Close-up of a newborn baby's tiny hand gripping a parent's finger while adult hands gently hold the infant.
Tanya Schmidt Photography

 

Your birth story, documented.

because it will all be a blur.

 

Book your memories
Smiling birth photographer in green SABPA scrubs and lanyard poses with hands in pockets against a gray wall in a hospital setting.

I'm Tanya, your SABPA registered birth photographer

based in the cape winelands.


I capture both home and hospital births in the greater Cape region.

My approach to birth photography is unobtrusive. I document your story as it naturally unfolds, preserving the in-between moments, the strength, the support, and the first breaths of a brand new life.


There is no staging or posing, no interference. Just honest, respectful storytelling of one of the most meaningful days of your life.


Are you expecting your next little miracle and not sure yet whether you'd want to document your unique birth story.

You're welcome to get in touch with any questions or concerns you may have.

You will find more information below. But if you're still left with questions, please do reach out.

 

Accredited by SABPA badge with a floral emblem, representing the South African Birth Photographers Association accreditation.
Gold and plum circular badge with a lotus flower reading Proud Member of SABPA, the South African Birth Photographers Association.
Surgeons in masks and scrubs lift a newborn baby with the umbilical cord still attached under bright operating room lights.

Why hire a birth photographer?

you may be asking yourself.

Because welcoming your baby into the world will truthfully be one of the most life-changing and powerful days of your life. Yet, so much of it can feel like a blur. Think of what a blur your wedding day is? This will be even harder to remember.


With my first two births, I didn't have a birth photographer to document it. At the time, it didn't feel essential. There was so many unexpected costs with birthing a baby and not to mention caring for a baby, that this extra expense felt unnecessary.


But looking back, it's something I deeply wish I had done. Not for the perfect images, but for the memories I can't fully return to. The memories that have faded significantly since that day.

I wish I had photos or videos that could take me back to that first time I gave birth. I so badly want to remember how it felt. The only photos I have from that day was a few phone pics taken by my husband and the paediatrician (shown below). It didn't tell my birth story. (Granted I don't think birth photography was allowed in theatres 15 years ago.)


Four phone photos... is all I could show my daughter when she asked me about what her birth was like. I can't give her any detail of how we met, how it felt meeting her the first time. How it felt to become a mother for the first time. It is mostly a blur.


A masked doctor in blue scrubs holds up a crying, wide-eyed newborn baby in a hospital delivery room.
Medical staff in green scrubs and gloves handle a crying newborn baby on a surgical drape right after birth.
A smiling pregnant woman in a hospital gown rests her hands on her belly while sitting on a hospital bed.
A new mother lies back and rests her cheek against her newborn baby, who is wrapped in a green blanket and held by a hand.

With my last baby, I decided to hire a photographer. I wanted to make sure I preserved the memories giving birth one last time. It was the best decision I had made.

My husband was able to stay present and support me without needing to worry about taking photos. I could relax knowing these special moments were being captured... the emotions, the support, the quiet in-between.


That experience is a big part of why I photograph birth. I want every mom to be able to return to her story, in the quiet moments, on the hard days, or whenever she just needs to remember what she did.


This is the moment she becomes a mother. It’s sacred, it passes quickly, and it’s worth keeping.


Hiring someone to capture this day for you allows you to fully focus on your experience, while your unique story is being preserved. Your partner gets to be by your side holding you hand, not a phone. And afterwards you have something real and raw to hold onto, not just a fleeting blurry photo taken by medical staff.


You have a story you can revisit and one day share with your child.


