How to Become a Birth Videographer: A Beginner’s Guide
(A Gentle Starting Point for Photographers Exploring the Power of Film)
Introduction
If you've ever held your breath behind a lens during a birth and thought, this deserves to be felt in motion, you’re not alone.
More and more birth photographers are answering the quiet pull toward film—a medium that captures not just the moment, but the heartbeat beneath it.
If you're wondering how to become a birth videographer, consider this your gentle entry point. Whether you're an experienced photographer or just creatively curious, here’s a roadmap that won’t overwhelm you.
Curious about adding film to your storytelling?
This simple guide walks you through the first steps to becoming a birth videographer — from focusing on story to finding your creative voice.
Step 1: Start With Story, Not Gear
Birth videography isn’t about flashy transitions or epic cinematography. It’s about noticing the small things: the breath between contractions, the hands gripping hands, the rhythm of surrender.
Start by watching a few films that move you. Ask yourself: what made this story feel real?
Step 2: Understand the Birth Space
If you’ve photographed births before, you already know that the energy of the room matters. Filming adds another layer: movement, sound, presence.
You’ll need to learn how to film quietly, intuitively, and respectfully. That comes with practice—and with mentorship from people who get it.
Wondering what makes film feel so different? Watch this short example from Lauren + Douglas
📽️ FEATURED FILM: THE BIRTH OF BILLY
An emotional reflection of a homebirth transfer ending in cesarean.
Step 3: Learn to Work With Light and Sound
You don’t need the latest gear. You do need to understand low-light filming, how to stabilise a handheld shot, and how to capture clean audio without disrupting the space.
It can feel technical at first, but like learning manual mode in photography, it becomes second nature with time.
📷 Behind the scenes with Dania Lauren, capturing the quiet moments that bring birth stories to life on film.
📷 Behind the scenes with Dania Lauren, capturing the quiet moments that bring birth stories to life on film.
Step 4: Shift From Capturing to Crafting
The magic of filmmaking happens in the edit. Learning to craft a birth story that flows with rhythm, emotion, and intentional pacing takes time—but it’s deeply satisfying.
Your editing style will evolve as your voice does.
Step 5: Find Your Own Voice
You don’t have to film like anyone else. In fact, the best birth filmmakers don’t. Maybe you lean documentary. Maybe you love poetic voiceovers or raw audio.
The point is to create work that feels like you.
Step 6: Start With What You Have
You don’t need to wait for the "right time" or the "right gear." Start where you are. Film a personal story. Offer a beta session. Shadow someone you trust.
Every storyteller starts with one story.
You’re not behind. You’re just beginning.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be Ready. You Just Need to Begin.
Birth filmmaking is one of the most rewarding (and underrated) storytelling paths out there. It asks for your presence, your perspective, and your willingness to show up with heart.
And if you're looking for a place to learn, grow, and get real support along the way—we made one just for you.
🎥 Want to go deeper? Join the Soulful Storytellers VIP list to access earlybird course invitations, storytelling tutorials, and creative support for photographers transitioning into film.
Join the Soulful Storytellers VIP List for filmmaking tips, early access to our birth videography course intake and exclusive discounts.
A welcoming space for photographers ready to deepen their storytelling craft.
Written by Dania Lauren, award-winning birth filmmaker, storytelling educator, and co-creator of Soulful Storytellers, a creative community for photographers and filmmakers looking to elevate their storytelling craft. Through her studio, Lauren + Douglas, Dania creates emotive, documentary-style films for families and brands who value stories that feel as meaningful as they look.
