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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Photographing a Birth... HELP!
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 05/30/2007 10:22:12 PM · #1
My sister-in-law has asked me to take pictures of the birth of her son. I am tremendously honored, but really nervous at the same time. She hasn't really given me any instructions other than to be sure I capture the cord being cut. Her husband is currently deployed in the Navy so part of my job will be to try to provide him the experience through pictures.

So here are my questions:

1. What would be the most tasteful and artistic way to record this event?

2. What camera settings would you recommend? I'd rather not shoot in automatic mode, but then again, I can't screw this up! All I have is an on-board flash.

I'm sure I will have more questions, but that's all I can think of right now.

Thank you all for your help!
 05/30/2007 10:25:42 PM · #2
Wouldn't video be more appropriate?
 05/30/2007 10:29:17 PM · #3
Not like this.. man I regret trying to help you with this, heh

Birth (Not work safe)
 05/30/2007 10:31:08 PM · #4
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Wouldn't video be more appropriate?


Well, I don't have a video camera, and her husband can only receive small attachments. So photos will have to do.
 05/30/2007 10:31:27 PM · #5
Aye carumba! I hope I can get to sleep tonight after seeing THAT.

I witnessed the birth of my own daughter, but somehow it seemed ummm... well... less graphic.

Originally posted by aliqui:
Not like this.. man I regret trying to help you with this, heh

Birth (Not work safe)
05/30/2007 10:32:34 PM · #6
Originally posted by aliqui:
Not like this.. man I regret trying to help you with this, heh

Birth (Not work safe)


This is pretty much everything I want to avoid!
 05/30/2007 10:33:11 PM · #7
Shoot in Auto or shutter-priority mode.

Don't use flash, it's distracting and hard on the baby's eyes.

Ask her if she wants the graphic shots (full-on nudity from down below as baby emerges), or prefers a mamas-eye view (taken from her shoulder area).

Go for expressions - her face during a contraction, the way she moves her hands on her belly, hips of back. The interplay between contractions - some funny moments there by times.

Get those first moments of mom and baby together especially. Cord cutting, first nursing, stuff like that.

Let mom brush her hair and at least wipe her face after that if she wants, before you take more photos after baby is out.

ETA : This is my favorite photo from my youngest sons birth - I don't have any during the actual birth (which, to me, is unfortunate).



Message edited by author 2007-05-30 22:35:38.
 05/30/2007 10:33:40 PM · #8
My brother-in-law photographed his son's birth a little while ago and did an awesome job without flash. He's not a member of this site, but I'm certain he would give you helpful advice if you wanted to contact him via either one of these two shots:

Here...
or
Here

Good luck!
 05/30/2007 10:33:45 PM · #9
Originally posted by BakerBug:
Originally posted by aliqui:
Not like this.. man I regret trying to help you with this, heh

Birth (Not work safe)


This is pretty much everything I want to avoid!


lol glad I could help
 05/30/2007 10:34:18 PM · #10
My eyes!
 05/30/2007 10:37:30 PM · #11
Originally posted by aliqui:
Not like this.. man I regret trying to help you with this, heh

Birth (Not work safe)


I'll be the lone voice of dissent - I think those are awesome photos.
Not technically good, and not ones I'd put on the web of myself if I were her, but ones I'd cherish all the same, as private, personal prints.

Birth is beautiful, but it is also bloody and sweaty, and sometimes pukey too.
05/30/2007 10:38:57 PM · #12
This site : //www.birthdiaries.com/diary/
has a variety of births in photo form - from extremely modest to very graphic, and everywhere in between.
 05/30/2007 10:39:15 PM · #13
In terms of advice, I'd also say ditch the flash -- that's bound to be distracting for everyone involved. Bump up the ISO as high as comfortably possible (this may add grain, but they'll be lit better, and this might be a good use of B&W, too).

Keep in mind that mom may have one thing in mind when she tells you what kind of shots she wants, and there's a pretty good chance she may be in a REALLY different mood when the Big Moment actually arrives. Be prepared to be flexible for that.

I'd just try to be unobtrusive, and concentrate on getting great shots *after* the kid comes out of there. Keep in mind if the child sees his/her shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.

Message edited by author 2007-05-30 22:40:24.
 05/30/2007 10:41:36 PM · #14
Originally posted by kashi:
This site : //www.birthdiaries.com/diary/
has a variety of births in photo form - from extremely modest to very graphic, and everywhere in between.


A site like that was what I was hoping to find. Very helpful.
 05/30/2007 10:44:01 PM · #15
You might want to go pick up a 50mm/1.8 around $80us. It will help even though it's fixed focal length.
 05/30/2007 10:46:05 PM · #16
Gotta have the tiny fist wrapped around mom's finger, or baby's hand in mom's, to capture the sense of scale.
05/30/2007 10:48:24 PM · #17
Originally posted by kashi:
This site : //www.birthdiaries.com/diary/
has a variety of births in photo form - from extremely modest to very graphic, and everywhere in between.


Wow! Thanks for the great link. There is a lot to look through there.
 05/30/2007 10:53:30 PM · #18
Originally posted by aliqui:
Not like this.. man I regret trying to help you with this, heh

Birth (Not work safe)


Oh
my
freakin
God

Work safe, hell. That ain't stomach safe.
 05/30/2007 10:54:25 PM · #19
Ask the mom what view she wants! If she wants a vaginal view, position yourself to shoot over te doctor/midwife's shoulder, and zoom in as close as you can -- the guy probably wants to see the baby (he's already seent he rest). You might want to use a UV filter -- fluids can fly around the room sometimes ...

If she wants a less invasive view, you might see if you can shoot over her shoulder ...

Don't use the flash! You just need to set the ISO high enough to get an adequate shutter speed with ambient light. If she's birthing in a hospital it'll likely be pretty bright -- setting the White Balance to Fluorescent might help too.

My son was born before we went digital, so I don't know what speed film we used, probably 400.

Unless she's having labor induced, always have fresh batteries and empty memory cards in the camera as you might be on short-notice ...

Good luck to you and the new mom and dad!
 05/30/2007 10:55:32 PM · #20
Originally posted by dudephil:
Work safe, hell. That ain't stomach safe.

Just be glad you don't have to go through it yourself!
 05/30/2007 10:58:36 PM · #21
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by dudephil:
Work safe, hell. That ain't stomach safe.

Just be glad you don't have to go through it yourself!


Oh yeah. Definitely glad for that. However, that page isn't quite the way mine went. You know, a picture of a blonde headed cute little girl who's mother (I swear to God I thought it was a man in drag until I saw her with a....well..... you know) is delivering the placenta behind her.
 05/30/2007 11:06:33 PM · #22
Originally posted by kawesttex:
You might want to go pick up a 50mm/1.8 around $80us. It will help even though it's fixed focal length.

Almost all the pictures I took during the birth of my daughter were with this lens and it worked out very well.
 05/30/2007 11:09:33 PM · #23

I brought a softbox into the operating room for this shot.
 05/30/2007 11:12:24 PM · #24
I would watch a little of A Baby Story on TLC and pay attention to camera angles. If they do get too graphich, they blur it out. You should be able to get off quite a few good shots if you shoot from the Mom's POV. The big belly tends to hide all the graphic stuff, and you will surely want to be sure you know her physician's rules about photographing birts. Often if you let them know you want a photo of cutting the cord, they will help you set up the shot by raising the cord. If possible fill the frame with the cord while catching the baby's face OOF in the background maybe.
 05/30/2007 11:13:22 PM · #25
Originally posted by cloudsme:
I brought a softbox into the operating room for this shot.

I can't believe you took a softbox! I felt in the way with just my camera, flash, and a couple lenses.

Message edited by author 2007-05-30 23:17:03.
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