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.

Newborn photography. Missoula. Jacole Johnson

Bring baby in for a deeply nurturing session. This is a slow time. A time when it’s more important to delight in your exquisite newborn than anything else. I want to see you nurture. The way your hands delicately hold and cradle the small perfect babe you created. The skin, that’s new and the skin that has loved.

Who’s this?

I can dress down or dress up. Once I have my camera out, hospital staff takes notice. I am quick to make allies with the nurses. I will have more interaction with them than most of the obgyns. If the birth environment permits I always try to have a quick, kind, informative conversation with the lead nurse as to some of my client’s wishes. I always pose the wishes as reasonable requests under applicable circumstances. There is a quick team I need to form to be able to deliver for my clients. I can’t assume a position at the foot of the bed without communicating with a nurse or 3!

Once the obgyn enters the room I place my camera at my side and I usually sit if there is space. I wait to be introduced or the obgyn will ask the patient “who’s this?”, or I am directly addressed, typically with greetings like, “Oh I see you are a photographer. ” Whether I am introduced or I get to introduce myself, it is humble yet confident. Personally I love when my clients get the chance to introduce me – it validates that I am part of the team. The parents know it, the nurses know and customer satisfaction informs an obgyn. What really makes my day and my client’s as well, is when the doctor and I have report built on previous experiences. I am honored to say, a number of doctors know me and trust me in the birth space. One or two ( I won’t mention names) are familiar enough to chat photography and ask about my family. This is lovely and can also be awkward- I am working and we are there for the birthing person, but I try to navigate those times with a big smile.