Things have been quiet here on the blog since last fall, and it’s because I’ve been spending all my time working on building the Gather Birth website, occasionally running our Instagram account, and attending births as a Gather Birth team member! We’ve been blogging up a storm over there and I’d love if you’d check us out. We talk about doula support, lactation, birth and family photography, and so much more! Stop by to say hi, and stay for a while. There’s so much to see!
blog
Friday Finds: a funny test, daily uniforms, tasty treats, and more! /
Gather Birth Cooperative is launching our website on September 1, and I have been hard at work writing a few blog posts for our new business, writing copy, building webpages, and more! Because I’ve spent so much time working on the site, I haven’t had as much time to find links, but I managed to pull a few together for you. Enjoy!
This sucked up more of my time this week than I’m willing to admit
Questions you can ask instead of “how are you?”
A special edition Kånken made entirely from polyester recycled from plastic bottles
Have you considered a daily uniform?
Make these for me and I’ll love you forever
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Soul Lao: Lao food made with heart
Doula du Nord: an excellent postpartum doula who is now offering tuck-in support and evening support to families in the Twin Cities
Did you do anything fun this week? Do you have any big plans for the weekend? I’m hoping to get out on my bike or my kayak (or both!) for some time in this gorgeous late-summer air.
Friday Finds: the Amazon rainforest, Call-Out Culture, non-binary motherhood, and more! /
Gather Birth Cooperative is getting ready to launch our website and I have been hard at work entering in written content by one of my amazing partners and writing a few blogs! Speaking of blogs, a few of my favorite Real Postpartum moments were featured in this gorgeous roundup by Mother Mag! When I wasn’t glued to my computer working on the Gather site, I was stuck to my couch dealing with a pretty brutal summer cold. Scroll on for links!
First: The Amazon Rainforest is burning. The Amazon Rainforest provides 20% of the Earth’s oxygen, is home to more than 400 indigenous groups, and houses 30% of the world’s species. It’s currently burning at an unprecedented rate—up more than 80% from this time last year—thanks in large part to environmental deregulation that has encouraged deforestation.
Consider supporting Indigenous people and their fight to protect the Amazon rainforest by donating to Instituto Socioambiental (ISA).
Read more here about Indigenous activists working to save the Amazon Rainforest.
Purchase Rain Forest Alliance certified goods. Support companies that champion ethical rubber production. Consider the source of agricultural products like beef, soy, and palm oil, many of which rely on deforestation of the Amazon for production.
Now, my weekly links:
Life with Lyme Disease
Call-Out Culture: is it toxic?
An app that helps you avoid giving money to the bad guys
Simple steps to help you enjoy life
When marriage is war
“Lonely George died on New Year’s Day 2019. He was a Hawai‘ian tree snail…”
Do you know the most effective climate change solutions?
I would have LOVED to have been part of a dropping when I was younger. Still would, in fact!
Interested in living more consciously? Watch these movies to learn more
The funeral industry is worth $17 billion… Have you considered another option?
Finally, two older links that are still very relevant:
“10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You”
(I own several of these books and would be happy to lend any of them to you!)
In integrated spaces, patterns of white dominance are inevitable. These patterns include things like being legitimized for using academic language, an expectation of “getting it right” (i.e., perfectionism), fear of open conflict, scapegoating those who cause discomfort, and a sense of urgency that takes precedence over inclusion.
These patterns happen even when white people are doing the work of examining their privilege. They can happen even when facilitators design and model more inclusive ways of being together. Why?
The values of whiteness are the water in which we all swim. No one is immune. Those values dictate who speaks, how loud, when, the words we use, what we don’t say, what is ignored, who is validated and who is not. Unless we are actively and persistently dismantling these constructs, we are abiding by them. In integrated spaces (where we are less likely to be ourselves given the divisions that white dominance has created), we fall into the roles society has assigned us. As a person of color, and perhaps the only one in the room, it’s exhausting to always be swimming upstream. To survive in this society, we learn to hold our tongue, to “code switch” to fit in. This is about survival and the basic human need to feel that we belong.
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Doula du Nord: an excellent postpartum doula who is now offering tuck-in support and evening support to families in the Twin Cities
Soul Lao: Lao food made with heart
Did you do anything fun this week? Do you have any big plans for the weekend? I’m hoping to get out on my bike or my kayak (or both!) for some time in this gorgeous late-summer air.
Friday Finds: pelvic floor health, body acceptance, circumcision, and more! /
We have been hard at work on Gather Birth Cooperative and we are so excited to be bringing doula support and birth photography to families in the Twin Cities! In between working on the website (launching soon!), meeting with my co-founders, and attending a funeral, I had the privilege of documenting this gorgeous birth. Scroll on for links!
I am not impressed by this response to a recent scandal in the birth community
Here’s why we need to preserve natural lands
Two of my favorite authors sat down to talk and…
The evidence and ethics on circumcision
Read this if your kids are on social media
How to give constructive criticism
Whoa! A photographer captured a near-miss on Lake Superior
“6 Ways to Talk to Your Kids About What’s Happening in America Right Now”
Need an icebreaker? Here! Have 200 of them
Let’s talk more about pelvic floor health
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Doula du Nord: an excellent postpartum doula who is now offering tuck-in support and evening support to families in the Twin Cities
Soul Lao: Lao food made with heart
Did you do anything fun this week? Do you have any big plans for the weekend? I’m shooting the wedding of a former birth client and I am so excited to be there with them as they celebrate this milestone! Gather is doing a special giveaway of some of my absolute favorite products, and you should enter! Visit this post and follow the prompts for your chance(s) to win! A winner will be drawn on Aug 17, so hurry!