A tattooed partner buries his face in the shoulder of a laboring woman in a black bra, offering comfort and an embrace during childbirth.
Close-up of a sleeping newborn's tiny curled hand and arm resting on a soft beige blanket.
Gloved hand holds a newborn baby with dark hair just delivered during a cesarean section as surgeons in teal gowns look on.
A bearded man in a green shirt wipes his eyes emotionally while standing beside a woman in labor in a hospital delivery room.
Surgeons in scrubs lift a newborn baby over a blue surgical drape while the mother lies on the operating table during a cesarean birth.
Black and white image of a smiling mother in a hospital bed holding her newborn while a nurse in a scrub cap leans in close.
A red-haired woman lies on a hospital table in teal drapes while a partner gently cradles her head during labor and delivery.
Black and white photo of a newborn baby lying on a blanket with one tiny hand raised, while an adult hand gently supports nearby.
Black and white photo of a bearded man supporting a woman's raised leg as she lies in a hospital bed wearing a patterned gown during labor.
Partner's hands embrace a woman's bare back as she labors in a birthing pool during a home water birth.
Newborn baby in a striped knotted hat wrapped in a soft white towel scrunches its face while held in a parent's arms.
Smiling woman with a tattooed arm resting on her forehead lies in bed while a blurred newborn baby is held in the foreground.
Black and white birth photograph showing a gloved medical team in surgical gowns attending a mother during delivery in a hospital room.
Partner in a green shirt holds the hand of a patient in a hospital gown wearing an ID wristband while she lies on a hospital bed.
Newborn baby lying on a digital infant scale lined with a blue-trimmed pad, being weighed shortly after birth.
A bearded man in a green shirt gently touches a newborn baby lying on a warmed hospital bassinet under a radiant heater.
Laboring woman leans forward on a birthing pool edge as her partner embraces her, offering comfort and support during labor.
Hanging IV fluid bag with drip chamber and tubing in a hospital room, with a blurred infusion pump glowing green in the background.
Close-up of a newborn baby nursing at its mother's chest, tiny hand resting on skin, while an adult hand gently touches the baby's arm.
Smiling mother in a hospital gown cradles her newborn while the father in scrubs kisses her head in the delivery room.
Newborn baby's tiny foot resting on a white paper-lined Seca digital scale during a weigh-in, with the display visible below.
A parent's hand gently touches the fingers of a crying newborn lying on a hospital bassinet under warm light.
A woman in a black sports bra leans forward on a bed during labor as a birth partner rubs her back and another person watches nearby.
Close-up of a newborn baby's back and wrinkled arm resting on soft white bedding, showing delicate skin and tiny folds.
Person in a hospital gown with an IV in the hand lies in a hospital bed while a support person in green holds their knee.
A woman in black lingerie and blue gloves prepares equipment while a man in a gray t-shirt sits on a bed in a dimly lit room.
Mother with long dark hair and bangs breastfeeds her newborn baby while gently supporting its head.
A newborn's tiny hand rests on a parent's leg as a bearded person in a surgical cap and mask leans close in a hospital delivery room.
A woman in a blue hospital gown lies back with eyes closed and a calm expression during labor as a supportive hand rests beside her.
A father in scrubs and a surgical cap tenderly kisses the forehead of the mother lying on the delivery table in an operating room.
Newborn baby's tiny feet with a hospital ID bracelet rest on a floral bedsheet beside a parent's hand.
Black and white photo of a man comforting a woman leaning over a hospital bed during labor in a delivery room.
Parent's hand gently cradles a newborn baby's tiny feet, with both little soles visible in warm light.
Black and white photo of a wall-mounted control panel with a clock, gauges, switches and cables beside an open doorway.
Newborn baby with open mouth lies on a hospital bed while a tattooed hand gently rests on the infant's head.
Black and white photo of a masked medical professional in scrubs examining a newborn baby lying in a hospital bassinet.
Black and white photo of a surgeon in a gown resting a hand on a patient's knee while gloved hands work in an operating room.
A newborn baby's tiny hand rests on a red-haired mother's cheek as she closes her eyes in a tender moment after birth.
Father in scrubs and surgical cap leans over a mother to kiss her and greet their newborn baby after delivery.
Newborn baby's tiny hand with a hospital ID band rests on a mother's hand as she lies in a hospital bed wrapped in soft white blankets.
Black and white photo of a newborn's small hand touching a mother's face as she rests her eyes closed beside her baby.
Close-up of a parent's hands gently holding the tiny bare feet of a newborn baby in a warm, softly lit indoor setting.
A laboring woman in a hospital gown lies on her side with an IV in her hand while her partner and a nurse support her raised leg.
Open blue and tan duffel bag packed with Huggies diapers and wipes beside black cat-face slippers on a light wood floor.
Parent gently touches a swaddled newborn baby's nose in a dimly lit room, framed by dark shadows.
Black and white photo of a newborn baby with dark hair wrapped in a towel in a hospital bassinet as a gloved hand rests nearby.
Black and white photo of surgical staff in scrubs and masks in an operating room during a cesarean birth, with a seated man watching.
Sleeping newborn baby rests peacefully in a father's cupped hands, face softly lit with a cozy glow.
Black and white photo of an emotional older woman covering her mouth with her hand as she looks at a patient lying in a hospital bed.
Tattooed partner wraps his arms around a laboring woman, holding her close for support during an intimate birth at home.
A masked partner in a surgical cap kisses the forehead of a woman lying on an operating table during a cesarean birth, in black and white.
A crying newborn wrapped in a white blanket lies on the mother's chest while an adult hand gently cradles the baby's tiny fingers.
Smiling father in scrubs holds his newborn baby in a hospital room while the mother rests in bed and a nurse stands nearby.
Dimly lit hospital room at night, seen through a window, where a person in dark clothing tends to a patient lying in bed.
A smiling father and a masked nurse look down at a newborn as the mother lies on the operating table during a cesarean delivery.
Partner massages the arm of a laboring woman resting on the edge of an inflatable birth pool during a home water birth.
Smiling mother gazes lovingly at her newborn baby cradled in a blurred father's arms in a softly lit room.
Woman in labor rests her head on her partner's arm while leaning over the edge of a birth pool as a midwife looks on.

