Capturing the Miracle: A Photographer’s Perspective on Brittney’s Birth Experience

All information has been written in collaboration with and reviewed by the birthing person.

All stories and images are shared with verbal and/or written consent from the subjects.

Birth is rarely just about one person; it is about teams working together, combining their strengths into the moment a new life enters the world. This birth story will be different from most I write. Usually, I’m the one behind the camera from the first maternity session through the newborn cuddles and beyond. But this time, it is a story told through two sets of eyes, two hearts, and two cameras, each bringing a unique photographer’s perspective.

Brittney first reached out to Shelby Jones with Anna Rae Photography in April 2025. She asked about maternity services, and during their conversation mentioned that she wanted to see about birth documentation as well. They planned to meet up together at the Blackbird Café to talk more and meet in person. That is where Shelby walked her through the birth process with a birth photographer and what type of images she would like to focus on.

She really was not sure about having her birth documented. It wasn't until Shelby mentioned a very important point that Britt realized birth photography actually made sense. It's something that we mention to pregnant people often as many do not realize this, until it's too late. It's not about just getting photos, it's not about just seeing what is happening down below. It is about creating a tangible memory that will fill in the gaps when postpartum fog begins to take over. We capture all of those little details that you might not notice, because well, you are birthing a whole baby!

After Brittney booked her birth story package with Anna Rae Photography, one of the first things that Shelby did was reach out to me, Hanna Perry with Capturing the Miracle by C Double H Photography. A birth photographer should never go without a backup photographer, and for good reason. Birth is beautifully unpredictable, and as a surgical technologist with a set schedule, there was always the chance that Shelby could be called into work.

“That’s where Hanna comes in. She is not only incredibly talented, but also one of the kindest people I know. Her heart for birth stories shines in every moment she captures. I knew right away she was the perfect fit to back me up for Brittney’s story,” Shelby said.

And for the first time ever, having a backup photographer came in handy. Shelby said, “Knowing Hanna was there gave not only me, but also Brittney, peace of mind that this once-in-a-lifetime moment would be documented no matter what.” When it comes to your birth story, you deserve nothing less than complete dedication and care. Shelby believes that wholeheartedly, and it was an honor to be her partner and dedicate myself to being there just in case.

Over the next few months, Shelby kept in touch with Brittney. They chatted about the future and even made plans for her little one’s newborn session to come later that year. It was important to Brittney to include the theme of Winnie the Pooh. Shelby looked forward to her beautiful birth story to come.

In late June, Shelby was looking over her clients and packages. Typically, when a client books a birth package, it will include a maternity session, so she reached out to Brittney about getting it scheduled. Brittney reminded her that they had decided to switch it for a family session when her little boy turned one, but what a blessing it turned out to be that Shelby sent that message. It sparked curiosity in Brittney about maybe doing maternity photos after all. She talked it over with her husband, then reached back out and they set a date.

The day arrived for her maternity session, but it did not go quite as planned. “The skies opened up, the rain poured, and the ground was just too muddy to make it work,” Shelby said. So, they decided to reschedule, and when they did, Shelby said that “it felt like the sun came out just for her.” The very first thing Shelby noticed when Brittney arrived to her maternity session was how “absolutely glowing she looked and then, of course, her gorgeous dress.” She said, “She radiated that undeniable beauty that comes with carrying new life.” Despite the hot, hot weather, she was calm, chill, and full of grace. For Brittney, a maternity session at 36 weeks was just right, though she laughed about feeling “ready for him to be here,” as she told Shelby at their session.

They started their session at the pond at Clarion Woods Park, where the sunlight wrapped around her. From there, they wandered to one of Shelby’s favorite little spots tucked partially into the trees. “This little spot had shade and was quiet. It made everything feel even more serene,” Shelby later told me. As they moved through her session, they chatted about life, Shelby’s daughter, and the anticipation of her baby boy’s arrival.

After Shelby delivered her finished images, Brittney told her that she was so glad she ended up doing a maternity session because “these are the moments that matter.” And they are. “These are the pieces of your journey into motherhood that deserve to be remembered,” Shelby added.

