Salt Lake City Utah Birth Photographer

Lensbaby Project May

Andrea Lythgoe — Tue, 28 May 2013 18:00:20 +0000

It’s the 28th again, and that means it is time for the monthly Lensbaby Project! This is a project I took on with a few other photographers for the year 2013. I am using my Lensbaby – a special lens system that has selective focus – and I am shooting just for myself. I am loving the outlet for my creativity. This month I went with a vintage theme, as most of this month’s images were shot at an apple orchard and homestead dating from the mid 1800s. Since I didn’t have as many as I would have liked, I re-edited some older images of an abandonded grist mill and a living history farm from about the same era.
After you’ve viewed my images, please go on to visit St. Albans Photographer Claire Lane. There’s a whole circle of Lensbaby work to enjoy!

Slideshow Music

Andrea Lythgoe — Mon, 27 May 2013 07:17:52 +0000

Credit: Victoria White
http://www.flickr.com/photos/victoriawhite/

As a creative artist, I depend on copyright laws to allow me to earn an income with my work. Sometimes I am surprised that other photographers don’t respect that same copyright when it comes to music. If you are putting together slideshows for your clients, any music that you use needs to be properly licensed, so that those musicians can also earn an income from their creative work.

And no, buying the song from iTunes or buying the physical CD does not give you the right to use it. Those kind of purchases are for *personal* use, and you can’t use them for your business or distribute them to other people without being in violation of copyright law. In order to be legally using the music, you need to buy a license that allows for that kind of use.

And don’t go thinking that you won’t get caught, or that the artists and recording labels don’t care. They do. For an example of what can happen, read this interview with a wedding photographer who did get caught and ended up paying a 5-figure settlement for his copyright violation.

In order to be using music within the law, you will need to buy the music from a company that provides licensing. It is up to you to read and understand the licensing, and to build the cost for this kind of licensing into the price of your slideshow.

The term you want to look for is “royalty free” music licensing. Don’t be fooled by the word “free” – you’ll pay for this license. “Royalty-free” just means that you do not have to pay a royalty fee for each play of the music, and you can pay a one-time licensing fee instead.

There are many places to license royalty free music, and each of them has different terms. Make sure you carefully read and understand the terms of each site. With some sites, you are purchasing a one-time license and will need to repurchase the song each time you want to use it. You may find another site that allows unlimited use for a year. Another might be unlimited use with no time limit. Some sites offer licensing for various purposes, so make sure photography use is available for that particular song. You can sometimes search by the kind of licensing you need. If the artist requires credit for the use of their music, be sure to give credit at the beginning and end of the slideshow. I prefer to use a frame at the end with my information and the music credit.

Not all songs will be available for a commercial license, as not all artists will want their work used by photographers. Some song licensing might be priced so high it isn’t practical to use it. This means sometimes you will have to tell your clients no when they request a song. I prefer to give my clients a list of songs I can use, or just ask them to trust me to choose one that fits the mood of the birth or the length I need. Be prepared to explain to clients why they cannot use a song they suggest.

Here is a list of some of the places where you can find royalty-free music. Remember prices, terms and conditions vary from site to site, so do your homework and know what you are buying before making a purchase.

Know of another good one? Share it in the comments!

Jill and Family | Park City Maternity

Andrea Lythgoe — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:26:30 +0000

I love this family. I was able to shoot their son’s birth almost 2 years ago, very much looking forward to this next little one’s arrival as well. This time Jill and Dan are having a little girl, and we enjoyed a lovely evening shooting up in the mountains. Thank you for having me record your maternity memories!

But everyone has to start somewhere!

Andrea Lythgoe — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:03:44 +0000

All too often I get questions from aspiring birth photographers like “what settings should I use to shoot a birth?” or “What’s the best exposure for a home birth?” Or my least favorite: “Help! I just booked a birth, how do you shoot births?” I always tell them that they need to master their skills BEFORE taking on births, the response is almost universal “Everyone has to start somewhere!!”

