06/26/2026
picture this: it’s 5:30am… *most* of the world is still sleeping, including their 2yo son (who typically wakes up at 10 am) We’ve never met in person, but I chat with all my birth clients over the phone when they book to be sure we’re a good fit🫱🏼🫲🏽 I knew immediately when I spoke with Kennedy we were a good fit. You’ll have to ask her if she felt the same way about me. A few days before her birth, she sent me videos on how to get into her home. I never considered when I started doing birth photography how un-normal it feels walking up in the dark of the night to someone’s home, and helping myself in. I always take a deep breath hoping it’s actually the right house. :P Kennedy’s videos were so helpful- she even showed me which room she’d be in. I walked in like I was at a friends house, knowing exactly where to go. There she was- in her bedroom, on a dog bed on the floor (they don’t even own a dog). The room was pitch dark and she was acting like her stomach hurt a little bit- not like she was an hour away from giving birth. We let her labor as she liked- alone, dark space on her amazon dog bed… until we heard the shift. We made our way in there… turned up the dimming lights a tad, and supported her as she welcome their baby… caught by dad. Her immediate response was “thank you, Jesus” as she lifted her left hand in praise and held her brand new baby boy with her other hand. It was magical, raw, and beautiful.
She later told me that when she saw my bob shadow on the wall when I first arrived, it gave her a rush of adrenaline and caused a contraction. Who knew my haircut would be a labor tool?🙃
*shared with permission, of course*
dream birth team:
June Rodgers Lamphier Oona Mekas
