Why should I hire a birth photographer?

That moment of meeting your baby for the very first time will only happen once. Hiring a birth photographer will allow you to be in the moment and experience it fully while having the peace of mind that your memories are being captured. Birth is a celebration of life, love, and your family! Bringing a new baby into the world is an occasion that shouldn’t be captured with blurry cell phone pictures or worse, not captured at all. It’s a joyful occasion that should be preserved as part of your family’s history. While everyone else may remember this amazing day, many moms have a hard time recalling details. Birth photos will help you piece your story together while giving you photos of the moment you met your baby. Also, having a baby is extraordinary and is really hard work! You deserve to look back on this day and see yourself as strong and beautiful. 

What types of births do you attend?

Hospital births, birthing centers, home births, you name it and I’ll be there! I’ll support you whether you choose a natural birth, get an epidural, wait for baby to come on its own, or get induced. I firmly believe there is no right or wrong way to have a baby and I would be honored to tell your story any way it happens.

What areas do you serve?

I document births in the Northern Utah area in Davis, Salt Lake, and Weber counties.

When do you arrive?

This is a difficult question to answer because labor varies so much for each woman. We will stay in contact throughout labor and I’ll arrive towards the end of active labor, typically when mama is dilated 7-8 cm. I take into account my client’s birth history. First time moms typically progress more slowly but moms who have given birth before typically progress much more quickly. I would much rather come too soon than too late!

How long do you stay after baby is born?

At least an hour. I won’t leave until I’ve captured all of those precious first moments; the newborn exam, snuggles with mom and dad, skin-to-skin, breastfeeding, and meeting other family members in the delivery room. 

How much will you be interacting with us during labor and delivery?

I always tell my clients that I hope they don’t feel pressure to make small talk with me while I’m there! This birth story is not about me! It’s about YOU, your baby, your family, your experience. I want you to look back and hardly even remember me being there. I’m there to document the experience for you, not become a part of it. I always tell people to not be offended or think I’m unfriendly if I’m not super chatty with you while I’m there. I promise I’m a really nice person, but I want this to be about YOU, not ME. I understand, honor, and respect the sacred space where a baby is born and will not insert myself unnecessarily.

How graphic are the photos going to be?

We will discuss this topic during your consultation, but they can be as graphic or as tame as you wish. Some women love close-up photos of the baby crowning while others prefer me to stand behind the bed while they deliver the baby and capture everything from a more discreet angle. This is the birth of YOUR baby, it’s YOUR birth story, and I will respect whatever you wish. Just let me know your preferences and I will honor them!

What’s included in my birth story?

• A consultation where we discuss your privacy preferences, images that are important to you, your history with labor (if applicable), etc.
• 24/7 on-call coverage in the weeks surrounding your due date (yes, that includes the middle of the night!)
• Photographic coverage during active labor from 7-8 cm dilation, the baby’s delivery, and at least an hour after he or she is born.
• 100+ hand-edited, high-resolution images uploaded to a password protected online gallery.

What if you miss the birth?

While I do everything in my power to make it in time for the delivery, it IS possible for me to miss it. Any birth photographer that tells you otherwise doesn’t have enough experience doing it! It happens. The only time I’ve missed a birth has been when my client progressed much more quickly than anyone could have anticipated (think dad having to deliver the baby at home in the bathtub while on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator!). I will still come to your birth location and capture the rest of your story. I don’t give refunds for a missed birth because I have completely planned my life around your baby and haven’t booked other clients around your due date. Depending on the situation, a complimentary Fresh 48 session or lifestyle newborn session may be offered.

How much do you charge for a birth story?

$1,400 + tax for birth photos OR video;

$1,900 + tax for birth photos + video

Why is birth photography so expensive?

• I’m on-call 24/7 for the weeks surrounding your birth. I can’t go out of town. I have to have my phone by me at all times. Many times, I’m up all night long when shooting the birth.
• I don’t put a limit on coverage, meaning I’ll be with you until the end. Sometimes it will take 2 hrs, sometimes 24 hrs, and that’s okay.
• Scheduling can be tricky. Births are unpredictable and I never know exactly when I’ll be called out for or for how long. I only book two clients a month to reduce the risk of multiple clients needing me at the same time.
• Births provide some of the trickiest lighting conditions around which require me to invest in a lot of equipment to handle low light well. The culling and editing time takes much longer for birth stories than other sessions because there are so many more images to work through.
• In my opinion, birth photography is actually underpriced!!! But I try to price it so that it’s still reasonable for my clients. I want as many people as possible to book a birth story because I believe the photos from these sessions are truly priceless.  I’ve never heard of anyone regretting spending money on birth photography. In fact, countless clients have told me that they cherish their birth story photos even more than their wedding photos!

Will you share images from my birth story on your website and/or social media accounts?

I love sharing images from birth stories because they’re so powerful, but I never do so without permission. Maintaining my client’s privacy is incredibly important to me and I would never share anything that would make them feel uncomfortable.

Do you give a discount if I also book a Fresh 48 session and/or a Lifestyle Newborn session?

Yes! I give a $25 discount if you book one additional session or $50 off if you book two.

How do I book?

Shoot me a text or call me at (435) 668-4076, send me a message on Instagram or Facebook, or fill out the contact form on my website andreaalbaphotography.com. I’ll let you know if I have availability around your due date and we can chat from there. I usually like to talk to potential clients on the phone to get to know each other a bit and make sure you feel comfortable with me since birth is such a sacred event. Once you’ve signed my contract and paid a $300 deposit, you’re officially on my calendar!

I would be honored to work with you! Please reach out to me with any questions you may have or to get on my schedule. Space is limited, so the earlier in pregnancy your book, the better!