Hi, I’m Kate. I am a birth photographer based in Newcastle NSW, and cover Newcastle and the Hunter Valley region. I photograph natural and caesarean births in birth centres, hospitals and homes. I’m also a mum of 5 children and birth is a very natural experience for me.

I attend birth in two equal roles -as a photographer and also as a birth support person. This means that when I meet with you and your partner during pregnancy, we will discuss how you envisage your birth, what limitations might be impacting your ideal birth experience and also evidence based birth education. On the day of birth, I will be there to hold your hand, answer questions and offer suggestions whilst photographing throughout.

I am currently only taking 1-2 birth clients a month so I can give my attention to each mother as they are nearing their due date. I will be on call for you at any time of the day or night for the 2 weeks before your due date and until your baby is born. If you go into labour or need to be induced out of this time frame, that’s generally not a problem, as I’m usually available anyway. We can discuss at what point you would like me to attend your birth (usually around the time labour establishes) and I will come and photograph the active labour, birth and a couple of hours following the birth. The time frames vary greatly depending on the length of the labour, but I like to be able to capture the baby’s first feed, weighing and checks and meeting any family or siblings if they are around.

If you are having a scheduled caesarean section, I will come to the hospital in the hour or two before your scheduled time so we can capture the preparations and excitement of the impending day! I try to get clearance from the obstetrician to attend theatre before the day but if the theatre team decide on the day that they would prefer not to have a photographer in theatre, I hand my camera over to a staff member (with settings correct for theatre) and allow them to shoot the birth. I then take over again when you arrive in recovery and follow the hours following. I edit all the images to deliver as a complete story.

It’s important to understand that all the images taken at your birth will not be seen by anyone other than me, nor will they be used for any purpose or published to any website or form of social media without your direct and specific consent.

I often book out many months in advance so I encourage you to get in touch as early as possible in your pregnancy. I don’t take any deposits before 12 weeks gestation but am very happy to pencil you into my schedule before that time. I like to have two meetings with my clients before the birth if possible, one at the time of booking and one around the 36 week mark to touch base again and discuss your birth plan. I consider it highly important that both parents are very comfortable with me, and feel happy about having me present at their birth. I make it my highest priority to work collaboratively with the midwives and obstetricians so your birth space is a joyous and harmonious space.

BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY AND SUPPORT PACKAGE

$2600 (paid in 2 instalments of $1300 or 4 instalments of $650 over the course of the pregnancy).

• Two in person meetings to plan & discuss your vision for your birth
• I will be on call for you 24/7 from 38 weeks until your baby is born
• Attendance at your labour, birth & immediate postpartum
• 150+ hand edited, high resolution digital images delivered in a password protected online gallery
• All raw video files