It’s not every day that one of the people that are nearest and dearest to you ask you to be a witness to their life changing moments.
The mama of this lovely family has always been there for my life-changing moments, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Being asked to be present for her second baby’s birth is a moment I will cherish forever.

I was and am in awe of how confident she was in her birthing choices, right from the beginning. That little A was brought in to her world in her parents’ bed, surrounded by so much love was such an amazing moment to watch and capture.

When I returned to meet her husband and sign our contract, we broke the ice over a cup of Turkish coffee.

I was starting to feel like I was part of the family!

A scheduled induction, things got off the ground around 9 a.m. that morning. We stayed in touch by phone, but when the texts stopped coming back, I decided it was time to head to the hospital.

It was a long haul for mama, who was determined to limit medical interventions in the birth. Even after the long hours of labour, she summoned the strength to bring her boy into the world, much to the elation of everyone in the room.

Tears streamed down Demet’s face as she declared: “I have a son, and he is beautiful!”

The two loving parents were the only ones present to welcome the new baby. A grandmother who waited patiently in the wings while her first grandchild made his journey earthside gushed with pride too.
Everyone in the room laughed as Demet pointed out the irony of this Turkish, Muslim baby, being delivered on Easter weekend in Canada.

Since his arrival, the little Lion has proven his strength time and again, he has since undergone heart surgery to repair an issue undetected in utero.

A beautiful little family!
Congratulations Demet and Mertz.

Calm. I didn’t think birth could be so calm.

Doula gently stroking mama’s skin.

Dad whispering words of encouragement to the mother of his second child.

Midwives smiling as they greeted this new life.

Birth photographer loving every second.

Awesome.

Congratulations little family.

The doula seen in the slideshow is Kristi Clement from Helping Hands Doula.

Birthdays when they are real, live, right as it happens birthdays are pure magic. They are what birth photography is all about

I was lucky enough to be here for this little girl’s birthday.

After a relatively short but intense labour, baby C was ushered into mama’s arms.

Do you remember looking into your baby’s eyes the first time. This mama might not remember this moment, but now she has it captured, forever.

“Thank you Carrie for being there and being so great I can’t wait to see more pics…I am more than positive they are going to be awesome.
As much as I knew you were there, I didn’t (which is great when you hate having your picture taken). You’re awesome! Thanks again.”

S. Labelle