International Multi Award Winning
Birth Photographer covering the South Coast
Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, West Sussex

Winner of  British Photography Award 2023 

• What knowledge do you have about labour and delivery?

 

Firstly, I am a Mum of 3 children so I can empathise with you on a maternal level but when I throw myself into something I'm passionate about I like to go as far as I can!

I decided I needed to know more , so I trained to become a Doula and have now willingly become a Birth nerd! I now have a deeper physiological understanding of Birth itself, the whole process including the physical & hormonal changes and also how somebody's presence if birth photography is not done properly (which is why you need to chose your photographer carefully!), can have an impact on a person's birth space. I am there to hold space for you.  You are my first priority always. I may eventually offer Doula services further down the road but for now, it will just be of added reassurance for you that I know what I am doing whilst I am with you incase I arrive before midwives (if you decide to birth at home). I am also a DoTerra Wellness Advocate & have a good knowledge of essential oils during pregnancy & labour and am currently studying a HypnoBirthing practitioner course - again so that you can feel safe in the knowledge that I am not 'just' a photographer - you are in very safe hands with me when you decide to include me as part of your birthing team. 

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•  What equipment do you use?

 

I have a full frame Sony A7iii which is terrific in dark lighting. I am upfront & honest about the use of flash. Without a doubt it will give you a better quality picture and I tend to use it 60% of the time. My flash is a bounced flash so it bounces off the wall behind me as opposed to you being blinded each time I use it. I  promise you that you will not feel like you have a member of the paparazzi in your birthing space! I am quiet and discreet. I tend to start off without the flash & with my shutter sound off but as you hit the transition stage & you become more unaware of me that is the point where the flash and shutter is used. There is no staging or getting anyone to look at the camera. It is purely documentary based. A lot of my clients commented after their birth that they didn't notice either me, the flash or the shutter sound. 

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•   Can't my partner just take the photos?

 

Definitely! But I'm not bias when I say that they won't look the same as mine! When I look back at the photo's my husband took of our babies.........well..........yeh!  Don't get me wrong, they're precious because they are all I have but if Birth Photography had been a thing 19, 11 or even 9 years ago I absolutely would have booked someone. It takes the pressure off your partner, they can concentrate all their energy into supporting and guiding you without worrying about having their phone or camera ready for you. It's my job to pre-empt what situations will come next and be ready to capture them.

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"If you want someone to capture the raw beauty of life please use Sophie. We are so grateful for how wonderful she has been throughout this whole journey and honestly cannot credit her enough" - Charlotte

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•  Do I need to gain permission from my Midwife?

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If you are having a home birth then no, you do not need to ask permission but it is a courtesy to inform them that I will be there. If it is a hospital birth then yes, the responsibility is on you to ask your midwife and have them check hospital policy. I always ask consent from staff when I am there as to whether they mind being in photo's. If they say no I make sure they are not photographed. In America, most Birth Photographers are allowed in to photograph C- Sections as no matter what anyone says this is still a birthing process. In the UK, we haven't quite reached that stage yet but I am happy to come along to one of your Consultant appointments and help advocate on your behalf. If not I can be there before and immediately after theatre.  In hospitals I am allowed in as a second birth partner and support person.

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•  Why does Birth Photography cost so much? 

Birth Photography on average is equivalent to the cost of Wedding Photography as it is documenting a pivotal day in your life. The added and more complex parts of a job for a Birth Photographer come in being on call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for up to 4 weeks at a time. In reality for me that means always having emergency childcare in place. On weekends, we cannot travel too far in case I'm called back or if we do, we have to go in separate cars. It means not booking a holiday a few months in advance. It means possibly missing one of my children's Birthdays (which recently happened for the first time in 3.5 years of photographing Births!).  I also have no idea how long I will be with my clients -I 've been with them for as short as 4 hours and as long as 27 hours and then I need to go home and edit (and sleep and be a Mum!) My passion for Birth Photography is my driving force but in turn my prices have to reflect the sacrifice.  I offer instalments to help spread the cost and some clients like to ask friends & family to gift towards it instead of buying baby gifts. 

 

•  When do you start taking photo's?

 

A key part in this journey together is communication. I need to know about all the changes that occur in the weeks leading up to your due date. If contractions start, I need to know. If waters break, I need to know. Especially if I have to travel a fair distance to get to you! I aim to be with you around the 5-6cm dilation stage which is classed as established labour but birth doesn't always happen this way so communication is paramount!  This enables me to tell as much as your story as possible. 

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• What happens if you become ill and can't attend?

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I have an amazing back up photographer who I trust dearly and whenever I get a birth booking she is  automatically prepared to go on call in my place for those amount of hours that I should be 'out of service' should I fall into a family emergency ( anything to do with A&E!) if I become ill, or should I have another birth booking within the same 4 week period just so that we have all bases covered so that your special moment is captured regardless of events out of the universe's control. Please note that bless her heart despite being on standby and doing some of the hard work with me by being on call too, she's never yet had to attend a birth in my place! But for peace of mind for everyone I wouldn't be without her!

 

I am sure you have so many more questions!! Please get in touch, I'm happy to answer as many as I can - write me a list! We can meet for a cuppa or chat online. Remember this is YOUR journey. YOUR Birth. YOUR story. I'm just there to help you remember it in a beautiful, tender and honest way. 

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"From the moment I knew we wanted another baby I also knew how much I wanted a Birth Photographer as I regret not having one at our daughters birth. So before actually finding out I was pregnant I had already found Sophie. Once it was confirmed I contacted her and I remember it like it was yesterday as she was so warm & friendly from our first conversation. 

Throughout my pregnancy she was such a huge support & always just so warm & kind to talk to and a real help when I was in prodromal labour and getting exhausted from all the stop/start. Her positive messages were a godsend...I honestly feel like I have known her forever. 

At our birth I didn't even realise Soph was there. She was so quiet & respectful of our birth space at home. I also desperately wanted a tandem feeding picture with my daughter & baby & Sophie was just amazing and even came back to get a photo later that day when she had been at ours till the early hours of the morning! 

The pictures are everything I could have dreamed of & I feel so lucky to have found Soph & to have had her lovely warm & calming energy at Julius' birth." - Millie

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Birth Stories include the following - 

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• 2-3 meetings prior to Birth for a cuppa and a slice of cake and to chat all things Baby. 

• Me being on call from 38 weeks of your pregnancy, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

• Photos of you in established labour until 1-2 hours after Baby has arrived.

• Two photos edited and emailed to you within 12 hours that you can use as a Birth announcement if you wish.

• A fully edited gallery of images that you can download and use as you wish within 7-10 days both in colour and black and white.

• Added assurance of a back up photographer

• A Post Partum Motherhood Session when you are ready.

 

 

Birth Stories are currently £1,200. Doula support is an extra £500. Payment plans are available. Always get in touch to discuss costings, I am always flexible! Always message me if you are unsure geographically if it feasible as I go by the time it takes me to get somewhere as opposed to the distance. 

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More images can be found in the Blog section.