In the most recent episode of Mamamia’s pregnancy podcast, Hello Bump, co-hosts Monique Bowley and Rebecca Judd interview doula and birth photographer, Angela Gallo.
“In a world where people are becoming increasingly disconnected…” Gallo says, “birth is for me… one of the most complex and dynamic human experiences left to feel.”
But despite how intense the experience of birth is, Gallo explains that the thinking part of the brain shuts down in order to give way to “the primitive brain” during labour.
“Because of this, women say they have no idea, or don’t remember any part of their birth,” Gallo explains.
That’s where she comes in. Gallo meets with clients in the lead up to the birth, to find out exactly what they want out of their birth photos.
Common requests include crowning images, their partners first reaction, and when siblings are meeting their little brother or sister for the first time.
But interestingly, the thing expectant mothers ask for above all else, is photoshop. Specifically, to have Gallo photoshop out their “double chin”.
“That’s the number one thing I get asked about,” Gallo said. “Can you take out my double chin?”
"But no... I look at every woman's pregnant birthing body so from my perspective I don't see anything to fix," she said, and explained that she will only take something out if it wouldn't be there in two weeks, like an inconvenient pimple.
Of course, Gallo insists that birth has nothing to do with the angle of one's chin. "It's the most beautiful moment," she laughed. "It's about documenting their story. Birth is a one off case, your baby comes out of you once. This is a moment you cannot do over."
And for that reason, she says expectant mums and dads should seriously consider a birth photographer. With the amount of movement, and the lighting in most hospital rooms, iPhones usually aren't sufficient.
"Even when it's chaotic and wild and there's an emergency," she says, "it's just a wonderful moment for them."
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Top Comments
When did birth stop being a means to an end and start becoming an end in and of itself? My mother and grandmothers would have never in a million years wanted a camera anywhere near them while giving birth! They just wanted to get it all over with as soon as possible so they could enjoy their, hopefully healthy, new baby. I suppose this is just another symptom of our current narcissistic generation: birth as performance art and baby as prop. Sad.
People really need to get over the birth and just move on. Thousands of women all over the world do it every day. Honestly, do people really want a photo of their baby crowning???? Stop being so self obsessed with it!
Agree. Some things are just best filed to memory.
Agree. The fact that women want their double chins photoshopped out shows how much of this is actually done for vanity and attention. I have no interest in seeing these pics; amazing how many folk think it's something for widespread distribution.
Why? Why not celebrate the day you welcome your child into the world. How does it effect you even in the slightest?
Maybe you should stop being so self obsessed.
Why is it self obsessed to document a momentous occasion in your life? A vast majority of people aren't going to share the images around and will use them to bring back memories of something special. I don't see how this is any different to documenting other occasions. Just because 1000s of people do it everyday doesn't take away from how important it is to the individual..