I attended my first birth when I was 22 years old, not in the capacity of a photographer, but as a mother's helper. The little girl I nannied for at the time was going to have a little brother, and mom was going to have the baby at home. That birth changed my life. It gave me an idea of what real birth is like, it gave me focus in my own birth choices, it made me realize the intense spiritual shift all women feel at each of their births.
I was inspired, truly. I toyed with the idea of becoming a midwife or doula (I still do, in fact!), but I was 3/4 of the way through my undergraduate degree in anthropology at the time and decided to revisit the idea when grad school came into the picture. When I finished college I found my partner and I were expecting our first child. I knew about the on-call nature of being a member of a birth team, so I shelved the idea for a while. After my second child was born I started a small photography business, doing portraiture of infants, children, and families.
In 2009 a fellow photographer posted some birth photos on her blog. I immediately fell in love with the idea of birth photography, I could see it as my true calling combining the two things I was most passionate about (birth and photography), but again felt I was on hold while my children were too young for me to leave. I had my third child in 2010, and at that time vowed that once my baby was over a year I would be ready to dive back into work, focusing on my dream of being a birth photographer.
That brings us to the present. I am so thankful to be on this path. Capturing memories of birth is a beautiful blessing, not only for the family, but also for me. Seeing the beautiful and awesome power of a birthing mama awes me every time. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives!
When I am not photographing births I enjoy being at home with my three beautiful children, reading, enjoying nature, knitting, sewing, needle felting, and playing mandolin.
Sarah McElligott
