It’s interesting to me that when I describe myself as a Doula who focuses on families experiencing perinatal loss, almost every person (if not every person) thinks to talk to me about the actual pregnancy and birth surrounding the loss. There is never any mention of what loss looks like in healthy pregnancies beyond that or the unique support and care that may be required.

“May your journey be filled with more hope and healing than you ever dreamed possible.” - Franchesca Cox

I certainly don’t feel that people intend to be neglectful or hurtful when it comes to the absence of acknowledging previous pregnancies and birth, rather it shows how far we have to go in supporting the full picture of perinatal loss. Celebrating Pregnancy Again offers a glance into one person’s story through her three pregnancies, focusing on her first child who passed away and how this affected her thoughts and emotions during the following pregnancies. This book not only offers insight for the expecting parent of their first rainbow baby but is a great introduction to supporting family and friends who may want to understand more of the emotions and thoughts of the pregnant person.   

When I first picked up Celebrating Pregnancy Again, I was a little surprised by how small/short the book was; however, with a book that covers such enormous, complex, individual topics of emotion, I can see how valuable it would be to a family beginning to expect their first rainbow baby by offering a gentle, general look at possible emotions (rather than an exact ‘This is what you will/should feel). I appreciated that the author, Franchesca Cox, not only discussed her personal thoughts and emotions around the pregnancy itself but the relationships she experienced surrounding it. The fact that she touches on her struggles with her faith may seem bold to some but I expect it to be comforting to others who may be experiencing the same struggles. At the end, there wasn’t a ‘conclusion’ when it came to this part of her journey, which is also going to relate to many and bring comfort that they are not alone. 

“Don’t be afraid to listen to your instincts and lean on your grief even after bringing a new child into the world.”

— Franchesca Cox, Author of Celebrating Pregnancy Again

I have personally had families reach out to me with the news that they are expecting again with the intention of sharing ‘only’ good news; however, I think because these families view me as a ‘safe’ person to be vulnerable with, we often talk about the complexity of what they are experiencing. On the one hand I am grateful to assure them that I am understanding of any range of emotion they may be feeling and what they are feeling is normal; on the other, it pains me to think they have felt so much weight and burden until we talk, thinking they should remain grateful, ‘over’ their last birth, and, worst of all, silent. 

I absolutely suggest this book as an initial look into the possibilities of pregnancy after loss, which are not widely discussed. Because the author is able to share her personal experiences without a great amount of detail, even if the reader hasn’t had the exact same experiences, I think they will at least be able to take comfort in the idea that they are not alone in their thoughts and feelings. At most, I hope this book offers a gentle push for others to be more confident expressing what they are going through and receive greater support because of it.

Restoring the lost joys of pregnancy after the loss of a child.

Have questions about birth?

I would love to answer them! Not even sure what to ask? That’s ok too. Never hesitate to reach out to a Birth Worker to simply discuss what your options are, how you may be able to work together, and see who may be the best fit for you. There are many of us who truly want to see you well taken care of and have your best interest at heart.

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture.

After volunteering for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep at the same hospital for several years, I developed fairly close relationships with several of the Labor and Delivery nurses - meaning, if they ask me to be somewhere, I’m there. Working closely with these woman in birth and death, side by side, connects them to me in a way that is precious, so I’m always happy to help when needed.

Since the crazy work schedule of nurses doesn’t allow for much time to chat, I’m used to quick text messages in order to communicate. So when my phone actually rang, I was sure to pick up. ‘I have a favor to ask…’

Baby Lily was scheduled to be born via cesarean section at a specific date and time, which wasn’t unusual; but after being diagnosed with a condition (Trisomy 18) that would likely mean she wouldn’t survive the actual birth - if she even survived that long - put much more on the line when it came to her birth. With so much uncertainty, her parents wanted to make sure that every moment of her life was celebrated and captured.

‘I know this falls outside of the typical Now I Lay Me Down the Sleep volunteer photography guidelines and I honestly have no idea what the outcome is going to be - but would you consider photographing the birth?’

With clearance from the medical team for me to be present in the room during the c-section (due to many medical factors, it’s rare for a Doula or Birth Photographer to be allowed in the room during this procedure), I was committed with no second guessing at all.

Lily being born is one of the biggest miracles I’ve ever witnessed in my life. As we all prepped that morning for her arrival, the atmosphere was a familiar one to me: anticipation, confusion, vulnerability, cautious hope, sadness, fear, and encouragement for one another filled the room with barely a word spoken. On the one hand, hearing a sigh, the slightest whimper of a cry, would be an overwhelming moment to celebrate; but knowing even that may be too much to ask was cause for the room to feel collectively as though it were holding its breath.

When babies are born with a short life expectancy, moments to celebrate don’t come with the cheer that would normally take place. With each breath of air, blink of an eye, slight movement of a finger there is a long pause, trying to savor the moment, overcome with joy to witness more than you ever feared possible but also tracking whether or not this will be the last.

