I had the honor of photographing my dear friends, Erin & Ken as they labored through the journey of meeting their precious baby girl. I’m calling it a journey because since it was a homebirth, it really was a journey as they moved through their house, finding different ways to cope and find comfort through the pain of childbirth. I ended up capturing them as they went on a journey with many peaks and valleys to finally meet their baby girl. For days before Erin gave birth, I too anticipated the birth, anxious, sleepless and feeling a bit nervous and scared. I mean, having had two c-sections myself, I wasn’t sure how I would feel watching a natural birth. I recalled my own experience with labor and how I reacted like a caged and corned animal, freaked and panicked. Erin & Ken were the opposite; calm, focused and trudged on through the pain and exhaustion with beautiful determination and patience. I photographed them for a bit on the day before her labor and then the twelve hours of the last day of her labor. It was a beautiful story that I’m honored I was able to capture, proud of what I created and thrilled I can share with you.
I really hate choosing just a few to share on the blog because they all go together to tell the story, so please take some time to watch the slideshow I created.
View full size slideshow here.
Slideshow music: Zee Avi-The Story, Fernando Ortega-Softly & Tenderly and Jason Mraz-I won’t give up.
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Oh and by the way, their baby girl is just absolutely perfect, precious and beautiful! It goes without saying that mommy and baby did and are doing great. Having a newborn in my life again is WONDERFUL! I’m hoping if I just bring food every time I visit for a baby snuggle fix, they won’t get sick of me!
The most amazing birth “video” i’ve ever seen! You did a wonderful job capturing her birthday! Congratulations to Erin and Ken! Does she have a name?
Great job Betsy! Births take so much out of you but they are still one of my favorite things to photograph! So beautiful! Congrats to the new parents too!
Oh we would never get sick of you – come over for free snuggles any time! 🙂
And you documented our days in the most beautiful way. I can never thank you enough for such an amazing gift.
Beautiful work!!!
This was beautiful! I have had three homebirths and I think you captured it very well, it brought back a lot of memories for me.
So so amazing, great work Bets!!
You did such a beautiful, beautiful job. I’ve watched that video like five times now, and it makes me cry every time!
Just gorgeous — and congrats to Erin and Ken!!! Can’t wait to meet that sweet little one of theirs!
Beautiful photos!! I cry everytime I watch the video! It is so moving!! Congrats Erin and Ken!
Simply put – beautiful.
Bets!! I just cried and cried watching that birth video. Erin and Ken are so lucky to be able to cherish that journey forever. And Erin…you are such a trooper!! It looked like you had an amazing support system. Great job Ken!! Big congrats all around. xoxo
Betsy. This so beautiful. What a wonderful thing for this couple to have and wonderful job you did. I am balling like a baby remembering my own experience. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous, Bets! Birth is such an incredible life experience, and you documented it all so well. Congrats to Erin and Ken!
WOW, WOW…the slideshow was just PERFECT!! I have never seen a home birth & it was the most beautiful thing I have ever saw. GREAT JOB!! Thank you for sharing.
Absolute perfection. So happy for you, Erin and family!
Steph
Wow! That was beautiful….
Absolutely beautiful! How did Erin manage to look so gorgeous through the whole birth? It’s been a while, but I can remember that I did not look that good while I was in pain.
Oh Betsy, I’m sitting here crying like a baby. Erin and Ken will be so very thankful to have these images. They are beautiful! Just watching the moments, the waves; the pain, the relaxation… brings me right back to my own labor just a year ago. From the photos I can tell that Erin did a beautiful job and that Ken was a perfect partner for her. Thank you for sharing and congratulations to the new parents!
Such a LOVELY slide show~ good work Betsy. I’m a friend of Christy’s and appreciate your sharing this!
So beautiful! It took me back to my own birth- a very long, intense labor, but I also had a wonderful coach (my husband) right there with me. You did an amazing job of capturing the husbands role and the way he beautifully supported his wife. You could sense a lot of love in these images! Beautiful, beautiful job!
Truly magnificent!! So well done and beautiful!!
I don’t think I have ever seen such an emotionally stimulating video in my life. I went back and forth from smiling to tears, from tears to smiling again. Thank you, Erin and Ken, for sharing this beautiful and miraculous event with us!! The love that you two share in this video is simply amazing. Betsy, you have such a gift in capturing special moments and I thank you for sharing your talents with us;)
What beautiful photos for Erin and Ken to remember this special day! Beautiful work, B!
Wow! You did a phenomenal job capturing this birth. Every shot is beautiful.
BETSY!!!! This was AMAZING. I love Erin & I was hoping you’d be there to document this day for them … What an awesome story you’ve told with your photos. Oh, and now I want a baby!! 🙂
What a beautiful video! Truly touching, amazing job Betsy for capturing it so well 🙂
You captured a beautiful miraculous moment. Wow so powerful these images are and the slide show… I am in tears! Congrats to the happy new parents Erin and Ken!