Funeral and a Birth

Humanity || Sydney, Australia

Babies first moments with her Mother and Father.

All stories I document have a significant place in my heart, but this one is a little different as I documented this birth on the day of my fathers funeral.

My Fathers Death

To give some context in 2016 my father unexpectadly passed away due to an unknown heart condition. After returning home from a surf he didn't feel well thinking it was due to being dumped by a wave badly, when he was actually experiencing early stages of a heart attack. Next thing my Dad collapsed and my mother instantly went into action performing CPR on him, whilst my sibblings contacted emergency services. Unfortunately despite my Mothers best efforts and the work of the paramedics there was nothing anyone could do to save his life.

Maternity and Birth Photography

Back track a few months earlier where I offered my friends who were pregnant a maternity shoot and asked if they would like me to shoot the birth too. They enthusiastically accepted both offers. So we did the maternity shoot together in my documentary like style, where I lived alongside them for 2 days capturing them in their everyday life together.

Then we planned for the birth where they would give me a call when Beckie (the mother) goes into labour, and I would race down from the Northern Beaches to Cronulla. That on a good day is about 1hr and 30 minutes drive. The due date came, yet there was no baby. Everyday I always had my camera gear ready and my phone by my side ready for that call at any moment, until the day before my fathers funeral came.

Funeral and Birthday

The night before my fathers funeral I was sitting around the dinning table with my family who had flown in from all over the country to be there. It was one of those moments that you can't explain but you just know what's about to happen before it happens. We had just finished dinner and that's when my phone began to ring, Beckie had gone into labour. So as I gave them my word I grabbed my camera gear, raced out the door and promised my family I would be back before we all have to leave for the funeral in the morning.

I drove across Sydney to their place where we met, and then all headed to the hospital together. Moments later they were informed to head back home and return in the morning as she hadn't dilated enough (Cervix must be 100% effaced and 10 cm dilated before a vaginal delivery). So we returned back to there place, slept for a few hours and went back to the hospital in the morning.

The time was ticking and I only had a few hours until I had to leave to get back home in time for my fathers funeral, but obviously you can't rush things like this. I was able to capture those early moments Beckie and Abner (Husband) were together in the hospital as they were getting themselves ready for delivering their baby. Then I raced to the other side of Sydney just in time for my fathers funeral.

I got back to my home in time to go the my fathers funeral with my family, I got up on stage and did the eulogy, then we all went to the wake afterwards to be together. At about 7pm I contacted Abner to see how the birth went and he shared they were still in labour, so as the wake was coming to the end I jumped in the car and returned back to the hospital on the other side of Sydney.

When I walked into the hospital I had arrived just as the birth was happening, so I waited outside until everything had finished and they invited me in to capture their first moments as a family.

Celebrating Life

In hindsight I may of been a little crazy to drive over 6 hours back and forth across Sydney, and shoot a birth on the day of my fathers funeral. I know some people questioned my actions but for me it was no brainer. It wasn't just because I love documenting humanity including the most special moments like a birth, nor was it because I gave my friends my word that I wanted to keep too. For me it was incredibly healing and spiritual to be able to celebrate life at both ends in one day.

As I was standing besides the bed with Beckie, Abner and their baby, I remember reflecting on how special it is to be able to witness this babies first moments in this world, the very same day I said goodbye to my father.

It's almost like that entire experience I had that day enhanced one another and gave me a profound perspective to life. I still grieved, cried and felt emotions that day towards my Dad but at the same stood there celebrating the life of another.

I remember standing there in that room with them not feeling sad, but an incredibly powerful feeling of peace and love.