How does this work?

 

Newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket and striped hat sleeps while being held in a hospital.

booking your date.

To secure your booking, I will need a signed contract and deposit payment. Once this is in place, I will be on call from 2 weeks before your due date or scheduled C section date.

A crying newborn wrapped in a white blanket lies on the mother's chest while an adult hand gently cradles the baby's tiny fingers.

before birth

We will stay in touch before your birth so I can understand your birth plan and what matters most to you. You will keep me updated as things progress.

Black and white photo of a newborn's small hand touching a mother's face as she rests her eyes closed beside her baby.

during your birth

When the time comes, I quietly arrive and settle into your space. I document your birth story as it naturally unfolds. I'm there to capture you, your strength, your support and first moments with your baby.

Woman in labor rests her head on her partner's arm while leaning over the edge of a birth pool as a midwife looks on.

after your birth

I select a handful of images and send them through within 48 hours - so you can share them with friends and family. Within 3-4 weeks you'll receive your full gallery.

 

The Investment.

 

All my packages include coverage of up to 6 hours for home or hospital births, whether it's a vaginal or c-section birth. Depending on your birth, for spontaneous birth, I typically arrive from active labour and stay till about an hour after birth. For c-section births, I arrive an hour before birth till about an hour after.

Close-up of a woman resting with closed eyes, wrapped in blue surgical drapes in a hospital delivery room.

 

What's included in all my packages:

 

  • Standby from 2 weeks before
  • Coverage of up to 6 hours
  • First moments with baby



  • C-section or vaginal
  • Sneak peeks within 48 hours
  • 150+ edited high res images in online gallery

 

Starting from R8,000
let's document your birth

Optional Ad-Ons:

  • Fresh 48 session
  • Short highlight reel (60 seconds); perfect for sharing
  • Full real and raw birth film 4-5 mins
  • Printed album

***Please enquire about payment plans

Add film to your story



A photo holds a moment. Video holds the sound, the pauses and the way it all unfolded.

A highlight reel gives you the key moments in a short film you can share and rewatch.

The full birth film keeps the real and raw story from beginning to end, so you can return to it whenever you need to.

Want video included? Just let me know when you enquire.

Emotional father wipes his eyes beside his wife lying in a hospital bed during labor and delivery.
A parent's hand gently touches the fingers of a crying newborn lying on a hospital bassinet under warm light.

 

FAQ

 

is it normal to think having a birth photographer is weird?

Yes, it's normal. I also felt like that before my birth. Many moms feel unsure at first. But most moms don't even notice my presence during birth. I always approach it with sensitivity and respect, prioritising your comfort and dignity. Nothing is ever forced and you are always in control of what is documented. Prior to you birth, we discuss your preferences for what you want captured and what not.

When should i book a birth photographer?

The best time to book is during your second trimester. This way you can secure their availability because birth photographers only take on a limited amount of birth per month. The earlier you book, the more manageable payment is too because I offer payment plans where you split the payment over a few months.

can a birth photographer capture a c-section birth?

This all depends on your hospital and medical team. Some allow photographers in theatre while others don't. It's always best to ask your doctor during your appointment. If it's not permitted, I can still document the moments before and after your birth, which are just as special.

what if my birth doesn't go as planned?

Birth is unpredictable. Chances are good that it won't go 100% as planned. Your story is still worth documenting no matter how it unfolds. Whether it's natural birth, induction, or c-section, I approach every situation with flexibility and care.

HOW MANY PHOTOS WILL I GET?

You'll receive a gallery of edited high resolution images that tell the full story of your birth. Each birth is unique so each gallery will be unique but you should get no less than 200 images.

Laboring woman leans forward on a birthing pool edge as her partner embraces her, offering comfort and support during labor.

 

Let's document your unique birth story.

If you're interested in hearing more about birth photography, get in touch.

I'm always happy to answer questions or simply talk things through - no pressure at all.

 

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