Where do I start with this post? I was a part of something incredible and I was filled with hope, anticipation and empowered by my friend's birth.
I decided to try birth photography a few months ago when thinking about wanting someone for my own birth experience and I put an update on facebook looking for someone to try it out on... a dear, brave soul. I had lots of women tell me not to photograph one until after I had had my own, because it would scare me. Well I thought I could handle it (as long as they had an epidural and weren't screaming!) and remembered my friend Sherrie. She was due at the end of March and Josh had mentioned wanting to drive up there anyway since Sherrie's husband is his best friend. I shyly asked Josh to ask Billy to ask Sherrie (I was scared to ask on my own in case she said no way!) while they were talking on the phone one night and she said yes! I was super excited, but actually thought that she would kick me out of the room at the last minute.
She didn't. Billy and Sherrie let me have a bedside view to their happiest, scariest and most memorable moment of their life... the birth of their daughter, Camille.
We received a phone call last Sunday morning that Sherrie had been in labor all night and that we should probably head to Kansas City soon. We threw our bags together and ran out the door. When we got there everyone was sitting in anticipation waiting for her contractions to be 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long and for 1 hour... we kept waiting and waiting and waiting. She would have a few that would almost be an hour long and then they would stretch to 10 minutes apart and then would stop completely for a few hours. We were all baffled at what was going on, but knew that if she didn't go into full fledged labor soon that she would be induced that Monday night.
Trying to make the contractions progress...
One last maternity shot
Waiting...
The next night Sherrie was scheduled to come in and start the induction process since she was a week overdue, we made it all and were so excited that one way or another this baby was coming soon!
Sherrie's mom, Peggy.
And then all of the sudden the nurse said it was "time"...
45 minutes later we met the long anticipated baby girl!
One proud "Noni" and dad
Josh and I had to leave about 2 hours after Camille was born to drive back to Stillwater and I remember on the way home talking about the whole experience and feeling much more confident about my own birth in a few months. Sherrie is only 3 months ahead of me and it's hard to believe that when they came to visit us on New Years that she was exactly where I am in my pregnancy now! I was so blessed to be apart of their birthday (Sherrie and Camille share a birthday by the way!) and am ready to have my little guy.
These are beautiful Lauren! Don't be scared of labor. It is hard, but such a small thing compared to the outcome. :)
(04.07.11 @ 07:05 PM)Congratulations! Birth photography is such a gift, and I will forever cherish the pictures we have of the day Dorothy was born just about one year ago. Don't let anyone scare you about labor... God DESIGNED us to do this, and you will walk away from it feeling like a superhero. I can't wait to see pictures of Solomon!
(04.07.11 @ 08:52 PM)Those are really great! Your work is beautiful!
(04.07.11 @ 09:53 PM)You will do great, Lauren. It's a life changing experience.
(04.08.11 @ 12:29 AM)These are beautiful pictures!! You did such an amazing job of capturing the emotion of birth. I'm sure they will treasure these photographs forever! I love the b&w of mom & dad looking at the baby. Birth is such a beautiful experience - you're going to rock it! (and get that epidural!!)
(04.08.11 @ 07:05 AM)PS: I've been following your blog for a few months...sorry to just now comment. I grew up in Lubbock & went to school in Stillwater (& ironically - now live i KC) so I always enjoy looking at your sessions shot in two of my former hometowns!
Lauren, these pictures are priceless! They take me back to my own, wonderful birth experiences. So excited for you to begin this next journey. There is nothing better than that new, precious, fresh life!!!
(04.08.11 @ 08:52 AM)It must be because I am pregnant too (but granted, I haven't been crazy emotional yet).. but I'm literally crying after seeing the black and white of mom and dad holding their daughter after birth. Their expression of love is breathtaking! Great job Lauren! Can't wait to hear your experience :c)
(04.08.11 @ 09:06 AM)Beautiful pictures! Great job on your first birth session:)
(04.08.11 @ 09:08 AM)Absolutely beautiful images. They were amazingly fortunate to have you document this special time in their lives. :)
(04.08.11 @ 10:00 AM)I love this post Lauren! I love it because I am also having my first baby this year and I can't wait to have someone photography my birth as well! Plus I'm actually shooting my first birth in late May for a good friend of mine! I hope it doesn't scare me too much :)
(04.08.11 @ 11:21 AM)I love love this post!!!! I love it because it makes me soooo very excited for my baby to get here in October! Also I'm shooting my first birth at the end of May so I'm really excited too! :) Not to mention I love the picture of everyone praying for her before she gives birth. It literally made me completely tear up :) Great work as always girl!
(04.08.11 @ 11:27 AM)Should I be crying or smiling? Or BOTH!! Excellent work, as usual, Lauren Clark!
(04.08.11 @ 03:18 PM)