May 13

There are few things more vulnerable and precious than giving birth. A birth is both spectacular and unique because it is a miracle given to and experienced by every individual uniquely, and also normal and commonplace because it happens every day and it is literally, just part of life.

What an incredible thing to photograph!

These photos are the story of Jordan's birth through my eyes. My goal was not only to photograph what happened, but to see the small things: the cat lounging on the couch because he didn't know that a miracle was taking place, the lights sparkling off the windows in the living room after midnight, the blood on the couches, and tight hand holds amidst moments of deep pain.

Yes, this is both a documentation of pain and relief, messiness and beauty.

These photos do not seek to hide anything. The opposite: they seek to tell the truth about what happened around 1 a.m. on May 13th in Jordan and Lee's living room.

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It was dark when I arrived, and the midwives had come just minutes before me. Jordan's other kids were upstairs in bed. Christmas lights have been hanging in their living room for two years, when Jordan hung them for her last birth to soften the atmosphere. The neighborhood was asleep and nobody had any idea that a miracle was taking place next door.

As soon as everyone arrived Lee filled the pool with warm water and Jordan started preparing for active labor. After everyone had settled in and the midwives were ready, we moved to the bathroom to help the baby move and get ready for delivery.