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Below, I’ve tried to answer some of the most common questions I get asked. If you don’t see the answer to your question, please feel free to email me at lauren@laurenjollyphotography.com – I also offer mentor sessions and I’d love to talk to you about whether that would be a good fit! In the meantime, I hope this page is helpful to you!

What’s in my camera bag?

GEAR:

Nikon D750 (main body)

Nikon D600 (backup body)

Pentax 645N (medium format film camera) + 75mm Lens

Nikon F100 (35mm film camera)

Sekonic L-258 Light Meter

Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4

Nikkor 50mm f/1.4

FILM:

Fuji 400h (now discontinued)

Portra 400

T-Max 400

ACCESSORIES:

Holdfast Gear Moneymaker

Hoya macro filters

What do I use for invoicing/contracts?

HONEYBOOK all the way! I can’t say enough good things about this client management software – it’s completely changed my business and streamlined my client communication. CLICK HERE to get 50% off your first year of Honeybook!

Favorite resources for learning more about birth

The Birth Kweens Podcast

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth

The Birth Partner

Evidence Based Birth

“Must Have” Shot List at a birth

Birthing Location

Special details (baby clothes, affirmations, ultrasound images, etc.)

Partner supporting mom

Doula supporting mom

Hospital staff or birth team supporting mom

Emotions throughout labor

The moment of birth (partner and mom’s faces)

Baby’s tiny details (hair, fingers, toes, ears, etc.)

First latch (if applicable and desired by client)

Family meeting/holding baby

Newborn exam

I’m aware that I’m probably the 532nd birth photographer to write a blog post about why birth photography costs so much. And as much as I don’t want to write things that are already available elsewhere on the internet, I do think this is something worth discussing so here I am. I want to shed light on why birth photography might be deemed “pricey.” So let’s break down what’s included when you hire a birth photographer:

My on-call time

Starting at the 38 week mark and continuing until your sweet babe arrives, I am on-call 24/7 for you! That means I don’t go out of town, I’m have my camera bag ready to go, I keep my car filled with gas, and I keep my phone next to me and on loud all the time, even at night. It can also mean that I miss important family days: birthday celebrations, holidays, first days of school, etc. It’s hard and it’s a lifestyle and it’s not for everyone. Sometimes I think it’s not for me, but as soon as I arrive at a birth, all that melts away and I realize why I do this work.

My unlimited time at your birth

Some birth photographers offer X amount of hours for X amount of dollars with the potential of charging hourly past that. While that works well for lots of people and there is a lot of validity in why they do it, it’s just not for me. I have made the decision to charge a flat fee for unlimited hours at your birth. The way I try to avoid being at a birth for many many hours or days is doing my best to time my arrival well. This leads right into reason #3…

My experience and knowledge of birth

My knowledge and understanding of birth is KEY to my success as a birth photographer. When I started photographing births, I’d done tons of research on all types of birth as well as having my first baby. Since then, I’ve become a certified doula and learned tons from my experience attending 40+ births. When I hired the LJP associate photographers, we went through a training with a local doula to be sure that they felt confident and could be supportive in all types of birth spaces. I’d say this is the number one piece of advice I give to new birth photographers: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW BIRTH WELL!

My experience and knowledge of photography

This one may be obvious, but photography knowledge and experience is also very important. Photographing a birth can be difficult as many times, women birth in the middle of the night or in a dimly lit room. Navigating low light is one of the hardest things to master as a photographer – ask any wedding photographer about shooting a nighttime reception. I’ve learned a lot over the years and have passed on my knowledge to my associates so that we are all confident shooting in many different lighting situations. That said, we also talk with our clients beforehand about potentially needing to turn on a light or two during your labor.

My editing time

After you give birth to your baby, I then go home and spend many hours culling and editing your photos. This can actually be so fun for me because I get to re-live the little moments and every birth is just so special and unique. But I want to acknowledge the time I put into this. I look through EVERY image (usually hundreds) and hand pick, carefully edit, and deliver a beautiful gallery to you.