Friday Finds: meal planning, secret talents, ethically responsible souvenirs, and more! /
Did you see my big announcement last week? Gather Birth is LIVE and we are so excited to be bringing doula support and birth photography to families in the Twin Cities and nearby in the rest of Minnesota! We’re doing a special giveaway of some of my absolute favorite products, and you should enter! Visit this post and follow the prompts for your chance(s) to win! Scroll on for links!
I am secretly good at and secretly not-so-good at the same as Jo is
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Doula du Nord: an excellent postpartum doula who is now offering tuck-in support and evening support to families in the Twin Cities
Soul Lao: Lao food made with heart
Did you do anything fun this week? Do you have any big plans for the weekend? I’m heading to the Hobo Convention, and rearranging some furniture at home. Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: a big announcement, beautiful objects, a compelling essay, and more! /
WHAT. A. WEEK! It was a mad dash to the finish line as we worked hard to get everything ready for our big announcement: Gather Birth Cooperative. I’m joining forces with some AMAZING people and starting a new business. Gina, Emily, Brooke, and I are so excited, so proud, and so looking forward to sharing more with you soon. What’s the best way to support a small business? Comment on posts, like content, and brag about them on your own feed. Follow us on facebook, instagram, and check back on our website soon, if you like! Scroll on for a shorter version of my weekly links and one of my favorite photos from our headshot session a week ago. We really do have that much fun together and it’s the best. <3
I am always into Lizzo content. Have you seen her Tiny Desk Concert yet?
I love the idea of a “green legacy”
“…the ability to forget is crucial to how the brain works.”
“The tattoo doesn’t need to mean anything, unless I want it to.”
I made these for dinner one night this week and I’m adding them to the permanent rotation
Have you ever read a book about menopause?
Worth a read, and then another read
Do you hem and mend your own clothes? Here’s a tutorial
I loved seeing so many of my favorite ceramicists featured here
Speaking of beautiful objects, how GOOD are these!
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Doula du Nord: an excellent postpartum doula who is now offering tuck-in support and evening support to families in the Twin Cities
Tare Market: helping the planet by providing resources to reduce waste
On a personal note, I’m offering a special on my intimate Real Postpartum sessions in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. I’d love it if you’d spread the word! Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: diverse toys, gorgeous travel photos, privilege, and more! /
Did you read last weeks’ post? I was wondering whether I’d hear from any of my July clients on Friday, and I did! All three of them, and I have to tell you how grateful I am for reliable and talented backup photographers. I feel so fortunate to have found a lovely community of wonderful and supportive birth workers who dropped their plans at the drop of a hat to help support my clients. Once I got over the chaos of the day, I realized … because I took a light load in August, I’m practically off call for the rest of the summer! Woo! Scroll on for links!
“In so many cases rapists have help in the moment and forever after, and the help is often so powerful, broad, and deep—well, that’s why we call it rape culture.”
The rise of coffee shaming
“Lord Almighty,” she says, “folks of privilege don’t understand how $17 can ruin you.”
On cultivating joy in the face of injustice
If men carried purses…
Diverse toys for the kiddos in your life (again, representation matters!)
Speaking of kids: be a sportscaster, not a referee
Here’s why you should read what your kids are reading
I look forward to these nature photos every year
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Northern Natural Gardens: a sustainable landscape company specializing in native plants, pollinator gardens, and invasive plant removal and I am so stoked about their mission
Tare Market: helping the planet by providing resources to reduce waste
On a personal note, I’m offering a special on my intimate Real Postpartum sessions in celebration of the upcoming World Breastfeeding Week. I’d love it if you’d spread the word! Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: jewelry for activists, traveling responsibly, the 3.5 rule, and more! /
What a week! Between the storms, the lunar eclipse, and the full moon, I was sure that my last three July clients would call me at some point but Nope! I didn’t hear from anyone until Thursday night! TBD on whether any of my clients give birth today. When I wasn’t waiting to be called to a birth, I was hard at work on some behind the scenes business stuff that I can’t announce quite yet that I’m SO EXCITED ABOUT. Check back in next week for more deets. Scroll on for links!
MightyNest is a company committed to helping households on the path toward living more sustainably at home
A necklace for activists
The God of Small Things is one of my all-time favorite books. This conversation with author Arundhati Roy is goooood stuff.
Myths about cast iron pans
Tips for traveling responsibly in an era of climate change
A good way to clean off sandy baby bums
Socially responsible investing
The 3.5 rule (and how a small minority can change the world)
What’s on your summer checklist?
Would you order your birth control online?
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Northern Natural Gardens: a sustainable landscape company specializing in native plants, pollinator gardens, and invasive plant removal and I am so stoked about their mission
Tare Market: helping the planet by providing resources to reduce waste
On a personal note, I’m offering a special on my intimate Real Postpartum sessions in celebration of the upcoming World Breastfeeding Week. I’d love it if you’d spread the word! Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: boundaries, beautiful birth photography, bad first dates, and more! /
In between being the photographer at a few births this past week, I found time to hang with friends, get some work done around the house, and bike around Minneapolis. I also found out that I picked up E. coli on Lake Minnetonka over the 4th! That explains why I was so unwell late last week. Friends, it was a pretty brutal few days and I am truly so glad to be feeling better! While I was laying low, I spent some time online. Keep scrolling to see a few of the links that resonated with me.
