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VIEW The Gallery
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Modesto Birth
Photographer & Videographer
Your Dona-trained doula and catcher of details
Serving all cities within 50 miles of Modesto, CA. If you are out of this range and looking for a birth photographer, please contact me! I can help you find one nearby!
The Beauty of Birth
From those first intense contractions to that first lusty newborn cry, to that post-birth oxytocin rush, hiring a professionally trained birth photographer & videographer into your birth space to artfully capture every moment is the kind of gift that only becomes more precious with time.
And as a DONA-trained birth doula, I can also support you and your parter as you prepare for labor, and be an extra pair of hands in your birth space, thus eliminating the need to hire extra staff during such a tender, intimate time. I offer 20% off my birth packages if you choose to hire a participating doula.
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Where it all began
A Premature Surprise
This amazing mama had experienced zero symptoms that birth was imminent with her first child, so when she was coming close to full term with baby Z, she had expressed some concerns that I would not be able to make it in time for baby's arrival since her previous labor seemed to come on very quickly.
Baby Z must have heard, because her water broke in her 35th week, and she was put in the hospital for monitoring. He gave us a little bit of a scare, but thankfully, about four days later, a healthy little boy entered the world, and his whole family was so excited to meet him--with PLENTY of warning ;)
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A True Friend Indeed
A Surrogate Story
Would you give birth for a dear friend? This amazing couple had been longing for a baby, but unfortunately were unable to conceive. A dear friend of theirs stepped up and volunteered to be a surrogate.
It was a long, difficult labor, and lasted almost a week from the start of contractions. When baby finally made his debut into the world, the whole room was bursting with gratitude, love, and indescribable joy. To this day, I still get a little teared up thinking of this beautiful story of sacrifice.
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A Sweet birth Song, modesto, CA
A Melodious
Induction
Sometimes, inductions are neccessary due to the health of the pregnant person or the baby. In this case, mama was having some heart issues, and thankfully, despite the difficulties, baby Melody was born. Dad, Mom, and Grandma were the only ones present, and it was so beautiful watching Kaylie's own mom soothe her daughter and support her through labor.
I absolutely love seeing a Mama supporting her own daughter through labor, as it feels like the circle can be completed.
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From those first intense contractions to that first lusty newborn cry, to that post-birth oxytocin rush, hiring a professionally trained birth photographer & videographer into your birth space to artfully capture every moment is the kind of gift that only becomes more precious with time.
As a DONA-trained doula and BBY certified and experienced birth photographer, my aim is to help you feel comfortable and safe with me in your birth space, and to capture your birth in a way that tells its true story, in all of its rawness and beauty. I will guide you through a complimentary maternity session, we will chat about life and all the things, and I will be so incredibly excited for you and your family to welcome this new little one into the world, however that story unfolds. My job is to show up with an open heart, an open mind, and be PRESENT for you, so I can fully showcase the emotions and experiences of this amazing day.
"It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever be dimmed."
- Doe Zantamata
Your modesto birth Photography
Shoot me a message, letting me know you are interested, and include your due date and any questions you may have. If you'd like, we can also schedule a zoom call (or in-person, whatever you prefer) to chat. I accept up to two births per month, so slots are limited. The sooner you contact me, the better!
1. Say Hello
2. non-refundable Retainer + Contract
In order to save your spot, for all session types, I require a non-refundable retainer that will go towards the full price of your session. And for you to have all the nitty-gritty details, I also require all my clients to sign a contract. The contract, along with all the details, includes very specific "yes" and "no" sections that define what photos you are OK with making public and which you absolutely do not want seen. We willl go over every sensitive body part in your model release so that YOU can feel safe and confident that we now have a legally binding document that is designed to help protect your privacy.
The questionnaire is probably my favorite part. Here is where I will ask you questions that will help me understand your story, why you are hoping for birth photos, and what exactly you are looking for. It will also give ME all the information that I will need leading up to your birth, such as phone numbers of those who will be calling me when its time, birthing location, and specific ideas you may have about the types of photos you want, among other things!
3. questionnaire
As you hit 36/37 weeks, I will be on-call, and ready to roll. I will not go on any trips (unless previously discussed, in which case I will have a backup photographer assigned whom you will get the chance to know beforehand), I will keep your phone numbers on emergency override with a very specific ringtone that I assign to all my birth clients, and I'll anxiously await every text and every update and twinge you may feel as the days move forward. When the time comes, I will arrive when you are getting close to active labor (or during active labor, depending on how quickly your baby decides to come!), and we will make some BEAUTIFUL images. I'll be a fly on the wall, or a hands-on-help, whatever works best for YOU, and have been told many times that I was not even noticed once labor really got rolling!
4. Session time!
You will receive 3-5 digital sneak peaks within 48 hours, and the rest of your digital photos by 4 weeks. Video takes a little bit more time, so you should receive that by 6 weeks. I do also like to provide a sweet little 30-60 second "welcome to the world" video that you can send to your loved ones within the week after birth. I know everyone is excited, so I love providing something that you can share quickly!
If you wanted to order any photos or albums or cards, you can do that directly from your gallery once it is delivered.
5. your photographs & Video
heirloom artwork • priceless
Maternity from $450
Newborn from $400
Births from $850
My goal is to make these photos WAY better than something you can grab on an IPhone. I am here to NOTICE. I crawl out of bed at 3am, kiss my babies goodbye, and excitedly rush to your side to be present for the micro-expressions, the loving movements and sounds and rhythms of birth, and to record those, using artful angles, as unobtrusively as possible, and to edit them in a way to showcase the depth of their meaning.
Pricing
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! :)
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.
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?
Doula services (only) start at $1200, and birth photos start at $850. Most clients invest around $2300 (and that comes with a lot of goodies!). For more specific details, please send me a message! I try to tailor each individual experience.
What is the price?
FAQ
Can I trade-in my complimentary maternity session for a newborn session?
Sorry, no can do! I provide a complimentary maternity session to my birth photo clients to give us a chance to work together before your birth so that you can feel more comfortable with me in your birth space. So it would defeat the purpose to trade it in :)
"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
As Seen In..
shutter up magazine
color shot magazine
the storyteller magazine
birth becomes you
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.
