Hi there!
I'm a mom of extremely energetic twin boys (plus 5 chickens and one dog), and a wife of 10 years. You'll never see me drink coffee (I know! How am I even alive? I just can't stand the stuff.), I had a mad crush on Taylor Hanson when I was 13, and I love dressing comfortably.
I am also a Modesto-based birth, family, & newborn photographer, DONA-trained doula, and most importantly, a mom who had to wait a very long time for our children to be here with us. I cherish them, and count every child as a gift. It's what got me here, photographing these transitional moments for you. Whether you meet me when you have a bump or toddlers or both, I'm here for it all!
I have experience photographing unmedicated births, c-sections, premature births, epidural births, home births, and surrogate births.
Hope to see you soon!
Your modesto Birth & motherhood Photographer
Published In..
shutter up magazine
color shot magazine
the storyteller magazine
birth becomes you
hether you are pregnant, a doula or midwife trying to find support for your client, or simply a parent who is hoping that the light and love of you and your children's personalities will shine through in your photos, you have come to the right place. Motherhood came late for me, and I am honeslty so glad. I cherish this role, even if the days are hard sometimes. I approach your journey with the understanding and belief that every child is a gift, and I am genuinely SO very happy for you and SO excited to be there along this transition from pregnancy to birth to meeting your brand new family.
And If you are looking for a more intimate birth experience, if you want advocacy, documentation, and support, if you believe that telling your family story serves a greater purpose, and if you VALUE your mental health, welcome. You belong here <3.
My Approach to Birth & Motherhood Photography
Newborn
families
Fast forward to today, as a mom, I was shocked at how quickly our littles changed--within weeks, they were like different kids. I wanted to freeze time for a moment, so I started taking more photos, and a passion was born. Now, I try to grab beautiful photos that parents can cherish more and more as the years go by. I love the art and creativity and meaning behind it, and am so happy to offer it to you!
efore having kids, I had always loved capturing a beautiful moment. It started when I would flip through old photo albums of my mom and her siblings as kids, and revel in the way they have changed over the years. The nostalgia oozed through the pages and I wanted to be a fly on the wall to see them interacting.
My Background As a
Birth & Motherood photographer
"Shayna captured our birth photos for our surrogacy journey and didn't miss a single detail. She checked in frequently before birth, gave wonderful advice, and was consistent with her care. For us, this was a huge plus as her job was to capture photos, not care about us, but she managed to do both. I would rate her a 10/10 and HIGHLY recommend her.
Shayna, you were made for this."
-Dominique
Modesto, CA
Dominique & Arturo
"I booked a birth, maternity, and newborn session with Shayna and she made it a seamless and amazing experience from the start! She was quick to respond to messages and questions and was just so personable! I loved it! She is very detailed on making sure she knows exactly what you want and capturing it!
Shayna is an absolute pleasure to work with and I am so grateful that I had her be there to document all these milestones for my family! The photos turned out better than I even imagined and make my heart so happy! We will definitely be using her in the future for any family photos!"
-Kaylie
Modesto, CA
Kaylie & Rafael
“My birth photos have me in tears. I will cherish them for every moment of my life. I can’t explain how healing this whole process was, despite having an emergent c-section.” ❤️-Rachel
Modesto, CA
Rachel & Mike
"“My birth video is the best video in existence. It beats any wedding video. Rewatching it gives me all the feels all over again." -Briana
Modesto, CA
Briana & Justin
"Oh my goodness! Shayna beautifully captured the birth of our daughter. The photos are perfection. She was unobtrusive yet present during such an intimate time, and I will cherish them forever."
Modesto, CA
Shelley
When you book with me, my main goal is to create an experience that allows you to be yourselves, for all of you to relax into it. Because when the years fast forward, you aren't going to be as concerned with the perfectly poised photo as you will want to remember all the tender little things that make your kids who they are. They are your whole heart, and you will want to remember their little nuances.
warm • Heartfelt • natural
Feel free to send me an email, no pressure whatsoever, and let me know what questions you may have. I should respond to you within 24-48 business hours.
