Why hire a birth photographer? | Columbia birth photographer

Columbia birth photographer Jessica Roberts on why hiring a birth photographer is so important

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a photographer attend the birth of your child(ren). A lot of people's thoughts on this are 1) That is too much for a stranger to see, 2) My husband wouldn't ever agree to this, 3) I can't spend that money, and 4) I'll just have someone take them with my camera. Let me tackle every single one of these, hear me out.1) Every birth I've ever photographed, I never actually SAW what you are worried I might see. And I definitely didn't photograph anything you wouldn't want to have photographed! Think of a birth photographer as an invisible side coach, next to you opposite your husband's side, or behind you capturing moments over your shoulder (you don't even see me here). While you are worried I may see your vajayjay, I actually am focusing on your husband's tears, his strong hand holding yours but also needing to be held by yours at the same time. I'm focusing my camera on the two of you connected, on your emotional parents if they are in the room, and the minute the doctor tells you you've got one more push, I'm focusing on you and on that doctor to give you your baby! The joy is so overwhelming for everyone in the room, and I am snap snap snapping away hundreds of times while you don't even notice me. I was able to give you moments you never saw, moments that came and went so quickly you missed them. And to think you were worried!2) If your husband is anything like the husbands of myself and my friends, they will agree when they understand how important it is, and they have their concerns addressed (which is normally back to number one and number three). If it means this much to you to have your babies entrance to LIFE forever documented for the two of you to look back on, I think he will agree. Back rubs also work nicely. 3) The cost. Birth sessions are $950 and that includes me being on call 24/7, your digital files, and a private password protected online gallery for you to share with family and friends if you choose to (you can opt out of the gallery if you don't think you'll use it). If you break down that cost over your pregnancy, it's stashing away about $100 a month. I can't stress how important these images will be for the rest of your life. I can only tell you as someone who turned down a birth photographer, I could kick myself every day. I don't care that I have $950 somewhere in the bank, I honestly don't even know where that money is, I just know I can't go back and see the birth of my child when I want to. I can't see myself hold him for the first time or see my husband become a father the very second it happens. I can't see his whole fingers grip my pinky. Instead, I have $950. But what I would give to go back, thousands. Payment plans are available for births, I am completely happy in helping you out and making payment broken up into a few different parts to meet the needs of your growing family! When you book a birth story with me, you also get half off of a maternity session, and you were probably going to book one of those anyway!4) This one is important. If you're saying you'll have someone else take the photos, two things are happening. One, you are not going to have the hands of a professional. You are going to either get shots you never ever wanted to see, blurry shots, out of focus shots, shots with FLASH (oh my goodness no), typical stuff you just don't want. But the second thing that happens is worse, and that's that you gave an important loved one a job during something they should have just been able to enjoy. I said I would do the same thing, I made my husband take photos of the birth of OUR child! Instead of just being there and taking in his moment, our moment, he had a camera in front of his face. All because I wouldn't pay someone to just let us be in our moment. Don't make your mama work, let her enjoy her moment. Let a photographer capture BOTH of you (and your mom. too!) in the most amazing day of your life! You can't get this one back, you mamas know that this is the best moment that will ever happen to you.So with all of that, I would love for you to consider me as your birth photographer. Take away the work and the stress and just enjoy your newborn baby's gaze, the little fingers hold on to your skin, daddy holding his baby and counting toes and trying to not cry in front of anyone, mama becoming grandma (and crying audibly in front of everyone). Enjoy the birth of your child, cherish it, and have memories of it for you to hold on to forever. You will never regret spending that money, ever.I only book two per month so that I do not risk overlapping a window. Once we hit about 36 weeks, you just update me as often as you can in the coming weeks about progress. As soon as you go in, you call or text me, and once you're admitted, I'm planning my arrival! I am in the Lexington, South Carolina area but also near Irmo and Columbia as well. Get in touch with me at Jessica@JessicaRobertsPhoto.com