Missoula Birth Photographer | Doula Support

Coined by the late Jeannine Parvati Baker – the term “birthkeeper”refers to a woman who not only supports a mother during pregnancy, the birth and the time after but even more importantly, encourages women to know their rights, empower themselves with knowledge to ensure that we as women are claiming our responsibility …

I am really resonating with this label. Even though it is just that, a label. Doula, Birth Support person, Birth Keeper, Great Auntie, My Best Friend. I had a great conversation with a retired midwife about doula work. We discussed that women who hold space for women, with innate wisdom, groundedness trust and more ARE the support, are the doulas are the keepers. Our society can put whatever name to it. We can create programs, trainings and standards. But you know what you know deep within when you are a Birth Keeper. Your gifts cannot be taught or articulated through a course.

I am a mother of 4, I am a birth worker, birth photographer, women’s essence witness.- truly.

Should I have a Birth Keeper?

Do you want to increase your chances of having the birth you desire?

Do you want to tap in to your power as a woman?

Do you want continued physical, mental and emotional support focused completely on you?

Do you want to take pressure off dad or help him become more in tune with you?

Do you want to be an active participant in your birth?

Do you want to be cared for instead of managed?

Do you know that you are in charge of your birth, body and baby and you can say no or decline any medical procedure that doesn’t align with your families values?

If you answered yes to any of these then you should have a birth keeper.

“Jenna! I love seeing your work on these birth pages that were so much a part of helping me get to my dream of a homebirth. It’s so much more than just the social media though. It gives me chills. Your work is changing the world girlfriend! Thank you thank you thank you! I just have to express it to you because I think it all the time.”

— Nicole Foster, Butte Montana Birth Client

Your Missoula Birth Photographer

Fresh, just minutes old. If you are a birth, baby, mama geek like me, you are going to be in love with your baby’s fresh head. They smell other worldly- and that totally makes sense to me. Be ready for a surreal, transformational experience.
Consider birth photographer with me, so that I can hand you back a concrete story. I have 9/10 mamas tell me they really couldn’t remember much, or that they had a blurred memory. 10/10 mamas see their birth story and are in awe of moments I documented for them, that they either didn’t know had taken place or just can’t wrap their minds around how I GOT THAT SHOT!
I am there for you. Mikaela Marie DiBerardinis​ and I vlogged yesterday about birth photography and one thing we talked about is how our services are more that just showing up on a spontaneous day at 2am and staying for an unpredictable amount of time ( which that in itself is epic) BUT that we also extend ourselves to being the solid care and peer to touch base with , once we are booked. I have clients text or call and chat about delayed cord clamping, new stretch marks, what they are eating, toddler angst, induction, emotions, and so on. We are part of your birth team. During birth, if applicable – we extend to chat with a nervous dad, or be a lesion to the nursing staff so that Dad can stay by mamas side. I have walked the halls with a client while her husband slept on the couch. I have sat with a mama and watched TV and shared birth/ mama stories- while she labored.
Then take all that- add on the gear, the back up gear, the ability to shoot in any lighting situation.
Then the willingness to hold space and reverence for life and death, and take all those stories home with us, in our minds, body, and hearts.
The service doesn’t end there.
24 hours later a handful of images are already edited and in your email so you can share with family and friends.
4 weeks later 100- 250 edited images are presented to the mama of her Birth Story-of a FAMILY STORY- to cherish and love for a lifetime.
2/3 of my clients become everyday friends- coffee dates, lunches, hikes. No matter what- I always remember you and I always remember your baby and your birth story. ALWAYS.

Fresh48- Digital files. Missoula newborn photographer

This is what 62 images look like. This is your story, your Fresh48. I come to your place of birth or home within 48 hrs. I am on a soft- on call service, so that I can be available within 48hrs of your baby being born. I offer an herbal or floral bath if you like. I provided the flower crowns you see in the image below. I worked with local farmer Jessi- Dancing Dog Farm, to craft and supply me with these arrangements. The bath is not obligatory, it is a service that I provide that you can take advantage of. The Fresh48 is relaxed in nature and REAL. I am relaxed about what unfolds before my camera. Your family can be quiet, shy, rambunctious, joyful, messy- priceless. I am there for all of that.

If you decide to love and want to invest in all of your digital files from the session. That will be 30+ images, in this case 62 digital files.

What will you do with them all? This mama actually invested in a number of 8×10 prints. So she will have a lovely gallery wall. What will you do with 62 files? I am obsessed with albums and keepsake unbound albums. These are art that you can hold and share in touch. I happen to sit with my kids and we read books, alot of books. So, it makes sense that we love to look through books with pictures, baby books, photo albums! My kitchen is one of the busiest spaces in my home. I have two walls dedicated to the art projects my kids create or bring home from school and photography- OF THEM AND US AND ALL THE LOVE OF FAMILY.