So when you’re considering hiring a birth photographer and you find yourself having sticker shock, think through all the reasons why we charge what we do.

I absolutely ADORE this work – it’s not just a job, it’s a calling and a passion for me. And in order for me to continue to do it and avoid burnout, I need to be sure I’m making a living wage and being paid for my dedication and time. Now that all that money talk is out of the way, let’s get your due date on my calendar so I can capture your memories! I can’t wait!!

A stranger in the room?!

I think the most common fear, whether from mom or partner, is that they feel it might be uncomfortable to have a “stranger” in the room when their baby is born. The idea of being in such a vulnerable, intimate situation and having someone you barely know in the room seems…well, crazy. Ok, let me stop you right there. Here are a few reasons why it’s not crazy and can actually be super helpful:

• First of all, my goal is that we AREN’T strangers at that point. We should have met in person at least once (more if you book a maternity session) and talked on the phone or via text many times. By the time you go into labor, we’ve been chatting about birth and your birth plan and your excitement and all of that for months. My hope is that it’s like seeing an old friend walk into the room – comforting and exciting.
• Secondly, if you’re having a hospital birth, there will most likely be many people coming in and out of your room. Now, you can definitely limit this and it is up to you who is allowed into the room, but even the bare minimum is usually a nurse, an OB or midwife, and a pediatric nurse once pushing begins. All that said, compared to most of those people, I would be a familiar face in the middle of labor!
• Lastly, having someone on your team who is very familiar with birth and who will be with you throughout your labor (not in and out) is a huge asset. Hiring a doula is a great way to find that support, but an experienced birth photographer can provide some of that support, as well. I tend to put my camera down here and there to talk with mom or physically support her as best I can. I also bring a little bag of “tools” (i.e. essential oils, a fan, a rebozo, birth affirmations) that can help if needed. The more knowledge and support you have, the better.

Photos of what?!

Some of the fear and concern that comes up when discussing birth photography is questioning why you’d want photos of labor and of the baby being born. Everyone obviously wants photos of their precious new bundle, but photographing the whole process leading up to that is a much bigger decision. Here’s why I think these photos are so special

• Having the opportunity to see your birth unfold from a different perspective (i.e. from the view of someone who’s NOT having contractions) is priceless. These moments are life changing and leading up to the moment you meet your child for the first time. Don’t underestimate how special that will be.
• I’ve said before and I’ll say it again: birth stories are love stories. The moments I get to capture of partners supporting mom are just so beautiful.

Will this take away from the intimacy of the moment?

I’ve heard from a few friends that they worry about having an extra person in the room could take some of the intimacy out of the moment they meet their child. I completely understand this fear and want to make sure I address it here:

• Did you feel this way about your wedding day? Assuming you had a photographer capture the magic and intimate moments of that day, did you feel like it was an invasion of privacy? Do you regret having those moments photographed? I understand this is different and even more vulnerable, but I also want to acknowledge that these are both absolutely LIFE-CHANGING days and having them photographed is so special.
• My goal with clients is to create the birth atmosphere that they hope for. For some clients, that’s an upbeat, talkative mood. For some, that’s a calm, quiet mood. Both are amazing and I’m happy to be part of all kinds of experiences. If a client tells me that they are concerned about me taking away from the intimacy of the moment, I take that very seriously and will do my very best to be a fly on the wall during their birth time.

What other fears or hesitations do/did you have about birth photography? I know it’s still a relatively new idea to have someone in the room while you labor and anything you’re feeling is totally valid. But I also don’t want you to miss out on the beauty of birth photography and having those moments captured. I hear from so many moms that they didn’t realize how badly they’d want those first moments with their baby photographed and regret not hiring a photographer!

I’d love for you to comment below or send me a message or email to chat specifically about your fears or hesitations! I can’t wait to hear from you!

