It was a cold morning and I spent the day editing and taking an icy walk through the woods. When I got back home, I got a call from my clients midwife, and my dear friend, Celeste. She said that our mutual client was in labor, and I should head that way shortly.

The first thing I thought was, ‘what a perfect day to be born!’

Family session in the Ann Arbor, Michigan Botanic Gardens.
Last year, I was blessed to photograph this families birth story, and now her one year photo session. She was the happiest baby right from birth and it seems she’s continued that through her first year of life.

After Ashley’s amazing homebirth of twins, I came back to photograph the family together a few days later. Ashley nursed the twins like a pro, along with her toddler who wanted to share in the fun. Take a few minutes to enjoy these moments with a beautiful family.

Enjoying the end of your pregnancy and celebrating with photos is one of the best things that you can do to memorialize this time in your life. For me, pregnancy was hard, but I’m SO glad that I took the photos, because now I’m done having babies and those days are over. I’m grateful for the memories and photos and my children LOVE to look at them.

All of my life, I said, if we ever moved back to Michigan, I wanted to live on a lake. Last fall we found a little cottage on the Huron River Chain of Lakes and we can boat to 10 lakes from our front yard. It’s a lot of fun. We also spent the year fixing up this 1920s cottage to be an Airbnb as well as a place for photoshoots for my business, when we aren’t using it. I’ve done two sessions in the cottage and can’t wait to do more this winter! If you are interested, please email me and we can discuss your intimate family session.

Time seemed to not exist in the moment and yet the intensity continued to crescendo. Peppermint alleviated my nausea and my body began shaking out of my control, but I didn’t feel any pain. In my quiet zone of relaxation, I cycled through hydration, chia pudding, and breathing with a focus on the word peace, all while bathing in a warm feeling of confidence that my body can do this.

“Birth is challenging, of course, but it’s a beautiful and generous challenge. A challenge that you CAN prepare for. A challenge that doesn’t last forever and ends in a miracle. Even after what I would consider my most challenging labor/birth, it’s something I want to do again and again and again.”

The unplanned cesarean birth of Cole at University of Michigan.

Homebirth in Jackson Michigan with Celeste of Gentle Mama Holistic Midwifery.

Fresh 48 photography when baby boy comes home from the NICU. This sweet boy snuggled right up to his mama after his bath. The warmest and safest place. Home.

Homebirth Midwife Sarah Lyons serving Livingston County

All birth stories deserve to be documented. It doesn’t matter if they are in the labor and delivery room, or the operating room. Families deserve to have all of the support they desire, whenever possible. This family had their baby at St. Joseph hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan with the midwives.

One of the most unique things about my job as a Michigan birth photographer and doula, is that I get to attend births in all birthing locations including hospital birth, home birth and the birth center births. I’ve witnessed empowered births in all locations, and want to highlight the midwives and birth workers who are doing great work in this busy homebirth community.

Maternity boudoir photography in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas.