The moment you first meet your little one. It's a one-and-only life experience. Right then, you change forever. Your birth story is about so much more than having a baby; it's the next chapter in your journey. And we want to document it for you.
Experienced birth and family photographers Loren Haar and Meghan Schade are ready to capture all the emotions, the incredible strength and power, the awe, and the tremendous joy that is your family's Birth Story. The collection of images we deliver will showcase the end stages of your labor, your connection with your support team, the powerful once in a lifetime moment that your baby arrives Earth-side, and those precious postpartum moments.
~ We believe in ~
Documenting birth, in whatever way it unfolds
Showcasing the strength and beauty of birthing women
Supporting birthing women and their families
Providing visual and tangible reminders of the unforgettable birth experience
Why hire a Birth Photographer?
- You can not recreate the moment you first meet your child, and the raw, authentic emotion that will pour out of you and your birth team. We have one chance to document your birth story for future generations, and we take that job seriously!
- Your birth team is there to support you. Your partner, your family, your doula, your midwives, and the doctors and nurses are all there for a specific purpose. When you let a birth photographer be the one who documents the special moments, you allow your birth team to focus on supporting you.
- There are some unbelievable moments during a birth that you will want to preserve, ones that you aren't able to see when you are focusing so hard on bringing your baby into the world; we can document it all for you.
- Photographing anything in dark rooms and poor lighting is hard. It takes special gear, equipment, and professional knowledge that requires a large investment of both time and money. With the best gear for the job and years of education and practice, we ensure your photographs will be professional and will tell your story, as it unfolded.
- If you think weddings and special occasions are filled with emotions, you haven't seen anything yet! There are so many wonderful emotions that make the experience of having a baby one of the best of your life. When you hire a birth photographer, you will be able to share that experience with your family and your baby will have a tangible record of his/her birth story.
The Process
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION - As soon as you are considering birth photography, call and schedule your in-person or ZOOM consultation! Meeting prior to delivery is very important; you can let us know your photography needs and desires, we can answer any questions you or your partner may have, and we can tell you more about us and our services. Together we will go over all the details, including what we offer, your expectations for birth photography, our contract, and your birth plan.
BOOK YOUR BIRTH STORY - Due to the nature of birth and our promise to clients, we only take on a limited number of birth stories each month. Once you decide to book, you will receive a digital contract outlining the terms and conditions and an online payment invoice. You will put in a deposit first and then either pay the remaining balance through a payment plan each month until your due date or all at once two weeks before your due date. We do offer a birth photography registry option for friends and family to support your choice to document your birth.
PREGNANCY - As soon as you've booked with us, we'll begin connecting with your chosen birth location, OB/GYN, midwife or doula so that we may work together to give you the best birth story experience possible. Should your medical caregiver make any necessary changes to your birth plan or provide new information, be sure to send us an email/text or give us a call so we can be updated. We will officially be on call for your birth 24/7 two weeks before your scheduled due date and two weeks after. During that time, we will check in more often via phone, text or email.
LABOR AND DELIVERY - As soon as you think you are feeling the start of labor pains, please get in touch! Even if its 2am.; even if you are not sure. It's ok if it's just Braxton Hicks or very early labor -- this is part of the birth process. Communication is the simple and most important action that you can do to put us at your birth at the right time for your delivery. By notifying us early at the start of labor, we will be ready and alert when it is time to head to your birth location. Your labor may go super slow or change rather quickly. Either way, we are prepared for both. We recommend assigning someone else, such as a partner or doula, to contact us so you do not have to worry about communication while in labor. We will typically head to your delivery location when you are dilated to 5-6 cm and contractions are steady at 2 minutes apart and/or when your birth team believes you are in the active stages of labor. Remember communication is key!
AFTER DELIVERY - After you deliver, we will continue to document for up to two hours, capturing your special bonding moments, baby's details, and the family greetings. Moments can include your first nursing, baby's first measurements, new sibling meetings, your partner's first hold, skin to skin, and more! After this, we'll start the long process of culling and editing your hundreds of images! Each image of your final collection will be individually edited by hand to enhance what has been captured. You will receive a sneak peek of about 5 images within the first 48 hours of delivery to announce your precious new baby! Your final online gallery will be delivered within 4 weeks of your birth and you will be able to download all of your final images directly from your gallery, in full resolution. Linked to the gallery you will find an online store where you and anyone you share the gallery with can shop for prints, wall art, albums, and more.
