Labor is such a blur. It feels like it will never end, while simultaneously going by quickly. Labor is a huge part of a mom’s complete birth story. The connections, the struggles, the intensity, the in between moments. Here are my top 5 favorite labor photos I was honored to capture this year.

 

Support is crucial in mom’s labor. This image speaks to me because of the connections and love that’s felt by this mama’s tribe supporting her through tough parts of labor.

 

If you have more than one child, you remember clearly the moments you recognized your baby wasn’t going to be your baby for much longer. Will I love the new baby as much as I love him? Will I get to enjoy time with him as I used to? Mom was in a serious part of labor here, and was saying goodbye to her son – who would return home to meet his sister a few hours later.

 

Birth doesn’t fit into a uniform box for each mom. Birth is real, and it’s raw. This mama was roaring her baby into her arms with her support team nearby. Photographer nerd moment: This birth was DARK. When in intense parts of labor, I try not to use flash so I don’t distract mom. I couldn’t even see mom in front of me, it was so dark. This was shot in manual focus at ISO 256,000 f/1.4 & 1/8.

 

When you say to a child “go give mommy a kiss” for a photo, the image is sweet and special.

But, during labor, when your son is rubbing mom’s arm, encouraging her, and I just happen to catch a sweet moment like this one between a mother and son… it’s a something you want to freeze in your memory forever.

 

There are so many emotions in this photo. A mom who is working the hardest she’s ever worked, a dad who is ecstatic to meet his daughter….and a sweet baby girl who, just for a moment, is halfway between two worlds.

I hope you enjoyed my favorite labor images from 2015. It has been my honor and privilege to photograph each and every one of my client’s births. I am so looking forward to all the babies 2016 will bring!

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