│Community│

{noun}

1. a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

2. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Did you know that birth photography is growing in popularity here Manitoba? We have an amazing community of photographers in this province who believe that birth is beautiful and worth celebrating, and who are dedicated to documenting and preserving your birthday stories. In my entire (near decade long) career behind the lens, I have never encountered a community of photographers quite like that of birth photographers. It is the most accepting and supportive group of professionals that I have ever been a part of.

I am super proud to work along side the beautiful and talented women I am about to introduce you to. I am honoured to call them my friends. Our community is very important since we often work in tandem either backing each other up, offering advice, sharing knowledge or just offering moral support to one another. Birth is an intense and specialized field of photography and I'm so happy to have connected with them.

With the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers annual image competition rolling out (you can view all the competition entries HERE), I am reminded that even though we are all our own independent businesses and we each have our own styles as individuals, we need each other. We continually support, lift up, and encourage one another to grow in our art, to spread awareness that birth is beautiful and show the world that women are strong... and it's a glorious thing to be part of! I hope that you will all take a moment and show them some love! Check out their amazing work & follow them! You will be glad you did!

Catherine Brown │ Sacred Moments │ Winnipeg

Cat is a member of the Canadian Birth Photographers, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers, and she is a Manitoba trained independent doula. You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE!

Elliana Gilbert │ Elliana Gilbert Photography │ Winnipeg

Elliana is a member of the Canadian Birth Photographers, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers, and is a DONA trained doula! You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE!

Holly Klassen │ Holly Michelle Photography │ Morden/Winkler & Winnipeg

Holly is a member of the Canadian Birth Photographers, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers, is a registered massage therapist and a doula. You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE.

Jenn Doran │ Songbird Photography │ Winnipeg

Jenn is a portrait photographer specializing in newborn, family and birth photography. She is a member of the Canadian Birth Photographers and the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers. You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE! 

Ilissa Kolly │ Imagery by Bean │ Winnipeg

Ilissa is a member of the Canadian Birth Photographers, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers, is the owner/operator of Bean Family Wellness,  and is a Manitoba trained independent doula. You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE.

Justine Walker │ Justine Marie Photography │ Brandon

Justine is a portrait, boudoir and birth photographer based in Brandon Manitoba, and she serves Brandon, Shilo and the surrounding areas! She is a member of the Canadian Birth Photographers. You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE!

Luci Stebner │ Luciana Photography │ Winnipeg

Lucy is a birth, newborn and family photographer based in Winnipeg! You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE! 

Shelly Heinrichs │ Shelly Heinrichs Photography │ Morden/Winkler, Brandon, Winnipeg

Shelly is a birth, newborn and family photographer based in Morden and serving southern Manitoba! She is a member of the Canadian Birth Photographers, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers and is a birth & postpartum doula. You can follow her on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE!

Megan Stoneman  │ Stoneman Photography │ Winnipeg & Calgary

Megan is a birth photographer from Calgary who moved (and brought her talent with her) to Winnipeg. You can follow her on Facebook HERE!

Lastly, here I am. If you don't already, you can follow my journey on Facebook HERE and Instagram HERE. Did I mention that I may also be signed up for doula training this year?? Eeeeeep! 

Thanks for sticking with me friends. And thank you for celebrating our amazing local community of photographers here in Manitoba. I'm excited to see where 2017 takes us all!

Cheers!

~Alicia