Are you a doula who takes birth photos for your clients?

If you are interested in digging in for a day and really learning how to compose beautiful photos, I offer a Birth Photography Workshop for Doulas a few times a year in Val-des-Monts, Quebec, only 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

We can all snap photos with our phones, and if you want to take your photography skills to the next level so you can offer your clients beautiful photos of their birth story, that’s exactly what you’ll learn. I have photographed over 170 birth and now I am an open book and will share all the tips so you can offer your clients amazing images.

Birth Photography is Story…and it’s so worth adding to your doula offerings.

This is the birth story in photos of a little love who was born on April 1, one year, at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa. I have known this family for a while, and it was an honor to photograph their birth.

I met Mom at her best friend's birth a few years before, and was so happy to learn she was expecting and wanted Breathe In Photography to capture her birth story!

She shared parts of her birth story below. One series of images made its way around the internet, and now Mom is sharing the details of those moments, too!

Keep reading to see their short birth video at the bottom!

Mom and dad are holding hands and looking at each other while in labour at Montfort Hospital in Ottawa.

Mom and dad look at each other while mom is in labour with their baby. She is resting.

Image of women in labour at Montfort Hospital, she is about to meet her new baby. — Ottawa Birth photo of woman in labour at Montfort Hospital.

Woman in labour at Montfort Hospital during birth. She is in the dark under one light resting on a bar with an iv in her hand. She looks peaceful.

Tell me about this image...

I was so exhausted and really felt like it wasn't working. I hadn't been pushing that long but it felt like an eternity and it didn't feel productive. I felt so tired physically and mentally. I was afraid. Determined. But I also felt so defeated - I had been told so many times things weren't happening as I had envisioned. I was trying to trust my body and my baby but whenever I had I was told something else.

This moment I just stopped. I ignored everyone, even my midwife (to her dismay lol). It was just quite in my mind. I felt so alone. I felt like giving up. I was afraid for my baby - I didn't want her to leave. We were happy together and the trouble started when I went into labour. If I could just go back we could try again when I was better prepared.

Was there a turning point in your labour?

...my midwife looked at me and we locked eyes and I couldn't look away. She was telling me I had to keep going and that I could do this.That I was doing it. She told me that she could feel my baby was lower and with the last push she could see a bit of the top of her head. I could not look away from her.

It was like I was drawing power from her and if I looked away I would collapse. I had horrible anxiety that my baby would be taken away but she (midwife) promised that no one would take her before I held her.

She suggested we change positions. I didn't think I could move. I moved though and with the first push in the new position I could feel my baby move. It was only a few more pushes and she was out.

I believe my midwife's support is the reason I was able to delivery vaginally. She was everything I needed. I trusted her so much from the moment I met her and I really believe that my labour lasted so long because I was waiting for her.

How long was your labour?

Labour started Tuesday. It lasted for 91 hrs and 52 min. She was born at 10:53pm. 7 min before they were coming to prep me for a c-section

Mom completely surprised when her baby is born at Montfort Hospital. Her eyes are wide and her mouth is open in disbelief. Her best friend, midwife, and husband surround her.

Tell me about this series of images above.

I was 100% in disbelief.

I had never really had the chance to come to terms with any part of the process. Starting from conception all the way to giving birth. Every step of the way Evelyn and I accomplished things that were never supposed to happen.

I have fertility issues - we got pregnant.

She was breech up until the week I went into labour - she flipped.

I was going to have a c-section because I was not dilating and she was in distress - I dilated and was able to give birth vaginally.

If there was meconium she wouldn't be allowed to stay with me long - there was meconium but she was fine.

She had the cord double wrapped around her neck - turns out the umbilical cord was insanely long and so it wasn't tight and she came out screaming.

We have opposite blood types - no contamination happened for either of us.

The moment that I touched her for the first time everything finally came together. It was as if I had been waiting my entire life for her and I didn't know it. I always felt like something was missing...turns out it was her

Family gathered around newborn baby just born at Ottawa hospital. Mom looks happy and amazed at her beautiful baby.

Dad holding his newborn daughter for the first time after birth, he is smiling and looking in her eyes.

Newborn baby on scale at Montfort Hospital. She is looking right at the camera and has her hand near her mouth.

Welcome to the world baby E!

Born April 1 - 10:53pm. Weighing 6lbs 14.9oz. and measuring 20 inches long.

Ottawa and area Doulas, I now teach birth photography in a day-long birth photography workshop. Imagine learning how to offer your clients beautiful photos, composition, finding the light, and working in all birth spaces. Cell phones are pretty amazing nowadays, so I do teach how to use your cell phone to capture great birth story photos. Join me at the next birth photography workshop.

Learn More about the Ottawa Birth Photography Workshop for Doulas