We had an interesting start to the weekend. I had a wedding to shoot and my wife Sherri woke up with contractions two minutes apart. I texted my second shooter, Jessica, and told her that the labour was starting (the implication being that she may have to cover most of the wedding with someone else helping her, without me) and then called Sherri’s mum and asked her to come and be with Sherri. After that I left for the wedding, telling them to call or text me as soon as things started to really heat up and I’d drive in to be with Sherri, leaving my second to finish up.
Sherri went to the hospital and they told her that, yes, she was in labour, but she had a while to go yet. In the end, I shot the wedding for our contracted time and got to the hospital for the final three hours of labour. The couple were really understanding and even sped up their reception so we could get the important shots and then leave! 
They did their cake cutting, dances, and bouquet and garter tosses back to back. I certainly didn’t suggest this and Jessica would have easily covered this on her own, but they wanted to give me something in return for me being there for them that day.
When I got to the hospital I didn’t want to bring a camera. I wanted to be there as a father and husband and not as a photographer. Sherri and her mother pretty much told me to bring a camera though, so I grabbed a D700 and single non-zoom lens. I took a shot as soon as I arrived, to make sure I had the exposure and everything set. Then I left it on the side-table.
Sherri did really well. She did not have any drugs of any kind or really any medical interventions. Our main nurse was very nice and the obstetrician was great, too. The pushing part went from 11:15pm to 12:43am, when our baby girl was born. Sherri saw her and cried, “She’s so beautiful!” while I thought, “She’s kinda goopy and very similar-looking to other newborns”. I have since revised my assessment. 
I think the moment of birth, both visually and Sherri’s reaction, will be with me forever.
When she was born I was hovering over the N.I.C.U table as they examined her and Sherri called out, “Take photos!” So I scurried across the room for the camera. The images that I took were more from obligation than something that I took any thought about. I pointed and clicked. They’re not even cropped or properly edited. Funny how I feel more attachment to them than anything else I’ve ever photographed.
The N.C.I.U people said, “She’s so perfect it’s not even funny” and left her with us. We stayed there over night, since it was already very early Sunday morning, and we left in the afternoon. Here are a few photos. I’m holding some back to respect the privacy for the hospital staff in them.
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