An Open Letter to the Media, the Public and Cesarean Mamas

The Canadian Birth Photographers believe that birth is birth.   A Cesarean birth is the birth of a baby and a mother.  It is usually a difficult and courageous decision made for the safety of their baby on the advice of their care providers.   Sometimes a woman will sacrifice her own hopes and dreams for her birth in the process.  Other times, it is a decision made to further her own birth experience.   All situations are valid.
 
As professional birth photographers, we believe that all births deserve to be celebrated in photographs.   Our job is to document the birth day honestly, with love and without judgment.   In my case, I have taken specific courses and spent many hours to recognize and work through my own birth biases so that I can leave them at the door of the birth space.
 
However, it is also true that we have significant barriers when photographing in the hospital and in particular, the operating room.  Most hospitals in Canada have some restrictions on photography and/or the number support people  - especially in the OR.  Sometimes we will send our cameras in with another support person.  Sometimes we tell the story from outside the OR.   We are able to photograph before and after but access is one of the main reasons that the public does not see as many cesarean birth photographs as vaginal births.
 
Now that the issue is front and center in some media, we want to take this opportunity to assure Canadian families that there is a birth photographer in your city that wants to tell the story of your baby’s birth day – regardless of where and how it happens.    We encourage families planning cesareans to consider birth photography so that we can include more cesarean births on social media.   Advocate for your right to birth photography in your hospital and OR.  We can’t celebrate cesarean births without cesarean mamas as clients.
 
Check out our listings page  for contact information for a professional Birth Photographer in your area.  


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​This blog post was written by one of our members Catherine (Cat) McAteer. Cat  is a documentary birth and family photographer in Calgary, Alberta. She's a lawyer on the down low, rides all kinds bicycles, wears comfortable shoes and eats of popcorn for dinner when no one is paying attention. Check her out at www.catmcateerphotography.com, on IG at @catmcphoto and Facebook at Cat McAteer Photography.
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Birth is an incredible journey that usually encounters a range of emotions such as bordom, frustration, sadness, elation, joy and relief. Here are some of the years best images captured by members of the Canadian Birth Photographers.  Enjoy looking through the year's most interesting birth moments and be sure to comment and tell us your favourites. 

Winner Best In Category: Labor "The Surge"  Apple Blossom Families.

One Canadian Birth Photographer won the Best in Labour Category and two Canadian's won the honorable mention in the 2016 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP ) contest. 

The annual competition by IAPBP celebrates the beauty of birth and the skill of birth photographers around the globe in three categories – labor, delivery and postpartum. The number one birth association worldwide, encompasses more than 1,350 members in 37 countries.
 
The association’s annual photo competition recognizes its members and their best work on an international platform.  The contest has grown in scope each year. Highly anticipated, the results quickly go viral each year when the winners are announced. Images are judged on a variety of criteria and the first place winner will be featured on media outlets worldwide. Large websites like HuffingtonPost, Baby Center, and The Bump have featured the contest winners. 
 
“Our Association has grown by leaps and bounds and our members continually produce excellent, emotive, invaluable birth photographs for the families that hire them,” said Lindsay Stradtner, founder of the organization and competition.
 
IAPBP has assembled an impressive panel of judges for this year’s competition that include Emmy award-winning pop culture icon, Ricki Lake, and Abby Epstein, producer and director of the documentary “The Business of Being Born” that was named Best of the Fest at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Morag Hastings, is a professional birth photographer in Vancouver, BC.  Hastings co-created the Canadian Birth Photographers listings page, birthphotographers.ca, as well as runs a busy facebook page with over 20,000 followers. Her image of a woman in the shower, laboring at home, "The Surge" won this year best in Labour category in the IAPBP contest.

The image titled "It calls to her both loudly and softly in song." by Krista Evans, won honorable mention. Krista Evans is a birth photographer based in Kelowna, BC. 


The image 'Maternal Grace'  Angela Gallo – Untethered Beginning for The Birthing Woman also won an honorable mention. Angela is from 



“Birth photography does so much more than create individual images; it tells a beautiful story of families being created and falling in love. Professional birth photographers tell these stories in a way that parents can look back on with amazement and wonder as they remember the day of their baby's birth,” said fellow directory co-founder and Vancouver B.C. birth photographer Morag Hastings. 

Hiring a birth photographer can cost from $800-$3,000 CND and includes photographs captured from active labour until two hours after the child is born.  The Canadian Birth Photography listings page lists over 90 birth photographers across Canada.  Find a birth photographer near you at www.birthphotographers.ca
 
Media Contact
 
Morag Hastings
Moraghastings@gmail.com
www.appleblossomfamilies.com
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These are some of the beautiful images our Canadian Birth Photographers submitted to the contest. Nice work ladies!!
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"The split second when life belongs to 2 worlds." {birth} © Cradled Creations Birth Photography ​www.cradledcreations.com
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 "It's Rough On The Dads,Too"  www.facebook.com/LittleChickadeesNewbornPhotography   www.LittleChickadeesPhotography.ca
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"My life line."    Helga Himer Photography   www.helgaphotography.com
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"A Day she too will never forget"  Vannessa Brown Photography  www.vannessabrown.com
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"The Strength Within" Ashley Marston Photography  www.ashleymarstonbirthphotography.com
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"Bright Eyes" www.katiagphoto.com

Charlotte's First Breath {delivery} http://photosbyappletree.com/
 Birth Photographer Edmonton - Melissa Appleton

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This is last year's photo that Ashley Martson  Ashley Marston Photography    ​http://www.ashleymarstonbirthphotography.com recieved a Honorable Mention for her beautiful labour photo in the 2015 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP ) contest.

Like what you see check out our blog post  30 Canadian Birth Photos That Will Make You Want To Have Another Baby.