Children’s books about families crossing the border
On being the financial breadwinner
“Created in the anger-fueled, politically fiery months following the 2016 election of Donald Trump to the presidency, the Resistance Revival Chorus, and activist choirs like it, ask one question: can music be a tool for social change? The answer: absolutely.”
One of the most underrated ways to measure your professional success
We often say “yes,” when we should be saying “no” because we are concerned that we will hurt someone’s feelings.
“My best friend left her laptop to me in her will. Twenty years later, I turned it on and began my inquest.”
I’ve been managing the takeovers of the Birth Becomes Her instagram account and I’m so thrilled by the work the hosts have been putting in. If you don’t already follow BBH, click on through and press the Follow button. :D
Speaking of gorgeous birth photography, have you seen this photo? So serene and lovely!
Do you share finances with your partner?
Read the comments on this post for amazing terrible date stories!
If you’re in Minneapolis and St. Paul, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Northern Natural Gardens: a sustainable landscape company specializing in native plants, pollinator gardens, and invasive plant removal and I am so stoked about their mission
Get Organized.: a non-judgmental Minneapolis-based professional organizer
On a personal note, I’m offering a special on my intimate Real Postpartum sessions in celebration of the upcoming World Breastfeeding Week. I’d love it if you’d spread the word! Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: the World Cup, #plasticfreejuly, easy recipes, and more! /
Friends, I was AMBIVALENT about celebrating the 4th of July this year. Instead of focusing on the aspects of the holiday that didn’t sit well with me, I took the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, swim in a big, beautiful lake, and contribute to a few deserving organizations. I was also on call for a few births and got to do a postpartum session with one of my June families. Keep scrolling to see some of the links that resonated with me this week.
This is important: things you can do today to help children at the border
Is your favorite company greenwashing?
Living that zero waste life, or participating in #plasticfreejuly? I adore Ambatalia’s products and just added her Jar Tote to my wish list
“Here is what I know to be true about humans: We want to change; we want to be good, better, best.”
I really like these toys for kids
Related, one family’s methods for keeping toys under control at home
I’ll take one of each, please
The importance of empathy - with great links at the bottom of the article, too!
A stunning before and after by one of my favorite designers
Do you know about the Be My Eyes app? Sign up to receive video calls from blind and low-vision people when they need assistance with a task.
Three easy summer recipes
“Sometime on new year’s day, as the people of Hawaii recovered from a night of revelry, in a trailer on the outskirts of Kailua, Oahu, a 14-year-old snail named George died.”
You should grill heads of garlic
Did you watch the USNWT beat England on Tuesday? “They play the game as a form of incursion, as a battle for female sovereignty, and so the stakes have always been higher for them than just the final score.”
Advice for new parents
If you’re local, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Northern Natural Gardens: a sustainable landscape company specializing in native plants, pollinator gardens, and invasive plant removal and I am so stoked about their mission
Hairy Poppins: a Dog Trainer Professional who geeks out on dog behavior and training. She uses evidence-based positive training techniques, and understands the importance of effective communication and consistency while working with and walking dogs. Serving South Minneapolis for walks and training.
Don’t forget to watch the World Cup final at 10 am on Sunday the 7th! Regardless of who you’re rooting for, supporting women’s sports is always a good call. On a personal note, I’m offering a special on my intimate Real Postpartum sessions in celebration of the upcoming World Breastfeeding Week. I’d love it if you’d spread the word! Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: body positivity, travel plans, how to help at the border, and more! /
If last week was all about attending births, this week was all about catching up. Catching up on housework, catching up on me time, and catching up on editing birth sessions. Here are previews of a few of the births I documented last week: a second baby in St. Paul, a home birth in Minneapolis with Gail Tully, a speedy fifth time birth, and a remarkably serene first time birth. Of course I spent some time online in between editing sessions. Keep scrolling to see some of the links that resonated with me this week.
This is important: things you can do today to help children at the border
I’m heading to Portugal in the fall and I’ve started researching what to do while I’m there. This, this, and this were at the top of the search results. Have you been? I’d love to hear from you! So far, all I know is that we’re flying in and out of Lisbon.
While we’re in Portugal, we might also dip down to Morocco for a few days! I’ve been browsing gorgeous photos on Instagram tagged with different cities in Morocco. I’m obsessed with the idea of visiting Chefchaouen. Doesn’t it look amazing?
Karl Lagerfeld’s library is WOW
“We're waking up to talking about the uncomfortable things and sharing what really matters. We're moving towards a more emotionally intelligent world where people get that YOU CAN FEEL MORE THAN ONE THING and that tending to our tender little hearts as much as we tend to these squishy, amazing bods is important and life-giving.” An amazing Ted Talk by my first birth client!
Stylish tabletop items for kids
Would you like to have a bunch of extra money? This shit works, dude.
Data bias against women
Old but good: “Hair removal, at its core, is a form of gendered social control.”
Body positivity in the Twin Cities
From Wear Your Voice: the list of companies profiting from detaining migrants at the US border.
If you’re local, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Northern Natural Gardens: a sustainable landscape company specializing in native plants, pollinator gardens, and invasive plant removal and I am so stoked about their mission
Hairy Poppins: a Dog Trainer Professional who geeks out on dog behavior and training. She uses evidence-based positive training techniques, and understands the importance of effective communication and consistency while working with and walking dogs. Serving South Minneapolis for walks and training.
On a personal note, I’m offering a special on my intimate Real Postpartum sessions in celebration of the upcoming World Breastfeeding Week. I’d love it if you’d spread the word! Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: great links, local businesses worth supporting, gorgeous birth photos and more! /
I am nearing the end of my June client load. I had the honor of witnessing two families welcome a new baby into their lives on Father’s Day - one in St. Paul and one in Minneapolis - and I got to be on the welcoming committee for yet another baby the next day! What a whirlwind. Here are a few links that resonated with me this week while I spent some time online in between photographing births, spending time with loved ones, and editing birth sessions.