Yes, it’s true. Everyone DOES have to start somewhere. But shooting a once in a lifetime event like a birth is NOT the starting place. It simply isn’t. Shooting births is the advanced stuff, the major leagues, not the starting line. You can’t take shortcuts to becoming a birth photographer. Here’s a handy roadmap to show you where you should start:

“Everyone starts somewhere” is NOT an excuse for opening a business or taking on births with zero to little know-how or skill.

You MUST have the ability to perform the service BEFORE opening a business selling that service. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
Would you like your doctor to open their practice before attending med school? Would you want a mechanic working on your car that couldn’t tell the difference between where to add oil and where to add washer fluid?

Booking a birth before you know how to do it is something that people do because they don’t want to start somewhere, they want to jump ahead to BEING there. They want to skip the training, skip the learning, skip the practice, just skip to the reward. It doesn’t work, and it isn’t fair to the families.

I love this quote from Kris Camealy “A professional doesn’t scoff at starting off in the mail room. Professionals put in the time necessary to become what they hope to be–even when they don’t feel like it.”

So where DO you start?

Here are some things to start with:

1. Master, really master, shooting completely manual for exposure. Know the exposure triangle like the back of your hand. Know how to quickly change the settings on your camera without even thinking about it.
2. Know how to shoot in low light, and know how to do it WELL. This takes a lot of practice, and thankfully you can do this kind of practice at home, every night. No need to wait for a birth to practice low light shooting.
3. Even if you don’t think you’ll ever use it, know how to shoot with a good external flash. Know how to bounce, know how to change the power on your flash, know how to create good directional light with it.
4. Know your gear. Every piece. This tends to happen as you go through numbers 1-3. You may also find that your gear limits you as you’re mastering your skills. For example, many new photographers learn the hard lesson about kit lenses and how unsuitable they are for low light shooting as they are practicing shooting by candlelight. You may find you need to upgrade gear for this kind of shooting.
5. Know how to edit properly. No selective color, no plastic skin. Know how to make a good black and white conversion. Know how to do a good clean color edit. Know how to minimize the look of blood, how to reduce and embrace grain, and how much to edit and how much to leave. Again, you don’t need births to do this. Just practice with your shots from your low light practice.

For more tips, you might like this article: Top 10 things new birth photographers need to know.

Basic competence is pretty crucial, and you do NOT start a business without it. Get the photography skills first, be original, and the chances of your business succeeding increase exponentially!

(Image credit for graphic at the top of this article: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mourner/)

Utah County Maternity

Andrea Lythgoe — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:41:44 +0000

This lovely mom and I had a great time shooting at Utah Valley University on a cold and windy early spring day. Thank you!

FAQ Template from Carolyn Spranger Photography

Andrea Lythgoe — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:52:58 +0000

This generous guest post is courtesy of Carolyn Spranger, a birth photographer who works in Cheyenne, WY and Northern Colorado. Thank you, Carolyn!

If you’re on my facebook page, or any birth photography facebook group, you’ve seen the recent realization that several photographers are lifting full word for word paragraphs from other photographer’s websites and using them as their own.

First, it’s illegal.
Second, it’s just WRONG! And LAZY.

Really, if you (not *you* specifically, I hope, just in general) cannot come up with your own answers to frequently asked birth photography questions, then what business do you have photographing births? Sounds harsh, but it’s true. You’re cheating your clients out of YOUR personality, YOUR honest answers, and GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE. What would happen if you show up to the client meeting, they ask you many of those questions again, and you answer them all differently than what they read on your website; since you didn’t create the answers you probably don’t have them memorized. They may not even apply to your business at all!

Okay, lecture over. My point is that you should be writing your very own custom-to-your-business answers. A wise friend (yes Barb, that’s you!) mentioned that maybe it’d be a good idea to put some FAQ out there for photographers to use. I tend to be an incredibly OCD and thorough person, so before my first birth I spent a lot of time trying to cover every single question (and answer) that I thought someone would ask. Of course this meant browsing other photographer’s websites and seeing if I missed anything. However, I never copy/pasted answers and claimed them as my own. I wrote down questions in my own words, and came up with answers. I also surveyed many women to get new and different questions (I suggest you do the same if you want truly unique questions). A huge reason why finding my FAQ stolen made me so angry. I took the time to ask women what questions they had, so my questions were word-for-word from Moms that I surveyed. They didn’t just steal MY words, they stole my client’s and friend’s words. I also understand that many questions are going to be almost the same from photographer to photographer, but answers should vary depending on business practices. They may even be similar, but they should not line up word for word with someone else’s.

