! :) Unlike most events and photoshoots, birth can only be planned so much (basically not at all). Erika’s husband kept in close contact with me, he let me know that they were expected to head to the hospital over night, and so before I went to bed I set out all my clothes and my camera bag. And I kept my phone volume on high. I was so excited it was hard to sleep. And before the sun came up I was driving to the hospital!

Delivery-1086-2.jpg

Erika had told me that I should get a photographer for my first birth, a year later. And I thought about it! But I didn’t know what to expect, and wasn’t even sure who to ask. But looking back I really wish I took her advice!!! These are the only photos I have of the experience. And let me TELL you, this is NOT the full story, haha!

Let’s Talk!

If you are curious about having a birth photographer, or a photographer take some photos of that magical time following birth, we can discuss everything. No matter what your plan is, hospital or home birth, I would love to be there in that space with you.

I really hope to empower women with my photography, to capture a side of ourselves that we don’t yet know in the same way, as we will when we are giving birth. Birth is magical, wet, messy, natural, …beautiful. It is more real than anything, yet even when we see it with our own eyes or experience it personally, it is so hard to comprehend. There is so much mystery these days around birth, I want to normalize birth, breastfeeding, the body, and the human experience.

xo

Sarah

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Birth Story

It seems strange…

Because, a woman just experienced the most profound, mind bending, body changing, heart opening experience of her life, and people want to know, “How much did the baby weigh?”.

Perhaps it’s too personal? Maybe women don’t want to share their birth experience, so people just don’t ask? Instead, —“Is it a boy or a girl?”. But I think women do want to share. And I think the more that women share, the more they can be empowered by their experience, and the less mystery there will be around birth for first time moms.

Don’t sugar coat it, but…

I think, because so few ask how the mother is doing after birth, the only opportunity women have to share, is when other expecting moms are asking around for advice. And I have found that women just unload! And there are a lot of horror stories. Women should share what they went through, but perhaps blurting out how traumatic it was, or how crazy they would be to not get an epidural, isn’t exactly helpful.

I was so thankful for the few mothers who shared their empowering stories with me, I held onto their words in my head and heart. I hope that my story can paint a picture while also getting women excited about their birth experience!

I am an open book, and this is a happy story!

Fast forward 24 or so hours of labor… My eyes were closed tightly, all I could see was darkness and this white hot circle of pain, deep deep inside my belly. A force stronger than me, pulling me open from the inside, connecting this world with some other dimension. All I could hear was my husband’s voice, “You’re doing it, keep breathing”. He didn’t sound scared. But at this point, I was scared. For hours, contractions came one on top of the other, wave after wave… I was drowning. “Breathe”, he would say. My lungs expanded more deeply than ever in my life, but there was no air. How could I do this for 4 or 8 more hours?

It was a holiday weekend, and a full moon. Labor and Delivery at the hospital was full— every room. And they were short handed. My midwife was busy delivering two other babies, so she popped in when she got a chance. She and the nurse believed I still had a long way to go.

At this stage, I felt like I was loosing control. I just needed a break between contractions, there were supposed to be breaks! I just wanted this to be over, and they offered me an out. I don’t even remember this, but apparently I was pissed at the nurse for mentioning an epidural, and I said no. But, I remember asking myself, “How can I do this for much longer? Let alone hours longer.” … Then my body started to push, the nurse noticed and was worried. She warned me that I couldn’t push yet.

But it WAS time to push. They had to get some other doctor who wasn’t delivering a baby at the moment to come check, and my body knew what to do, I was ready… I didn’t have 4-8 more hours like they were telling me. This was like spotting land in the distance, after being lost at sea. My midwife appeared, and they gave me oxygen.

I pushed! Fearing no pain, feeling unstoppable… I was loud! I knew that people down the hall and in the other rooms could hear me, and I just didn’t care. I felt his head, and I pushed some more. And moments later (I think 13 min?), a life. A wet little body in my arms. 

…

Rewind 28 hours, and I was just a pregnant woman walking around the apartment wondering, WHEN will this baby ever come? And then, my water broke!!!! :)

I was too excited and happy to sleep. Plus, contractions (mild) woke me up ever 20 min to an hour. In the morning I showered, and on the way to the hospital, I made Abe stop at Trader Joe’s because I wanted apple sauce. Walking around the store, no one knew that I was in labor, and it was pretty funny. It was just an ordinary day for everyone else, but we were on a journey that would change our lives forever!

Like I said, Labor and Delivery was packed, and they couldn’t get me into a delivery room for over 2 hours. We were stuck in this tiny triage room with no bathroom… it was not ideal! I was still hardly dilated, so they gave me some medication to help soften my cervix, and whoa, things started to get a lot more intense after that.

Finally in the delivery room, we tried to settle in. The nurse though… It seemed like she came back from retirement because they were short staffed. She didn’t know how to work the computer. She asked me what my pain level was, then argued and put down what she thought I was feeling — alright! I didn’t feel like I could trust her, and she made me nervous.

The waiting game… Meditation, mantras, breathing, bouncing, leaning on the bed, taking a really hot shower in the dark bathroom while dancing to drums. My husband put counter pressure on my hips during contractions, and that was really helpful. You try everything, and just ride the waves.

The waves grew larger and closer together. But my midwife checked my cervix and, she over embellished to make me feel better because, I was still less than 3cm.

Birth will strip away any ego or shame we might usually have guarding us. I never even peed with my husband in the room, but today, I was going number two with my arms wrapped around his waist. We reached a whole new level, haha. (The details of this chapter don’t need to be on the internet…. so, moving on!!!)

And that brings us back to where I started this story. Hours of intensity, with seemingly no end in sight. Holding on with just my breath and the support of my husband. With all the experience the nurses had, my body knew better. And I can only imagine that the second time around, knowing that will be my biggest ally.

Trust your body. We are capable of so much more than we can imagine. Birth is hard, but I can’t think of anything that could be more rewarding. No one can take that away from us.

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