Birth client agreement

Preparation 

We will meet once or twice before the birth, to get to know each other and plan for your upcoming birth. During these sessions I will prepare you for what it will be like to have me as your birth photographer in your birth space. You will also have the chance to ask any questions, share your birth plan and preferences with me. These meetings can be in person or via video or phone, depending on location. 

I will be available to you on the phone, as well as via text and email throughout the course of our preparation together. I ask that you keep me informed of any changes to your birth plan or your medical situation.

I will be on call for you from 38 weeks, which means, I will carry my birth bag with me at all times and not travel too far from home. Should you go into labour before 38 weeks, I will do my very best to get there in time capture your story. Otherwise, I will come as early as is possible on both sides, to capture your family in postpartum.  A difference in fee, can be used as credits towards prints and files.

Labour 

I ask that you keep in contact with me as closely as possible during the last days of your pregnancy and keep me informed of any progress or changes. This includes, contractions, a show of mucus or blood, a sweep or any other steps taken to encourage labour, so that I can begin to make arrangements to leave. 

I ask that you let me know as soon as you think that labour has begun. My aim is to arrive with you at a point when your labour is established enough that my arrival is unlikely to be a disruption, but early enough to capture a some of the early stages of your story. A rough indicator might be, when contractions are developing in regularity but you are still present and able to chat in between. I need to allow up to an hour and a half to prepare to leave home to come to you, although if I can leave sooner I will. The more information I have from you the better. 

During labour I will do my very best not to disturb you or the birth space. Should I need to adjust any lighting or anything in the environment, I will do so quietly and carefully. 

If labour is progressing slowly or your family needs some privacy or rest, there may be times when it makes sense for me to step out of the space for a short time. I will use my experience and instinct to judge this, but please ask if you feel that this so something you need. 

While I will offer you emotional support and encouragement if it’s appropriate, I will not offer any medical advice or act in the place of a midwife or other medial professional. 

Unforeseen circumstances 

During labour, I will do my best to capture a full and true documentation of the moments that make up your birth story. As birth is a natural and unpredictable event, there may be some moments that I’m unable to capture, in which case I will do my best to fill in the story around those moments. In the event of medical intervention, I will use my experience and instinct to judge what is appropriate to capture. In medical emergencies, if I need to leave the space, I will continue to tell your story as best as I can within the circumstances. 

Should labour be fast and the birth happen before I arrive, I will offer an extended postpartum shoot so the day of your birth is still captured. 

If I miss the moment of birth due to my fault; eg, leaving too late or being uncontactable, I will offer you a choice of an additional shoot, print and digital file credit or a partial refund. 

If I miss the moment of birth due to a lack of communication on your part, I will continue to shoot up to two hours postpartum. 

Postpartum 

I will stay with you for up to two hours after the birth to capture the early moments, newborn checks etc. Should you wish for me to stay beyond that, to meet older siblings for example, or if things have been delayed for medical reasons, the shoot can be extended at an hourly rate.  

Your photos 

I will send you a preview from your birth within two days and you can expect your photos to be completed within four weeks of the birth, unless otherwise discussed. 

When your photos are ready for viewing I will send you a link to a temporary online viewing gallery. All digital files and prints are sold separately, with several packages to choose from. I will walk you through the process of choosing your prints and we can do this in person, or via phone or video call. All print collections include a full set of digital files. You are welcome to pay for these monthly, we will agree an arrangement together. 

Films take up to six weeks to complete. 

Covid 19

In the event of an unplanned hospital birth or transfer where I am not granted permission to be present by the hospital, I will offer a newborn or postpartum shoot as soon as is practical for both parties and any difference in fees can be used as credits towards prints. 

Hannah King will be on call in my place as your birth photographer during my period of self isolation, from Friday 2nd through Monday 5th inclusive.

In the event of a positive Covid test or new symptoms developing and needing to self isolate further, she has agreed to be on call as your birth photographer for the entire period of isolation. 

Please complete and send a form for each parent or birth partner.

Thank you so much