Why apologies matter
I’ve had this recipe pulled up for weeks but I still haven’t made it. It’s time!
A new natural deodorant with refills
What is this thing we call meaning, and why might we need it so badly?
I’ve been a fan of David Sedaris since middle school and I just added his new book to my wishlist
One of the most influential public health officials in the world said last week that he will no longer speak on scientific panels if they don't include women
Yum!
Ways to help out a new mom
The scary future has already arrived. Here’s why people don’t care.
I’m digging this new home accessories line
Being present requires singular focus
“…the placenta might hold the key to one of the most enduring mysteries in human medicine: Why do women suffer much higher rates of autoimmune disease than men do?“
101 simple ways to fight climate change
Here’s why Juneteenth should be a national holiday
What is the most common language in your state (other than English or Spanish)?
If you’re in the Twin Cities, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hairy Poppins: a Dog Trainer Professional who geeks out on dog behavior and training. She uses evidence-based positive training techniques, and understands the importance of effective communication and consistency while working with and walking dogs. Serving South Minneapolis for walks and training.
Hola Postpartum: a fantastic postpartum meal delivery service
Northern Natural Gardens: a sustainable landscape company specializing in native plants, pollinator gardens, and invasive plant removal and I am so stoked about their mission
On a personal note, I spent some time with a different kind of client this week doing a Website Review. If you are a doula, birth photographer, or other kind of birth worker in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the surrounding areas and you’d like to grow your business, get in touch! Also, I’m offering a special on my intimate Real Postpartum sessions in celebration of the upcoming World Breastfeeding Week. I’d love it if you’d spread the word! Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: ethical clothing, sustainable landscaping, why to make plans on Sunday evening, and more! /
I am in the thick of a very busy and birth-filled June. As I recover from being on the welcoming committee for new babies and wait for the next call to photograph a birth, I’ve been laying low, sticking close to home in Minneapolis, and making sure that I charge my batteries (literally and figuratively, ha!). Here are a few links that resonated with me this week while I spent some time online in between attending births, spending time with loved ones, and editing photographs of labor and delivery and Real Postpartum portrait sessions.
“The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”
.This is funny. Related: these are my favorite and I keep a bunch of them in my car for groceries, visits to Tare, and hauling the water jars that tend to accumulate in my passenger seat back into the house #hydrationiskey
I love a good adult onesie (so funny, so true)
We started incorporating “recency bias” a few weeks ago to prevent the Sunday Scaries and I’m thrilled about our lovely new habit. So far, we’ve been to a concert, watched a movie, and biked to our favorite restaurant for dinner and it’s so wonderful to end the weekend on a high note.
Speaking of movies, have you seen this one yet? It has 97% on Rotten Tomatoes!
Just in time for summer, my favorite blogger came out with a list of her favorite sun protection options for kiddos
“Technology is here to stay, so find ways to incorporate and use it to enhance your family relationships. In addition, recognize the potential for isolation and distance technology presents so you can take steps to avoid those traps.”
If you’ve ever been in the car with me while top 40 radio is on, you know that I adore Shawn Mendes. This isn’t new, but it’s always a daymaker, and I thought of it while I was scream-singing his new single at the top of my lungs on a gorgeous Minneapolis evening this week. I hope you enjoy his smile, charm, and voice as much as I do.
These nut butter packets are my go-to birth snack. Bonus: the company was founded by women!
Your favorite grillable + this side + this salad = the perfect summer meal
Speaking of summer, one of my goals is to get better at knots
On education in America: “But after decades of organizing and giving, I have come to the uncomfortable conclusion that I was wrong. And I hate being wrong.”
Another one of my favorite bloggers compiled this list of ethical clothing brands a while back
I beg you, for the good of your children and this planet, please stop buying plastic crap.
If you’re in the Twin Cities, check out these fantastic businesses:
Hola Postpartum: an amazing new postpartum meal delivery service
Northern Natural Gardens: a sustainable landscape company specializing in native plants, pollinator gardens, and invasive plant removal and I am so stoked about their mission
Organized Period: a professional organizer in the Twin Cities who can help get your clutter under control
On a personal note, I spent some time with a different kind of client this week doing a Mentoring Session. If you are a doula, birth photographer, or other kind of birth worker in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the surrounding areas and you’d like to grow your business, get in touch! Also, I’m booked up for births for the year but my calendar for Real Postpartum sessions is wide open, and I would love to capture you and your little one(s) at whatever stage of postpartum you’re in. Have a great weekend!
Friday Finds: Father’s Day gift guides, binge-worthy shows, implicit bias, non-binary words, and more! /
I have a handful of clients who expect to deliver their babies in June, which means that I am very on call right now. I’ve been laying low, sticking close to home, and making sure that I charge my batteries (literally and figuratively, ha!). While I wait for one of my birth photography clients to call me in, I fill time by riding my bike, kayaking the Minneapolis lakes, browsing design blogs, curling up with a good book, and experimenting with new recipes. Here are a few things that resonated with me this week while I browsed websites in between editing Birth Stories and Real Postpartum photo sessions.
Advice from a 90-year-old: how to be happy
Science says that pregnant women are close to the maximum for human endurance (h/t my dad)
A few gift guides for Father’s Day (or the person in your life with a June or July birthday)
I want this for my home
Binge-worthy: Fleabag and Dead to Me (both are funny, dark, and so well done)
A page-turner that I liked so much, I gifted three copies to friends and family at the end of 2018
Bust out the grill and make this tasty recipe this weekend! Yum!