Passion for print.
THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED GENERATION OF ALL TIME COULD WIND UP BEING THE NEXT LOST GENERATION.
Printing photographs is something we are extremely passionate about.
These days, people are taking more photos than ever but almost all are digital files. An entire generation is growing up without a printed, photographic record of their lives to pass on as our grandparents once did. Relatively few tangible prints are being produced. Digital files are not completely safe with technology always changing and failing. Our own history could disappear in "the cloud".
There is great value and importance in printed photographs for our lives and for the generations after us. The history of where we came from, your journey to motherhood and your family legacy will all be remembered thanks to the power of print.
THIS IS WHY WE PRINT.
FAQ
HOW MANY PHOTOS DO YOU DELIVER? The number of photos depends on how long we we are at your birth. Generally, it will be between 150-350 photographs.
DO YOU SHARE PHOTOS PUBLICLY? Our business is built on photographs. It is how you found us and how others will find us in the future. We do share photos from birth stories on public media in order to market services; however, we are always mindful of their sensitive and personal nature. We are always considerate and respectful of our clients and will never post any of your photos without your consent.
WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT OPTIONS? Payments can be made via credit/debit or cash. If paying via the online invoice, you have the option to pay in full or make a monthly payment arrangement.
HOW FAR DO YOU TRAVEL? We will travel within Ventura County - Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Port Hueneme, and Ventura - as well as areas in Santa Barbara and Ojai. Scheduled C-sections can be booked for further outlying areas. Please inquire about your location if not listed.
WHAT IF I DON'T WANT "PERSONAL" PHOTOS? We understand that every mother's personal preferences for their birth story are different. Some mothers want EVERY detail during the delivery and others only want everything that is not graphic or personal. No matter your preference, we will document your birth story at your comfort level. There are many different angles we can photograph from. We will discuss this at your consultation to ensure you are getting as much (or as little) coverage of the moments as you want.
DO YOU INTERACT WITH US DURING OUR BIRTH? We are much like a fly on the wall during your birth. We will do our best to stay out of the way while observing and documenting your journey to motherhood. As for the interactions, we will chat if you want to chat, encourage when needed, but for the most part, we'll keep quiet in a corner of the room.
WHO CALLS YOU WHEN I'M IN LABOR? Typically your partner or family member attending to you during your birth will be the designated person to contact us. If you are working with a doula, they can also be the person responsible for the updates and communication.
WHAT IF I GO INTO LABOR EARLY? We will do everything in our power to be there. We have a 3rd photographer as our backup, so we are prepared as much as possible. Please communicate early and often.
WHAT IF YOU MISS THE BIRTH? Birth sometimes happens very quickly or very early and we can't control that. It is very important that you communicate with us as soon as possible so that we can be ready and arrive on time to your birth location. Should we miss the birth, we will arrive as soon as we possibly can and begin documenting upon arrival. We will stay for a bit longer of postpartum as well. Depending on how much is missed, we may adjust your session to include a newborn session at your home.
WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE YOUR FLASH OR LIGHTS? Our equipment is very advanced, designed to capture images in very low light conditions; however, when we do use flash, we use a diffuser to cover our flash light beam as well as other tools and tricks to ensure the light is not harsh or hitting you directly. Using flash does create sharp, clear images, but not using it will not make or break your birth story. It will only mean your images will have some grain and slight loss of detail. This is another thing we will discuss at your consultation.
WHAT IF I WANT YOU TO STOP SHOOTING OR A MEMBER OF MY MEDICAL TEAM DOES? We respect any request like this from you, your partner, or your birth team while documenting your birth story. We will quietly step out of the room during the labor and/or post-birth until you would like us to come back in.
WHAT IF I NEED A C-SECTION? Coverage of a C-Section depends greatly on the hospital and situation. If we know ahead of time, we will work with your OB and hospital to get permission to attend. In the event of an emergency C-section, often no one is permitted in the OR, sometimes including your partner. In these situations, we will continue documenting the story immediately before and then after delivery.