-Lauren

Disclaimer: every momma is different and these items are not going to replace mental and emotional preparation. I suggest reading books like The Fourth Trimester and The First Forty Days to help you prepare for your postpartum experience.

Other than preparing by talking to other moms/your doula and reading books about postpartum life, I love these products for those first few months after baby is born:

Bamboo Nursing Pads

I loved using these washable, reusable nursing pads when my milk was coming in. This pack came with plenty for me to use while others were being washed and did a great job keeping me from leaking through to my shirt. They also wick the moisture away from you really well so you don’t feel like you’re covered in breastmilk.

Haakaa Milk Catcher

This thing was a life saver! Not only will it catch any milk that leaks from the breast you aren’t currently nursing on, but it also can help relieve pain if you become engorged. With both of my boys, I had a ton of supply right at the beginning and it was really painful.

Ibuprofen

This one may seem obvious, but it was a game changer for me this third time around. My midwife explained to me that engorgement isn’t actually because your breasts are so full of milk, it’s inflammation that your body creates as a reaction to a “foreign object.” Ibuprofen helped me get my engorgement under control in less than 24 hours! It was amazing!

FridaMom Perineal Cooling Pad Liners

If you give birth vaginally, there will almost definitely be some soreness for a while. These pad liners were so easy to grab from the bathroom drawer and put on my pad when using the bathroom. I loved the simplicity and ease of having these around.

Earth Mama Nipple Cream

While I’ve loved my breastfeeding journeys with my boys, they didn’t come without some painful moments. As your body and your breasts get used to the demands of nursing your baby, this nipple cream may be a huge help! It soothes sore or cracked nipples and is totally fine if baby gets some in his/her mouth.

A Postnatal Multivitamin

Especially if you’re breastfeeding, but even if you aren’t, newborns take a lot out of you. Having a good postnatal vitamin is key in making sure you get the nutrients you need and stay healthy through some sleepless nights and long days.

Depends

This third postpartum season was the first time I tried these (before, I was just using pads and mesh undies) and I really loved them! It was nice to just have one item rather than fitting a pad into the undies and then just throwing it all away. I’m not gonna pretend it was glamorous to walk around in an adult diaper, but glamour isn’t really what I’m going for after having a baby!

Someone You Can Be Open & Honest With

Whether this is a doula, family member, or friend, it’s so important to have a support system. Postpartum can feel very isolating, especially during Covid times, and sometimes you need to talk with someone who isn’t “in it” with you, like your partner is. I also highly recommend finding someone who has resources to share. So if you need a lactation consultant or pelvic floor therapist, they can help you find that quickly.

Extras:

Essential Oils – Having something to grab when you’re feeling emotional, tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, is always a good thing. I’ve found that essential oils can help with these emotional issues (as well as physical ones). Feel free to email me if you’re interested in grabbing some essential oils for your postpartum toolkit.

A diaper caddy – Having a portable diaper station was so helpful during the first few weeks when getting up and down isn’t exactly easy. Have a few diapers and wipes within reach from the bed, the couch, and any other place you may be resting with baby.

I hope this short list was helpful for you! If you have questions, you can always email me or message me on Instagram – I’m happy to help!

I always have the hardest time starting these posts. Writing out all three of my birth stories has been so sweet and I want to make sure I do them justice and don’t forget any of the details. You can read Finn’s birth story HERE and Rory’s HERE.

This pregnancy was so different from the other two in so many ways. First of all, it started off as a surprise! We were planning to start “trying” to get pregnant in December but on December 9th, I wasn’t feeling well and decided to take a pregnancy test. I could not believe it when the line turned pink! Vaughan and I went on a trip to New York City just a few days later and it was so fun to spend that time together right after finding out our third baby was on the way!

