Is today really Wednesday? In some ways it feels like a Monday... in others, a Friday. I returned home last night after spending two full days in the hospital photographing two birth experiences back-to-back... and while that can feel like a lifetime, it also feels like the rest of the world should have been standing still!
With the new year around the corner and the holidays in full swing, my mind has been on goal setting, reviewing what did and didn't work in 2013, and brainstorming ways to create a better experience for my clients in 2014.
One thing that didn't work for me in 2013 was burnout. I pushed my boundaries quite a bit and learned from it. With that in mind, I started brainstorming ways I could find a healthier balance between doing what I love (photographing love) and paying the bills. There's a lot that goes into running a business that isn't always a ton of fun. But, it's necessary in order to maintain a career of doing what I love.
After much thinking and conversing with Tommy, we've decided to dive full force into bringing The Birth Session to life in 2014. I made the big announcement on Facebook this morning, but I wanted to make sure my blog readers didn't miss the news:
Because birth is such a passion of mine, I didn't want my wedding and portrait photography business to become overwhelmed with birth pictures and conversations. While the two types of photography are similar in that they are both photojournalistic and full of emotion, they are also obviously different. So this is a great way to help keep things separate and to respect my brides, grooms, and families who have no interest in birth whatsoever.
I hope you'll come over and like the new Facebook page. (And share it with your friends if you think they may be interested, too!)
It's no secret how passionate I am about birth and the time period (that seems frozen for women living in it) surrounding birth. I am a part of the leadership team of a local non-profit, The Motherhood Collective, which greatly nurtures this passion of mine. Our target niche is a small one: women in the short (yet, oh so long) season between hoping-to-be-expecting and the postpartum period. My favorite group to connect with are mamas with growing bellies who are educating themselves about their birth options and planning for the future of their precious babe. I could talk birth for hours.
One day we can address my constant enthusiasm about photography... but for now I need to share this session with you guys. (You like how I reworded my normal way of saying "I am SO EXCITED to share this session with you!!" don't you?! ;))
So I love birth photography. I am often left speechless after a birth experience because there really is no way to describe how sacred I think it is... how honored I am to be able to capture such beautiful moments. It is growing in popularity and of course with that come people who think it is weird... or wouldn't dare let a camera in on such a personal experience.
This was the exact case with Olivia and her husband. Olivia, a photographer herself, wanted her birth experience captured. Her husband was naturally hesitant. So they compromised and invited me to capture their hospital experience about 24 hours after their baby L was born through a Brand New Baby session.
I am excited to have this session to share because I want other moms to know that the Brand New Baby session is an option for them as well. If your can't get your whole family on board for birth experience photography, this is a great compromise to still capture that short time in you and your baby's lives.
Isn't it such a beautiful time?
Equipment used for this session: canon 5d mark ii // canon 50mm f/1.2 L lens
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Liz Cook is the owner and photographer of sincerely, liz: photography. She is a virginia wedding photographer and virginia portrait photographer who loves virginia weddings, family portrait sessions and couple photography.
To see more of Liz’s work, check out her latest work as well as some of her favorite weddings. To hire Liz, simply fill out this form.
“Liz Cook is an incredibly talented and attentive professional. Her sweet and gentle countenance is paired with her ability to capture the most tender and joyful moments of the births that she photographs. Liz’s photos will bring you years of enjoyment as they draw you back to the delight and bliss of your birth experience.”
