I still clearly remember the very first time Katrin and I spoke on the phone - I was on call in Abu Dhabi for a birth at Danat Al Emarat hospital, waiting for a call from my client to let me know she had gone into labor. Her call added so much joy to my day because of her warmth, her easy laugh and her over the moon excitement for welcoming her newborn baby! We were meant to shoot a maternity session together prior to the newborn session, but low and behold, little Finn had other plans and came Earth-side before his due date! This isn't the first time this happens to me, and it always makes me laugh from the depths of my heart - we can plan and anticipate, but our babies, and most importantly, God, may have other plans. 

One of my biggest lessons as a Birth and Family photographer has been to have Faith; that things work out for the best always, that if things were to happen they were meant to be, that God is in control of everything and always has my back. I didn't want this blog post to take a religious/spiritual turn, but I can't deny that my A-type personality that LOVES control didn't struggle (and sometimes continues to struggle) with these types of issues.

Alas, people come into our lives for a reason, and the day Katrin called me gave me a tremendous burst of energy that I was able to carry into my birth session with my client later on. Thank you Katrin!

I love the opportunity of covering elective c-sections. It's not every day that you get permission to be welcomed into the operating theatre. When I first started my business as a dubai birth photographer, my very first birth was an elective c-section with twins. It fueled my love and passion for birth and birthing mothers like nothing other. To be honest, it was a healing process for me, because you see, I, too, am a c-section momma, except that I didn't exactly elect my c-section. So, the opportunity to stand behind my lens, and look at just how much beauty was unfolding in front of my eyes, and the overflow of emotions associated with that, mended my heart bit by bit. 

This birth was no different. Yasmeen gave birth at Sulaiman Habib Hospital - home to some of the kindest midwives and hospital staff I have ever encountered in the city. Thank you Dr. George Michailidis for allowing me to join you on this, and thank you to the wonderful hospital staff as well.

Yasmeen, it was an honor and privilege to be with you on this big day, and I can't wait to work with you again in the future!