Be present. Soak these moments into your heart.
Let's get you ready for birth.
All doula clients receive 15-20 complimentary birth photos....
The experience you have the day you give birth can impact you for years to come. It's a huge deal! I want you to feel mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared. And then, when you see your birth photos, I want you to be able to look back on them and feel like you did absolutely amazing, and that you were supported, loved, and nurtured, and that, hopefully, you were able to enjoy it!
Birth can be HARD. Physically, emotionally, and mentally preparing for it is the name of the game when it comes to its unfolding, however that looks. And having these moments recorded can help you to mentally process everything that may happen. Looking back at these photos and/or video can help you come out of the birth haze feeling empowered and help with the mental and emotional healing as you process your birth experience.
I value your mental health.
Hiring me as your birth doula, photographer, and/or videographer, means you are also hiring a licensed LMFT that you can chat with either before or after your birth. My husband provides both traditional counseling and EMDR therapy do my clients, if they so choose. You can choose whichever type you feel will be more effective for you.
Do it for your own comfort, familiarity, and consistency.
The time leading up to birth, DURING birth, and those precious newborn days afterwards, you may feel exhausted and potentially overwhelmed. Finding a new person for every leg of the journey can be exhausting.
During labor, having your supportive person next to you (not busy taking pictures) is going to make all the difference in your mental and emotional experience. Let your support person be there for you. Let them hold you during contractions, stroke your back, give you towels and snacks, and offer counter-pressure. (And I can help, as well ;).
And believe me, it can be really easy to say you are going to dress them up and take their photo at home with your phone, only to realize that you are just too exhausted to put in all of that mental effort. Let your support person soak up those newborn cuddles and be part of all the photos, because they are such very important part of this story. I'll take the photos so YOU and THEY can look back on them and realize just how beautiful this part of your life truly was!
Hiring an individual who can be present for all the transitions from maternity, to birth, to newborn, to family, ensures familiarity as well as consistency in your experience and photos.
My Goal: Sensitivity, Kindness, and Support.
And of course, incredible photos ;)
I hope by the time we get to your birth or to any of your photo sessions, you can feel completely comfortable with me, as I understand how sacred this time is, and how important it is to allow only individuals that you trust and feel comfortable with to be in your space. My goal is to be as unobtrusive, sensitive, and kind as possible, and of course, to grab all those beautiful, raw moments! And I love researching! So if I do not know how to answer a question, I will do my very best to find a researched, substantiated answer, because I believe that with knowledge comes power, peace, and understanding.
Do It For Your Posterity
Imagine their pudgy little 3-year-old fingers as they open up their "beginnings" album and see the first time you held them, the joy in your faces, and the immense love that was there from the very start. They will see that they were wanted and loved before they even got here, and that story you will give them will positively support their own perception of their self-worth. Kids LOVE hearing their story. They LOVE knowing how loved and wanted they are. They LOVE their parents and love the safety of the cocoon you are building for them. Seeing photos of their beginnings is going to be such a beautiful gift for them.
...As well as one complimentary mental health session.
We might be a good fit if...
- You want to mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare to give birth.
- You see the value that photographs offer for your mental health and for your posterity.
- You want your significant other, if they are available, to be present and involved.
- You want to see and feel your raw strength and power!
- You want to mentally process both the good moments AND the hard moments.
- You want someone who is familiar with your story and can provide consistency in your experience.
Doula Investment Details
- Birth photos come with a digital gallery of a minimum of 90 images (assuming birth is not precipitous) with both black and white and color galleries, within 4 weeks of delivery
- Birth video comes with one 5-8 minute film, artfully telling your birth story
- 3 sneak peaks sent within 48 hours
- However much privacy you desire. I will not post/advertise with any photos that you do not want posted.
Add-On details for Birth Video or birth Photos
"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
"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
“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
This can happen, as well! Birth is so unpredictable! I do have backup photographers and doulas that are on-call as well, and we cover each other for births if we are out-of-town, but if baby comes super quickly, I'll get there as soon as possible and document all of the events following the birth. There are definitely no guarantees, as I will do my very best. Ill offer you a complimentary Fresh 48 if this is the case! :)
I try to be as unobtrusive as possible. Before you start to push, I will ask the doctors and nurses where the best place for me would be to stand so that I can stay out of their way but still get the shot you are hoping for. I also do not want to disturb your mental process, so I will be as quiet as possible. I can also be a second pair of hands if hip-squeezes or counter-pressure is needed, though I typically defer to your partner since you will most likely receive the most comfort from them.
What happens if baby comes quickly and you are unable to attend?
C-sections happen! We are grateful for the medical advancements that are available to keep everyone safe. Birth is birth, no matter how it occurs, and I absolutely can and have documented c-sections, as this can help you process your birth experience. If your OB will not allow me in the OR, I can grab the moments before and those precious moments after. You can also advocate for your birth photographer to be present.
Absolutely. I expect them! I do need at least half of your total by the time you are 37 weeks, and once you are fully paid, I will start editing your photos/video. I also offer gift certificates that you can add to your baby registry.
Do you take payment plans?
What happens if I have a c-section?
Most clients book within 3-5 months before their due date, though you can book as early as you wish. The earlier, the better! Then we can get you more prepared for your birth!
When should I book?
Absolutely. When you book with me, you will sign a legally-binding contract that will allow you to choose the level of privacy that you wish to have. You will also have the option of reviewing your birth gallery and videos before I post anything so you can note what you are comfortable with/not comfortable with sharing.
Do you have a privacy guarantee?
Birth, especially if its unmedicated, often happens in dimmer light. I will try to use whatever light source is present first, and if the lighting is way too low for my camera to function, I will use flash, but I will bounce it off the ceiling to help make it less distracting. So far, I've had zero complaints!
how do you navigate low-light situations?
FAQ
What kind of births do you have experience with?
What is your presence like in the birth space?
Are you licensed and insured?
What is the value of being certified as a birth photographer?
So far, I have photographed and videoed epidural births, c-section births, surrogate births, unmedicated births, and home births. I have basically been present for a wide spectrum of births, and honestly, ever single birth story is different! Yours will be just as unique as you are.
Birth is probably one of the most, if not THE most, difficult niches to photograph, because its on-call, sensitive, and the lighting can be incredibly challenging. Certified birth photographers have extensive training in using their gear in low-light (and varied light) situations, in storytelling techniques, in understanding the physical, emotional, and mental process of birth, in editing, in client care and self-care, and especially in birth etiquette. Birth trauma is real, maintaining a sterile environment in the OR is serious, and knowing when to get out of the way and be aware of what is going on around you is important. We are trained in all of these things. I try to be flexible in the situation as to what is needed most, am observant, try to be a fly on the wall, and step in when I am needed.
Yes. ;)
Do you have more questions?
Simply email me and ask. I'm more than happy to help.
This guide is meant to be an easy way for you to build your own custom collection and to get an idea what it would be like to work with me. That being said, I am always available if there is anything in particular you would like to know!
Email me
let's make it official!
let's do this!
Love what you've seen here? I'd love to help you out. I take a limited number of clients per month, so feel free to reach out with any questions you have and especially if you are ready to book!
Love,
Shayna
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