Over the following weeks, Brittney and Shelby stayed in close contact, both eagerly waiting for those first signs of early labor and the next chapter of her story to unfold. She checked in every few days. After her due date passed, Shelby chatted with Brittney about whether she was planning to continue with spontaneous labor or move toward an induction. Brittney expressed that she considered giving in and admitting to the hospital, but she was determined to follow her birth plan. Shelby talked about possibly getting a pedicure, which she did!

Tuesday evening, Shelby went into work as usual, but had a big case come in that would have her unreachable for a few hours. Instinctively, she checked in with Brittney and gave her my contact. She then said, “Feel free to message her and say hi!!”

Brittney first reached out to me on August 19th. She was past forty weeks, feeling the heaviness of waiting, and wondering if her baby would ever come. I could feel her restlessness through her words. She admitted to feeling depressed, impatient, even considering an induction. I encouraged her to weigh the pros and cons, and I shared a blog from a local doula about those last days of pregnancy. It talked about how they are a sacred, in-between season, worth honoring even when they feel endless. She told me that reading it helped her feel validated, that it reminded her that her body was at work even when the work couldn’t be seen. That small exchange was the beginning of my connection to her story.

On Thursday, August 21st, at 11:37 p.m., Shelby received a text from Brittney’s husband letting her know she was having contractions at the house and they were waiting on the doula’s instructions. Then he immediately texted again letting her know, “Okay, we were told to go to the hospital now.” Shelby replied, “Message Hanna!!! I’ll send you her contact info!!” as she was at work in Kansas City and could not be free until the morning.

Late on Thursday night, I got a message from Brittney’s husband, Joseph. He told me they were at Stormont, that she was having consistent contractions for thirty minutes and was already five centimeters. Shortly after, Brittney herself let me know what room they were in, and I told her I was heading up.

When I arrived, Brittney was just getting in to the bathtub. Her doula, LaToya, joked with her, “You can just stay in there until you’re 10,” and they both laughed. The atmosphere was lighthearted, yet Brittney carried herself with a calm steadiness. She seemed grounded, intentional, and present. I asked Britt later on about her birth team and how she came to know they would make a great team and shared with me that she chose LaToya, because "She had a plan and was very organized. She didn't solely rely on me to make every decision, because this is my first time giving birth. She had options for me to customize how my birth plan could look. She was also very encouraging and gave me tips throughout my pregnancy when I felt low." When she shared about her husband, Joseph, I could see how much he truly cared for and supported her through her experience. "I enjoyed him taking care of me during those nights that I was throwing up. He was beside me, cleaning me up. I loved him caring for me and I know it must be odd seeing his partner go through so many changes. I was able to see my husband be right at my side through each trimester.", she said after her birth.

Her doula had set a diffuser going with citrus oils, and the sweet brightness of that scent erased the sterile edge of the hospital. The lights were dimmed. Soft music filled the quiet. At 3:45 a.m. it was just Brittney and her partner together, sharing the stillness between waves. At 5:00 a.m. she was still in the bath, sipping water and coconut water, eating jerky and a pouch. She was fueling herself for the work ahead. Twenty minutes later her mom slipped in for a visit, and they shared a sweet moment while she remained in the tub, grounded and steady. Something that Britt shared with me after her little boy's arrival was that she distinctively remembered the bubbling of the jacuzzi tub, as well as the sounds of people going in and out of doors, her staff and birth team speaking, and all of those little hospital beeps. Above all though she told me "The water truly soothed me.."

By 6:00 a.m., Brittney’s midwife came in to talk about the next steps. They discussed the possibility of an epidural. Brittney didn’t seem against it, but it was clear she hoped to labor without one if she could. At 6:15 a.m. she was checked: seven centimeters, stretchy, with a bulging bag of waters. Progress was steady. At 6:30 a.m., she remained in bed while her IV was set and fluids were started, preparing in case she did choose the epidural later. Then, with her fluids running, she returned to the bath to labor in the water while still supported by the care she might need.

At 7:25 a.m. baby’s heart tones were checked, and that was the first moment my heart ached. I realized that as a backup photographer, I might not get to see this story through or to edit her photos, to write her story, to witness her postpartum joy. The thought of hearing her baby’s heartbeat but not being there to meet her baby felt unbearably incomplete.