As baby Lily cried out during her birth (a small squeak that sounded like a roar) the room rushed with a brief moment of joy and waited for the next sound. The medical professionals moved quickly to allow Lily’s Mom a moment to see her but give her the immediate medical care needed. I kept up with the team and Lily’s Dad, staying close, but keeping my distance.

In the back of the operating room was a door that lead to a side room, where machines began testing Lily’s heart, oxygen, and other survival measures. We all stood around Lily as she began to decline, amazed at her strength and our ability to spend this much time with her but also acknowledging there wasn’t much left, as the numbers on the screen began to lower and her movements quickly slowed.

Enough information was gathered in a matter of moments to wrap Lily back up and take her back to her mother, who was in the final stages of being stitched. Lowering the neckline of her gown, she was able to be placed skin to skin on her mother’s chest. And we waited.

But that’s all we did.

Despite Lily declining when she was in the back room, she was now changing before our eyes as she lay skin to skin on her mothers chest. We watched and listened to her breaths, almost monitoring the depth and distance between each one, smiled with every attempted cry, and slowly - so slowly - began to realize we may have more time with her. Heart to heart with her mother, she began improving.

“Lily’s story has been far from what we expected.”

Shortly after, everyone was wheeled back to the recovery room where extended family had been nervously waiting to hear details about her arrival: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and big brother surrounded and quietly took turns meeting Lily. Several doctors and nurses came in to warmly assess her health, she was baptized, and it was clear there was no need for me to stay longer. Though it was early, it appeared Lily was going home.

Several months later, I received an email from Lily’s father. I don’t often hear from the families I volunteer for, so I was thrilled to hear his update:

“Hi Teresa,

I just wanted to give you an update on Lily. I’m sure there are many/most cases with your work with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep that have very sad endings. As you know that is what we expected with Lily. But Lily’s story has been far from what we expected.

Lily will be 4 months old on Saturday. The first couple of months were rough. There were several times where she was just barely clinging on to life. But she is a fighter and has really pulled through. After several surgeries, she seems like she is here for the long haul. Her underlying condition is still there, and there will still be many challenges to come, but she seems like that is ok with her to keep going.

I am sending you this because you were there at such an important point of Lily’s and our lives. It meant so much to have the moments of her arrival captured, especially since we didn’t know how many moments we would have with her. Thank you so much for that.”

To bear witness to such a powerful story is something I will carry with me my entire life. I know the families I have served (over 50 at the time of this article) don’t realize how often I think of them or the impact their children have had on my life - but I mean from the depth of my soul when I say, ‘It’s been an honor to have met your child. Thank you.’

If you would like more information on how you can help families experiencing pregnancy and/or infant loss, please consider these organizations:

• The Dakota Lee Foundation

• Let Grace In

• Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture. Currently accepting new clients for Doula services and Birth Photography.

 The Birth Conversation Series is held on my Instagram account and allows people to talk about their own birth experiences, in addition to work they may do in the birth community. Below is a recap of my conversation with Stephani, a mother of four. You can find the entire interview here. 

In the midst of COVID-19, I talk with Stephani who has gone through four births. Like a lot of conversations I host, the details are different but they are more the result of two underlying factors in birth: community and conversation.

“I thought the hospital would help me with my birth plan.” Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co.

Stephani’s births all involved being at the hospital, having an epidural, and several family members close by. Despite having what some would consider a ‘routine’ hospital birth, she describes the unknowns, the confusion, and the lack of choices she felt she had. 

“It wasn’t until the end of my first pregnancy that I finally asked my doctor if we were ever going to discuss my birth plan. He sort of looked at me and said, ‘Why? Was there something you wanted?’ I thought the hospital was going to educate me on what my options were and it never happened.”

While every birth story contains its own unique details, the general outcome often comes from how much - or how little - we have been exposed to and what we are ‘allowed’ to choose when it comes to how our bodies labor and birth. While Stephani didn’t feel her births were ‘bad’, she recognizes that she may have made different choices and had a different perspective had she been encouraged and educated on what preferences were offered, long before her pregnancy even began. 

“I thought the hospital or my doctor would talk to me about how I wanted to birth.”

— Stephani F

Similar to being educated on pregnancy, we also talk about the lack of conversation surrounding postpartum: physically, mentally, and emotionally. After suffering a year with postpartum depression before being diagnosed, Stephani reflects on what could have helped before things felt out of control. 

For our full conversation, visit my youtube channel here and follow along on Instagram Live as we discuss pregnancy during COVID-19 and join our community chats whether you live in Hawaii or anywhere in the world.

Stephani talks about her thoughts on lack of education / communication in regards to pregnancy and birth. Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co.

Have questions about birth?

I would love to answer them! Not even sure what to ask? That’s ok too. Never hesitate to reach out to a Birth Worker to simply discuss what your options are, how you may be able to work together, and see who may be the best fit for you. There are many of us who truly want to see you well taken care of and have your best interest at heart.

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture.

 The Birth Conversation Series is held on my Instagram account and allows people to talk about their own birth experiences, in addition to work they may do in the birth community. Below is a recap of my conversation with Amber Elliott of Amber Elliott Couture Photography. You can find the entire interview on my here. 

