films

Born at Home in Downtown Minneapolis | A Preview of Cedar's Birth Story + A Birth Film! /  by Meredith Westin

Meredith+Westin+Photography-+Birth+and+Postpartum+Photographer+Minnesota20190426101502.jpg

12:00 pm | April 26, 2019

It’s always a treat to attend a birth with my doula partner, Gina, and this one was no exception. Our lovely client had a long, slow labor with her first kiddo. Two and a half years ago, the weather was dreary. After two long days of contractions, her water finally broke as her baby was born. This time around, she woke up at 6:30 am after a good night of sleep to a thump — her water had broken! She texted us right away to let us know what had happened and said she’d keep us posted. After an hour, Gina spoke to her husband on the phone and could tell that things were ramping up. She let me know she’d be joining them soon and told me to get ready. When she arrived, our client was starting to feel like pushing. Fortunately, I was already on my way. By the time I walked into their apartment a few minutes later ready to start documenting with my cameras around my neck, things were in full swing. Water was flowing into the birth pool, their sweet kiddo was contentedly watching a show while his mama labored next to him, and their wonderful midwife was setting up her things. A few beautiful hours later, we got to photograph them as they met their newest little baby.

Welcome to the world, Cedar. We’re so glad you’re here.

Gina and I were so thrilled to provide our Doula Support + Birth Photography package to this family and we were even more excited when they chose to add on a Birth Announcment Film and a Birth Story Film. If you’d like to learn more about our team, visit our service page.

A Joyous Gestational Carrier Birth in St. Paul, Minnesota | A Preview of Nina's Birth + A Birth Announcement Film /  by Meredith Westin

April 13th, 2019 | 9:57 am

As the leading birth photographer in Minneapolis and St. Paul, I am honored to bear witness to incredible transformations on a weekly basis. I document raw beauty, pure strength, and authentic love. This birth was no exception.

When Helena reached out to me way back in August about having the birth of her sweet Nina photographed, I was thrilled. As April approached, she decided to add videography on to her package and I was so excited to be able to capture even more of her birth story. Helena's baby would be born via a gestational carrier (GC), a wonderful woman who was as excited about having the birth documented as we were. As their guess date approached, little Nina showed a bit of her personality by teasing her GC and her parents with start and stop contractions for over a week. Finally, in the early hours of April 13th, the contractions became too much to deal with at home and we all met up at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Nina's GC has a history of fast labors. When I arrived at the hospital at 4 am, I half-expected to meet sweet Nina within minutes -- and not just because of her GC’s history but also because a few recent babies had been in such a rush to join us that I only got to spend a short while with their mamas before capturing their moment of birth. This time around, things went a bit slower. An epidural... a bit of pitocin... and then they decided to break the GC's bag of waters (called AROM or artificial rupture of membranes). That kicked things into high gear and baby was born just a half an hour later, after only two pushes.

I just adore the sweet looks on her parent's faces as they witnessed her birth. And the moment shared between the amazing gestational carrier and Nina's incredible mama... so touching! I hope you enjoy looking at this sneak peek into Nina's birth as much as I enjoyed capturing it.

If you're looking for a birth photographer or videographer in the Twin Cities, don't hesitate to reach out. xo

 
 

Interested in learning more about Meredith’s birth photography services in Minneapolis?

Visit her services page.

Delivering at a Birth Center in St. Paul, Minnesota | The Birth Story of Oakley Reese + A Birth Story Film! /  by Meredith Westin

Oakley Reese | April 23rd, 2018 | 5:25 pm 

Allie and I met for the first time over coffee to discuss what she wanted photographed and filmed and just a handful of days later, I got to document Oakley's birth! What a gorgeous whirlwind!

Welcome to the world, Oakley! We're so glad you're here! 

Sneak Peek Images like these ARE INCLUDED IN MY BIRTH STORY SESSION: PHOTOS + FILMS PACKAGE ALONG WITH YOUR COMPLIMENTARY PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM DOCUMENTARY MINI-SESSIONS, A minute-long BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT FILM, A FULL-LENGTH BIRTH STORY FILM, AND A FULL GALLERY OF IMAGES FROM YOUR BIRTH WITH A FULL PRINT RELEASE.

CONTACT ME TO LEARN MORE.

A Lovely Waterbirth at Home in Minneapolis | The Birth Story of Louise Wynne + A Birth Story Film! /  by Meredith Westin

April 21st, 2018 | 2:03 am

I am always honored when a family chooses to bring me into their birth experience. When that family is part of the birth world or the photography world, it's even more flattering. When Amy reached out waaaay back in the fall, it felt like her birth would never arrive but of course it did. And when it did, it was incredible. Thank you for inviting me into your birth space, Amy. I'm so incredibly proud of you.

Welcome to the world, Louise! We're so glad you're here! 

SNEAK PEEK IMAGES LIKE THESE ARE INCLUDED IN MY BIRTH STORY SESSION: PHOTOS + FILMS PACKAGE ALONG WITH YOUR COMPLIMENTARY PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM DOCUMENTARY MINI-SESSIONS, A MINUTE-LONG BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT FILM, A FULL-LENGTH BIRTH STORY FILM, AND A FULL GALLERY OF IMAGES FROM YOUR BIRTH WITH A FULL PRINT RELEASE.

CONTACT ME TO LEARN MORE.

Film: The Birth Announcement of Rowan David /  by Meredith Westin

Welcome to the world, Rowan! We're so glad you're here.

Produced in partnership with Brooke Walsh.

A minute-long Birth Announcement film like this one is included in my Birth Story Session: Photos + Films package along with your complimentary prenatal and postpartum documentary mini-sessions, a handful of sneak peek images delivered within 12 hours of baby's birth, a full-length Birth Story film, and a full gallery of images from your birth with a full print release. Contact me to learn more.