After the initial shock wore off, I moved right into the nauseous stage of my pregnancy. I had nausea with all three, but this time was different. I couldn’t get off the couch most days and the boys spent WAY too much time in front of the tv. Thankfully the nausea subsided around 16 weeks…but then it was March 2020. I think we all will forever know what that means: quarantine and the beginning of the craziest year ever. Never could I have ever imagined I would have a baby during a pandemic, but here we are.

Fast forward to August. I had made it through the a super hot summer as a very pregnant and swollen momma. My due date came and went and every day pretty much felt like a year. Once we reached 41 weeks, we went to the local birth center to have NSTs (non-stress-tests) and ultrasounds every few days. Every night I went to bed thinking I’d wake up to contractions but it never happened.

August 27th – 8:30am

We made the decision to try a “midwife’s induction” at home at 41 weeks and 6 days. This included a membrane sweep and a castor oil cocktail. My midwife found that I was 2cm dilated with a very thick, anterior cervix. So not much was happening on it’s own. I was actually encouraged that some progress was made, though! She did the membrane sweep around 8:30am and I drank the castor oil around 9:30am.

10:00am – Early Labor

After drinking the cocktail, I laid down on our screened porch to rest and ease the nausea that the castor oil caused. I texted my midwife around 10am that I was having mild contractions but they were a little bit sporadic and short.

While I was resting, Rory came out and dropped my glass of water and broke it. Just a little reminder that life continues, even when you’re in labor!

Around 11am, we decided to head over to Reynolda Village to walk around. It was a beautiful (albeit HOT) day and the boys had so much fun watching the turtles and showing me the waterfall. Mild contractions continued to come – I had to take a couple breaks to sit down, but I was still able to walk and talk through them. I let my birth team know that something was happening but nothing major.

When we got home (around 12:30pm), Vaughan started making lunch for the boys and I was piddling around wondering if these contractions would lead to a baby or not. My midwife suggested taking a bath as a “test” to see if things fizzled out or intensified. I got into the bath around 1pm – there was no real change so I was still hesitant to have my birth team come. I think the fact that we did the membrane sweep and castor oil made me worry that contractions would stop.

1:45pm – Active Labor

After getting out of the bath, Vaughan took Rory upstairs for his nap and my midwife suggested doing a “side-lying release” to either bring on labor or allow me to rest a little. Well, let me tell you, I did NOT get to rest. I climbed into bed and wrapped myself around my pregnancy pillow. As soon as I lifted my leg into the side-lying release position, contractions went from about a 2 on the pain scale to a 10. I immediately started vocalizing through each one and Vaughan told me later that he could tell from the other room that it was “go time.”

Vaughan came in, took my phone and texted everyone to go ahead and come. Thank goodness for his experience and knowing that everyone needed to get there ASAP! Once he’d alerted everyone, he started filling up the birth tub with water.

I couldn’t bear laying in that position any longer so I got up and went downstairs. I remember rushing down the stairs (as fast a woman in active labor can move, that is) because I knew another contraction would be coming soon. I made it to the bathroom and threw up in the sink (another sign that things were moving quickly).

I was so hot and remember loving the feeling of the cold bathroom counter on my arms and forehead. Apparently my “labor bra” was very important to me because I thought ahead enough to ask Vaughan to grab it before my birth photographer, Amber, arrived.

I continued laboring in the bathroom and I remember saying “Ohhhhh Baby” and “We can do this, we can do this” over and over. I was also banging on the counter and telling Vaughan how hard this was. But I knew that it couldn’t be much longer with how intense these contractions were. My midwife arrived and confirmed that baby would be here soon. She asked me “do you want to have your baby in the bathroom?” and that’s when I knew it wouldn’t be long at all. I quickly said “NO!” and we moved into the guest bedroom (my designated birth space). On the way there, I noticed that Vaughan had turned the water off – my hopes of a water birth weren’t going to work out, for the third time.