After a misdiagnosed infection, a traumatic surgery left Amber bed ridden for 2 years with the instruction that becoming pregnant would not be physically possible. 10 years later, she became pregnant with her first son. 

“I was designated high risk and because of that, at least where I live (Canada), you essentially feel like your rights are taken. They dictate what type of doctor you see, which for me was high risk...and I felt bullied throughout the entire process, all the way up until my son was born. He was born healthy, I gave a vaginal delivery, and it was a horrible experience. It was a horrible experience through the Obstetrician appointments, through the labor and birthing process - just the entire system. The system put on more stress and pressure than anything else. I had a Birth Doula and a Postpartum Doula throughout that process and I believe that was probably the one thing that got me through it.”

“I didn’t want to be told and dictated how to have my pregnancy.” Amber shares her fight to take control of her own birth. Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co.

Four year later, Amber became pregnant again and insisted that this birth was going to be different. Trusting her instincts, advice from her sister (a nurse), consulting with her general practitioner, and discussing her intentions with her previous birth doula, a plan was formed: minimal doctors appointments, midwife, and water birth. 

What may seem like less ‘work’ turned into a mission to stay empowered and in control of her body during this birth: Amber eventually found a midwife that was willing to work with her; but not until she first prepared a presentation for the hospital board where she would give birth. Under the health care system Amber was under, midwives were not allowed to deliver high risk pregnancies. After a successful meeting, she was told she was the first high risk pregnancy allowed to include her midwife. 

“Is birth something we’re just supposed to survive?”

— Amber Elliott

Amber and I discussed her obstacles and how they may relate to the quickly changing world of birth today (this article is being written in the few several weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak). Though Amber had a plan for her birth and she had a healthy vaginal delivery, things didn’t go as planned for labor. I asked her for advice or guidance to others facing change in their delivery: 

“Don’t allow anything to distract you and don’t look at the big picture too much. Focus on the first thing in front of you - otherwise it can be really overwhelming. Write down the areas where those gaps are and start one by one in tiny little steps into resolving each one for yourself because you really do have the power.

“Why would you submit your body to someone who treats your body horribly?” After a traumatic surgery, followed by a traumatic birth, Amber shares her thoughts on taking control of her pregnancy. Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co.

There are many people on your team when you're pregnant: Your partner is on that team, your doula is on that team, your midwife or Obstetrician, General Practitioner, your parents, your children, all of them are on your team. And they all should be working in tandem.

I had a perfect vision of how I wanted to give birth and it didn’t go that way...but it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day you should feel empowered, supported, loved, and you feel you have a right to voice a concern, request, anything to anybody and that you and your baby are safe.”

I would love for you to listen to my full interview with Amber here. Also, keep checking my Instagram page for more live interviews - I would love to have you on, as well! 

Have questions about birth?

I would love to answer them! Not even sure what to ask? That’s ok too. Never hesitate to reach out to a Birth Worker to simply discuss what your options are, how you may be able to work together, and see who may be the best fit for you. There are many of us who truly want to see you well taken care of and have your best interest at heart.

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture.

If you are ready to give birth, I know things may feel pretty scary right now. You may even feel like you have no control over what happens to your own labor and delivery - but I want to assure you that doesn’t need to necessarily be the case.

On my dedicated Instagram page for birth, I am going to be holding a series of conversations from people who are about to give - or have just recently given - birth. Today I really wanted to start things off by getting into the bare basics of what your birth may (or may not) look like. A starting point for trying to wrap your mind around what you are hoping to have take place and what you know your possible other options may be.

This template can help break down the basics of considering your birth options during uncertain times.

The video itself is best to listen to when you have some time to focus. So until then, above is a brief overview of what is discussed and how you can take what feels like an incredibly overwhelming situation and break it down.

Even if you don’t plan on giving birth in Hawaii or the island of Oahu, please know that I am a resource here for you to help in anyway I can.

Have questions about birth?

I would love to answer them! Not even sure what to ask? That’s ok too. Never hesitate to reach out to a Birth Worker to simply discuss what your options are, how you may be able to work together, and see who may be the best fit for you. There are many of us who truly want to see you well taken care of and have your best interest at heart.

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture.

As the world has been watching the last several weeks play out, I have personally been reacting to current events like breathing: Take everything in, get the bad stuff out, fluidly move on to the next experience, repeat. Every so often take a quiet, intentional moment to reassess how everything feels, appreciate that there is perfection happening in details so minuscule that I can’t even identify, and adjust my stance if I recognize I could be improving how things function.

It’s easy to look at others and wish we had the view as them; but sometimes, if we would just gift ourselves a moment or two, we would see we have access to the same things. (View of sunrise over the water.) Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co. in Hawaii.

Due to the world of social media, t’s been pretty incredible to almost be a fly on the wall for so many; suddenly, what people value has come to surface in unexpected ways. Having said that, things people don’t value has been just as eye opening. Watching so many intimate, unique details of lives play out, I’ve almost been appreciative to have the expanded insight to understand what is individually important to people, how they respond, what emotions require more support from others, and identify opportunities to step in to help in ways that may seem small to me but play a bigger, more important roles to another person. 

