The Essence of Birth - SELF STUDY
This course will help you gain the skills, knowledge, and passion to pursue birth photography and make an impact in your birth community.
If you have been inspired by the power and artistic potential of birth, but feel intimidated to bring your camera into such an intimate and monumental event, this course is for you. We want every student to walk away with the tools necessary to feel confident in this growing industry.
Shooting tutorial: Watch Jenn and Monet document a birth from start to finish
Interviews with Midwives, Nurses, and OB's on safety and birth etiquette
Marketing session by renowned photographer and business mentor, Chris Loring
Editing Tutorial: see Jenn edit a birth from start to finish, in under two hours
Camera, lighting and storytelling basics, establishing a strong foundation in technical skills
Welcome Video
Intro from Jenn and Monet
Before we begin...
Objective
Jenn's Why
Monet's Why
What Birth Photography Means to the Families We Serve
What Birth Photography Means to the Larger World
Objective
Gear
Recommended Gear List
Mirrorless vs. DSLR
Mirrorless Camera Video
Camera Settings - Labor
Camera Settings - Birth
Camera Settings - Postpartum
Kelvin Video
Kelvin Recap
Focus
Focus Video
Objective
Flash Tutorial
Flash Info
Black Foamie Thing Video
Homework
Objective
Storytelling Basics
Style
Birth Slideshow
Finding YOUR Style
Objective
Live Tutorial
Cesarean Birth Video - Patient Perspective
Cesarean Birth Video
Cesarean Birth Video 2 - Photographer Perspective
Objective
Sacred Space - Emma Nolan
Stages of Labor
Birth 101
Know When To Go!
Objective
Photomechanic
Photomechanic Video
Import into LR
Culling a Full Birth
Culling a Full Birth - Video
Lightroom Editing - Jenn's Video Tutorial
Lightroom Editing - Monet's Video Tutorial
Special Offer
Objective
Midwife Stories
Midwife Stories Video
Nurse Stories
Birth Trauma Video
Birth Trauma
Sara Arias RN-BC, C-EFM - Learn About Sara
Download Resources: Helpful Tips for Birth Photographers and Hand Out for Healthcare Professional
Understanding the Sterile Field and Maintaining Sterility in the OR
Objective
Business Basics for Photographers
Next Steps in Business
Pricing
Pricing Guide and CODB
Objective
Social Media
Breaking Into Your Market
Marketing is Like Fishing
Marketing is Like Fishing Video2
Niche Marketing
What does your IDEAL client actually look like?
What does your IDEAL client...- Video
The Power of NO
The Power of No - Video
Your Magical Marketing Space & Words
Your About Page
Your About Page Video
Objective
Client Interaction Before/During/After Birth
Delivering Stories
Diversity and Inclusion
Loss - Jenn speaks about photographing a loss
Loss Video - Potentially Triggering
Loss and FAQ about charging money
More resources for you
Before you go...
Jennifer Mason (she/her)
Jenn and Monet BBH
We would like you to have a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Some understanding of photography is helpful but not necessary. We have links to tutorials if you need extra help.
We recommend using Adobe Lightroom. You can purchase a monthly subscription for a very reasonable price (around $10 per month).
This course is a self paced study. The material is available for life, so if you feel like time is a struggle, you can go back at anytime and review the info. You can read through the course in a full day, or break it into weekly lessons, whichever works for you. Please note that you will not receive certification until the course is completed, the final activities have been submitted and received. At that point we will send you your certificate, badges and other qualifying bonuses.
Yes, we have a payment plan of 3 installments of $180. Because all content is immediately available upon access, payment plan must be paid in full for course access begins.
Once you have completed the course at 100%, we ask that you submit a business and marketing plan, artist statement and sample of work. Once received, we will send you your certificate, social media BBH Certified Birth Photographer badge, and complete your certified listing in our directory.
There are a few sections about birth basics and birth space safety and etiquette that will be entry level for an established birth worker. However, the bulk of this course is about photography in the birth space, marketing and building your business, establishing a brand, identifying your ideal client, and learning how to support yourself and one another in this industry. We feel that you will still gain a ton of insight and knowledge from this course. If you still have specific questions, please always feel free to reach out to us at birthbecomesher@gmail.com.