WHAT IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY? In the event of an emergency, we will use our best judgement and may or may not continue to document depending on the situation. If you or your baby needs help, we immediately step out of the way to let your medical team do their job and take care of both of you. Your health and the health of your child are the most important focus of the day. If we have stopped, we will begin photographing again when all situations are handled. If you are delivering at home or at a birth center and need a transfer to the hospital, we will follow you and meet you there to continue documenting, if allowed (depending on current COVID restrictions).
I REALLY WANT A BIRTH STORY, BUT CAN I AFFORD IT? We understand birth photography is an investment. A lot of work goes into being birth photographers; we put our vacations on hold and miss kids' sports tournaments to be on call 24/7 for 4 weeks as well as spending the 5-10 hours during your birth and 15+ hours editing the photos after the birth. To help offset your costs and get the story package your heart desires, you can set up a payment plan or take advantage of our birth registry option which allows your friends and family, who love to do so, contribute to your Birth Story.
DO YOU HAVE AN OFF-CALL BIRTH STORY PACKAGE? Yes! The main difference is that we might miss the actual delivery. For a normal On-Call Birth Photography Package, we will be on-call 24/7 for 4 weeks, meaning one of the two of us or a backup will always be ready to come to you if your birth is happening. We don't go out of town while on-call. We block our schedule to make sure we are not too busy and we notify all other photography clients that we're on-call for a birth. With Off-Call births, we will do everything we can to avoid missing your birth, but we will not be "on-call" for it. The Off-Call Birth Story Package is $950. The 50% retainer of $475 is due at the time of booking and is non-refundable. If we are able to attend and photograph your birth, another $475 payment will be due, once you are able. If we do not arrive in time, that 50% retainer you paid for the off-call package will then turn into a "paid in full" payment for a First 48, Newborn, or Family session -- your choice.
Birth Photography PRICING
Included in each Collection:
- In Person Meeting at 35-36 weeks to discuss your birth plan, get to know one another and answer any question you may have.
- On call 24/7 from 38 weeks until the birth. 10 hours of documentation coverage from ACTIVE labor (around 6cm dilated) until birth, plus 1-2 hours post delivery.
- Sneak peek of 5 hand-picked, edited images within 36 hours of birth for your social media or family announcement.
- 150+ high-resolution, hand-edited digital images in a private online gallery for you to view, share, and download.
Collection One — In addition to what is listed above, includes a 3-5 minute slideshow set to music telling your birth story: $1950.
Collection Two — In addition to what is listed above, includes a 3-4 minute slideshow set to music telling your birth story and your choice of either a First 48 session (during the first 48 hours the baby is here, capturing all the excitement, family visitors, etc.) or a Lifestyle Newborn session a few weeks after the birth: $2350.
Collection Three — In addition to what is listed above, includes a 5-7 minute fusion film (video & photo) set to music telling your birth story, your choice of a First 48 session or Lifestyle Newborn session a few weeks after the birth, and a beautiful leather-bound custom designed 10x10 Heirloom Album to beautifully tell your child’s Birth Story: $3200.
Add-ons:
- Add a Custom Designed 10 x 10 Heirloom Album: $950; or 8 x 8 size: $750.
- Add a Custom Designed 10 x 10 Photo Book: $250; or 8 x 8 size: $185.
Birth-related Sessions
First 48 Session: $475 -- At the birth location with your new baby or in your home, done within 48 hours of birth. Capture the thrill of a fresh new baby with me arriving immediately or very soon after the birth. Perfect for photos with family members meeting the baby for the first time, or those immediate moments just taking it all in. 50+ full resolution, hand-edited digital images
Documentary Style Newborn Session: $475 -- Two hour in-home session, 1-3 weeks after birth, capturing all the emotions and tiny details of having a new little family member. 50+ full resolution, hand-edited digital images
Maternity Session: $425 -- Up to two hours and two clothing changes. 30+ full resolution digital images
We are happy to create a custom collection to suit your needs. Let's chat!
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We look forward to hearing from you