I'd love to do this type of photography...

[katt]

I guess I should clarify: I'd love to have people hire me and pay me to do this type of photography. I already know I can do it.

Baby and Birth photographs

So, i think i'll be adding this into my repetoir for my 'business'. I just need to find an 'In' somewhere. I think there is a pretty good Midwifery school in seattle. I'll just need to hook up with them. Do the first one for free I think... Hopefully word will spread and people will find out.

thanks for listening to my ramblings.

[shutterman]

these are real nice. I always think of baby shots with a white background - you know - new baby, purity, etc - but the darker background is nice too! hope you can find some clients - I know you will do well! (not sure I could or would want to do an actual birth series though!)

[natatbeach]

I'm going to be submitting some work to a local OB/GYN that wants to display maternity and birthing shots...so there's definitely a market out there...maybe hit up some preggo friends to let them do their shots...

I'm really interested in this type of work because it would be nice to have a "history from maternity to the first birthday where a child and the parents could see there life in photos for the first year...Good Luck.... ;)

[Todd Patten]

I think that this is definitely an under-saturated market at the moment. I would be somewhat concerned about the billing around birth photography given just how long it can take to get the little buggers out!

The other areas: pregnancy, infants and newborns are pretty well covered through studios. However, one can specialize in these areas. When we were pregnant with our second child we had my favorite photographer do some pregnancy shots. Here's a very rough proof (no burning or light balancing) of one of them.



We shelled out a large sum of cash for the final 20"x20" framed image because it meant so much to us. There's definitley a market!

As an interesting side note, I was having lunch with a high school friend recently and we were discussing the photographer/studio where this image was taken and still hangs. She came out and started oooing and ahhhing about the photograph, not knowing that it was my young boy and my wife's belly. Imagine her surprise when I told her it was my little boy and my wife Soemthing along the lines of, "Cow Dung!"

[Speed]

I guess I should clarify: I'd love to have people hire me and pay me to do this type of photography. I already know I can do it.

Baby and Birth photographs

So, i think i'll be adding this into my repetoir for my 'business'. I just need to find an 'In' somewhere. I think there is a pretty good Midwifery school in seattle. I'll just need to hook up with them. Do the first one for free I think... Hopefully word will spread and people will find out.

thanks for listening to my ramblings.

Hang in there. I'm sure one day you'll get your chance. Desire is a large part of success.

[Photo-John]

I like the photos and I like the idea. It's like hiring yourself out to a family as a photojournalist. I wonder what the market would be like and what what people would be willing to pay? Do you know how much that photographer charges? For 24 hour on-call service and the potential hours you could be at the hospital, I would think this would be an expensive service. But I can also see how it might be very rewarding and life affirming. IT could also potentially be very scary and sad. Things don't always go perfectly.

[schrackman]

Yes, this kind of photography would be very interesting, not to mention fun. Now you've got me thinking every time I see a pregnant woman I should pass out my business card to her! I wish I had chronicled the pregnancies of my children. As it is, all I have are those old kodak pocket camera photos. Great thread!

Ray

[Todd Patten]

But I can also see how it might be very rewarding and life affirming. IT could also potentially be very scary and sad. Things don't always go perfectly.

You are so right on with this comment. We have a friend who is an OB/GYN. His main comment is that it's amazing when erverythign goes right, but there are times when it is as scary and as sad as anyone could ever experience.

[katt]

I've actually already done some maternity shots, and they are SO much fun!

Here is another site of some work that I would love to be able to create and share.

Welcome Jude Fairbanks

Personally I'd like to stick with Homebirths or Birthcenters. But, if a family would like me to chronicle their birth, i'd probably say yes no matter where it was.

I have no idea how much the first site charges, you have to contact them. I think i'll look into it a bit more. I'd love to do it. I think it would be a great way to have repeat customers.

[schrackman]

I've actually already done some maternity shots, and they are SO much fun!

Here is another site of some work that I would love to be able to create and share.

Welcome Jude Fairbanks

That was very nicely done.

Ray

[villenadecorte]

You'd really be surprised at how many women DO want this. You really cant employ your significant other because they're usually to busy helping you through the labor/delivery

I had my sister in law do mine- see below. I loaded my camera settings when I first arrived at the hospital, and got it ready. Then I had my sister in law take all the shots about 5 seconds post birth. I didnt want any "revealing" shots ;) Nor were any of these really well planned pics. My poor sister in law had never even seen a birth before.

MY sister however, requested I do the whole birth for her. I was 6 months preg. at the time, and flew to Portland to be there, and do the photos for her. (She'd NEVER let me post any of them, even the decent ones). It was a truly amazing thing.

Kat- I suggest you hook up with DONA- the doula/midwifery organization. They are really helpful and could probably point you in a good direction.

I hope this works out for you Keep us posted, and post pics if you can

And yes, in this shot, my son is giving us the middle finger! haha.
These were all taken between the first seconds after delivery, through the first 10 minutes.

VillenaDeCorte

[villenadecorte]

Doulas- who are not midwifes, and do not deliver your baby, they pretty much show up and help support you, and keep you comfortable, and sane during your labor and delivery... render about 600$ for their services. They meet with you twice before your due date and talk about how you want things to go, and then they are on call for your labor, and stay with you through the entire time.

I would imagine a photographer for this sort of thing could arrange things similarly. Now, for the pay... I don't know about that $600... but people pay for the strangest of things these days.

If anything else, I hope this was interesting for you.

VillenaDeCorte

I like the photos and I like the idea. It's like hiring yourself out to a family as a photojournalist. I wonder what the market would be like and what what people would be willing to pay? Do you know how much that photographer charges? For 24 hour on-call service and the potential hours you could be at the hospital, I would think this would be an expensive service. But I can also see how it might be very rewarding and life affirming. IT could also potentially be very scary and sad. Things don't always go perfectly.

[katt]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback and ideas.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to try and 'break into' this area after our move.

All these ideas are very helpful. I think basing the structure on Doulas would be a great starting point. Thank you!

Villendecorte-
Thank you for sharing your photos. Such sweet and touching memories.