The politics of black motherhood: The Meaning of ‘Motherwork’
Studies show that we should replace everyday underwear annually. I have some culling to do! Kent Woman is here for us.
Support Planned Parenthood Southeast with this simple and beautiful tea towel
The new book from the author of Expecting Better, which is already on my nightstand
“It turns out that far more microplastics are hidden deep in the ocean than on the surface.”
The ladybug bloom (at least it wasn’t locusts)
If you’re in the Twin Cities, check out these great free events in Minneapolis and St. Paul:
Free pics of your dog by Leslie Plesser of Shuttersmack at the Copilot Dog Outfitters anniversary party: 12-3 on June 8
National Get Outdoors Day: Powderhorn Park, 4-8 p.m. on June 7
Summer Flower Show: Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily from April 27-Sept. 29
Rose and Melvin Smith: Remembering Rondo: Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum
4th Annual Chalkfest at Arbor Lakes: The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on June 8 and 9
Juneteenth Celebration: North Regional Library, 1-3 p.m. on June 9
Also in the Twin Cities:
Tare Market: a zero waste package-free shop in Minneapolis
Hola Postpartum: an amazing new postpartum meal delivery service
On a personal note, I’m almost completely booked for birth photography sessions in 2019! If you’re birthing in November in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the surrounding areas, get in touch! As always, my calendar for Real Postpartum sessions is wide open, and I would love to capture you and your little one(s) at whatever stage of postpartum you’re in. Have a great weekend!
Trade for Services | Minneapolis and St. Paul Birth + Postpartum Photographer /
Twin Cities Birth and Postpartum Photographer
As a birth photographer in Minnesota, I am occasionally asked if I will trade or barter for services. My short answer is yes! There are many things that I pay for already that I would be happy to trade for and working for trades can be more than worth my time and energy. If you are interested in my photography services, can’t quite make my prices work with your budget, and a payment plan or gift registry isn’t for you, consider suggesting a trade! Especially if you can offer one of the following services, I’m excited to discuss the possibilities of trading or bartering for services.
Keep scrolling to learn more. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Here’s a short list of things that I would love to trade for. I’m also open to other ideas!
House cleaning
Landscaping
CSA and/or fresh, organic produce
Sustainable meat
Meals out
Massage (I’ve never had one!)
Haircuts
Airbnb/VRBO/cabin time
And I’m sure there’s so much more that I’d be open to!
Nine Fascinating Facts About The Placenta /
The placenta is an incredible organ. I always try to capture at least one image of the placenta at each birth I attend. I find them to be fascinating, but for those who may not find them appealing, there are many reasons to respect them. Here are nine interesting facts you may not know about your baby's placenta.
a true knot in the cord
1. KNOTS ARE A VARIATION OF NORMAL
Cords knots occur in less than 2% of pregnancies. Most are relatively loose and don’t present a problem. Many times, the knots we see at birth were loose in the uterus and become tight through the delivery process. A substance called Wharton's jelly provides cushioning around the important blood vessels of the cord and protects them even if the cord gets knotted. As long as the knot remains loose, it won't cause harm to your baby. If the knot becomes tight, it could interfere with the circulation of blood from the placenta to the baby and cause oxygen deprivation. Such a complication is most likely to occur during your baby's descent through the birth canal, but these cases are rare. More common than knots are nuchal cords, the technical term for when the cord wraps around a baby's neck. Nuchal cords occur in as many as a quarter of all pregnancies and rarely pose risks to the baby.
the mother’s side of the placenta. this is the side that was attached to the uterus
2. LAYING LOW AFTER GOING THROUGH LABOR AND DELIVERY IS ESSENTIAL…
in part, because the wound the placenta leaves inside the uterus needs time to heal. Allowing yourself to rest and recover with the support of family and friends in the first four to six weeks after delivering your baby will set both you and baby up for better health in the long run. To learn more about this, please read The First Forty Days and The Fourth Trimester. “As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely ‘bounce back’ after delivering their babies, and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this radically new chapter of their lives, The First Forty Days stands as a lifeline—a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance. It is the perfect ally for the first few weeks with a new baby…and beyond.”
3. THE PLACENTA ACTS AS YOUR BABY’S LUNGS
When you breathe, your body provides oxygen to your organs and tissues. During pregnancy, the pregnant person does the same thing for the fetus through the placenta. The oxygen passes through the placenta and the umbilical cord and is delivered into your baby’s bloodstream. The placenta also acts as your baby’s kidneys by filtering out waste. As baby is born, their lungs quickly adapt to life on the outside. Leaving the cord attached for a few minutes after birth (wait for white!), known as delayed cord clamping, helps them go through this process smoothly. (Evidence)
4. THE PLACENTA CAN PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO BABY AFTER BIRTH
During pregnancy, the placenta transfers antibodies that provide immune protection from the mother to the fetus. These antibodies provide three to six months of immunity for the baby after it is born.
a gush of blood lets you know that your placenta has started to detach
5. THE PLACENTA BENEFITS THE MATERNAL BODY AS WELL AS THE FETAL BODY
Fetal cells can transfer to the mother during pregnancy, and they seem to target sites of injury. These cells have been found in the skin, liver, kidney and bone marrow in healthy women as well as women with autoimmune diseases. They have also been found in women with diseases like hepatitis C and cervical cancer. There is evidence that the presence of these cells is increased in diseased tissues. The placenta also creates cells to protect the mother’s heart and fend off breast cancer.
