Langston’s Journey Earthside

Langston Fox came swiftly earthside via waterbirth on Tuesday, May 29TH at 7:28pm, and I was given the humbling honor of photographing it.

This birth is only the second I have photographed, and due to the nature of my day job as a dental hygienist, I don’t anticipate (m)any more. I give sincere gratitude to Elizabeth and Randall for inviting me into their birth space. Fortunate for me, Langston was very accommodating with his timing, arriving only two hours after myself.

Elizabeth surrounded herself with several amazing, loving women, who, between them all have hundreds (thousands?) of births and perhaps as many tattoos. Jen Watson (doula – Peninsula Birth), April Duggins (birth assistant), Brandy Stuart and Angie Hotz (Student Midwives), and Nikki Coraggio (midwife – Gig Harbor Midwifery ).

Consider playing some Iron and Wine or Bright Eyes while viewing the images below to really take in the essence of this birth.

It was raining just as I was arriving to their home, and Elizabeth’s birth tub filled the living room, just in the doorway, so the fitting initial lyrics of Bright Eyes, “First Day of My Life”…

“This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed…”

I hope you enjoy these images as much as I have while processing them. I’m not crying, you’re crying.