This is quite the story, so I hope I can do it justice.

Months back, I received an email out of the blue from a lovely potential client asking if I would consider photographing her birth.  I have nothing on my website and I have only done a handful over the years.  With COVID restrictions, it is one of those services that we where not permitted to do for a long time.  I had done one last year, but only posted one photo on my socials.

So here I am, wondering why she asked me.  So we decided to meet in person and chat.  Let me tell you, it was an instant connection.  AJ is bubbly, warm, fun, and I could tell she was coming from a good place.  She found my work online and figured she would roll the dice and take a chance I would say yes.  This would be my first home birth experience and I had questions of my own.  I wanted to make sure mom was educated, flexible and baby/she would be safe.  In the end, I happily agreed.

Now the wait begins.  Being on call for a birth is no joke.  It is WEEKS of having your phone on, gear close by and plans in place in case you are in the middle of another commitment.  Weeks of contact contact and waiting.  Her pre labor started days before.  Off and on contractions for almost 5 days.  We knew it would be soon.

As luck would have it, I was assisting another day long shoot when the text from her husband came.  Thankfully I had a backup (thank you Lauren Cox Photography) and she took over the commercial shoot.  It was game time!!!

I arrived at their house shortly after noon.  Mom, Dad and their dog shadow where prepped, smiling, laughing...even dancing.  The contractions where coming, but not super intense yet.  It gave us time to settle in.   We made our bets.  I said 4:30pm.  David bet 5:30 and AJ was less optomistic with an arrival of 11:30pm. 

The birth tub was ready, the space was calm, food was prepped, her wishes all laid out on paper and the midwife on standby. 

Every birth I have witness or been a part of have been 100% medical.  In a hospital or c-section in my case.  You hear the beeping, constant updates and cervical checks.  This was the opposite.  It was so calm.  So quiet. 

My mid afternoon the contractions where getting intense.  She needed darkness and space to prepare her mind and body for the marathon that is birth.

The midwife was called and arrived around 4pm.  We knew it was close, but she was still insisting there was time.  We where right.

AJ went into the birthing pool and what felt like just minutes later, she birthed her little princess, unassisted.  Miss Anastasia entered the world just as mom and dad had planned just before 5pm.

Delivering the placenta took time and patience, but again, mom knew her plan and stuck to it.  All the while, baby nursed and the midwifes made sure mom was healthy. The entire experience start to finish was simply incredible.  I now understand why this option was the choice she made.  After the birth I remember her looking at me and saying "I am already at home" and she was so happy. 

They are now a family of 4 (plus shadow who never left their side). 

I would also like to add that her partner/husband deserves a mention.  He made sure she had everything she needed the whole process and supported her start to finish. 

Welcome to the world Anastasia.