As I continue to put focus on the birth community in my career, I recognize and appreciate the similarities of how each day brings subtle changes with, at times, major consequences both negative and positive. The need to be open minded and understand when someone is feeling uncomfortable vs. in crisis mode. Acknowledging that there may not seem like much of a difference to others looking in. Recognizing that while a small shift may have contributed to feeling out of control, an equally small shift can reign comfort, confidence, and assurance back just as quickly. Finding an appropriate way to contribute to a positive outcome when it feels like there’s a road block at each turn. 

Consideration of these things make me realize what calls me to be a Birth Doula, the attention required in helping others with seemingly ‘routine’ tasks that may need a little unforeseen attention and care along the way. I keep thinking about these two (separate) phrases:

“Just stay home!”

“Just have a baby!”

Appreciating the details. Tree of Life from the series Mele Ma'i (Procreation Chants). Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co. in Hawaii.

The simplicity that surrounds the initial thought of each...until you begin to consider the intimate details that ultimately play a major factor in how pleasurable vs. traumatizing each can potentially play out. While some may leave it to happenstance, others will proactively work on a plan that allows more controlled, favorable outcomes to be experienced. Not that there won’t need to be some adjustments along the way but knowing that should things not go as planned, it will be easier to improvise and move to Plan B. 

All of this to say, we are each going through some decisions we didn’t anticipate, inconveniences to our ideal day to day, and  circumstances beyond our control. Especially if you are able to give birth, your world may be feeling like it’s completely flipped over. If this applies to you and you are nervous about where you had originally planned to give birth, not having the support around you that had been anticipated, or just what life is going to look like with a newborn in general when ‘normal’ has already gone out the window - please reach out to me.

You have my promise that I will not 

1. Attempt to make decisions for you.

2. Pretend to have all of the answers.

What I will do is listen - and, should you want help researching information or considering different labor and birthing options, suggest some pretty incredible people in the birth community that may be able to make some possible choices feel less scary. 

If you aren’t pregnant but happen to resonate with this article in a different way, still reach out. Life can be really complicated and overwhelming; starting with a conversation may not be the instant resolve to everything but it’s a step in the right direction. Just know you don’t have to ‘push through’ - and certainly not alone.

Have questions about birth?

I would love to answer them! Not even sure what to ask? That’s ok too. Never hesitate to reach out to a Birth Worker to simply discuss what your options are, how you may be able to work together, and see who may be the best fit for you. There are many of us who truly want to see you well taken care of and have your best interest at heart.

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture.

Photographing Your Birth story

One of the top three questions I receive in regards to Birth Photography (especially from soon to be Dads) is, ‘Who in the world would want to see these photos?! I’m certainly not posting these on our Holiday Cards!’

If you promise to keep reading and allow me to explain, I’ll tell you a little secret: Maybe you will post a few photos for family and friends to see.

But let’s back up a bit.

Whether you are having a hospital birth, home birth, c-section, a skilled Birth Photographer can capture your birth story in ways that you will cherish forever. Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co. in Hawaii.

For some, Birth Photography may seem like a fad, or something new that is being offered when, it has actually been around for a number of years.

It was almost a decade ago when I was preparing to give birth to my second child. Another Photographer friend of mine (B. Billick Photography of Kentucky) mentioned the possibility of photographing my daughter’s arrival. I had never heard of the concept before but I knew I was in, always willing to try something new in the name of art.

The concept was fresh to both of us and with her living 6 hours away we weren’t quite sure how to iron out the logistics (my husband was in the Army at the time, deployed through the pregnancy, and we were nowhere near family or friends). I adored my OBGYN at the time and had no qualms bringing it up to him: “Would there be any issue with my friend coming in to photograph the birth?”

It was almost an instant, “Sure.” Then, “Wait...is this a friend you want in the room who will happen to take photos? Or are you actually hiring a Photographer? This definitely isn’t the time for that - you aren’t going to want to document what is going on down there.”

Oh.

Looking back, it’s certainly not as though I think his reaction is odd; this is a common first reaction to people who are introduced to Birth Photography. Having said that, do I regret not going through with it? 110% . In addition, I wish he had a little more confidence in me, my body, and how awesome the birth process was.

How I birthed my three children is another story for another time (hint: one of the reasons I began looking into becoming a Doula) and what I wouldn’t do to have that moment documented when my daughter and I saw one another for the first time. The expression of joy on my husbands face. How we smiled at one another when it was confirmed that everyone was healthy.

Birth Photography isn’t just labor and delivery - it’s also about capturing that moment when Mom meets baby for the very first time. Oahu, Hawaii Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co. in Hawaii.

Things to Consider Before Hiring a Birth Photographer in Hawaii

Do some of my clients want every single detail - and I mean, ALLLLLLLL the details - of their birth story documented? Yes; and they are beautiful. But do I also have clients who simply want the labor and immediate post delivery photographed? Absolutely; and they are beautiful. The bottom line is, everyone’s birth journey is just as important and special.

