Stephanie Shirley Photography

Houston Hospital Birth Photographer | August

Stephanie — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 00:15:52 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting these first time parents as a referral from their Doula Jessica Gonzales with Village Birth & Babies. I LOVE, love, LOVE working with brith professionals like doulas. It is such a treat seeing a laboring mom have the support she needs in the special way she needs it. Plus it makes it so much easier for me to know how a mom’s labor is progressing without having to have constant contact with them.

Mom went into labor just after her due date. She seemed to be progressing fairly well for a first time mom. By the time Jessica called me out and I arrived, Mom was handling labor like a champ. She was actually sitting up with earbuds in jamming to some music. It was pretty serene. We got her up and moving to see if we couldn’t get things to intensify a bit and it definitely kicked things into gear. Unfortunately baby decided that he didn’t like the way labor was progressing. After many minutes of watching and pushing to see if we could get passed what baby was experiencing, the call was made for an emergency c-section.

In most cases, I wait for mom to come into recovery to continue capturing the birth story. Although the same rang true in this case, Mom was too exhausted from laboring and the surgery, that I decided to let her rest and come back for a Fresh 48 session to capture those yummy moments of mom and baby.

Happy BIRTHday August!

April 16, 2016

Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women

Please check out my Investment Page to find out more information on booking a birth session. I am currently booking into the Fall of 2017 with availability for ONE more client this Spring, so please contact me soon if you would like to schedule a client consult since I only book a certain amount of birth clients per month.

COMING SOON!!! I am pleased to announce that a new option will soon be offered in capturing your birth story. Be on the lookout for information on birth film stories (birth videography). This is a unique way of capturing these special moments through movement. Please check out a film sample by watching Faye’s Birth Story.

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Houston Hospital Birth Photographer | August appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Houston Birth Photographer | Maria

Stephanie — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 21:31:33 +0000

Although most of my birth clients book me early on, there are occasional times where someone will call last minute and be fortunate to find a last minute opening, or a slot that opens up due to an early delivery by another client. This rang true for this sweet family. They booked and literally delivered 6 days later. Mom was laboring and progressing very nicely until baby decided that she no longer liked the way things were going and the decision was made to perform an emergency c-section. Baby girl weighed in at 9 lbs 5 oz!! Such a sweet little chunk!

I loved watching the love Dad had over his girls after mom was brought to recovery. Even though this is their first baby, Mom looked like an absolute natural. Such an absolute gorgeous family!

Happy BIRTHday, Baby Maria!

April 5, 2016

Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Houston Birth Photographer | Maria appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Cypress Birth Photographer | Laila

Stephanie — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 23:50:48 +0000

If there was anyone who made labor and delivery look like a piece of cake, it was this mom. At just before 40 weeks, she went in for an induction due to gestational diabetes and the risks that went along with it. This couple moved from Colorado after their first, so I wasn’t able to document the soon-to-be big sister’s delivery. Mom went in at 5 am to start her induction and we had a baby by 9:45 am. Mom and Dad waited to find out what they were having and were pleasantly surprised to see it was another girl.

Baby Laila had a bit of a difficult time maintaining her body temperature at first, but after a while, she got it under control and was able to snuggle in with Mom again.

Happy BIRTHday sweet girl!

March 28, 2016

Methodist Willowbrook

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Cypress Birth Photographer | Laila appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Houston Hospital Birth Photographer | Reux

Stephanie — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 19:43:42 +0000

As much as we look forward to all of the beautiful moments while expecting our children, sometimes we are thrown a bump in the road. These amazing parents were delivered the news that their Baby Girl had some intestinal blockage. Regardless of this news, these amazing parents fought for every bit of their birth plan, within reason. After making every attempt to deliver vaginally, the decision was made to deliver via c-section. The hospital made it possible to see everything that was done to baby just after delivery via a screen located next to mom. I was personally standing just outside the OR peering through the window. There is nothing that can quite describe the emotions that passed through the entire room after hearing Baby Reux cry for the first time.

Shortly after delivery, Dad was able to personally escort her to the NICU so that she could be admitted. Two weeks and two days later, Reux was able to go home good as new!

March 24, 2016

Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Houston Hospital Birth Photographer | Reux appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Houston Birth Photographer | Levi

Stephanie — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 19:40:58 +0000

This mama worked very hard to bring her baby earth side at Texas Woman’s Hospital. After making it to her 41 week mark, she was induced at 41 weeks. 24 hours in labor and very slow progress proved to be a bit hard on baby and the decision was made to go in for a c-section. Mom was a bit worn out from the labor and then surgery, so I ended up coming back to finish the session once she was able to recover a bit more.

Can you stand the cuteness with his round face and full head of hair?!?!

March 9, 2016

The Woman’s Hospital of Texas

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Houston Birth Photographer | Levi appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Houston Birth Photographer | Samuel

Stephanie — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:00:50 +0000

Such and incredibly powerful woman and birth. We started out at home and attempted to labor there as long as possible before making the journey to The Pavilion for Women at Texas Children’s Hospital in order to deliver with the midwife group. We arrived at the hospital and found mom to be 5 cm along. The midwives were amazing and stuck by her side as she quickly progressed and delivered their beautiful baby.

