Anna Rae Photography

03/30/2026

SNEAK PEEK || BABY GOMEZ

Sweetest little flower inthe garden!

03/28/2026

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

We've learned so much this week about the wonderful work that doulas perform and how they exude a positive vibe in the birthing space. Now I'd like to hear from you! Did you have a doula at your birth? What experiences have you had? Are you a doula yourself? Share your business information in the comments for prospective parents who may be considering having a doula!

03/27/2026

LATOYA ADAMS ON ADVOCACY

LaToya and I met the way most photographers and doulas meet - face-to-face during the labor of a mutual client. My first impression of LaToya was that she was very quiet and calm. She had a way just moving through the room that put you at ease. LaToya has been helping mothers bring their children into the world for 15 years! I asked her what inspired her to this line of work, and I think her response is so important to share because not every birthing experience is satisfying and not every birth goes according to plan:

"My birth stories were not what I wished for, so I wanted to make sure that didn't happen to anyone else. Our first child was delivered at home because they said I wouldn't give birth any time soon. Eight hours later, we had a baby girl. Our son was even more dramatic. His heart rate kept going down during contractions so the OB on call made the decision for an emergency c-section. That did not go as planned. I bled out and coded. I had to have a blood transfusion and five extra days in the hospital. Neither of those experiences should have happened or be the norm. That is my why."

She goes on, "I am a birth worker that supports the mom and spouse by advocating for them when they can't advocate for themselves." And that truly is where it begins to preventing scenarios like LaToya's birthing experiences from happening. "Advocating starts before we even get to delivery day. We start with a birth plan. The birth plan is where the parents tell me the things they want and don't want in the delivery room from epidural to no epidural, to breastfeeding or not and making the decision if they want Pitocin or not."

What about when things don't go according to plan? How are doulas able to advocate for their birth clients in those situations? "You pivot. We always have the conversation of 'What if?' Also, any changes always grant a conversation. I don't make the decisions for them and neither do the medical team. They share the options and then Mom and Spouse make the decision. I make sure the parents' power is not taken away from them."

Something I asked LaToya was about the many birthing philosophies out there, I wanted to know what she holds to be important respecting this and what she finds most meaningful in her work as a doula, "The woman's body is made to do this thing called birth. Let the body do what it will do. Also, the baby knows what to do too. They will present themselves when they are ready. Getting to work with families from all walks of life. Teaching families how to advocate for themselves. To be a part of the wonderful world of birth. To see a little human take their first breath is just amazing in my mind."

LaToya was such a pleasure to work with - she really kept the space calm and reassuring. Her voice was mellow and she was able to help our client digest the options that lay in front of her and decide for herself the direction she wanted to go with her birth. If you're interested in working with LaToya, you can reach out to her via her Instagram page at the following link:

https://www.instagram.com/sweetlifedoula365

03/27/2026

BELLAMY KNOX LARUE

How do you tell a story as big, emotional, and life-changing as a birth???

You’ve seen me share pieces of my clients’ birth stories before… but this time, I wanted to approach the story from a different angle.

I didn’t want to just tell the story, I wanted you to feel it. To step into the room with me. To relive every moment these images are telling you. And I sincerely hope that I did a good job with it.

This is my very first blog post, and it means more to me than I can even put into words. I’d love for you to read it and experience Bellamy's birth WITH me!

https://www.annaraephoto.com/post/bellamy-knox-larue

Stephanie had progressed from 6cm to 8cm in just 10 more minutes!! Holy moly - talk about a mother's instinct. Bellamy was READY to come out. Stephanie's nurse said, "I think it's time to have a baby!"

03/27/2026

Ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes...

I was just telling one of my friend-tographers that I'm drooling looking for births. If you have ANY interest in the slightest - even if you're concerned about cost - message me today and let's set up a complimentary consultation! I promise it will be worth your while!

03/26/2026

TYPES OF DOULAS

Did you know there are many different types of doulas available to help you along your journey to delivering your baby? Different doulas offer different types of services depending on what your needs are! Here are just four types as presented by the Cleveland Clinic!

- Pregnany Doulas: provide emotional and physical support during pregnancies that require extra care such as high-risk pregnancies; they may also help plan and organize the nursery, assist with household chores and help plans meals for when baby arrives.

- Birth Doulas: help you plan and prepare for childbirth, provides emotional and physical support during labbor, advocates your wants and needs during the process

- Post-Partum Doulas: help you adjust to life with a new baby, help with household chores like laundry and preparing meals, provide breastfeeding support, advise you on how to care for baby.

- Full Spectrum Doulas: assist outside the norms of doulas to encompass the whole reproductive journey.

Want to learn more? Visit https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23075-doula for more information!

03/26/2026

That wash of relief when you hear that it's time to meet your baby...

I'm loving this process of editing birth sessions - I love that I get to relive the stories and give that story back to my clients to relive again and again.

I'm definitely looking for more births this year - if you would like more information, send me a message and let's chat. Consultations are always free and I love meeting new people!

03/26/2026

SNEAK PEEK: MEADOW

Another birthday session with this SWEET ONE right here! She absolutely LOVED her smash cake so stay tuned for the epic smashing of it!

03/25/2026

SNEAK PEEK: WREN TURNS THREE

Happiest birthday (yesterday) to this sweet and sassy little three going on thirteen girl! I can't wait to share more of her birthday session with you so stay tuned!

03/25/2026

SNEAK PEEK: IRVING

Just the most adorable little bear dreaming about his honey! Irving was a perfect month old baby when it came to capturing his photos. Stay tuned for more from his little session!

03/25/2026

SNEAK PEEK: ZUNIGA FAMILY

I just love this sweet family! We spent a morning traipsing around the Topeka Zoo to celebrate little Damon's 1/2 birthday and the photos we captured are just precious! Stay tuned for more from this fun little session!