Waiting on Call:
Welcoming Baby Zeph
There’s something so unique about birth photography, the quiet anticipation, the unknown timing, the readiness to drop everything at a moment’s notice. In the days leading up to this birth, I was constantly on call, my camera bag coming everywhere with me. Every outing, every plan, carried that quiet question: could this be the moment?
We knew things were moving when I got the message, waters were scheduled to be broken around 11am. I planned to arrive around midday, mentally preparing myself for what was to come.
When I arrived, Carmen was calm, grounded, and ready. There was a quiet strength about her, a sense of “let’s do this.” Contractions had begun, around seven minutes apart, and the atmosphere felt steady and positive (and so exciting).
In between moments, we even shared a few laughs, like the now-famous “puppy pad,” cleverly used as her waters began to leak. It’s those unexpected, lighthearted moments that make birth stories so human. I remember being so surprised at how instinctively she knew her waters were coming; it’s incredible how in tune the body can be.
As labour progressed, the room shifted. The midwife carefully monitored both baby’s heart rate and Carmen’s pulse after each contraction, ensuring everything remained safe and steady. Sully was right by her side, offering constant reassurance and applying pressure to her back; quiet, steady support when it mattered most.
Having photographed Carmen’s labour 2.5 years ago, we all knew how quickly her body could move. So when Sully gently suggested she get into the pool, it felt like a turning point. Labour was clearly building.
One of the most incredible things to witness was Carmen’s strength. She chose to use just a simple comb for pain relief, something so small, yet so powerful in her hands. The way she focused, breathed, and moved through each contraction was nothing short of amazing.
Once she entered the pool, everything intensified. The contractions grew closer, stronger, and the sounds she made began to change; deep, instinctive, primal. The room felt charged with energy, everyone quietly attuned to her rhythm.
Then came the moment we had all been waiting for.
As pushing began, Carmen leaned into each surge with determination. With incredible focus and strength, her baby’s head was born, followed soon after by the shoulders and body. In one fluid, powerful moment, her baby was guided through her legs by the midwife, and Carmen reached down to lift her baby up onto her chest.
The shift in the room was immediate. Relief, joy, emotion. Carmen smiled, glowing, and said, “that was amazing.”
Baby Zeph Alexander Imran Khan entered the world calm and content, resting peacefully on his mum’s chest as they met for the very first time. It was a moment of pure connection.
Carmen chose to keep Zeph attached to the placenta for a while; a practice often referred to as delayed cord clamping. This allows continued blood flow from the placenta to the baby after birth, which can help boost iron levels, support circulation, and provide a gentler transition into the world. It also gave us the chance to capture some truly unique and meaningful photographs from those first moments of life.
I continued documenting the story as it unfolded. Zeph’s first feed, his first weigh-in, those tender first moments with both parents. Each frame held something special.
Watching Carmen throughout her labour left me completely in awe. The strength, resilience, and instinct of the female body is something I will never take for granted.
To be invited into such an intimate, powerful space is an honour I carry deeply.
Baby Zeph was born just 2 hours and 40 minutes after I arrived; a beautiful, intense, and unforgettable birth.
I left feeling incredibly grateful. These are the moments that stay with you.
