Cape Town Birth Photographer » blomerusphotography.com

If you don’t live in Cape Town, I’m so sorry. I’m sure your city is fantastic. But there is something amazing about the “Mother City”.

This is our city at its finest. Incredible sunsets with the iconic table mountain in the backdrop. Jacquee and her husband are expats. They wanted a session that felt unique to their outdoor active life style and that felt like “Cape Town” since this is where they are having their first child. You never know where in the world you might find yourself in another chapter of your life, why not capture your memories in a way that brings back memories of the city you lived in?

They were so in-love and relaxed, choosing to just have fun with this, a few times I just told them to hang out for a while. The wind was howling so bad, I couldn’t hear what they were talking about anyways. And I would photograph around them. It was epic. The light. Their chemistry. Their trust in me as their photographer even though it always feels a little awkward when you get started. You’ll see, especially if you scroll all the way until sunset, its pure magic.

Full maternity sessions like these are about an hour, multiple wardrobe changes if you’d like, and only available with a newborn combo package. I take on a very limited amount of these since I primarily specialize in births, but if you are interested, contact me for a quote. Otherwise, a mini version is available complimentary with all my birth packages and can always be upgraded upon request.

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I’m back after a refreshing break. Creatively ready to go for a new year of chronicling birth stories. Also feeling completely restored after my car accident, regaining full strength in my shooting arm after alot of therapy. Thank you for your kind concerns and well wishes.

As I begin the year, this image struck me. After a baby had been born, so many phones out to capture a glimpse of her face. In this case, mom was loving having her room full of family and a warm atmosphere. It was full of joy. Some women love this, others feel its too much. It depends on the woman and on the circumstances surrounding the birth. But what happens to all these images? Does mom get them or do they live on other’s phones? Sure they get a photo of the baby, but did they notice how the parents were looking at their new child? And what about when the room goes quiet and she has moments to quietly bond with her baby? What about the mom that smiles for the family but just had a birth experience that was hard and already feels dismissed? These questions lead us to why for many women the need for a professional birth photographer is priority for them.

My commitment this year is not just to be a spectacular storyteller, that should be a given. My commitment is to be an even better birth space protector. To continue to assess what a mother needs whether its a supportive smile and nod, or to stay out of sight, or to capture a moment that will help her heal emotionally, or to stay silent once the crowd has left, or to laugh at her jokes in between contractions so she knows she’s not alone or to perhaps be the only one who said they are proud of her. To remember I am more than her photographer, I am the one on the team that will enable her to never forget this day she will carry always in her heart.

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I had the privilege of capturing Sion’s Birth Story and little known fact, I do also cover baby dedications, christenings, blessing ceremonies, bris, all kinds of events to welcome a new child into a family and a faith. In my eyes, its a continuation of the story of the arrival of that child. I only exclusively offer this for my clients (births or maternity/newborn clients). Sion’s was such an emotional birth, (oh goodness, if you missed it, you need to see it) I knew I couldn’t miss this next emotional part of his story. We started at home with him as he got ready and were able to squeeze in some portraits. Don’t miss the end as his father shares from his great-grand mother’s Bible and prays for everyone, lots of tears shed. I love these guys and how much they savour the life of their son.

Here is the beautiful baptism of Sion. Surrounded by generations of tradition, family, friends, tons of food and love.

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Earlier this week I was at a red light when a flatbed truck drove into the back of our car. Thankfully he hit me at an angle and I went up the curb into the island and not into the car in front of or a nearby tree. I was discharged from the hospital with only muscular injuries that will need some physical therapy and soon make a full recovery. Unfortunately, most of those injuries are on my right side (shoulder, neck and hip) as the seat belt jerked me back hardest there. That’s my shooting arm and the part of my body that I need to be the strongest to do my job. Its currently very weak and strained with some nerve damage. I have a road of recovery ahead.

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We were a bit shaken up but so relieved this wasn’t worse and our kids weren’t involved. As an American expat, moments like these frame our Thanksgiving festivities today. We have so much to thankful to God for. This could have been catastrophic for our family if but for grace.

I was on-call for a birth so as soon as I could get to my phone in the hospital, I called my back-up to inform her to please be on higher alert as I didn’t know what the night and next day would look like. I was waiting on results and in no condition to go. She was ready to go during this time. This is key. Be leery to hire a birth photographer that doesn’t have an industry friend on her speed dial as a back up.

That was Monday night. She was ready.

Wednesday morning my client needed to go in for a c-section as there were concerns for how her baby was doing. My back up was unavailable, busy with her own clients.

I spoke with my physical therapist. I spoke with my husband. I deliberated what to do. I did not speak with my clients because they didn’t need this stress, they needed to stay focused on their baby. It’s not about me. My physical therapist gave me some tips for avoiding further injury and the endurance I would need. She assured me it would be tough and not medically advised, but I wouldn’t be putting my long term recovery in jeopardy.

I was not able to take any strong pain medication because that would leave me unable to operate my gear properly. It was going to be a tough day from a physical standpoint and being able to focus beyond the pain.

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With my neck brace in place and taking some breaks in between, I managed to cover the whole birth start to finish. My clients were gentle and understanding. The hospital staff were accommodating of my less than agile self. The one mistake I made was not affixing a sign to myself saying “I was in a car accident, ignore the brace.” I was asked over a dozen times and didn’t want to keep drawing attention to myself.

Lesson learned for next time.
Scratch that.

Let’s hope there is never a next time.

I came home totally exhausted and it will take some time to catch up on admin/editing as I give myself the rest my body needs. I am currently on a no-shooting-allowed doctor’s orders for two weeks and physical therapy for a few months. But when you are a birth worker, its a bigger commitment than some first realize. This is their once in a lifetime. Its their years of hoping leading up this moment. There’s a whole back story that’s unique to them. They have mentally prepared to have it covered, as its not just a financial but an its emotional investment.

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Your life doesn’t stop in between, car accidents, deaths in the family, children’s birthday parties, big family events all happen and sometimes intersect with their birth. While I am sure they would have been gracious and let me out of my contract if there was no way I could physically do it or my back up would have cancelled her clients to be with mine, but it just didn’t sit right with me to do that to them. I take a small number of clients a year, in part, because I enjoy building a relationship with them.

Theirs is a birth I won’t soon forget.

I’m grateful to be alive and getting strong again to tell more stories like theirs.

Nothing puts Thanksgiving into perspective like new life and life preserved.

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Special thanks to Dr. Jacky Searle and staff at Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital for their kindness.

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  • Lisa Harrison

    What an inspiration you are! Wish I had birth photos captured of my son. Speedy recovery sent your way!ReplyCancel

    • admin

      Thanks so much Lisa! I hear this too often and I know its hard to know you can’t go back. Maybe next time? 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Jana Cloete

    Marysolmeisie! What an inspiration you are! So glad you are fine (well, under circumstances, considering) – and what a true authentic birth photographer you are, beating the odds to be there to capture these new parents’ most precious moment of their lives. Bravo, lady, bravo. I still recommend you to everyone I know 😉 Congrats to new mum and dad! xxReplyCancel

  • Tam

    Holy moly. I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m so thankful you’re all ok. Sending big love for a quick and complete recovery XReplyCancel

Millisa and her husband are about to become parents any day now. Their chemistry was electric. We met up in the incredible Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for a sunset session with a moody sky and stunning colours. She wanted some forrest and some garden. This is the perfect mix of both. Can’t wait for the day they meet their daughter and capturing that for them.

Mini-maternity sessions are offered complimentary with all my birth packages. Its 30 minutes, quick for the men (like ripping off a plaster…), one location, and 15 gorgeous high quality images for you to treasure long after you are done being pregnant. Or if I’m fully booked for births, I do offer maternity/newborn combo packages. Here’s the beautiful Millisa on one of their last evenings together just the two of them.

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