Because there are so many choices, feelings, and ‘backup plans’ involved in birth, is one of the reasons I spend so much time talking with my clients before hand. We discuss comfort levels, birth plans, expectations, and boundaries. I also make sure your birth team - especially your partner - is supportive of my being there.

Whether you are new to the idea of Birth Photography, considering if it is right for you, or simply curious to know more, I encourage you to reach out to multiple people in the birth world, on your birth team, or myself.

Having a Birth Photographer in addition to the rest of your birth team allows you and your partner to focus on each other while laboring. Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co. in Hawaii.

Have more Birth Photography questions?

I would love to answer them! Not even sure what to ask? That’s ok too. Never hesitate to reach out to a Photographer to simply discuss what your options are, how you may be able to work together, and see who may be the best fit for you. There are many of us who truly want to see you well taken care of and have your best interest at heart.

Simply fill out this form and I will be in touch (and I will NEVER pass along your info - pinky swear).

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture.

Moving to Hawaii isn’t just a novelty for me. Though not of Hawaiian ancestry, I have a deep connection to the land, absolute respect for the culture, and do my best to educate myself and advocate for the aina (land) and people. Several friends here have requested that I dig deeper into my roots, my own history, to understand where this connection comes from. While I’m not certain I’ll ever discover all that I’m looking for, I credit my grandmother, Ina, for allowing me to inherit what gifts she did have. This post was written about her in 2017; on this anniversary of her passing, I’d like to reintroduce her to you.

Sitting on 80 acres of land previously owned by American Indian tribes, around the large wood table built by my great-great relatives (which is in my home today), my childhood Saturday nights often took place in my grandmothers 60 year old home, filled with adults playing Eucre and kids watching Hee-Haw. In the summer time, we would be left to play unsupervised in the fields searching for arrowheads or the creek where we would attempt fishing with string and safety pins; in the winter I have a distinct memory of us discovering that when we turned on the ceiling vent in the bathroom, snow would start blowing down on us.  We were an extended family of great laughter and little wealth.

As a young married couple, my parents had us move quite a bit in effort (and success) of building and providing a good life for us but in the center of it all stood the stability of my grandmother’s home. From it came stories of my father as a baby climbing out to the barn and up the rafters; my aunt being Homecoming queen; marriages starting and ending; babies being born. And in the middle of it all, my grandmother’s high school senior portrait would hang, smiling down on all of us.

Oahu Photographer and Doula holds a self portrait of her grandmother, who she credits her connection to the Hawaiian land. Photograph by Teresa Robertson of Robertson & co. in Hawaii.

I loved to study this portrait of a young woman that, at the time, had such a full life waiting for her. As a young girl, it intrigued me to see how different she looked back then – yet have the same kindness & determination in her eyes. To think, when she had the portrait taken, none of us were even born yet! To have this reminder of my grandmother at a time when we didn’t know her, to see the same beautiful smile she would give us when we came to her home, was almost a sweet declaration to me, saying, “So much came before you, to guide you and shape you. I was a young girl like you, too”. This simple, hand painted photograph let my mind wonder so often as to how much more we were connected to one anther, despite the years.

My grandmother’s portrait now sits besides me as I work. I still think about what she was like at my age, if I received any of her personality traits, and if I will pass them to my own children.  I love the opportunity to share small snippets of stories with people who ask, “Who is that a portrait of?” and smile, knowing that she would be proud to know the woman I am today, the women I am raising, and would more than likely shrug off the suggestion that she had anything to do with it – let alone her high school senior portrait be a token of security, roots, and inspiration to generations ahead.

Would You Like to Be Photographed with Your Family in Hawaii?

I would love to talk to you more. Simply fill out the form below and we can start a conversation and think about what would ultimately make the perfect session for you.

Simply fill out this form and I will be in touch (and I will NEVER pass along your info - pinky swear).

Teresa lives on the island of Oahu in Hawaii and works as a Family Photographer, Birth Photographer, and Doula. In addition to client work, Her award winning Fine Art series ‘Mele Ma’i: Procreation Chants’ can be found here and is a volunteer Bereavement Photographer with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

When my family moved to Hawai’i (O’ahu to be exact) I knew that really determining what would stay and what would come with us was pretty important to our new way of living. What was a little harder to figure out was what to do with my photography studio and everything that went with it.

Having a private studio to photograph in was a life dream of mine; so much that when we started seriously discussing the potential move to Oahu, my husband wasn’t sure it would be something I’d be able to leave behind. But if anything was going to complete with my love of photography, it would be Hawai’i.

After we settled into our permanent home, everything fell into place; with the exception of my photography studio wall art display. Not just photographs, these were canvases and prints I had personally hand stretched, matted, framed and painted myself. Stuffed in closets. Leaning against walls. Strategically placed under beds. It stung, knowing years and years of work, time, dedication, and money on these portraits weren’t being properly cared for but it was the best I could do.

