What is a Doulatog?
and the power of having one
Intoduction to what is a doulatog
Hello, mama. Have you ever heard of a doulatog? It’s a sweet little nickname for someone who serves as both a birth doula and a birth photographer—a unique blend of emotional support and storytelling presence, all wrapped into one trusted person.
As a Metro Detroit doulatog (doula-in-training to be exact), I’m honored to walk alongside you with nurturing care and a quiet lens—offering the hands-on support of a doula and the soulful artistry of a photographer. It means you don’t have to choose between feeling fully supported in the moment and preserving those fleeting, powerful memories.
Birth is deeply personal, sacred, and transformative. Having a doulatog allows you to stay fully immersed in your experience while knowing the beauty, strength, and emotion of your story is being held and remembered.
This is more than a service—it’s a way of honoring you, your birth, and the journey that brought your baby into the world.
The Role of a Doula—More Than Support
As your doula, I’m here to support you—your values, your choices, your birth. Whether you envision an unmedicated home birth, a planned cesarean, or something in between, my role is not to define your experience but to walk alongside you through it with love and unwavering support.
I want you to feel seen, heard, and deeply supported throughout your journey—and to feel prepared for any shifts or surprises along the way.
I’m deeply committed to making sure you have the knowledge and tools to make fully informed decisions—ones that feel aligned, empowering, and yours alone. I will safeguard your birth space and preferences like sacred ground. And perhaps most importantly, I’ll be right there to remind you, every step of the way: you can absolutely do this.
The Role of a Birth Photographer—Honoring the Story
As your birth photographer, my role is to quietly observe and artistically capture your unfolding story. I’m not there to pose or direct—I’m there to honor what’s real. I move with intuition and deep respect, knowing when to be still, and when to preserve a fleeting moment forever.
Birth is raw, powerful, and life-changing—a moment that shifts your world forever. But in the swirl of contractions, emotions, and first breaths, so much can be missed or forgotten. That’s where I come in.
My camera becomes a gentle witness. It catches the most intimate of details – the tender moments between you and your spouse, the mental and emotional releases you surrender to, and the amazing power it took to birth your baby. These are the sacred, honest moments that deserve to be remembered.
This isn’t just photography. It’s your story, as well as your baby’s, captured with reverence. A way to hold onto the moments you were too deep in your strength to see. So when you look back, you don’t just remember—you feel it all again. The power. The beauty. The love.
The Research Speaks—Why These Memories Matter
1. Photographs Support Emotional Well-being
Photographs have a beautiful way of reminding us of the good within a moment—even when that moment feels hard or heavy. They can gently shift our perspective, easing negative feelings and bringing light into places that felt dark.
I know this from personal experience. After my cesarean birth, I carried a deep sense of disappointment for nearly a year. But thankfully, my doula was allowed to take a few photographs in the OR—images of my son’s very first moments earthside. When I looked at those photos, I was reminded of how tenderly my birth team treated us, how they honored my preferences as best they could, and how much love filled that room.
Those images became part of my healing. They didn’t change what happened—but they helped me see it with softer eyes, and that made all the difference.
2. Photos Clarify What’s Easily Forgotten
Many births unfold slowly and tediously, while others arrive like a whirlwind—fast, raw, and intense. No matter how your birth unfolds, there will be moments you don’t fully remember. Birth moves us through time in such a surreal way; the details can become hazy, no matter how vivid the emotions.
My daughter is almost two now, and I still find myself asking my husband to remind me of parts of her birth. Some memories simply slipped away, lost in the rhythm of labor and the rush of meeting her for the first time.
That’s why photographs are so powerful. They bring clarity and depth to our stories. They fill in the blanks and help us relive the moments that mattered most. They don’t just preserve memories—they carve them in stone.
4. Images Tell Our Stories for Generations
And these photographs aren’t just meaningful for us as mothers—they’re powerful tools for our children, too. Our daughters can look at these images and feel inspired by the strength, love, and agency shown in the birth space. But just as importantly, our sons need to see them as well. They need to grow up understanding what it looks like when women are honored, supported, and heard.
This isn’t the 1950s, when husbands waited in bars while their wives birthed alone with strangers. Today, we invite men into the sacredness of birth. We encourage them to witness it, to respect it, and to advocate fiercely for the women they love. Change begins with what we choose to show them—and these photographs tell a story worth learning from.
5. Self-Empathy Through the Lens
I remember wanting a birth photographer for both of my births. The desire was there, but so were the insecurities. I let the fear of vulnerability silence that part of me. I worried about being exposed—about being naked in front of someone, especially a photographer. I was afraid of losing control of my body, my expressions, and yes, even my bowels.
So instead, I settled for cell phone images. And while they’re still powerful in their own way, when I look at them now, I don’t see any of the things I was so afraid of. I see strength. I see surrender. I see a powerful mama bringing life into the world.
If I could go back, I would whisper to that version of myself: “You are worthy of being seen, just as you are. In all your power and vulnerability—you are beautiful.”
When Doula and Birth Photographer Are One
When one person holds space as both your doula and your photographer, something truly magical happens. There’s no need to introduce someone new into your birth space or explain your wishes over and over. I come in already knowing your heart, your hopes, and how to intuitively flow between presence and pause.
As your doula, I offer emotional and physical support—holding your hand, reminding you to breathe, safeguarding your sacred space. As your photographer, I quietly witness and capture the profound beauty of your journey—without disrupting the intimacy of your experience.
The result is a deeply connected, seamless experience. You can stay in your bubble of trust, knowing that every contraction, every tear, every triumphant moment is being held with care—both in body and in story.
Not every doula is a photographer, and not every photographer is a doula. But for those of us called to both, it’s an honor to offer this layered, loving care—so you don’t have to choose between being supported and being remembered.
The Power of Being Witnessed
Birth is one of the most sacred, vulnerable, and powerful transitions in a woman’s life. To be fully supported and truly seen during that experience is a gift that leaves a lasting imprint—not just in your memories, but in your heart.
When doula support and birth photography come together, they offer something rare and beautiful: the chance to move through your birth feeling held in the moment and to later revisit those moments with deep love and pride.
You deserve to remember how strong you were. How tender. How powerful. You deserve a space where your story is both honored and preserved.
I’m currently completing my training with Lifespan Doulas, with certification wrapping up at the end of May. I’m also pursuing The VBAC Link’s Advanced VBAC Doula Certification to better serve families planning for empowered VBAC births. I plan to begin taking doula clients by the end of June—but heartfelt inquiries are welcome now.
If this kind of support speaks to you, I would be honored to walk beside you—to hold space for your strength and to capture the beauty of your story as it unfolds.
Let’s connect mama. Your story is waiting to be told.
