Birth Documentaries

My first reaction when I was editing these, was a profound sense of sadness. I remember crying at the realization that all I have to remember the births of my three children are a few obligatory snap shots. All of them posed, smiling, and taken after the important moments happened. But prior to this, it had never occurred to me to hire a professional to capture a birth. Now it seems insane NOT to. We spend thousands of dollars to remember our wedding day. Yet, on a day that is equally, if not more important, we rely on doped-up memories and a few family members with their point and shoots. I so wish I had thought to do this for myself. So it was even more of a privelege to be able to give this gift to someone else...especially for friends who mean as much to me as Katy and Damon.

Waiting outside the operating room. Damon is a surgeon, but that day he was just a nervous dad.

 The good doctors.

This was a happy mistake. I had wanted their hands to be in focus, but later thought the watch was more appropriate anyway.

My favorite.

Gotta love those hottie panties they give you afterwards! hahaha!

 

 If you need more info, let me know: admin@relishportraitstudio.com.  :)

Comments

[Jana]

Oh my word, these are just perfect Maile....tender, touching and real without being TOO real, ya know? You're so right, they touch me yet make me sort of sad that I didn't do this too. Hope you get to experience many beautiful births in '09!

[ericamay]

these are gorgeous. i'm sitting here with tears in my eyes, and i don't even know this family! what a treasure!

[Ryan]

awesome maille. Wish you had this idea earlier :)

[Christina]

Absolutely Beautiful!!!

[Jen smith]

So wish you could be here for the birth of # 4! Such lovely pictures!!!

[Shii]

Hey! I have been thinking of doing this for about a year. I am just worried about the logistics. With a husband that travels a lot and no family near I can't really take off in the middle of the night for a birth! Wish I could because I would LOVE to do this...another thing I wish I had did with my kids.
Good luck and so excited for you!

[olivia dutko]

These are AMAZING!!
Beautiful job Miss Maile!!

[Rochelle]

What an incredible opportunity .... to capture a miracle in time.

[Samantha Warren]

Wow! Wow! Wow!
When I have a baby, I am flying you to Maine! These are so beautiful.
The one of him being held up with that little hat on completely killed me!
The first chapter in what looks to be a very beautiful love story.

[Stephanie]

Oh my heart! The one with mom's one tear on her face...sniff. I have goosebumps.

[Maya Laurent]

I love it! My mom was in the room when we had Zane and her job was to take as many photos as possible without showing my stuff! Ha! I agree, it is well worth the money to have these memories! Just beautiful!

[Kristian]

These are AMAZING! Absolutley moving!!!! Plus... I think I went to high school with the dad. Kinda cool seeing someone I used to know, capturing the growth of his family, in such an intimate way! Once Jason & I are on the "baby train"... you know I coming to you, girl!

[shawna]

I know that exact feeling of sadness you had. My mom was there for my firstborn with my dad's camera, but it was the middle of the night and she didn't know anything about going out of auto to get good pics. And of course I was in labor, haha. Photographs like these, savoring such a fleeting moment is something I aspire to and it's made me want to capture all my best friends' pregnancies and births. Now I just have to figure out the logistics of being too far away or not having my husband home to take the baby... all things in time, right?

[MGF]

Man, I wish this would of occured to me before any of my three boys were born. These were great.

[jenn]

Oh my gosh. These are just AMAZING and I would have *loved* to have pictures like this. I was knocked out for CHandler (emergency c section), and for Adri, I was awake for that surgery, but there are no pics, and none of us thought anything of it. Looking back, I really wish there were. I was in such a haze from the meds, the pressure and stress of having two babies so early, the worry about them even living. . . this is so amazing, Maile. Amazing.

[Jenny Rebecca]

Oh these are absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I had a rather traumatic c-section and had to be knocked out completely. (baby was fine I was just hysterical at having to go under) My husband and I had a new camera with the 50mm 1.8 lens all ready for pictures in the delivery room of our new baby and he was left out in the cold in the hallway. My heart still aches with gratitude to a nameless nurse who grabbed the camera from my husband and took it into the delivery/operating room. She got some wonderful pictures that I treasure from the bottom of my heart. She must have known something about photography to go in there with a DSLR and a sometimes finicky 1.8 lens to get the pictures she did. Or maybe God was giving us an extra special favor at that moment. :o)

[Kal Barteski]

Hey Maile!
I've got a birth coming up SOON!
Your pictures are amazing. AMAZING. You have so much magic in you.

[Marina]

amazingly powerful images.

[Gayle]

How beautiful!

[Jen A.]

I am bawling right now. Those are simply amazing.

One of my favorites...the one of Katie with a single tear falling down the side of her face. It captures the pure joy she felt.

What a special keepsake for the whole family.

Bravo.