Shortly after we arrived, I had the privilege of attending a meeting with Jen Dombroski, founder of the Dakota Lee Foundation and Sunny Chen, Executive Director of Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai’i. As we talked about the birth community and how we each wanted to play a helpful role locally, Sunny mentioned, ‘Just a small thing I wish we could do for our Mother’s would be to spruce up our space. I wish it felt a little more welcoming - we need help.’

And just like that - my photographic art of breastfeeding moms, newborns with their families, and kids playing found a space to call home.

As the recipient of several non-profit outreach and government assistant programs when I was a young mother, I love opportunities to encourage any new or young mom to feel a little more at ease and comfortable. For me, this couldn’t have been a more perfect arrangement: rather than keep everything hidden and in storage, I was able to find purpose in where they stayed and, maybe in some way, encourage another woman to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Because while it’s a different story for a different day, the time between receiving help from agencies to creating these images were many, many years. But I’d like to hope in a small way it will resonate with someone that, even if it takes one decade at a time, a lot of life lies ahead.

Letter written to Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai’i from Photographer and Birth Doula Teresa Robertson

Are you considering hiring a birth Photographer or Doula?

I would love to talk to you more! Not even sure what to ask? That’s ok too. Never hesitate to reach out to a Photographer to simply discuss what your options are, how you may be able to work together, and see who may be the best fit for you. There are many of us who truly want to see you well taken care of and have your best interest at heart.

Simply fill out this form and I will be in touch (and I will NEVER pass along your info - pinky swear).

In Hawaii, one of my biggest impressions on the culture is the magnitude and importance of details or small acts. This was refreshing to me, not as a new concept, but rather one that I feel was organically ingrained in me, only to be ‘taught out’.

Having been on the mainland for several weeks now, getting back into my work has felt different in both good ways and bad; on the one hand, I am able to celebrate accomplishments of the creative work I do, understanding the significance in acts I before felt were not making me ‘busy/working hard’ enough.

Prepping Maternity photos into prints from an order before matting and framing them. Oahu Birth and Newborn Photographer

On the other hand, recognizing the amount of effort, intention, intellect, and energy that goes into my work (a stark contrast to people who simply assume I pick up a camera, click the shutter, upload images, edit, and then call it a day) leaves me to understand the cost of what I do. Not just the physical cost of equipment, paper, and resources; but also the cost of education, research, passion, and ‘know-how’.

Going into the New Year, I’m grateful for this perspective. A time of year to evaluate not only what I give, but what I receive that makes me give my best. I think this comes at a time where I’ve been on the brink of considering how important, or not important, my work is, if my contribution to others is as valuable as I hope it to be, and if it’s all been in vain.

Artists don’t simply ‘have a knack’ for what they do. We don’t just think something will ‘look pretty’, slap something together in 5/50/497 minutes, and call it a day. Just like you, I read books on business, take classes to further educate myself, calculate each step to consider how it will benefit the bottom line, and strive to succeed.

I hope, in saying all of this, you find similarities of value within yourself - or, recognize some of the intention and accomplishment that had perhaps been overlooked in others. For those of us who work hard, I think it’s safe to say that the desire for or quality of what we produce may be up for debate, but that our drive to get there is unquestionable. If we seek to understand a little more of the journey others have taken, we can not only learn from them but help others succeed along the way.

Not often seen when completing a order from a pregnancy session. D.C. Birth and Newborn Photographer

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Someone recently asked me why I haven’t been posting as much about our time in Oahu as originally promised.  The truth is, it’s often on my mind but because I’m not a ‘Writer’, part of the reason is my intimidation, knowing I won’t do the island, and its people, the justice deserved.

Jen Dombrowski speaks during the first annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month Walk on Magic Island, Oahu.

We’ve been fairly busy out here, much more than I’m sure I give us credit for. Pretty on par for what I would be doing on the mainland. The first few weeks were honestly a bit hard for me to get my footing, as I wrestled my unrealistic ideas of what daily life would be like here with 2 additional people depending on me, trying to tackle my personal goals at the same time, and live a bunch of life in as little time as possible, only to be stalled by limited transportation and my own frustration that I haven’t been ‘enough’.

The biggest reason for not keeping up has been forgetting my who my audience is and why I intended to keep up this blog in the first place. It occured to me shortly after we arrived that what I would be doing here is exactly what I would be doing at home - mom-ing, working, volunteering, investing in human interest stories, finding out more in regards to people’s culture, how policies and laws have protected and destroyed precious land, resources, and heritage.

Basically, everything that I am asked, told, or ignored for talking about. So why continue a series of writing that no one will read, anyway?

Locals strike for reasonable pay and healthcare. https://www.unitehere5.org/

Because someone will. And it matters. If there is one thing I am becoming aware of here is how much I belong and my voice is still needed, my children will be able to do more than me if I guide them and we deserve to feel nurtured in our calling to love and support others. Maybe one of you would like to join us, as well.

xo

Teresa

Lei making class with the talented Meleana Estes http://meleana.com/

“Aloha au ia ‘oe ”

— I love you

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Sunset on the west side near Pōkaʻī Bay Beach Park.

