Greetings to all;

I have been recently given the opportunity to photograph the upcoming birth of at least two women in conjunction with the Doula Society (Midwives, natural childbirth group). I would appreciate any information regarding technique, experiences, etc. I think I’ve got the perfect equipment kit for this type of shoot. Two Leica M6s, one with HS black & white the other with HS color print film. It appears to be a challenging, but straightforward type of assignment. I would also appreciate anyone with experience in this type of assignment giving me some idea as to the pricing structure. Is it customary to give the parents the negatives? I normally don’t give my negatives away; at least I haven’t in the past. I would appreciate any insight you might like to share.

Best regards,

J.

-- J.L.Kuhn (james.kuhn-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov), May 09, 2002

Answers

Yes well, this is on a similar thread to the 'funeral photography' post I think.

Give the negs to the parents??? Why the hell would you want to do that? Why don't you just hand over the keys to your house and car while you're at it?.......give them the negs, have you ever heard such foolish talk?

-- Phil Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), May 09, 2002.

Of course, Mr. Kneen is absolutely correct. Never give up your negatives. The kid may grow up to be the next president or the next Ted Bundy and you'd certainly kick yourself when Time magazine came looking for the "the early years". I'm still holding on to some George Bush images, just in case...........

Kirk, Austin Texas

-- kirk tuck (kirktuck@kirktuck.com), May 09, 2002.

"The kid may grow up to be the next president or the next Ted Bundy"

It's not fair to suggest that the child may grow up to be either a serial-killer or a character from 'married with children'.

-- Phill Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), May 09, 2002.

"I'm still holding on to some George Bush images, just in case........... "

Just in case what? In case he does something laudible or auspicious? Uh huh.

Those snaps might be worth something if he has another run in with a pretzel.

Bottoms up, El Senor Presidente!

-- Keith Davis (leica4ever@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

It is a fairly easy assignment if you keep in mind a few things. Don't get in the way of the doctors (or midwife if a home birth). Doctors in particular have little patience (no pun intended) for people getting in their way. One thing I've found that helps is that if things get at all serious and it looks like it's going to be an OR birth, pull aside the anethesioligist (he actually is the boss in the OR, at least in Canada), for a moment, explain that you'll be very discrete, not get in his way, and WON'T be using flash (a no-no where OR gasses are concerned). Other than that, keep your gear simple (I've paired down to a 35mm lens only as you'll usually be in tight quarters). I've done a number of births now and there great fun, much more so than weddings ;-) As to the negs I would keep them, but let your conscience guide you. Pricing is a bit of a bug- a-boo. You can't really charge going hourly rates as it would be prohibitive for most midwifery associations to anty up the money. But charging a set fee and then having someone with a 42 hour labour (my last assigment) and your working for minimum wage.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

I photographed my daughters birth, the result is a wonderful PJ series we'll have, and pass on to my daughter, and her children, printed on toned fiber based B&W. A word of warning, any shutter noise could get said camera shoved where the sun don't shine, women in labor have free reign to commit murder if they feel like it, no one will blame them. I used my Cannonet QL-17, whisper quiet, even that leica shutter might get you a permanent physical impairment if your not carefull. Use a 90mm if you've got one to stay out of arms reach (and out of the way), but a fast 50mm will likely work best for the shutter speed needed even with 3200 film, available light is typically kept low, at least where my daughter was born.

Good luck, such emotionally charged events can make for great experiences.

-- Larry Roohr (lrryr@attbi.com), May 09, 2002.

Well we are all different. I am not sure it is the kind of thing I would want. We took pictures of our just-hatched offspring but actually during the birth - no thank you. Otherwise it seems a pretty routine assignment. Better in black and white I would have thought. I cannot imagine you will get many prints out of this assignment, so I would certainly sell them the negatives at some cost to be decided between you.

Taking pictures at a funeral is unusual for white folks, but is quite normal in many Asian (Chinese/Taiwanese) families and no doubt others.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

Something I should have added. I don't sell individual prints in this situation. I agree with Robin that most people aren't going to send out photos to relatives showing the intimate moments of birth. Instead I purchase nice folios (the ones I use hold 8X10 prints), hard leatherette board, bound on one end with ribbon ties to keep them closed - cost about 6 dollars Canadian. They hold about 10 fibre base prints, which the parents choose from the contacts (I usually shoot about 5 rolls). I shoot everything - mom waiting for the event to start, mom in the bath or shower trying to relax. Mom and partner together. Everything. I charge a set fee for the shoot and then charge seperately for the folio. I have found that I make about as much as I do on a basic wedding package, without the add on print sales of course. One other suggestion. I shot one birth in color. Way too graphic for most peoples tastes.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

Keith keep your left wing politics off the thread. Guess someone has to make up the 20% who don't approve of the president's performance...

-- jay bee (jbee193@aol.com), May 09, 2002.

The most graphic shot in our 'album' is my wife flipping me the bird. Maybe it's because I was the father and supporting my wife at the same time but nearly all the shots in the delivery room were from up at the head of the bed looking down, still caught the strain and intensity of the several hours long 'moment', I dont think anything was missing by not including the real graphical shots. You know though, now, I wish I did have one of my daughters actual entry into the world, but at the moment I wasnt concious of anything else except that event, it all went just as it should have.

-- Larry Roohr (lrryr@attbi.com), May 09, 2002.

