How Much Does Quality Birth Photography Cost in Denver?
Are you interested in birth photography in the Denver area, but unsure what it is going to cost you? I get it; it’s probably a new genre of photography for you and one you’ve never come across before. It can feel daunting to research something for which you have no context. Let's talk about it!
I should start by saying that I am a maternity, newborn, and family photographer and I don’t do birth photography. However, I know that many women that are looking for a maternity or newborn photographer are also looking for a birth photographer, so I want to write a blog post for you all. Although I don’t do this type of photography, I definitely know a lot about it.
Photography can come at many price points, which I highlight in my post - How Much Does a Quality and Worthwhile Maternity Photoshoot Cost? I recommend starting with that post to learn the ins and outs of different levels and how they work in the photography industry. Once you’ve read that, you’ll understand the the more experienced a photographer is the more they will cost. This is an important facet to understand as you enter the world of birth photography, because worthwhile and quality birth photography requires a lot of experience and that experience can be difficult to attain. Let’s talk about what it means to be a birth photographer.
Birth is an Event
I equate birth photography, its requirements and its needed skill sets, to wedding photography with the added complication of there being a birth involved. What makes these two genres similar?
Birth is an event that cannot be replicated for redos of photos, so the photographer only has one chance to capture the moment. Anyone can capture one or two good photos, if they are given enough time. Only great photographers can capture it the first time always.
Birth is an event that is not dictated by its photography needs. Things have to happen when they have to happen and it doesn’t matter if the lighting is wrong or there are people in the way. Therefore, you need someone that can handle whatever is thrown at them.
The photographer has very little to no control over the events and is at the mercy of the birth. Therefore, you need a photographer that can understand what is happening and what to do in these situations.
Why do these similarities matter when it comes to birth and wedding photography? Because these are the very reasons wedding photography can be on the pricier side as well. It takes a lot of experience for a photographer to become a great wedding photographer. Since they can’t control or dictate things during a wedding, a wedding photographer has to be able to handle all possible lighting and people situations and still get the shot. A birth is no different. You expect your birth photographer to get the shots no matter what happens and only an experienced photographer can do that.
Now add to the fact that a birth is nothing like a wedding. This is a major medical situation that is definitely life and, unfortunately can have the possibility of, death. As a result, your birth photographer needs to be able to handle any medical situation that arises, know when to get out of the way, and how to handle some heavy situations. This is why many birth photographers not only need years of experience to enter this arena, they also often have specialized training. There are entire courses devoted to being a birth photographer and often birth photographers study to be doulas as well, so that they can understand the medical side of things and can be an asset in the room if needed. Just like any other profession, the more experience an expert needs, the more they need to charge to offset all the training and time it took to get where they are at this point in their career.
Birth is Rarely Scheduled
I’m going to be honest. This is the very reason why I can’t be a birth photographer. I can’t be on call. I don’t personally have enough support in the area to help with childcare, if and when I am called away for a birth. I bring this up, because this is a very real hurdle birth photographers with responsibilities must accommodate. If you’re not yet a parent, it is hard to understand just how difficult it can be to get childcare at the drop of a dime. Yes, you could say that the person could just get a babysitter, but relying on someone to care for your child can be risky business. Other people have lives too and they may not be available or not be as reliable as you hoped.
Being on call is a difficult life circumstance to accommodate. The compensation has to cover that. It has to cover when your go-to babysitter isn’t available and you need to bring someone else in at the last minute. It needs to cover the disruption to your and your family’s life when you’re called in for a birth at 3 am.
Also, it can make life difficult to plan. Your birth photographer will most likely be on call for weeks on end. This causes a disruption to their personal lives, as well as their professional ones. Because of the toll that a single birth can take on a schedule, a birth photographer can only take so many births at any given time. After all, you don’t want to book a birth photographer that might end up being at someone else’s birth when you go into labor, right? Expenses aren’t able to be limited in the same fashion as limiting the births a photographer can take. Therefore, prices need to be on the higher end.
Then add to it that you never know how long a birth is going to last. Your birth photographer may end up being with you for days.
How much is birth photography in Denver?
The cost of a birth photographer can vary depending on experience and the services and products offered. So, even though I would place all birth photographers in the boutique and luxury realm of photography, their prices can and do still range. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 for a birth photography package that includes digital files with a print release. With photography you do get what you pay for, so if you are looking for high quality birth photography, expect to pay at the higher end of the range.
Are there cheaper birth photographers out there?