By 7:45 a.m. Brittney was still in the bath, beginning to feel the urge to push during contractions. Her midwife offered a cervical check, but they decided to wait. At 8:10 a.m., sleepiness set in and she got out of the bath. The exam revealed she was nine centimeters. They considered breaking her water, but Brittney chose to wait. Her decision-making was steady, thoughtful, and a reflection of the prep she and her doula had done. She had her husband there the entire time to hold her hand through the waiting and continue to encourage her. Around this time I began texting with the Shelby and my babysitter. I was heartbroken at the idea of leaving, grateful for a little more time, but already bracing myself for the ache.

By 9:45 a.m. she was still nine centimeters, resting and doing position changes. Between 10:00 and 11:00 she remained in bed, still nine. Brittney’s doula began massaging her hips to help with pain. She was trying to relax but she was really struggling once the Pitocin began. Brittney later shared that her Doula contributed to some of her favorite moments of her entire birth experience. She said That her doula jumped in every time she had a contraction and that the hip squeezes were "much needed". And at 11:00 a.m., with a heavy heart, I packed up and went home, knowing that Shelby would step in. It was the first time I’d ever left a birth unfinished, and it felt crushing.

Later, as we were weaving in Shelby’s perspective as her birth photographer, Shelby added, “Even though Hanna had pulled a long night herself, she was absolutely bursting with excitement for Brittney and so deeply committed to finishing out her story. That’s the kind of heart and dedication I value so much in a back-up photographer—it’s never ‘just a job,’ it’s a calling.”

When Shelby arrived at the hospital and made her way up to the 4th floor, she walked in to find Brittney resting in bed. “After working an overnight shift in the OR, having Hanna there gave me the confidence to run home and grab just a few hours of sleep before heading to the hospital,” Shelby said.

About 11:52 a.m., she changed positions up into the Princess position. It's called this because they prop you up as if you are on a throne. Joseph helped her breathe through contractions and fed her snacks. At 12:20 p.m. Brittney moved to the birthing ball. She really took use of her birthing comb throughout the contractions. After about 10 minutes, she got back into bed. At 1:16 p.m. she got back up and was leaning over the bed while her doula worked on her hips some more. A few minutes later the nurse returned to check her vitals.

Between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m., Brittney was assessing her options again. Her latest cervical check showed she was still 9 cm. Her doctor came in and they discussed breaking her water and starting an epidural. At this point, she had been 9 cm for over 6 hours. She was so scared to get the epidural, but she had the most supportive team by her side. Her doula had a 1 on 1 conversation with her. She told her that she had put in a lot of work and reminded Britt that she still needed to have energy to birth her baby boy. They didn't know how long it would take. Brittney told her doula that she felt like she would be failing if she chose the epidural, but Latoya quickly reassured her that she had done an amazing job. Getting to 9CM without an epidural is no small task, not only that, but she had been at 9CM for an extraordinary amount of time. She told her "I have had clients who asked for an epidural at 4 and you're at 9!" Brittney made an informed choice to start the epidural first and then break waters. She told me afterwards, when we were finishing her birth story, that she loved how her doula made sure that every decision was her to make.

About 2:50 p.m., the anesthesiologist came to place her epidural. He was kind and professional and walked her through the entire procedure so that she could be aware of what was happening to her body. Britt mentioned that her nurse, Mariella was exceptionally wonderful for helping her breathe through her painful epidural. She held her hand and constantly whispered that she was strong and doing so well. Brittney was unprepared for how painful it would be to get the epidural, but was so strong and leaned on her support to get through it. They broke her water not too long after that and by 4:20 p.m. she was finally able to get some rest. She also shared that she overheard the nurses mention how incredibly strong she was and that it didn't seem like her first go-around. She kept her breathing controlled through pain at 9 centimeters for hours and hours.

Around 5:50 p.m., Brittney’s mom, sister, dad, and a couple of friends came by and it really helped Brittney liven up. They laughed, snuck in some Jimmy John’s and Hardee’s, and got to enjoy a good-hearted meal together.

