Dear Ottawa-Gatineau Area Doulas,

The curtains drawn, the fan humming, a person deep in the rhythm of their labour. You already know how to hold space in the dark. Now imagine being able to capture it on camera (or cell) too.

Low-light birth photography is challenging, but it's learnable. I spent years photographing births across Ottawa and Gatineau, and now I teach exactly what I know to doulas and birth workers in a small, hands-on workshop 40 minutes outside Ottawa.

Join me at the next Birth Photography for Doulas Workshop, and I hope you enjoy this birth photography post.

I facilitate doulas and birth workers BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS a few times a year at my new location, 40 minutes from Ottawa. Imagine a retreat-like day learning how to create beautiful birth images.

She and her baby fell into the rhythm of labour in the shadows and light cast from the slit in the curtains.

The room was quiet but for the fan’s consistent breeze.

Woman in labour standing at a window in a slit of light. The rest of the scene is dark.

I arrived and parked my car down the road a bit and stepped into their home greeted by a cat and the sound of children. Up a few flights of stairs - I landed and put my bag down as I put my camera strap around my neck. The carpet made for a quiet entry as I tapped gently on the door.

Woman in a slit of light in labour at her home in Ottawa, Ontario.

How will I know when my birth photographer has arrived?

I stepped in the room and quietly said hello (some details are hazy now but something like this) - she continued to rest on the bed in the breeze of the fan. The shadows were in beautiful contrast to the slits of light coming in through the curtains.

So I turned up my ISO (how sensitive the camera is to light) way up and began.

As your Ottawa Birth Photographer, I will arrive quietly and sometimes swiftly depending how quickly your labour is going. I will do my best to greet you as long as I’m not interrupting you. We will have already spent time getting to know each other in person or over video-chat so you will feel comfortable with me entering your birth space.

You may already be deep in conversation with your birth partner, you may already be deep in conversation with your baby. I will catch the vibes and go from there.

If it’s possible to have a quiet chat - we might. Otherwise, I will begin capturing your birth film and photos. I will work with the light that’s there - which is one of the beauties of birth.

I will work with the light and shadows that are present while you are in labour.

Woman sitting on a birth ball at home while in labour in very low light conditions. She looks content and peaceful.

Low light is often what birthing people want in labour

And I love it.

No matter what level of light in your space - I will be able to capture images. I have high-level professional cameras and lenses for this purpose. There will need to be a little light of course (unless we agreed to use flash) but 99% of the time if you are in the labour part of your birth - I’m using the available light.

Lower light photography means your images may be softer and have “noise” in them - which means gentler lines and what looks like snow or fuzz in your images. I think it’s beautiful.

I love that low-light birth photography captures the energy of the room.

So know that whatever light is available - I will capture your movements, your beauty and your light.

Woman in labour in obvious contraction due to her tight face. She is sitting on a ball in a slit of light during her homebirth in Ottawa.

Birth Films are possible in low-light settings

She chose to move and rock on a birth-ball. As mom moved with her baby, I moved too. I saw how the light was bouncing off the bathroom door beside her from the window and positioned myself at an angle so I could capture that reflecting light.

Even in this back-lit setting, there was enough bounced natural light to take this photo - that is the magic of light.

I work with two cameras at your birth - and one is always ready to capture video. (I switch between photo and video on the same camera but that’s another blog post). As long as there is light like this - though it’s very low - I can create beautiful birth films.

Low light videography will be grainy sometimes - but again that is the nature of birth photography. You and I will have talked all about this during your pre-birth meetings so I understand your dreams for your film and so you understand how lighting affects your birth film.

Man and woman standing in a slit of light during labour at home in Ottawa. The woman has long brown hair.

Doulas, ready to photograph birth with confidence — even in the darkest rooms? Join me for the next small-group Birth Photography for Doulas Workshop, 40 minutes from Ottawa.

LOW LIGHT BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS