Frequently Asked Questions
Here you'll find a selection of frequently asked questions about doula support and birth photography, organised into six categories:
About me
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I split my time between Isfjorden, on the beautiful west coast of Norway, and Oslo. But birth has never been limited by geography for me. I travel around the world to support families and document their births.
For families giving birth in Norway, I offer special local rates. Get in touch, and we can find an arrangement that works for you.
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Almost 400 births, since 1998.
Every birth has taught me something new. After all these years, I still feel privileged to be invited into such an intimate, powerful, and life-changing moment.
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I believe you deserve to feel safe, respected, and supported, whatever kind of birth you have.
I bring a calm presence, a trained eye, and a deep understanding of the physical and emotional realities of birth. I know when to step in, when to step back, when to offer support, and when to simply be there.
I am gentle in my presence, but fierce when it comes to protecting your right to be heard.
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Absolutely. I believe birth works best when everyone respects one another and works together in the family's best interests.
I value good relationships with midwives, doctors, and other birth professionals, and I am grateful that many welcome me into their birth rooms.
I understand the importance of respecting the medical team's expertise and the environment in which they work. At the same time, my loyalty is first and foremost to you and your right to be heard, informed, and treated with respect.
I'm generally an easy person to have around, but if I feel that your wishes are not being heard or that you need support to understand your options, I won't hesitate to help you find your voice.
I can be gentle and diplomatic, but I'm also fiercely protective when it matters.
Doula support and services
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A doula provides continuous emotional, physical, and practical support during pregnancy and birth. We are not midwives or medical professionals, and we don't replace your healthcare team. We complement them.
My role is to help you feel safe, informed, supported, and cared for. I can help you navigate your options, understand the potential benefits and risks of suggested interventions, and find your voice when you need it.
I also support your partner, helping them understand how to be there for you and feel confident in their role.
Most importantly, I adapt to what you need. Sometimes that means hands-on support, reassurance, and guidance. Sometimes it means quietly holding space and letting you find your own way.
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This is my superpower ;)
For me, these two roles belong together. The camera is almost an extension of my hand, and after attending hundreds of births, I have learned to anticipate moments without needing to direct or interrupt them.
When you need support, I put the camera down. When you are supported by your partner or midwife, I can step back and document what's unfolding.
The moment of birth itself is often when the midwife is closest to you, leaving me free to photograph without interfering. My first priority is always you and your experience. The photographs are there to preserve it, not to dictate it.
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Yes, but exclusively for my clients.
Massage can be a beautiful way to relax, connect with your body, and build trust before birth. I approach these sessions with care and presence, tailoring them to what you need. I work very intuitive.
Because I put so much energy and attention into this work, I reserve these sessions for the families I am already supporting.
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I don't currently work as a postpartum doula, but I know wonderful colleagues in different parts of the world.
If you are looking for support after your baby arrives, I am happy to recommend someone where possible.
During birth
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This is a completely valid concern, and I understand it.
Birth is deeply intimate. The last thing I want is for either of you to feel watched, observed, or uncomfortable.
I am very good at reading a room. Sometimes I am hands-on and actively supporting you; other times, I am a fly on the wall. If you and your partner are doing well together, I am happy to step back, give you space, and move in and out as needed.
Many partners have initially worried about having another person present, only to tell me afterwards that my presence felt natural and they liked having me there.
You don't need to perform for me, and you don't need to be aware of the camera. You simply get to be yourselves.
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Quite the opposite. My goal is to help your partner feel more confident and connected, not to take their place.
We can prepare together before birth so your partner understands how to support you, what may help during labour, and how to feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar situation.
I can suggest ways to offer comfort, help your partner recognise what you might need, and provide reassurance when things feel overwhelming.
And when your partner needs a break, a moment to breathe, or someone to lean on themselves, I can be there for both of you.
Birth can be an extraordinary opportunity to grow closer as a couple. I want to help you experience that together.
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No. I am a documentary birth photographer, not a paparazzi.
I never stage birth or ask you to repeat a moment for the camera. I don't need you to look at me, change position, or do anything differently.
After photographing births for so many years, I know how to anticipate moments, read the light, and find the right angle without constantly moving around or drawing attention to myself.
I take a thoughtful, intentional approach rather than photographing every second indiscriminately. Often, the most powerful images happen when everyone has forgotten I am there.
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Absolutely. Your comfort and consent matter more than any photograph.
We will talk about your preferences before birth, including which moments you would like documented and which you would prefer to keep private.
I will always respect your wishes, and you can change your mind at any point. You never need to justify a boundary.
Your story can be told beautifully and powerfully without showing anything you don't want photographed.
Induction and c-section
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Induced births require a slightly different approach to planning, but I still reserve time around your planned induction date.
I usually keep approximately one week available around the scheduled date because inductions can take several days, and sometimes they are postponed if the hospital is busy.
My pricing reflects this shorter, planned availability and differs from my standard spontaneous-birth packages. I will explain the details when we discuss your booking.
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Yes, absolutely, provided the hospital allows it.
Policies vary between hospitals and countries, so I ask all my clients to check the arrangements with their care team as early as possible. If photography is permitted, we can plan how to document the experience while respecting the hospital's guidelines.
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Birth can take unexpected turns, and sometimes a c-section becomes necessary. My priority is always your safety and the medical team's ability to care for you.
In many hospitals, additional support people are not permitted in the operating theatre during an emergency c-section. If I cannot accompany you, I will stay nearby whenever possible.
With the appropriate permissions, I can document your partner meeting your baby, those first precious moments together, and the reunion when you are able to be with your family again. I can also return later, once you are back from recovery, to photograph you together.
These photographs can be incredibly meaningful. They help you see moments you may otherwise have missed and preserve the beginning of your family's story, even when birth unfolds differently from what you imagined.
Pricing and booking
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For international births, my packages range from €15,000 to €50,000, depending on the level of support, travel arrangements, and services included.
I offer different packages, and I'm happy to send you my detailed price list so you can explore which option best suits your family and your birth plans.
If you're based in Norway, please get in touch for information about my local rates.
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Because this is so much more than showing up with a camera.
When I take on a birth, I commit myself to your family for weeks. I arrange my life around your due date, an I make myself available to support you through the uncertainties of pregnancy and birth.
The work is physically demanding and emotionally intense. It also carries a significant opportunity cost: while I am on call for you, I cannot commit to other things in my life.
I used to attend as many as 30 births a year and charge much less. In 2023, I experienced burnout and realised that I needed to change the way I worked if I wanted to continue doing this work with the presence, energy, and dedication my clients deserve.
Today, I take on only three to five births a year. This allows me to give each family my full attention and the support they deserve.
Over the years, I also noticed that families booking me for photography often needed more support during birth than they had anticipated. I found myself providing advocacy, reassurance, and hands-on support without charging for it. That experience helped me understand that photography and doula support are deeply connected in my work.
My pricing reflects the commitment, experience, availability, and care I bring to every family. I want to be able to do this work sustainably, wholeheartedly, and for many years to come.
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For families giving birth in Norway, I offer special local rates when travel costs are lower.
If you have a particular situation or a project in mind, please get in touch. I'm always happy to discuss the possibilities.
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Sometimes, yes.
I have several ongoing projects and a deep interest in documenting stories that can help people understand birth in all its complexity. Occasionally, I collaborate with families whose experiences align with these projects.
When a story is a good fit, and the family is comfortable with sharing their experience as part of the project, I may offer my work at cost, without my professional fee.
These opportunities are limited and depend on the project, the circumstances, and mutual agreement. If you have a story you think might be a good fit, you are welcome to contact me.
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My standard on-call period is usually from 38 to 42 weeks of pregnancy.
If you'd like me to arrive earlier, we can discuss extending my stay to suit your circumstances. This may be particularly relevant if you have a history of early labour or simply want additional peace of mind.
Because I travel internationally, we plan the timing carefully together.
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Babies have their own timelines, and birth rarely follows a schedule.
For international births, I usually plan to arrive approximately two weeks before your due date. Most babies arrive within this window, but there are no guarantees when it comes to birth.
To secure your booking, I charge a €3,000 reservation fee that non refundable. This covers the commitment involved in reserving your birth window and arranging my availability.
If your baby arrives before I have reached you, you will not be required to pay the remaining balance of my fee.
If you have a history of early labour or have reason to believe your baby may arrive early, we can discuss extending my stay and arranging earlier travel. This comes at an additional cost.
I will always be honest about the practicalities and do everything reasonably possible to be there for you.
Photos and film
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You will receive a minimum of 100 carefully selected and edited photographs.
The final number depends on the length of your birth, what unfolds, and the circumstances in which I am able to photograph. Every birth is different, so I focus on telling the full story rather than reaching an arbitrary number.
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Absolutely not.
Your photographs belong to your family, and sharing them is entirely your choice.
Many of the families who allow me to share their images do so because they want to help normalise different kinds of births and help other families prepare for their own experiences. Some have told me that seeing honest birth photographs made them feel less afraid and more informed.
I am grateful to every family who chooses to be part of that mission, but there is never any obligation to share. Your privacy will always be respected.
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Yes, I do, when my partner, Ole Jacob, joins me.
He takes the lead on filming while I focus primarily on photography, although I also capture some video footage. This allows us to document moments from different perspectives and create a more complete, cinematic film.
We also incorporate selected photographs into the final film, bringing together still images and moving moments to tell your story.
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Yes! When I arrive, we often begin with a maternity session, giving us time to connect before the birth.
If you would like, I can also stay for a few days after your baby arrives to document your first moments as a family.
One of my favourite things to photograph is the first meeting between siblings. Those first curious looks, gentle touches, and emotional reactions are often incredibly moving.
We can plan a session that feels natural and relaxed, allowing your family to settle into this new chapter while preserving the memories you want to keep.