Our First Birthing Photography Experience

As a photography services provider here in Malaysia we have been getting many requests from expectant “parents to-be” who want to record the hospital birthing experience with a photo & video album of the actual event.  Though it is still not very common to shoot birthing photography in Malaysia,  we had a chance to do a “trial run” with one set of parents who were expecting. What follows is a brief description of the process, for those of you who may be considering a similar experience.

Before the Big Day

• A meeting was held with the expectant couple about a week before the birth date. In the future, it might be a good idea to have the meeting at least 1 month in advance in case baby gets impatient!
• We discussed and reviewed what are the important parts of the event that the couple want to be sure are captured. Of course, things will come up and the situation is dynamic, but it is always good to have a clear understanding of expectations.
• Notification and approvals from the medical authorities that will be involved. Here, communication is key as surprises on the administrative end of things are never a positive situation. Therefore we need to establish an understanding on what can and cannot be done at the birthing room.
• Just as in any photo shoot, it is important to understand the location. Lighting, space, and other logistical concerns can only be worked out with during discussion because a visit to the birthing ward is not possible beforehand.

The Day Of  Birthing Photography

• “The Call” came at 4:30 AM and we gathered up our equipment in time to arrive at the Hospital at 5:00 AM. Depending on the length of labour, we will probably need to do some rearranging of schedules with our other clients, but this issue had already been addressed by having another photographer standing by at the studio.
• Our photography strategy was to make sure we captured the emotion of all the participants, including the nervous Father as he busily ran around preparing for the new arrival the best he could.
• Capturing the interaction between Mom & Dad during the contractions and labour was a special focus for us. The couple will likely not remember all of what is done or what they were feeling and this photography session will become increasingly important to them over time.
• After about 2 hours, baby announced her arrival as we concentrated on capturing the moment when the new-born was placed on Mom’s tummy and started looking for something to comfort!
• Again, getting good shots of both Mom and Dad’s first view of baby were especially important and we stayed long enough to get some special shots of baby and the new family before leaving them alone for that special bonding time.

One Week Later

• An after birth shoot was scheduled a week later. It gave us a chance to record the changes in Baby, Mom, and Dad too! We recorded the thoughts and reactions of the participants and took some time to get additional shots of the “Star of the Show”
• Everyone involved agreed that this was something well worth doing and the Parents would recommend that all expectant parents consider a photography session of this very special day in the life of their family.  You may also consider a newborn baby in hospital shoot right after the baby is delivered.

If you are expecting, and a photography album or video of the birth day is something that interests you, we suggest you contact us at + 6 +6016-212 2865 to discuss your wishes and learn more about the details.