March 3, 2016

Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Houston Birth Photographer | Samuel appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

West Houston Birth Photography | Quentin

Stephanie — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:22:01 +0000

It is always such an honor to be chosen as a family’s birth photographer, but even more so when you are chosen by another birth worker. Stacey is a doula and owner of Best Day Ever. I was so excited when I got the call just a few days after her “due date” that her water had broken. Being her second baby, I figured things would move quickly, but contractions took their time to make their appearance, and even then, she found them slowing. After sending her son and husband downstairs, she was able to focus on her labor and mentally allow her contractions to pick up their pace. She labored through the rest of the morning and by 2:15 pm, I got the call that they were headed to West Houston Birth Center and that they wanted me to meet them there. I frantically drove (as I do with all of my births) and actually beat them to the birth center. It gave me the opportunity to meet the owners and get a small tour of the facility. I was graciously welcomed into the birth room that she would birth in. At around 3 pm, Stacey got checked in and situated. They found her to be around 5-6 cm, but with this being baby number 2, they expected things to move fairly quickly. Once she was able to let go of some of the worries she had and get into the tub, her contractions picked up full force. Not much longer, Quentin made his way into her arms.

Happy birthday sweet boy!!!

February 2, 2016

West Houston Birth Center

Doula: Angela Fagg with My Birth Matters

Midwife: Holly Shearman

Please check out my Investment Page to find out more information on booking a birth session. I am currently booking into the Fall of 2016 with availability for ONE more client this Spring, so please contact me soon if you would like to schedule a client consult since I only book a certain amount of birth clients per month.

COMING SOON!!! I am pleased to announce that a new option will soon be offered in capturing your birth story. Be on the lookout for information on birth film stories (birth videography). I am so excited to to adding this option in the near future!

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post West Houston Birth Photography | Quentin appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Houston Birth Photographer | Brooklynn

Stephanie — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 00:48:28 +0000

I was so excited to go down this journey with this sweet Mama. She knew from the get go that they were going to wait until the baby was born to find out what they were having. It is such a rare occurrence these days since you can now find out as early as 9 weeks with a simple blood test. This family already had one boy and one girl, so they felt excited about waiting.

COMING SOON!!! I am pleased to announce that a new option will soon be offered in capturing your birth story. Be on the lookout for information on birth film stories (birth videography). I am so excited to to adding this option in the near future!

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Houston Birth Photographer | Brooklynn appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Houston Birth Photographer | Harrison

Stephanie — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 03:20:11 +0000

What better to end the 2016 birth year with my 4th repeat client?!?! JJ was one of my most earliest babies to document. I cannot believe he is about the be FOUR! I so enjoyed listening to him take in all of the newness of his new baby brother. Such a sweet boy. I spent a good portion of nearly 24 hours with this family when Mom labored with JJ. Harrison was a drastic change. I got the call saying she was around 4-5 cm. An hour later, I had them send me a picture of her contraction monitor. I decided to head into the hospital aware that he labor was progressing quickly. By the time I had stepped off the elevator, I got a text saying she was 8 cm. One short hour later, Harrison was in his mama’s arms making the sweetest cries I have ever heard.

Happy birthday! I am so glad I was there to capture your birth story!

November 22, 2015

The Pavilion for Women at Texas Children’s Hospital

Please check out my Investment Page to find out more information on booking a birth session. I am currently booking into the Spring and Summer of 2016, so please contact me soon if you would like to schedule a client consult since I only book a certain amount of birth clients per month.

COMING SOON!!! I am pleased to announce that a new option will soon be offered in capturing your birth story. Be on the lookout for information on birth film stories (birth videography). I am so excited to to adding this option in the near future!

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Houston Birth Photographer | Harrison appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.

Spring Home Birth Photographer | Eldric

Stephanie — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 15:01:15 +0000

I knew early on that this mama was expecting again. I got to be there 2 years ago when they welcomed Ari into the world. (also at home) I secretly hoped that I would get invited back in to capture yet another birth story. With many ups and downs in regards to being able to safely deliver at home, they finally got their wish and were told that it did indeed appear to be a safe route for their family. I was able to catch up with mom over lunch and spent time with Ariadne. Then it was a matter of time until we got to meet Eldric. I got the call November 16th, also my mom’s birthday. It was early and I was anxious. Last time I was called out multiple times over multiple days and I wanted to be sure that we were a go this time around. After hearing from the oh-so-amazing Kathleen, their doula, that mom was in active labor. I raced to their house (in rush hour). I made it just in time for them to move into the birthing pool, or maybe she was waiting on me. After laboring for a short while in the pool, she gave in and allowed her body to release this sweet boy. At 9:01, he was welcomed into the world with big sister watching curiously and closely.

My third repeat birth client of the year. What a blessing and a treat. Thank you for trusting me to tell your story. Happy birthday!

November 16, 2015

Born at Home

COMING SOON!!! I am pleased to announce that a new option will soon be offered in capturing your birth story. Be on the lookout for information on birth film stories (birth videography). I am so excited to to adding this option in the near future!

I look forward to being able to capture and tell your birth story!

The post Spring Home Birth Photographer | Eldric appeared first on Stephanie Shirley Photography.