Birth Outfits!

Okay, hear me out. I am not going to tell you that you need a ballgown for your birth, and I am not even going to tell you that this is required! At all. Promise. That being said, if you are planning to hire a birth photographer, you may want to think about what you and your partner will be wearing during your birth if this is something that feels important to you. Even if you don't hire a photographer, you may want to think about what you will be wearing during your birth, and here's why: there will be photos from this day, and hospitals are.... not always aesthetically cohesive - doctors and nurses are often in colorful and patterned scrubs, sheets and gowns are varied in colors and shades, the walls are unusual shades of orange "wood", and that is a lot to compete with. If you are planning a home or birth center birth, you will have many of the same competing items in these locations. So unless you're planning to birth your baby in a pristine studio, chances are there will be some stylistic challenges. The focus of these images should be you and your baby. You may not care one lick about the style or the gowns or the orange walls, and that is a-okay with me! Many birth photos are captured in black-and-white to eliminate some of the noise and focus more on you and your baby for this very reason. All of that to say, *if* the style of your images is something that is important to you, I can offer a few suggestions as you pack your birth bag! Here are some of the items I recommend:

-Solid colored sports nursing bra or swim top (the most common colors I see are tan/black/white). These allow for plenty of movement during birth, dry quickly if you plan to be in and out of the water, and are comfortable for long periods (ahem, your labor).

-Plain towels or receiving blankets for Baby (this isn't always an option during hospital births). I stay up to two hours after your baby is born, so there are many photos from this bonding time. If there is a blanket that is meaningful to you, or something you want to include in these memories, make sure you have it with you! There are so many beautiful options these days, so if you have a color scheme for your home that you want to incorporate, this is a wonderful opportunity.

-Simple t-shirt for your birthing support person! Sometimes support teams show up in wild and wacky tie-dye, sometimes they show up in a suit straight from work! Pack a comfortable and plain outfit for them to change into if this is something that is important to you.

Prior to your birth, I send a little list of reminders, and the number of mamas I have had thank me for outfit recommendations is surprising to me! Trust me when I tell you, it never occurred to me what my husband wore the night our daughter was born, so if this isn't on your radar, you do not need to add it to the list of things you are concerned with! This is simply a suggestion for those who are considering welcome home outfits as well as welcome to the world outfits.

I will photograph your birth in whatever manner feels authentic to you and your family, so come as you are!