ABOUT US

Having relied on each other for support in the past as backups, we began to see that something was missing from the Atlanta birth community. As solo photographers on our own, we were always on call, and we wanted to give clients a strong sense of security in knowing that no matter what, someone who knew them and their preferences, and who they were familiar with, would be able to attend their birth.

So in 2018, we came together, for ourselves and for our clients, with a shared call model—meaning you hire all three of us, but one of us will document your birth.

Inviting someone into your birth space is a big deal, so choosing a birth photographer with experience in the birthing room is essential. It’s also why we rely solely on ambient light and never ever use flash.

This work is not accidental.

The Birth Story Collective was built with intention—out of a desire to hold community over competition, and to offer something more reliable, more experienced, and more thoughtful than the traditional one-photographer model.

Because birth deserves better than uncertainty.

Meet the Team

Chanda Williams

"After my son was born, I realized that birth can be a supported, empowering experience. I decided to become a birth Doula to help other Women have positive birth stories. As a Doula I quickly realized that I wanted to incorporate my photojournalism background into my work after witnessing the intense strength and beauty of birthing women—no matter how the day went. The love in a birthing room was incredibly moving every single time. When I was with my doula clients, I kept thinking, “She should see this.” So, in 2010, I began offering doula and photography services to families in Atlanta."
Brittany Knapik

“I thought that I was going to be one of those women who loved being pregnant, but that was NOT me! My first pregnancy was miserable. When a friend of mine offered to photograph my birth I was extremely hesitant but ultimately agreed. Despite everything, those pictures are everything. Seeing my birth photos stirred something inside me; I practically begged everyone I knew who was expecting to let me into their delivery room and one of my wedding photography clients graciously allowed me to join her for the birth of her daughter. Being in the birthing room is intoxicating; witnessing and documenting the moment that the veil between this world and the next drops, when a mother leaves her body to bring her baby back into this world with her, there isn’t much that can top that”
Claire Mandrycky

“As a teen I fell in love with photography and continued on to study it as an adult in college. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts, started a business photographing families when not long after I became captivated by a birth photographers work I randomly came across on Facebook. Soon after I was offering this as a service myself. Through the many years that followed I became a major birth nerd, a doula, and then a mother myself. The passion for and perspective of capturing the wonder that is birth has only grown with each of these different hats I have worn.”

WHY A COLLECTIVE MODEL

Most birth photographers work alone. Which means families are often left wondering:

What happens if they are sick?
What if they are already at another birth?

We removed that uncertainty. Our collective model ensures:

consistent, reliable on-call coverage
a seamless client experience
and a team that communicates behind the scenes so you don’t have to think about it

This is one of the most important days of your life. You deserve more than a backup plan.

EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST

Birth is unpredictable.

And experience is what allows us to move with it—not react to it.

Our team has documented:

fast labors and long labors
unmedicated births and epidural births
cesarean deliveries
hospital, home, and birth center environments
births that unfolded exactly as planned—and those that didn’t

We don’t just show up with cameras.
We show up prepared.

OUR APPROACH

We are a team of professional birth photographers who believe that how your story is documented matters.

Not just aesthetically—but emotionally.

We approach every birth with:

deep respect for the space we are entering
awareness of the people and dynamics in the room
and the ability to move intuitively without direction

We are there to witness—not to control.
We believe your birth story deserves to be told honestly, beautifully, and without interruption.

OUR PRESENCE

One of the things clients tell us most often:

“I forgot you were even there.”

That is intentional.

We know when to step forward and when to disappear.
We understand how to work in dim light, tight spaces, and emotionally charged moments without shifting the energy in the room.

You will never need to manage us.
You may barely notice us.

And that’s exactly the point.

Connect with our team