In preparation for the arrival of my first child, I admittedly navigated the world of Pinterest. The world is full of great parenting blogs, baby gear reviews, life hacks and general baby cuteness. Seriously, there is so much baby gear that it’s overwhelming.
By the end of my pregnancy I was sure that my son was going to be the most artistic, hip and intelligent child that ever graced the planet. Thank you, Pinterest. I seriously have a pin board full of wonderful and great things to try on my guinea pig…I mean, son. But, sadly, I’ve not got around to doing 99% of those things. Apparently, online pin boards cannot prepare you for what it actually means to be a parent. Who would have thought?
During this “research” I came across several photos of Birth Photography. Birth Photography? Wait, that’s a THING? Admittedly, the first images that popped into my head were those of a poor woman in mid push with blood and guts and gore strewn about. However, the more I looked at these images, the more I was sure this was a road that I wanted to walk down.
What stopped me in my tracks was the sheer emotion portrayed in the images: Dad looking at his newborn child for the first time. Mom, with a baby just seconds old placed on her chest…the tears streaming down her eyes as she kisses him for the first time. These are images that most people don’t have (unless that is, you have your mom in there with a cell phone camera posting all your glory on social media. No thanks!). I knew, more than anything that I had to have these priceless images for myself.
The second phase of research began. Who would I trust to be in the room with my husband and I during our most intimate and grueling hours? Who would I trust to photograph the moment that we became parents?
I searched Beaufort over and stumbled across Nadia Hurtt Photography. I viewed her Birth Photography gallery and instantly fell in love with her images. Instantly tears filled my eyes as I watched the stories of her past clients.
Nadia and I met at a little coffee shop by the water. She was interested in everything that I had to say. She sat down with me and I was able to portray my comfort level to her. “There is no way I want your camera (or you) between my legs…ever. Unless you’re delivering my baby.” Immediately she understood. Then, we spoke at length about our shared love of food and I knew we were kindred spirits.
Fast forward to my due date. Because Nadia’s life revolved around me since I was 37 weeks pregnant, I had no worry that she was available when I called her at 3 am. I will never forget that phone call.
RING RING.
Nadia: “Hello?”
Me: “THUNDER CATS ARE GO!”
Nadia: “Yay! I’ll see you soon!”
She may have seen me soon, but my baby didn’t come until almost 24 hours later. She stayed the entire time. She became part of my family. When my family couldn’t be there, she held my hand. She talked me down. I barely noticed the camera in her hand. I didn’t care about how I looked. I wasn’t stressed about the first photo of my child being on a grainy cell phone screen. My family didn’t have cameras; they were there for us. Nadia handled the rest.
There is nothing that can compare to the moments when you meet your child for the first time. I cannot find the proper words to adequately portray the range of emotion felt on that day. Whether it is your first or last child, this is an experience that truly, truly only ever happens once.
Looking back on the images of the day that I gave birth still brings tears to my eyes. Every emotion I felt is bound in an album that I cherish. It is one of my most prized and important possessions. Of all the decisions I made leading up to the birth of my child, hiring a birth photographer remains one of the best I made.
Further, Nadia and I are still great friends. We have an everlasting bond when it comes to my son. I could not imagine a better birth photographer or friend.
xx- Ashley
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