As an 11-year wedding photographer & videographer, I thought I had the most intimate job in the world, getting to capture the most happy, raw, emotional day in my clients' lives – until I became a mom in 2024. I realized that experiencing the birth of your child is even more emotional & transformative than a wedding. It's truly the most life-changing event you will ever experience. Even though my husband and I had the most incredible, heartwarming, and memorable wedding day, I realized instantly that nothing could compare to the intense, powerful, transformative, joyful, overwhelming feeling we felt when our child entered the world and we become parents.
We were so thankful we had hired a birth videographer to capture this moment for us and I knew right away that I wanted to offer birth videography services so I could provide this same gift for new parents. I couldn’t imagine not having any visual reminders of those moments. Having photos and videos to look back on has helped us relive all of the raw, triumphant, beautiful moments during labor, process everything that happened, see the birth from an outside perspective, and of course, relive the moment we met our son for the first time, hear his sweet little newborn cry, and remind us what he looked like when he was just seconds and minutes old.
Footage captured by Maria Mazikova and Lin Pernille. Video edited by Lin Pernille.
My firstborn son Summit was born at the Neugarten Birth Center at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinbeck, NY.
The Details & Logistics:
Lin will be on-call as your birth videographer for one week before and one week after the Estimated Due Date provided by the Client upon booking, at the birth location stated in the contract. For this reason, the 50% retainer is non-refundable regardless of any changes to the birth plans or outcomes. If Lin is unavailable on any of the dates within this period, the backup videographer will serve as the videographer for your birth (Lin will still edit and deliver your video and be your main point of contact, other than on the day of the birth itself). Beyond those dates, Lin or the backup will make every attempt to be available to film your birth but cannot guarantee availability. In this event, the contract will be canceled, final 50% balance will not be due, and you are welcome to find a new videographer. Lin will be happy to provide a list of names of videographers who may be available instead.
If you have a doula, please connect us so we can be in touch with each other towards the end of your pregnancy and on the day of the birth. After you reach 37 weeks, please text Lin any and all updates regarding contractions, losing your mucus plug, water breaking, etc. Lin must be kept informed and must be notified as soon as you are in established early labor so she can make arrangements to depart for the birth location (Lin needs at least 2 hours notice before departing). Lin will leave to arrive at the birth location once she has been informed that labor has reached a 3-1-1 pattern. Failure to do so in a timely manner may result in a delayed start time of the video coverage.
Some unique circumstances that may result in a lapse of video coverage:
- If the birther needs to be rushed to a different location or moved via an ambulance.
- If the birth location does not allow photography or videography.
- If the birth location does not allow an additional person in the birthing room.
- If a C-section is required and the videographer is not allowed in the operating room.
- The Client has a precipitous birth and the Videographer is not given enough notice to arrive on time.
The Client assumes all responsibility for confirming that the Videographer will be permitted to film in the birthing location before booking the Videographer. The Videographer is not responsible for any lapses in filming due to lack of communication from the Client or due to policies outside of the Videographer’s control. The Client understands that refunds cannot be issued after the contract is signed and retained is paid.
The Videographer will make all attempts to get ideal angles of all moments throughout the birth, but the Client understands that safety is the utmost priority, and, as such, the Videographer may have to film from less ideal angles to allow medical providers to do their work.
The Client understands that birth is an unpredictable experience, and therefore, flexibility and artistic freedom must be granted. The Videographer will make every attempt to capture any moments that are important to the Client but the exact content of the final edited film and specific shots cannot be guaranteed.
A 50% retainer is due in order to book the Videographer. After the retainer is received, Lin will be on-call for one week before and one week after your Estimated Due Date. The final 50% payment is due at 37 weeks.
The final edited video will be delivered within 6 weeks of the birth, via an online download link. If raw footage is added on to your package, the clips will be delivered via a Dropbox link. The Client is responsible for downloading and backing up the footage on their own device within one month. After one month, the download link will expire and the Videographer is not responsible for storing the files.
If coverage of the birth exceeds 6 hours, the Client will be invoiced for the additional hours within 48 hours of the birth. This payment is due within 7 days of the birth. No videos will begin to be process or edited until full payment is received. Delayed payment may result in delayed delivery of the final edited video.