Only 2 more days of school! Only 2 more days of work! The countdown to the adventure begins!

Let’s GO! GO! GO!

xo

Teresa

“Fast or speedy”

— Wikiwiki

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Hiking through the island. O‘ahu, Hawaii

Today is the first day it has really started to hit me that we are leaving and the ‘how am I supposed to sleep from excitement?!’ feelings have started creeping in. I find myself planning my work and social life beyond our leave date in Maryland, only to back up several steps to remember what is about to be our new normal.

I am hoping to be able to work a bit while we are on the island and plan some Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Q&A sessions to recruit a small team while I am there (side note: for those who have been following along, I am secretly thrilled that our New York City, DC, Atlanta, and Orlando speaking commitments for NILMDTS has been pushed to spring, which means I can still attend!).

What I haven’t done is stay true to my commitment to start learning more about the culture of Hawaii. I know I should give myself a bit of grace that I’ve been wrapping up clients, last minute birth and newborn sessions, prior commitments, packing, and...life. But even one word a day shouldn’t be so hard. Joining a local social media group, finding some hidden gems, local shops, etc.

It’s not the end of the world or even something to stress about. I do think it’s worth noting, however, how easy it is to be so wrapped up in our own sense of ‘normal’ to forget to be educated on what exists beyond our bubbles.

Note to self: Remember to find out where the ‘Native Lands Matter’ shirt originated.

xo

Teresa

“Good fortune, blessing”

— Pōmaika`i

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Rocks and Lava off the coast of Oahu

We are a family on the go. This has always been a part of our identity, engrained in both my husband and me. Our son moved schools every year until the 7th grade and the home we currently reside in is the longest I’ve ever lived in. I moved 5 states away when I was 17, so when it was college time for our first born it seemed totally normal that he go off and explore life a plane ride away.

Through our journeys as a family there have been times we’ve been together and times we’ve been apart. We’ve broken each others hearts due to distance, only to heal through inevitable reunions.

I’d forgotten that heartache.

I’ve been asked the last 3.5 months how things have felt with my son gone - was I sad? With many moves come many new friends, many of which don’t know most of our story. Sad? Three months in? That’s not a thing in this family.

Until my boy told me he was homesick 11 days before I was to leave for Hawaii.

My life has made a major transition since we’ve moved to Maryland. It’s been stable. It’s been consistent. And that has been a little (a lot) uncomfortable. It does seem a little ironic that as soon as we chose to make our life here more permanent, one of our children would pick up the pieces we had dropped and move on.

I never thought Hawaii would bring me a sense of belonging away from the island but maybe that’s the plan.

Tomorrow I'll be miles from here

Ain't nothing to me

Lord I was born with a suitcase in my hand

Living in a life that few could understand

Sometimes it gets so confusing that I don't know where I am

But I always know who I'm with

I'm with the band

xo

Teresa

“Ancestral spirit, family or personal gods”

— ‘Aumakua

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Hawaiian Lei

I swear, I’m not complaining. I’m not unhappy. But the last several days have been a rollercoaster of emotion and I feel like it’s ok to say that.

When I first envisioned this blog, I wanted to make sure I was mindful to write about the emotion of our experience in Oahu, not just the technicalities. If each day brought challenges related strictly to our adventure, I’m sure I could find time to do that; however, when you throw the ‘move’, The Hubs government work, my photography business, first day(s) of school, college kid drama, car breakdowns, and Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep...it’s hard to find that ‘best moment’ to write.

So, I will say, emotions fluctuate greatly throughout the day - and if my words sound a little more like a manual, it was a day I was grateful to write at all. If you can feel the emotion in my voice, the day was a bit more calm.

Housing has been a little more challenging than we anticipated. If it were just The Hubs and I, living arrangements would be less of an issue. Living in Hawaii with limited budget, limited time, and The Girls makes for some slightly fine-tuned planning. Again, I will stress, nothing bad, we just want to be smart.

As for my feelings on leaving, I’ve been a bit surprised at myself. Getting back into the school routine has felt good and I find myself thinking through the day, ‘Aw, I think I’m going to miss this.’ As I mentioned previously, it’s such a welcomed feeling, though, knowing that I will be returning and making a mental note to myself to look forward to these things later down the line.

I can’t help but wonder if part of our purpose in leaving is to really know how much we belong where we are at. Which is awesome and unique and an extremely generous gift to have been given.

xo

Teresa

“I am fine”

— Maika‘i no au

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Tree Branch in O‘ahu

The last several years have been a conflict of parenting, spous-ing, providing, and creating. While I am constantly trying to be mindful in life, I am simultaneously working to extremes just to simplify, and what love is leftover from my children, to my husband, to my volunteer work leaves my artistic soul depleated.

But Oahu.

This is my chance. This will be my breath. My rejuvenation.

xo

Teresa

“Smart, Clever, Intelligent”

— Akamai

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Hiking through the Manoa Falls Trail. Honolulu, Hawaii.