the membranes, or amniotic sac, are hanging off of this placenta. baby was born en caul
6. WHEN THE PLACENTA IS BIRTHED, MILK PRODUCTION BEGINS
While it isn’t the placenta itself creating a new mother’s breast milk, it does have a role. When the placenta has separated, it triggers the production of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone responsible for milk production. Once your milk comes in, it is produced on a supply and demand basis. The more often the milk is removed from your breasts (by baby or breast pump), the more milk your breasts will produce.
a unique cord insertion
7. THE PLACENTA IS PART OF THE EGG AND THE SPERM
When a sperm fertilizes the egg, the cells begin to quickly multiply. The egg and sperm become a blastocyst. The blastocyst becomes the placenta and the baby. Not only does the placenta belong to the baby and it’s mama, it also contains genetics from the father!
extended delayed cord clamping
we can see the cord, the baby’s side of the placenta, and the membranes which held the baby
9. THE BIRTH OF THE PLACENTA IS KNOW AS THE THIRD STAGE OF LABOR
After you give birth, you'll continue to have mild contractions. Your health care provider might give you a medication called Pitocin to reduce postpartum bleeding (here’s the evidence on that). Your provider might also massage your lower abdomen to encourage your uterus to contract and expel the placenta. This is called a fundal massage and many people find it to be incredibly unpleasant. You might be asked to push one more time to deliver the placenta. If you have a C-section, your surgeon will remove the placenta from your uterus during the procedure. Your provider will examine the placenta to make sure it it is intact. Remaining fragments must be removed to prevent bleeding and infection.
another true knot
Did you get to see your baby's placenta after giving birth? Would you (or did you) have it encapsulated or made into a tincture? Share your experiences in the comments!
Birth From Above | A Collection of Overhead Birth Photographs /
You may not know this, but hiring a tall birth photographer has its advantages. Minneapolis and St. Paul have an abundance of birthplaces that my birth photography clients can choose from. Not only do the Twin Cities have several hospitals as well as a handful of fantastic birth centers, but we also have a ton of wonderful homebirth midwives who work in the area. We are fortunate to have such a progressive environment in which to be pregnant, giving birth, and adjusting to life as a parent and rediscovering ourselves in our postpartum time. The variety of wonderful Minnesota birthplaces gives me plenty of opportunities to be creative while I'm documenting births. One of my very favorite angles to capture is a shot of birth from above. Whether I'm preserving a bit of labor, delivery, or those beautiful first moments with your baby in your arms, there’s something so special about capturing this overhead perspective. Take a look if you like!
Visit my birth photography blog archives, see The Best Birth Photography of 2018, and learn what to ask a birth photographer in an interview!
Ten Questions To Ask A Birth Photographer Before You Hire Them | What Do I Need To Know About Birth Photography? /
(updated July 2019)
As a birth photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I’ve photographed over 100 birth stories. I’ve been hired by people who hadn’t heard of birth photography until after their first baby was born and then just had to have a birth photographer at their second birth. I’ve been hired by people who knew they wanted the once-in-a-lifetime moments at their birth captured before they even got pregnant. And I’ve been hired by people who had a less than stellar experience with a birth photographer the last time around and hired me because they valued birth photography and wanted to protect their investment. Their stories inspired this post. As a full-time professional birth photographer in the Twin Cities, I want you to have the best possible experience at your birth, and I want your birth photos to be something that you can always cherish.
What Do I Need To Know About Birth Photography?
As you email and interview birth photographers, here are ten questions to keep in mind.
How many births have you documented?
Experience matters. A birth photographer is a lot different than any other kind of photographer. Birth photographers need to be able to shoot in every type of lighting situation, day or night. I’ve documented over 100 births in the Twin Cities, and my skills have grown and developed with each one. (See a few photos from my very first birth on my about page — how far I’ve come!) From dark birth center births to beautifully lit daytime home births to hospital births with mixed lighting, I know my camera inside and out and can expertly capture your birth story.
What happens if you are sick or already with a birth client when I go into labor?
We’re only human, after all. Sometimes, despite our best intentions and lots of planning, a birth photographer won’t be able to make it to a birth. Your birth photographer should have a support network around them and at least two dedicated backups who can step in if they are ill or already at a birth when your baby decides it’s go time. Ask to see their portfolios, make sure they’ll adhere to the model release you have with your birth photographer, and find out what their qualifications are.
My fantastic doula partner Gina of The Sown Seed is at the top of my list if I am unavailable to attend a birth and she is so ridiculously talented. Here’s a preview of a birth that she captured for me while I was across town at a different hospital with another client. I’m so lucky to have Gina and a few other incredible women in my Minneapolis birth photography community.
What happens if I have an unplanned cesarean?
Your photographer should be comfortable supporting you through a surgical birth. Make sure they are open to the idea of not only witnessing but also documenting the process for you if you want them to. Ask to see examples of other c-sections that they’ve documented and make sure you know what your hospital’s policy is on photography in the operating room.
Do you offer birth videography as well as birth photography? How do you prioritize when to take video vs. still images?
Maybe you’d like to capture not only the sights of your birthing experience but the sounds, motions, and emotions too. Does your photographer offer videography too? And do they know how to capture video footage while they’re taking photos? Having multiple cameras makes this possible, and it’s one of my favorite things to do for clients. Many of my birth photography clients in Minneapolis and St. Paul request that I capture video footage as well as stills for the moment of birth. Here are two recent examples.
Can you show me what a full birth gallery looks like?
