When I was a kid, my mom was a childbirth educator in our community. As I reflected recently, I realized that my family is kind of in the business of babies. Ok…that sounded weird, let me explain.
A Childbirth Educator
When I was young, my mom educated new mothers of all kinds as a childbirth educator. She took to providing targeted support teen moms in our community. She also served as a breastfeeding support person through La Leche League. Being around her as she worked with new moms really sparked my interest in working with babies. She went on to become an early childhood education specialist. In that role she has taught grades Tk-6 in public schools for the last 28 years. She has continued to support new moms including many of my friends as they have welcomed new babies in to their lives.
A Maternity & Newborn Photographer
As a Bay Area maternity and newborn photographer, my whole life (and livelihood) is dependent on people having babies. And I love it! I have always loved being around newborns. From learning from my mom, and watching her work with new moms, I always wanted to be around new babies. There was even a time that I considered going back to school to be a midwife. I started reading Mothering Magazine for fun when I was in my teens and ultimately developed my whole business around babies!
There is something so inspiring about watching women become mothers, and I feel privileged to be able to witness that transition for so many women and document it through photography. My love for intimate maternity sessions is drawn out of that inspiration as well. It is so incredible what women’s bodies are capable of during pregnancy, and I want to honor that journey by creating beautiful art and celebrating your amazing bodies!
A Birth & Postpartum Doula
Finally, my sister is also in the world of babies as a Birth and Postpartum Doula! She has been a caregiver to new babies for years as a nanny for many years, and has recently transitioned into Doula work which is inspiring and so needed. Doula’s can be such an essential part of a family’s birth story and postpartum recovery. They not only provide an additional support to a birthing or postpartum mother, but are a wealth of information, resources and education. And, (shameless plug) my sister is currently taking on new clients! You can find her website here: www.ashawoodalldoulaservices.com
The wealth of information that my family has around prenatal care, childbirth, breastfeeding and postpartum healing is truly remarkable. That knowledge informs how I work as a photographer to provide the most easy, relaxed, calm and intentional maternity and newborn sessions.
