The Art of Doula-Photography: Balancing Support and Photos
Doulas play a crucial role in providing emotional and physical support to expectant mothers during childbirth.
Our presence can make a significant difference in the birthing experience.
However, in today's digital age, the desire to document life's most precious moments and having the ability to do it with our phone cameras - has also led many doulas to explore the world of birth photography.
The question then arises: how can doulas effectively balance their role as birth support professionals with the responsibilities of capturing meaningful moments through photography?
In this blog post, we'll delve into the art of doula-photography and explore strategies for finding the perfect equilibrium between being a supportive presence and documenting these once-in-a-lifetime moments.
Know your primary role
First and foremost, it's essential to understand that a doula's primary responsibility is to provide physical and emotional support to the laboring person and their family.
There will be times when you have no choice but to put your camera down and be all-in, and that’s OK!
Communicate with your client prior to the birth and let them know that you will always try to capture the photos they wish, but you may not be able to physically do so. Luckily, during pushing, you can easily hold a hand and a camera.
Utilize hands-off time
As a doula-photographer, timing is crucial. During the most intense stages of labor, your primary focus should be on your client's well-being. Having said that, anytime you get a few quiet or hands off moments for instance when, the partner is providing support or mom is resting between contractions.
In our class - Photo Lessons for Doulas - we emphasize the significance of utilizing any small gaps of time to take various photos, each with its own unique story and details. This particular approach guarantees that your client's story is told in its entirety while you support them, and we will teach you the very same method we use at births.