To know whether your birth photographer is a good fit for you, you should see the full story and not just what they put on their website and social media pages. Any professional worth hiring will have a full gallery available to share with you.
What to look for:
Are the images high quality? All of the photos should be in focus and not blurry. They shouldn’t be too grainy. Too much grain, or staticky speckles on the images, indicates either improper exposure in the camera, over-editing, or an inability to work in low light.
Do you like how the photographer edits their images? Digital photography is meant to be manipulated, and every photographer has their own style. Make sure you want your photos to look the way the photographer processes/edits their images.
Are the photos in color or black and white? Be sure the photographer’s style aligns with what you want. A good birth photographer will be able to deliver most images from your session in color and should be able to provide any image in black and white too.
Here are links to a few of my full birth galleries: Zoey (hospital), Baby Liv (home birth), Roman (birth center), and Robyn (birth center).
Are you comfortable documenting births in dark spaces?
Cameras need light to work, and there isn’t usually much light in the middle of the night. A well-lit daytime birth is rare. Is your birth photographer going to be able to handle the low light when the lights are dimmed down at your birthplace?
Look at the images that your photographer showcases on their website. Do they feature a variety of lighting situations? Are they as capable of making beautiful images in a dim room as they are in one of those rare sunny daytime births? Not only can births be dark, but sometimes the lighting is incredibly complex. Between overhead fluorescents, ambient lighting, natural light, the surgical light that is usually turned on for the moment of birth at a hospital, and even operating room lights, a variety of light sources is something that a pro will know how to navigate.
Are you running a legitimate business?
It’s easier than ever to say you’re a photographer, but any birth photographer worth their salt will be operating a legal business with a business license, insurance, and professional quality gear. Merely owning a camera does not make one a professional photographer. And entry level-equipment doesn’t do super well in birth. Along with having high quality cameras, lenses, and cards, your photographer should know how to use their camera on manual settings.
A professional birth photographer will be running a sound business as well as using pro-level gear, working with backups, and signing a contract and model release with their clients. Is your photographer charging a living wage? What is their turnaround time? Are they continuing their education in the field? While you don’t necessarily need to know all the details of how they run their business, working with a professional gives you a lot of peace of mind.
Are there any hidden costs that I should know about? Will I have to pay more after my baby’s birth?
Your birth photographer should be able to tell you exactly what they include in your package, and you shouldn’t have to worry about how much you’ll end up spending later. If they list their prices on their website, great! If they send you a cost sheet via email, great! As long as they are transparent about what they are selling you and it’s part of your contract, you’re good. If you’d like to see my pricing for birth photography in Minneapolis and St. Paul, click here. Interested in videography too? Here you go!
Are you going to put my photos on the internet? Are you going to take, ahem, that photo?
Your birth photographer should have you sign a model release that doesn’t permit them to share a single image if that’s what you want. I’m so fortunate that so many of my clients have allowed me to share their beautiful and intimate birth images — but I do not require them to do so. As far as that image goes — you know… the crowning shot — if you want your photographer to capture that specific moment where your baby is thisclose to being in your arms, they should be able to! Barring a super speedy delivery or an emergency situation, a professional birth photographer understands the ins and outs (ha!) of birth well enough to be able to get that shot. Alternately, if you’re concerned about modesty, a pro will know how to work with your preferences and can find creative angles to preserve your privacy.
And finally, one last question to ask. I almost didn’t include this one because I don’t have kids of my own (yet! fingers crossed) but it comes up in interviews every once in a while so I figured I should address it. H/T to Hannah of Milk and Hannah for addressing this in her own fantastic post about questions to ask your birth photographer! Below is a direct copy from her site. She said it better than I could have!
What is your childcare situation?
The vast majority of birth photographers, I’d put my money on 80%, are parents to young-ish children. And children are the best, they really are, but… they make it absolutely impossible to do what you need to do when you need to do it.
If your birth photographer has babies at home, ask them what their childcare plan is. Birth doesn’t normally happen Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, it happens during Father’s Day brunch (been there!), it happens at 2 am on a Wednesday, and on Christmas Eve while everyone is still sleeping. It sometimes lasts for four hours, and other times lasts for 37.
Childcare for a birth photographer should be covered 24/7, 365 days a year, with little notice and no time limits.
If your choice doesn’t have a 24/7 care plan laid out, ask what the backup plan is — if they have no backup plan, you may want to consider another option.
Specific details you’ll want to know: Are you covered 24/7 in the time surrounding my guess date? What if my birth unfolds during a holiday or celebration? How much time does it take you to finalize childcare arrangements after being notified that I’m in labor?
Thank you, Hannah!
Is there anything else you think I should suggest that birthing people ask their prospective birth photographer? Let me know in the comments!
I’ll leave you with another quote, this one from the inimitable Monet Nicole, which helps explain why all of those questions matter.
“Hiring an experienced birth photographer isn’t cheap. But remember, your birth photos will be one of the greatest treasures of your life. Your birth photographer will be on-call for you (24/7) for weeks. She’ll leave birthday parties, holidays. She’ll wake up at 3am to sit with your family for hours. She’ll bring thousands of dollars worth of equipment. She’ll move through your birth space with grace and skill. She’ll capture the big moments and the small moments. She’ll edit each of your images carefully. She’ll weave together your story…a story you’ll hold onto for the rest of your life. Hiring an experienced birth photographer is worth it. I promise.”
Are you looking for a birth photographer in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding areas? You’ve come to the right place.
Learn more about Meredith Westin, the leading birth photographer in the Twin Cities.