I either fell asleep last night or woke up this morning thinking, ‘I wish we were there already.’ While there is certainly enough to take care of before we leave, I feel like I wouldn't mind knocking this out fairly quickly.

Mentally, I am fighting from checking out of our lives here completely; though, I will say, it’s been incredible to see some seeds already being planted for when we return. Lately I’ve been replaying the idea that God often will provide rest before work and have seen this at play in other scenarios. I wonder if the coming three months are another one of these gifts and look forward to resting, with purpose.

After our last visit, I’ve dreamt of volunteering in a way that would teach me more about the customs, land, and/or history, should we ever return to Oahu for a lengthy stay. One of the places I assumed I would spend time is the Bishop Museum, which would cover all of these. However, since it looks like we will be staying a considerable bus ride from that location (Drew will be provided a car to get to work but The Girls and I will be relying on The Bus, Oahu’s phenomenal public transit) I have tried thinking of other options.

We’re anticipate living near Hanauma Bay and therefore, being frequent visitors. With The Girls being such passionate lovers of the environment and my passion of the ocean, it seems to make sense to reach out to the Friends of Hanauma Bay where we can help care for a place I’m sure will feel like our backyard.

I’m also relieved to see that there are not one, but two, YWCA’s (yes, ‘W’...if you are not aware of this organization, please, please, please, just visit their main page) on the island. (No, there shouldn’t even be a need for this organization, however, since there is a need, I’m thrilled that there is a presence.)

Having said all of this, it’s been such a welcome change to not only look forward to what immediately lies ahead of us but also what awaits our return. For the first time, it feels like I’m not running - I’m being purposely guided. What an honor and exciting time.

xo

Teresa

“Land, especially Hawaiian ancestral lands”

— ‘Āina

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Rainbow, sandwiched between water and sky. Māmala Bay (off of Waikiki Beach), Hawaii.

• Home found.

• Home partially secured.

• Family and friends notified.

• Clients contacted.

• Packing begun.

• Volunteer opportunities recognized.

• Birthday weekend started.

• Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Hudson live.

I am amazed at the amount of people who have stated, ‘I am so excited for you!’ As we’ve notified them of our sudden change for the next few months. Enough to make me question in the past if we’ve had this much support in general or my anxiety/skepticism from previous relationships still haunt me. Regardless…

Nesting, (non pregnancy related), is thriving and well. We think that we’ve settled on a home that will meet my desires of living near locals, learning more about the culture and environments, having easy public transportation while Drew is at work, be flexible with our ‘city’/residential/private adventures, and volunteer as a way to give back to the island and its people.

One thing that struck me this morning was talking to a friend who said, ‘For completely selfish reasons, I already can’t wait for you to come back!’ To which I reminded him of our last week-long stay in Oahu and how the after effects haunted me for months. Coming back to a project is both welcomed and appreciated.

While I have longed to return to the island, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at my security knowing I will return to our Maryland home. Despite previous yearly moves (and this specific house being the longest tenured I’ve yet to live in my life) this move feels different; needed, but not without ending. We will take advantage of and enjoy our stay, we will come home, and we will feel secure.

This weekend holds the funeral of Aretha Franklin in Michigan (my birth state), John McCains arrival in Annapolis, and my ‘baby’s 6th birthday. As Miranda Lambert sings from our southern home, we got roots, though far apart, and we got wings.

xo

Teresa

“No problem, no trouble.”

— A‘ole pilikia

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.

Surfers off of Waikiki Beach in O‘ahu

• Homeschooling options?Check.

• Washer and Dryer accommodations? Check.

• Clients cared for? Check.

• Public bus route confirmation? Check.

• Colleague and Industry peers accounted for?Check.

48 hours ago I had been working on what I felt was one of the biggest compliments I have ever received: being asking to teach a Photography and Lighting workshop on behalf of Now I Lay Me Down to sleep in New York City, D.C., Atlanta, and Baltimore. What an honor. What an amazing opportunity!

Fast forward - or, at this point, backwards - 24 hours: My family has been gifted the chance to go and live in Oahu, Hawaii for three months. In two weeks. 10 days into the new 2018-2019 school year.

It was just like that: Ahola came calling.

xo

Teresa

“Gift, present”

— Makana

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Aloha Calling - A Limited Life in O‘ahu is a personal blog series written by Maryland Artist and Photographer, Teresa Robertson. Gifted the opportunity to reside in O‘ahu with her family for 3 months, Teresa wanted to provide herself and others a way to not take this gift for granted and ensure that her experience was one to learn from, reflect on, and teach others. Through these words, she hopes to do just that.  

Manoa Falls is a 150-foot waterfall located in the Manoa Falls Trail in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Aloha and welcome to my journey. It feels like a dream that we will be 'moving' (though only for three months) to O‘ahu, I am hoping to make this trip much more than that. There must be a reason God is calling us back and I want to honor this gift that's been given to me. I hope to use this blog as a way to remember our time, learn from our actions, and inspire others to do more. 

xo

Teresa

“Love of the land; to nurture and care for the land.”

— Aloha ‘āina

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.