At 7:00 p.m., it was back to business. The nurse got the squat bar set up and Brittney sat in that position for a little bit as the contractions were getting stronger. She could feel them in her bottom and the pressure with each contraction. Her family left around 8:00 p.m. when the staff came to check her cervix. She was still 9 cm and had reached the 12-hour mark.

She worked on another labor position, leaning over her peanut ball for support. At 9:42 p.m. Shelby could see through her lens that Brittney was near her breaking point; she was over it. “She was ready for him to be here and to be over the hump of labor.” Shelby noted.

She finally fell asleep and began to rest. Shelby was ready for some rest as well. Throughout the day, she had kept me updated. She asked if I’d like to come back so she could let her dog out and get something to eat. I tucked my kids into bed, grabbed dinner, and then headed back to the hospital. At 10:30 p.m. I walked through the doors again and was shocked to hear Brittney was still nine centimeters, even after an epidural, Pitocin, and having her waters broken.

By 11:30 p.m. Brittney was looking uncomfortable, laboring through immense pressure. At that point she had made notable progress at 9.5 centimeters. Finally, around midnight, she reached complete. After holding steady at nine for so long, the finish line was finally within reach. When we talked after her delivery, I asked Britt was she did that surprised her the most. She told me, as many other mothers do, "I was surprised I made it." She also shared "I went to 9cm naturally and I'm so proud of that! I stalled at 9 and felt at utter bliss. The worst of it was the last CM and being uncomfortable in 20 different positions plus not being able to walk since getting an epidural. The last CM was so difficult, but I'm proud I did it. I also can't believe I gave birth....that this beautiful baby is mine."

By 12:30 a.m. she felt the undeniable urge to push. The team supported her through gentle, steady “practice pushes,” helping her ease into the work of bearing down, finding a good position, and keeping baby safely on the monitor. Time seemed to stretch as she leaned into each contraction, her strength filling the room. At 1:15 a.m. the team was called in; Jaden was almost here. At 1:25 a.m., with grace and courage, Brittney breathed her baby into the world. The most difficult part her labor was that 1 last CM. It took HOURS. What pushed her through those last difficult moments was the breathing, the Bible verses, the encouraging staff, and. her birth team. "I couldn't have done it without them.", she said.

By 2:00 a.m., her baby was nursing at her chest with the long wait behind her. She was still wearing the bracelet on her wrist that I had noticed a few times throughout labor. She told me it symbolized transition and not just the transition of labor, but the greater transformation of becoming a mother. I couldn’t help but reflect on how perfectly it captured what she had endured: hours of waiting, steady decision-making, unrelenting patience, and the final crossing into new life. I talked to Brittney about the sights, sounds, smells, and touch of her baby's entrance into this world and here is what she shared with me. "I heard him crying first, which. made me extremely happy. The sight was the NICU team grabbing him immediately making sure he didn't have meconium in his lungs, wiping him off, and him crying while they have him under a heat lamp. When I finally was with him, he was extremely soft, so sweet, and calm.

When the calm came, Brittney was finally able to hold her sweet, new, baby boy for the first time. Immediately he was so full of personality! This personality we would see through out his newborn session, fall photos, and even Christmas photos months later. He was awake and excited to see his strong and courageous mama. I captured their first moments together and his first latch.

This is when I reached back out to Shelby. In the early hours of the morning, with little sleep herself, she came back to the hospital to relieve me. I was worried that as the adrenaline began to wear off from this miraculous event, the drive home could be unsafe. Shelby valued that safety and immediately got up and on her way. She arrived at 2:50 a.m.

“The entire family was present and enamored that Baby Jaden was here,” Shelby said. She documented the room as it was full of joy and love and thankfulness. Shelby captured the beautiful golden hour between him and his mama. I asked Britt later on, "At what moment in your life did you realize you are a mother?" She answered, "The moment I was being rolled into my postpartum room - and seeing him, I couldn't believe it. I know I had 10 months to wrap that around my head, but actually seeing him was mind boggling. I still can't believe it today when I see him and am so obsessed with how cute he is."