With all of that said, I created a list of generic questions for new photographers to use as a guide. Feel free to copy/paste these questions and come up with your OWN answers to them. I’d love for you to link back to this post so other photographers can use it too.

What is birth photography?
•Answer this in your own words, what does birth photography mean to you? How would you explain birth photography to a total stranger who’s never heard of it before?

Do you take pictures of the whole labor and birth?
•Do you? Sometimes people think birth photography means showing up at the hospital after baby is born, explain in more detail what you’re taking photos of.

Will you post the photos on the internet?
•Will you? What if they don’t want you to? How modest of photographs will you post publicly? Where do you draw the limit? This is something you have to decide for yourself. Some photographers post very little of the actual birth, others post more graphic photos.

Will we meet before the birth?
•Yes/No and explain your reasons

When do you show up?
•You need to think about this and come up with a good answer based on when you think you’ll come. Some say 5cm, some say later, and some women don’t get vaginal checks at all so make sure to think about all options

How long will you stay? What if I have a long labor?
•Again, the answers will vary a lot based on your business. It’s always good to set guidelines so that moms know what to expect. If they expect you to stay 4 hours but you leave after an hour, you’ll have some disappointed clients. Make sure they have clear expectations and know what determines when you’ll go home.

What if I have a short labor, will I get any of my money back?
•Decide for yourself and explain why

What if I have a c-section?
•You need to find out if your hospital will allow you in the OR, some have a limit on the # of people so they may not even want you in there.

Will I have to get approval from my hospital?
•Will they? Will you do that for them or will the be responsible for finding that information?

What if you miss the birth?
•You need to go through the options of WHY you would miss a birth and answer each according to how you plan on handling those situations

When should I book you?
•When should they?

Do you offer discounts or take payments?
•Do you? Payment plans are a great way to make birth photography affordable. Also a good time to mention when they should be paid in full.

Do you use a flash? What if I want my birth dark?
•This is something you need to decide for yourself, and explain your reasons. You may chose to use a flash because your camera isn’t equipped to handle low light situations, or visa versa.

How many photographs will I get?
•This varies greatly photographer to photographer. Make sure you’re clear so they know what to expect

How long will it take to get my photographs?
•Also varies photographer to photographer. Do you have a lot of other shoots to edit or will you begin working on theirs right away?

Will they be color or black and white?
•Pretty self explanatory ..

Do I get a CD of all my images? What if I want prints?
•You have to decide if you want to give them high resolution, low resolution, prints, or just have them order a la carte.

And what’s a post without a photo? A photo that mom wouldn’t have had if she had her doula taking photos for her!

Just in time for Mother’s Day: Gift Certificates!

Andrea Lythgoe — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:40:02 +0000

Want to treat the new mom in your life to something for Mother’s Day? We are offering gift certificates in any amount, just call me at 801-523-8344. Gift certificates will come nicely packaged in a box tied with a ribbon, and will be delivered to you in time for Mother’s Day if purchased by May 5, 2013. Certificates can be used for future sessions, or to order prints, books, or slideshows from past sessions.

Lensbaby Project April – Tulip

Andrea Lythgoe — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 07:00:22 +0000

For this month’s Lensbaby project, my camera and I went out to Thanksgiving Point’s Tulip Festival. I spent a solid 4 hours walking every inch of the gardens and shooting to my heart’s content. And until I had my first sunburn of the year! There are a lot of them this month, hopefully you will enjoy them! When you are done looking at mine, please hop over to Courtney White Bruel’s site to see her work!

Professional Birth Photography Slideshow | Doulas and Midwives

Andrea Lythgoe — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:00:31 +0000

The birth photography group is at it again! This time we compiled a collection of photos featuring doulas and midwives at work supporting moms. Please scroll down to see a list of the photographers who contributed to the slideshow.