My midwife again prompted me with a question: “Lauren, do you want to have your baby standing up or in the bed?” At first I said I couldn’t move and wanted to just stand, but after she mentioned that it would be easier to catch him myself if I was on the bed, I somehow found the strength to lift my legs and get into the bed. I also made sure to tell her that “I NEED video or photos!” because Amber was still on the way. Thank goodness her assistant arrived shortly after and got both video and photos!

Soon, the urge to push was uncontrollable. With each contraction, I took a deep breath, focused on the sun coming through the window and my “stay present” sign, and calmly pushed. Despite how quick and intense this labor was, I felt very calm during the pushing stage, which I’m so so thankful for!

After just a few minutes, I started to see the baby’s little head. I reached down and felt it (absolutely surreal each time) and watched as it was born. I am so grateful for the guidance of my birth team to get into the bed where I could have a better view – I saw baby’s little body rotate and come out. There was a loose cord around baby’s neck which my midwife quickly removed and I pulled HIM onto my chest. I looked at Vaughan and said “It’s a boy!! We only make boys!!” and we both laughed!

IT’S A BOY!

Sullivan Carter Thomas | August 27, 2020 at 2:46pm | 7 lbs 3 oz

Finn came running into the room just a minute after Sully was born with a huge smile on his face. I’ll never forget how his eyes lit up and he was so excited to meet his brother. He whispered “Welcome Home, Sullivan” and my heart burst.

About 15 minutes later, Amber walked through the door to find that Sully was here. We’re both so sad she didn’t make it, but have already planned for her to just come camp out at my house if we have another baby ;)

Rory woke up from his nap and Vaughan brought him downstairs. He was definitely a little more hesitant to meet Sully and needed a few minutes to wake up. But once he did, he was very interested. He didn’t want to hold him until the next day, which I kind of expected, but he’s been so sweet ever since!

Finn got to cut both of his little brothers’ cords – a tradition that I absolutely love and that he’s very proud of – and we all snuggled into bed together. I still can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to give birth to THREE of the sweetest, most beautiful boys on the planet and that two of them were born perfectly at home.

My sweet Sully-bear, you are such a joy! From your squishy cheeks to your huge smiles to the way you look at your big brothers, we are all completely obsessed. You fit perfectly into our little family and I cannot imagine life without you in it. My longest pregnancy, my quickest labor, and my smallest baby – perfect in every way.

To my birth team: thank you for all you did to help me stay present and have an amazing birth experience. I knew I had the dream team even before he arrived, but I truly can’t imagine ever giving birth without you all there. Love you all!

I feel like I need to start at the beginning to tell the full story here. In early 2019, I got a text from Cameron that said she had a birth inquiry to pass along to me because she couldn’t do it. I said, “ok, send me their info!” and she quickly sent me a photo of she and her husband in tears holding a pregnancy test. I immediately started crying and was in complete shock! I didn’t see it coming AT ALL! Not only was my dear friend (who photographed Rory’s birth) having a baby, but I was going to get to be there to photograph the magic!

Fast forward to October. There was a lot of speculation about Cameron having her (surprise gender) baby early because her belly looked so big on her small frame. So we waited on edge, expecting to meet Baby Fulginiti sooner rather than later. But that sweet babe wanted to take his/her time and labor didn’t start until the day after her due date.

Early/Active Labor

I got the text that evening that labor had started and she was planning to stay home as long as possible. Cameron’s twin sister and doula, Brooke, had been staying with them, waiting on baby, so I knew she was in good hands. I went to bed anxiously awaiting the phone call. Brooke called me a few hours later and said they were thinking of heading to the hospital. I hopped out of bed, changed, grabbed my stuff, and started the 1.5 hour drive.

These drives are always so nerve-wracking. I was stressed that I wouldn’t make it in time and getting a text that Cameron was EIGHT centimeters made my heart start pounding. I could not miss this birth!! Brooke was confident that I’d make it and that helped me get through the rest of the drive.