Yes, I’m sure there are people out there promising to do birth photography for cheaper than the range I indicated above. Are they experienced birth photographers? No. Is it worth it to book them? No. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from clients horror stories about previous people they booked for photography. The easiest way to tell if a photographer is professional, reliable, and will provide good photography is their price. If they are priced too low, there is a very good chance they will do something that will make this investment not worth it regardless of what you paid. They may not show up at all. Unfortunately, that is a common occurrence with cheap “photographers”. If they show up, they may get in the way of your medical professionals and make your birth experience more stressful than it needs to be. A cheaper price indicates a lack of experience and training. Also due to that, there is a good chance they won’t get the shots. Phones make a lot of people think that photos are easy to get. Try printing your phone photos to something as small as an 11x14 and you’ll see that the quality looks great on your phone, but no where else. Why does that matter? Because quality photographs are a lot more difficult to capture. You have to accommodate for a variety of scenarios and know how to do that. Only experienced photographers can do that in a situation like a birth.
Yes, that may mean that birth photography is out of budget for you. Unfortunately, it is for a lot of people. Fortunately, there are alternatives to entertain that can get you photos as near to birth photography as possible and are more budget friendly, such as 48 hour sessions or sessions with a hospital photographer.
Should you book the same photographer for maternity, birth, and newborn?
I find that a lot of clients hope to book the same photographer for all three. Here’s the deal. That can be great or a complete disaster. Here is how to determine if it will be great:
Make sure that you like the photography they do for all three. Styles can vary quite significantly within each genre. Make sure the style of the photography matches what you’re looking for in each genre.
Make sure they are experienced in all three. Oftentimes a photographer will specialize in one and not really do much of the other two. Make sure they are experienced and can consistently deliver in all the genres you’re booking.
Make sure they do all the photography you want throughout baby’s first year. Many maternity and newborn photographers will do milestone sessions throughout the first year. Whereas, many birth photographers don’t work with families beyond newborn. Make sure you’re setting yourself up for success for any milestone sessions you might want later in that first year and start working that that photographer from the beginning. It can mean money saved in the long run. It can also mean consistency of photos through baby’s first year, which lends itself better to wall art displays and albums that you create to document that first year.
What if one of the three things above doesn’t match up? Is it a good idea to book different photographers? For sure! Yes, it can be a bit more work to book more than one photographer, but the end result will be worth it. You’ll get the photography that you actually want for this momentous occassion. It will also give you a lot more options. You’ll find that many birth photographers won’t do the other types of photography and vice versa.
Is birth photography worth it?
Here’s where reading a maternity and newborn photographer’s website is going to be of benefit for you in this situation. I have no skin in the game. So I can tell you my honest experience with birth photography. I did not book birth photography. I definitely thought about it and researched birth photographers, but I had two worries. First, what if the birth photographer doesn’t show up in time? What if my birth goes quicker than the doctors say it will? It turns out I had a mother’s intuition. My birth experience turned out much quicker than anyone expected with a first baby. I didn’t have early labor at all. The second I started contractions, I had to go to the hospital. Although, I did push for a long time, so I’m sure she would’ve shown up in time to capture much of it.
My second concern was having someone capture a very intimate experience. I am an introvert and I didn’t think that going through this intimate experience with someone photographing it was going to make me feel comfortable at a time when I was very vulnerable.
So, do I regret not booking birth photography? Because, after all, the only photos you regret are the ones you didn’t capture. I don’t. The only photos I have of my daughter’s birth is immediately thereafter taken by the nurse. And, let’s just say, it shows more than it should, so I can’t share those photos. I don’t have many photos of those early hours at all. Even as a photographer, I didn’t take that many photos. Because, although my birth experience was quicker than they were expecting, it was no less work and no less tiring. My daughter got stuck and I ended up pushing for four and half hours. I started pushing the second I got to the hospital. I also had her in the middle of the night. That was extremely exhausting. I had no energy to take photos. I was too overwhelmed with staying up, learning how to breastfeed, and how to care for my baby.
It is all about priorities. If it is a priority for you to capture this event, then definitely get a birth photographer. There is no guarantee that you are going to feel up to getting photos on your own. Every birth experience is different, and as someone that pushed for a very long time, sometimes those birth experiences can take a long time to recover. I wouldn’t chance it.
If it is not a priority for you to capture this event, then I would put your resources into capturing photography that does mean something more to you. Hire a great maternity and newborn photographer instead.
Sara Herkes is a maternity, newborn, family, and senior photographer based in Longmont, CO. She serves the the Denver Metro Area, the Colorado Rockies, and the Northern Front Range and captures your pregnancy amidst the Colorado wilderness. Learn more about her services here.
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