Credits, listed by the time their images appear in the slideshow:

0.02
Calla Evans
Born by Calla Evans Photography
Toronto Canada
http://bornbycallaevansphotography.com

0:12
Carrie Duncan
Four Bees Photography
Toronto, ON (Canada)
http://fourbeesphotography.com

0:17
Marysol Blomerus
Blomerus Photography
Cape Town, South Africa
http://www.capetownbirthphotography.com

0:20
J Freund
Cradled Creations Birth Photography
Abbotsford, BC
http://www.CradledCreations.com

0:31
Sarah Boccolucci
Sarah Boccolucci Photography
Colorado, USA
http://www.coloradobirthphotos.com

0:34
Laura Eckert
New Creation Birth Photography
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Iowa
http://www.newcreationphotography.com

0:41
Andrea Oleson
AndreaG Photography
Des Moines, IA
http://www.andreagphoto.com

0:45
nikki williams
nikki williams birth doula and photography
wiesbaden, germany
http://www.bedheadbirth.com

0:56
crystal turner
Indy Birth Photographer
Indianapolis, IN USA
http://www.indybirthphotographer.com

1:03
Brooke Walsh
Peace Love Babies
St. Cloud, MN
http://peace-love-babies.com

1:08
Sarah Boccolucci
Sarah Boccolucci Photography
Colorado, USA
http://www.coloradobirthphotos.com

1:13
Tammy Bradshaw
Tammy Bradshaw Photography
Philadelphia, PA
http://www.tammybradshawphoto.com

1:18
Ginger Horsburgh
Earthside Birth Photography
Salt Lake City, Utah
http://www.EarthsidePhotography.com

1:22
Laura Eckert
New Creation Birth Photography
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Iowa
http://www.newcreationphotography.com

1:29
Ginger Horsburgh
Earthside Birth Photography
Salt Lake City, Utah
http://www.EarthsidePhotography.com

1:32
Heidi Daniels
DC Birth Photographer
Northern Virginia
http://dcbirthphotographer.com

2:01
Kristin and Leah Jent
Joyful Hearts Birth Photography
Dayton, Ohio
http://www.daytonbirthphotography.com

1:47
J Freund
Cradled Creations Birth Photography
Abbotsford, BC
http://www.CradledCreations.com

1:50
Jessica Benson
Jessica B Photography
Nevada, USA
http://www.jessicabphotography.com

2:01
Kristin and Leah Jent
Joyful Hearts Birth Photography
Dayton, Ohio
http://www.daytonbirthphotography.com

2:04
Leilani Rogers, Photographer
Austin, TX
http://www.photosbylei.com

2:08
Jane McCrae
Jane McCrae Photography
NSW Australia
http://www.janemccraephotography.com

2:15
Sarah Lewis
Sarah Lewis Photography
Fairbanks, AK
http://www.sarahlewisphoto.com

2:30
Lieu Mahaney
Love, Courage, & Miracles
St. Petersburg, Florida US
http://www.lcmbirthphotography.com

2:23
Andrea Lythgoe
Maternal Focus
Salt Lake City, Utah
http://www.maternalfocus.com

2:25
Christine Curry
Storyteller Photography
Central Valley, California
http://storyteller-photo.com

2:30
Lieu Mahaney
Love, Courage, & Miracles
St. Petersburg, Florida US
http://www.lcmbirthphotography.com

2:33
Leilani Rogers
Leilani Rogers, Photographer
Austin, TX
http://www.photosbylei.com

2:40
Andrea Lythgoe
Maternal Focus
Salt Lake City, Utah
http://www.maternalfocus.com

2:45
Erica McCauley
Erica McCauley Photography
Minot, ND
http://www.ericamccauley.com

2:51
Hallie Dedrick
Milk & Honey| Doula-Photography
Clearwater, FL
http://www.milkandyhoneymom.com

2:55
Morag Hastings
Apple Blossom Families
Vancouver, BC
http://www.appleblossomfamilies.com

3:02
Renae Richardson
Levana Photography
Perth, Australia
http://www.levanaphotography.com

3:05
Erica McCauley
Erica McCauley Photography
Minot, ND
http://www.ericamccauley.com

3:05
Talitha Eacott
SpringPhotography & Birth Support
Capel, Western Australia
http://www.springphotography.com.au