I finally arrived and texted that I was “coming up.” Brooke texted back “9.5” and I wish someone had seen the look on my face! None of us expected her labor to happen this quickly and we just could NOT wait to meet this angel baby!

A nurse found me wandering on the Labor & Delivery floor and showed me to her room (Room 214 – the date they found out they were having a baby!) and I nervously asked “has she had the baby yet?!” The nurse smiled and said “no, you’re just in time!” – What a relief! I quietly walked into a joyful room filled with twinkle lights and photos and people who deeply loved Cameron, Sam, and their little one. There was such a special feeling in that room and I was honored to be a part of it.

Soon, Cam wanted to get up and moving. She swayed back and forth with Sam as worship music filled the room. The way her husband and sisters lifted her up (physically and emotionally) and supported her through labor was so beautiful.

Next, Cam moved to the birth ball as things intensified. She was SO close but wasn’t yet feeling the urge to push. I love that her midwife trusted her to know when it was time – there was no rush, this baby would be here in his/her perfect time.

To be honest, I don’t remember the details of exactly what was happening from here on out. I just remember being in awe of this warrior momma. She moved when her body needed to move. She yelled out when she needed to vocalize. She relied on her support team when it felt right. Birth is so beautiful when left untouched.

Finally, it was time to push. She tried pushing on hands and knees but it didn’t feel quite right. She moved to a side-lying position and soon her sweet baby was in her arms. This moment will forever be etched into my mind.

IT’S A GIRL!

Aly June Fulginiti | Born October 23, 2019 at 4:23am | 9 lbs 1 oz

Dearest Fulginiti family, it will forever be such an honor that I was welcomed into your birth space. I will never forget this day and I’m so glad I could capture all of the magic! Aly is turning one today (where did the time go?!) and it’s only the beginning of the magic! Love you all!

To read more birth stories, click HERE. To get in touch to have me document your birth story, click HERE.

When I was first hired as a doula for a friend of mine, I took on the role knowing that I may take less photos than usual, or none at all. She hired me primarily as a doula and we discussed what was expected of me. As her due date approached, I started to feel anxious even though I was confident in my ability – would I get any photos? Would I feel like I wasn’t giving her a “complete” experience without photos?

Once I arrived at the hospital, all my nerves went away and I got to work. It all boils down to one simple thing: just be supportive. I paid attention to her needs and tried to anticipate what might help her in any given situation. I snapped a few photos when I could (mostly after baby arrived) and it was truly just a wonderful experience.

On the flip side, I’ve served many women with my primary role being birth photographer. I often jump in with my essential oils, or my portable fan to help and that usually happens very seamlessly alongside taking photos. For me, the two go hand in hand. My hope is that I’ll get to know my clients well enough that being a hands-on support person will feel comfortable if needed. I no longer want to be that “fly on the wall” photographer if a momma needs extra attention.

(That’s my hand in the corner of the photo above!)

Being able to walk alongside someone who is bringing life into the world is something I’ll never quite get over. In either role – photographer or doula – I feel a sense of honor unlike anything else. Being welcomed into that space is certainly not something I take lightly.

So on to the point: have I been able to balance the two roles? The answer is yes and no! Yes, I was able to fully support my client AND provide them with images that they love. No, I’m not able to do both jobs in the same way as having two people each playing one role. I think you, as the birthing person, need to weigh the pros and cons of having someone doing both things versus having two support people at your birth.

In today’s world of Covid and hospital visitor restrictions, having someone who can do both things may be your only option so I want you to know it *can* be done and it can be done well.

And honestly, if nobody ever hires me as their doula ever again, I’m still so grateful for my training and for how I’ve learned to support birthing families over the years. I not only have a passion for documenting birth but I have a passion for supporting women through birth. I want to be a resource and a guide for you if you need one. I want to be the hands-on and emotional support you need during labor. I want to continue to grow in these two roles in order to best serve my community. I just love this job so much and can’t wait to see how I grow in the next few years.

Learn more about my doula services HERE.