My thoughts following Brittney’s birth experience carried heavy weight. As a backup photographer, I won’t be the one to edit these images, and I can’t write her story in the way I usually do. I would use her own words woven alongside mine. But I needed to write. I needed to honor what I saw: her strength, her patience, her courage. I felt incomplete not being able to finish it fully, but this story mattered too much to me to leave unspoken. Brittney’s birth was long, steady, layered with waiting, endurance, and love. What I witnessed was nothing short of remarkable. Brittney told me "I realized how much my body can go through and how amazingly strong it is..how resilient I am. I didn't know I could be that mentally strong."

I sent my perspective of this story, before adding in Shelby’s, to her over Messenger. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything at all. Would it be overstepping to write about a birth that was not a client of my own? Would she receive my writing in good faith? I am an anxious person and did not want to create distance. But if there is one thing that I have learned throughout my journey as a birth advocate, it’s that I should use my voice. Shelby’s response blew me away.

“She will love this,” she said, and encouraged me to send it to Brittney too. “I love that you kept track of all of this for her,” Shelby added. We then chatted about combining our efforts to create a full birth story with both perspectives, images from both viewpoints, and intertwine it all together, weaving in the most important voice of all, Brittney’s. This beautiful story was the result. This is the purpose of our work. Not only to document the experience, but also to lift up the voices of those who experience this journey. Brittney later told me that it really impacted her to see her incredible story through our eyes. She said "It affected me in the most positive way - knowing that my journey would be documented."

A few days following Brittney’s birth experience, Shelby met Brittney at the hospital for her Fresh 48 session. “When I arrived for Brittney’s Fresh 48 session, she was glowing in motherhood all over again,” Shelby said. Brittney sat tenderly nursing little Jaden. In that moment, nothing else in the world mattered but her sweet baby boy.

“She was purely in momma mode—calm, strong, and beautifully present,” Shelby told me. After making sure Jaden was content, her next thought was simply finding a dress for photos. She added that “it was such a raw, real reminder of what those first days are like—messy, tender, and absolutely filled with love.”

When I was talking with Shelby later on, these emotions really stood out to me. She told me that “As Brittney watched me snap photo after photo of little Jaden in his bassinet, I felt myself overcome with emotion. Sometimes, when no one is looking, a small tear slips out because I know how fleeting these moments are. The honor of capturing them and then reliving them every time I sit down to edit is one of the greatest gifts of this work.”

They finished up his Fresh 48 session with some of their very first family photos, filled with love, pride, and the beautiful start of their new chapter together.

When it came time for Jaden’s newborn session, Brittney and Joseph met Shelby at the studio. Shelby said that he was a mix of calm and “stop touching me.” They tried different poses and Jaden would scrunch up his face in distaste, so they moved on and took frequent milk breaks. Jaden showed everyone very early on that he is beaming with personality, I thought, as Shelby told me about his session.

One of the important images for this newborn session was mentioned very early on, before even the maternity session, and that was to include Winnie the Pooh. Without Winnie the Pooh props on hand, Shelby carefully crafted an image through Photoshop of Jaden that included this important theme.

“Watching Brittney and Joseph having stepped into this new role of parenthood, I noticed how well they coordinated their efforts. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, they were simply glowing,” Shelby added. “It’s always bittersweet when you reach the newborn session, especially after following a journey from the very beginning, and I always love it when they invite me back to document their family far after.”

From anticipation to arrival, from those first cries to the quiet newborn snuggles, it was an honor to be part of this story alongside Anna Rae Photography. Collaboration reminded me that there are many ways to tell a story, and together we created something even more meaningful for this family. Each click of the shutter was another thread woven into their memory. What a gift it is to walk into such sacred spaces, hand in hand with others, to celebrate and honor new life. And while our perspectives may have been different, the heart behind it all was the same. A family is forever changed, and a story worth being told.

Just recently, a couple of months after Brittney's birth story first unfolded, I had the joy of meeting her whole family again for a fall photo session. Seeing them all together, capturing those moments of warmth, felt like the beautiful next chapter of their journey. Those fall family photos now are a joyful reminder of how far they've come since that day of her birth and truly show the continuation of their family's story.