3:12
Amanda Kingsley
nature & nurture:
United States
http://www.natureandnurturebirth.com

3:16
Amanda Kingsley
nature & nurture:
United States
http://www.natureandnurturebirth.com

3:34
Ginessa Pierson
Little Wonders Photography
Sacramento, CA
http://www.littlewondersphoto.com

3:38
Rebekah Mustaleski
Great Expectations Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
http://www.greatexpectationsknoxville.com

3:41
Belle Verdiglione
Belle Verdiglione Photography
Perth, Western Australia
http://www.belleverdiglionephotography.com.au

3:46
Carolyn Spranger
Carolyn Spranger Photography
Cheyenne, WY
http://www.carolynsprangerphotography.com

3:52
Stephenie Kessock
Daisykey Photography
Kennesaw, GA
http://www.daisykey.com

3:55
Rachael Steele
Steele The Moment Birth Photography
Southern Utah
http://www.births.steelethemoment.com

3:58
Jane McCrae
Jane McCrae Photography
NSW Australia
http://www.janemccraephotography.com

4:03
Rebecca Block
Pure Captures Photography
Springfield-Branson Missouri
http://www.purecaptures.com

4:07
Renae Richardson
Levana Photography
Perth, Australia
http://www.levanaphotography.com

4:09
Belle Verdiglione
Belle Verdiglione Photography
Perth, Western Australia
http://www.belleverdiglionephotography.com.au

4:14
Morag Hastings
Apple Blossom Families
Vancouver, BC
http://www.appleblossomfamilies.com

4:21
Leilani Rogers
Leilani Rogers, Photographer
Austin, TX
http://www.photosbylei.com

4:28
Kristin and Leah Jent
Joyful Hearts Birth Photography
Dayton, Ohio
http://www.daytonbirthphotography.com

4:35
Calla Evans
Born by Calla Evans Photography
Toronto Canada
http://bornbycallaevansphotography.com

4:43
Milena ViVenzio
Memories By The Smile Photography
Texas, USA
http://www.memoriesbythesmile.com

4:51
Kristin and Leah Jent
Joyful Hearts Birth Photography
Dayton, Ohio
http://www.daytonbirthphotography.com

4:54
Carolyn Spranger
Carolyn Spranger Photography
Cheyenne, WY
http://www.carolynsprangerphotography.com

5:00
Calla Evans
Born by Calla Evans Photography
Toronto Canada
http://bornbycallaevansphotography.com

5:02
Rachael Steele
Steele The Moment Birth Photography
Southern Utah
http://www.births.steelethemoment.com

5:08
Tami Tripp
tami tripp photography
Minneapolis
http://www.tamitripp.com

5:11
Brooke Walsh
Peace Love Babies
St. Cloud, MN
http://peace-love-babies.com

5:15
Morag Hastings
Apple Blossom Families
Vancouver, BC
http://www.appleblossomfamilies.com

5:18
Tami Tripp
tami tripp photography
Minneapolis
http://www.tamitripp.com

5:21
Hallie Dedrick
Milk & Honey| Doula-Photography
Clearwater, FL
http://www.milkandyhoneymom.com

5:29
Sarah Lewis
Sarah Lewis Photography
Fairbanks, AK
http://www.sarahlewisphoto.com

5:33
Calla Evans
Born by Calla Evans Photography
Toronto Canada
http://bornbycallaevansphotography.com

5:41
Brooke Walsh
Peace Love Babies
St. Cloud, MN
http://peace-love-babies.com

The LensBaby Project – March 2013

Andrea Lythgoe — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:00:04 +0000

Even I was surprised at the direction this month’s Lensbaby Project took me! This was a month with no theme, and I had no idea what to shoot. And then one day, I just saw something I had to shoot, and the Lensbaby seemed perfect. The grainy black and white is not really my style at all, but even as I was shooting in color, I just knew I would want to do exactly that with these.
My daughter is an artist. She was home from college on spring break, and working on a charcoal sketch of some of her friends. Her hands were blackened from the charcoal, the sketch was unfinished, and I just had to shoot it.
If you’d like to see more of her work, she has a gallery here.
After you’ve seen what I have done, please follow the circle through and visit Jess Curkovic.