As a Doula I got to help families feel their strength and beauty. As a photographer I get to show them proof.
Meet Julia
There is nothing more incredible than attending a birth. I would go everyday if I could. But the truth is that being on call 12 months a year wasn’t sustainable for me and I became burnt out. Thankfully I’ve been able to step back from Doula work and still be supported by my photography business. Photography added flexibility to our lives, allowing us to do things like take a year off and travel the world. I want the same for you.
As a doula, you already have the skills to become an amazing photographer. With some guidance, you can offer your clients an unforgettable gift while creating a sustainable, profitable business for yourself. I’ve seen so many doulas achieve this transformation, and I’d love to help you do the same.
Being a doula and a photographer is a powerful combination. When I started, I was terrified I wouldn’t book even one birth, but I quickly became fully booked because I offered both services. I essentially had an irresistible offer, I was two services in one. On top of that they felt really comfortable having a Doula being the one behind the camera. It is a vulnerable thing to allow someone to capture your story. The trust was instantly there. I became the go-to maternity and newborn photographer in my area as well.
A GLIMPSE
INTO MY JOURNEY
2014
WORKING AS A DOULA BUT NOT GETTING PAID FOR MY BIRTH PHOTOS
From my very first birth I was taking photographs with my professional camera. I was booking 3-5 births per month. I was also burnt out from being on call so I started looking for a partner. I was surprised to find there were no other Doula/Photographers in my area. Therefor I ended up partnering up with someone who was not a photographer. We were a great team in many ways but our incongruency meant that I wasn’t charging for my birth photos. I was leaving money on the table and undervaluing what I was delivering.
After 2 years of hustling we were ready for a break. My husband I sold everything and traveled the world. We both still wanted to engage in the things we loved. I decided to do a personal project, documenting birth workers around the world. This project took us to a traditional midwifery school in the mountains of Spain and to individual birth workers around the world.
2016
BURN OUT
2017-2020
Returning home from our travels I was at births within a week. I was so grateful to be able to pick up my practice instantly. I didn’t have a partner this time. Instead I charged a premium for my services and came up with a backup plan for what would happen if I couldn’t attend a birth. This became the blueprint for how I teach my students to handle the backup issue. I had finally figured out how to make sure I was getting paid what I was worth.
CHARGING WHAT I WAS WORTH
After the birth of my daughter I started putting together everything that I had learned in the last decade. I saw my Doula friends struggling to get by during Covid and I wanted to help them. I could see that they were one skill away from charging more and increasing their bookings.
2021
THE COMPILATION OF MY LIFE’S WORK
2023
My Doula mentor who was 15 years into her practice came to me wanting to learn photography. During and after Covid our area saw a more than 50% decline in our birth rate. She was booking on average one birth per month. I taught her everything I know. Her photography improved at every birth. She has now raised her birth rate by 30%. She is also booking multiple portrait sessions a month as well. Her success became the benchmark for the program I created.
THE MENTOR BECOMES THE MENTEE
Everything you need to know, including the shortcuts.
Let’s have you incorporate this within months, not years.