Do you still have questions? Visit my FAQ, read my about page, or send me a message.
The Best Of 2018: Birth Photography in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the Surrounding Suburbs /
What. a. year! In 2018, I had the honor of documenting 21 hospital births, 10 births at birth centers, and eight home births. 15 baby boys, 25 baby girls. Four surgical births, one surrogacy delivery, and one set of twins. Most of my clients allowed me to share images from their birth and a few chose to keep their images private. Additionally, I captured six births for other birth photographers as a backup and took a few months off to travel! The joy, strength, and love that I felt and witnessed at each of these births was heartwarming and immensely fulfilling. These are some of my favorite moments of my birth photography career in 2018 and some of the very best moments of my life. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed capturing them.
Bonus Real Postpartum images are at the bottom of this post! I absolutely adore these intimate motherhood sessions and the collection of images that I make at each session commemorates a bit of your postpartum time.
If you're looking for a birth photographer the Twin Cities, visit this page and then contact me to get the ball rolling! I provide birth photography services in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs too!
*all images shared with permission and gratitude*
Click through to learn more about my birth photography packages.
And if you’d like to know more about my intimate motherhood sessions, visit my Real Postpartum page!
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER TO DOCUMENT YOUR LABOR AND DELIVERY EXPERIENCE IN MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL, OR THE SURROUNDING AREAS IN MINNESOTA, LET'S TALK! I'M EXPERIENCED AT HOSPITAL, BIRTH CENTER, AND HOME BIRTHS, AND I'VE DOCUMENTED (AND BEEN THE DOULA AT!) VBACS, TWINS, SURROGACY, WATER, MEDICATED, EPIDURAL, SAME SEX, AND CESAREAN BIRTHS.
My Absolute Favorite Birth Photographs of The Last Year | Twin Cities Birth Photographer /
When I learned toward the end of 2016 that birth photography was a thing, I had no idea how my life here in the Twin Cities would change and how immensely fulfilled I would feel after I embraced this incredible subject and the unpredictable lifestyle that goes along with it. The joy, strength, and love that I felt and witnessed at each of these births (and so many more!) was life affirming, overwhelmingly wonderful, and supremely fulfilling. These are some of my favorite moments of my birth photography career over the last year and, honestly, some of the very best moments of my life. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed capturing them.
If you're looking for a Twin Cities birth photographer, visit this page and then contact me to get the ball rolling! I provide birth photography services in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs too!
*all images shared with permission and gratitude*
15. This lovely mama was touring her hospital in Minneapolis when her water broke. They were admitted immediately but didn't meet their little girl until over a day later after a long, hard labor. Her birth partner was so incredibly supportive and I was thisclose to featuring him here but I wanted to showcase mama's strength and tenacity instead. (Ah, I just have to! See a bonus image of papa at the bottom of this page!)
14. This is postpartum: breastfeeding on cue, mesh undies, breasts brimming with milk, a lovely still-round belly, and settling in at home as the newest version of you. Prenatal and postpartum sessions are included in my Birth Story packages.
13. I love the stillness of this moment. Mama is laboring down while papa watches the clock. Little did they know that they'd be meeting their sweet babe ohsovery soon!
12. Look at that cute little vernix-covered baby bum! This babe was placed on his mama's chest immediately after being delivered and then was covered by a blanket. If it wasn't for this quick shot, his parents might never have known just how cheesy he was and how lovely his cord was!
11. Sometimes birth happens really really really quickly. This baby was born less than 15 minutes after I arrived at the hospital, which was only minutes after mama, papa, and their fantastic doula arrived, and only 18 minutes after I was called in. What a timeline! Mama's labor was fast and intense, and don't you just adore that look of love and joy she's sharing with Papa?
10. Ohhhh my heart! When brand new babies lock eyes with their parents for the first time, I almost always shed a tear (read: sob.). I'm so glad this amazing couple got to experience their sweet babe's gaze just after her birth.
9. I loooove capturing one last shot of the belly before baby arrives as a birth photographer in the Twin Cities. This one, mid-contraction, is a favorite.
8. Isn't that cord incredible? It's still pumping blood from the placenta at the moment of birth! And can you see dad's hand tightly gripping mama's as she powered through one last push? The best!
7. All eyes on babe. Tear-filled, relieved, and overjoyed eyes. It is such a treasure to be able to preserve these emotions for my families.
6. This wonderful moment of stillness as mama rides out the waves at home in St. Paul is so peaceful. And...
5. ...This moment, which has a completely different feel, is yet another reminder of just how crazy and beautiful birth can be. And though you can't see much of her, I love knowing that mama's midwife is right there caring for mama and helping her work through her contractions.
4. This birth in St. Paul, which was the first birth of 2018 that I documented, was such a wonderful experience. A homebirth attended by midwives with an immensely supportive partner and an excited big brother waiting in the wings! I couldn't pick just one!
3. Birth photography isn't the only thing I do! I also offer Real Postpartum sessions to families in the Twin Cities, which feature mamas breastfeeding their babes. This session, which took place earlier this year with a past birth client of mine, remains a favorite.
2. Homebirth has such a special place in my heart and this mama rocked her birth at home. She was confident, trusting, and delivered her babe in a hands-off birth.
1. And last but certainly not least, we have this. This moment, where mama and baby are both learning how to breastfeed, where papa is examining an adorable foot, where the placenta is still connected to the baby it coexisted with for oh so long... This moment is everything and this moment is fleeting, over in an instant but not soon forgotten. And this moment, and every other moment shown here, and ohsovery many more, are why I love being a Twin Cities birth photographer.