Jay is right. You simply would not believe how little a spark it takes to detonate a Forum Explosion that would make the Big Bang look like the popping of a toy baloon, the results being many square miles of OT shrapnel that will take eons to clean up! Please...

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), May 09, 2002.

I also did photograph my son birth, I remember I was to nervous to make any good photograph, wish you luck.

About using color and black and withe film, I would sugest to keep on one kind of film, this is a fast experience, I don´t think you can handle two kind of film, at least I can´t.

Good luck

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

Bob

Ah well that is another matter all together - THAT is worth doing and a great idea. I rather took J.L. Kuhn's photographing a birth literally!.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

I believe that I was either misunderstood or my words were taken out of context. English is not my native tongue, so I'm sorry.

I tried to say, Kirk, please post your photos of the President of the United States somewhere where we can view them.

I admire his brilliance and his resolve in these times of strife and sadness. I'm sure all of us would feel uplifted by another chance to see an image of greatness.

I can't speak for the lefties, the Commies or the haters. There are one-way flights out of this great land every day. Get on one and goodbye, you won't be missed.

-- Keith Davis (leica4ever@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

No politcal comment made in my post. My neighbor is Karen Hughes and I promised her I wouldn't post any embarrassing photos from years gone by. I'm about as left wing as Lyndon Johnson. But I have no interest in discussing politics here.

My point was to keep your negs because you never know when you will be able to sell one time publication rights for tons of money.

If you don't like my post, move to another country where they don't let people like me have computers.

Kirk (already missing phil).

-- kirk tuck (kirktuck@kirktuck.com), May 09, 2002.

Sorry, I can't resist. So, left wing is literally ordered by right wing, through Jay's mouth, to keep politics off the thread. But of course, apparently right wing can express politics on the thread since this very order is, in itself, poilitics. Is that right wing enough for you?

-- Olivier (olreiche@videotron.ca), May 09, 2002.

"I have been recently given the opportunity to photograph the upcoming birth of at least two women"

James, first things first. The women have already been born. They will give birth, to little babies ...

:=D

1. Don't get in the way. 2. No flash. 3. Head for the door if there are complications. You do not wish to document a potential tragedy. It will only compound the pain. 4. Black and white is nicer. 5. Key moments=cutting the cord, spanking the baby (do they do that anymore?), handing the baby over to the mother, first feed, and a group picture of the delivery team, if they have time.

In the long run, likely the only picture of any sentimental value will be the one of the baby being handed over, or the child lying on the mother.

All IMHO.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 09, 2002.

Hi All. Fifteen and a half years ago, I photographed one birth - my son. I used a Canon T9o with the Canon dedicated flash made for the camera and a 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens and color pfint film. My wife had an emergency Ceasarian section. I guess that I had special access because the OB/GYN was a friend and a Leica shooter. I sat beside my wife hear her head. She was awake with a spinal block. I think that the vantage from the woman's perspective is best. No pelvic shots. I captured my son from his first moments. Very special. I used the full auto idiot mode on the camera. The shots are great, but I do not show them around. Good shooting.

-- Doug Landrum (dflandrum@earthlink.net), May 09, 2002.

My son-in-law photographed the birth of our granddaughter. Please excuse the non-Leica connotation, but he used a Nikkor 105/ 2.5 and a high speed B&W film. Staying back from the four sets of fingers assisting in the actual delivery, he was able to capture the essence of the birth,viz., (as a previous poster has said), the cutting of the umbilical cord, "spanking," the eyedrops, and, finally, what still is endearing to me, the look on my daughter's face as she was handed our granddaughter for the first time. That is what, IMHO, any birth photography should be about - - - the celebration of a new life, and the look on the face of the mother who has just given it.

-- George C. Berger (gberger@his.com), May 09, 2002.

I got some great shots of the birth of our son in 1980, when delivery room photography was not very common. Of course, being an intern at the time didn't hurt. Ideas for shots - the mother in the labor room with the fetal monitor, the midwife holding up the baby right after delivery, the clock, the baby resting on the mother's chest/abdomen. I wouldn't take anything for them. Pricing structure? Can't remember.

-- Ronald Blachly (theblach@swbell.net), May 09, 2002.

J.L. If the pic are for the Doula Society I would definatly keep the the negs. If They are for the parents I would probably negotiate a price and give them to them. My choice for film would be color before and after birth. B+W for the actual birth. The actual birth is quite messy and the graphical nature of color can be quite upsetting. The big call here is artistic talent. Put yourself in the mothers eyes and think of what she would want and how she would want it portrayed. Good luck

-- Andy Wagner (awagner@midwest-express.com), May 10, 2002.

Greetings to all;

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. However, the lady with whom I've been in conversation decided my price ($700) was out of her range. Oh well. Being "on-call" 24/7, travel time, and spending 4 to 8-hours (probably more) in the birthing center documenting the labor, birth, and first feeding is quite frankly, a job and should be approached as such. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to add to my range of experiences, however it’s not to be. Once again, thanks to all for your unselfish sharing and insight.

Warmest regards,

J.

-- J.L.Kuhn (james.kuhn-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov), May 13, 2002.

You did rigth J.L.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 13, 2002.

J.L.--

If you've never witnessed a birth, it may be worth doing it for less money. I would do it for free, probably, as it is such a spectacular event. 'Course, I was watching my own daughter's birth, and it may be different if there is not that connection.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), May 13, 2002.