An Interview with Marysol Blomerus: South Africa’s First Specialised Birth Photographer

I first came across Marysol through my father.  If I remember correctly, he had some kind of interaction with her father and both of them were showing off to each other about their daughters (as dads do).  And so my dad came back and told me about the amazing Marysol and her achievements.  I was interested enough to seek her out on Instagram and when I found her, I could immediately see that her dad had every right to be proud.

I was drawn to her because I am also a storyteller at heart, and although her medium and subject is completely different to mine, I loved that she had pioneered in her space.  I love a pioneer.  I love to learn about how and why people follow their passions and achieve success, these are always stories worth sharing because they inspire others.

Marysol is South African’s first specialised birth photographer and videographer.  What this means is that she develops a relationship with the couple during their pregnancy and will be on-call for the birth itself.  She will join them throughout the birthing experience in order to document the process, the raw emotion and the real unposed and unplanned moments.  For this reason, she only takes on 20 clients each year.

She is a founding member of the The South African Birth Photographers Association and has received multiple awards in her field as well as been featured in prestigious publications such as Your Pregnancy and Woman’s Day.

I get the impression that she embraces an intentional and meaningful approach to life and so this interview belongs right here on my Slow Living blog.  When I asked her about how she balances work and family, she noted that balance is a myth.  She speaks my language.   “I’m constantly re-evalutating and prioritizing. The reality is that you can not have it all.” she says.  With this approach, she has given enough of herself to have created something lasting and powerful that others have been inspired to make their own too.  Marysol says she is proud of the number of jobs that this field has created for other female entrepreneurs.

Her photographs truly are powerful and emotive images, recording the reality of the birthing process.  I think that these captures are universally relatable because the viewer is permitted into intimate moments that speak to us all about who we are at our most vulnerable and open to our most basic emotions of love, awe and wonder.

Read my my interview with Marysol below, and don’t miss the photo gallery at the end of the post.  You can learn more about Marysol Blomerus Photography here.

What do you try to achieve out of a birth photo shoot?

That’s a great question because its key to what I do. Birth is not about getting one epic image. My approach to birth is storytelling, heavily documentary, and nuanced. I’m trying to achieve telling the story of that day and the emotions that were a part of it. I’m going in as a mother’s eyes and ears.

What do you think attracts your clients specifically to you as a photographer?

I can only offer what my clients are telling me which is that they appreciate the real, raw, authenticity of my work and ethos. I don’t think people hire a photographer simply based on the photos, I think they have to connect with them as well. 

You only take on a limited number of clients a year, why is this?

Yes, max of 20. But its often closer to 15 and I’m normally booked well in advance. Its enjoyable to give personalized boutique level service to just a select number of clients a year. I want to walk the journey with them. I’m of the belief that you can only do a very few things with a high level of excellence.  

You pioneered this kind of photography in South Africa, is it spreading and what is your hope for it?

Its booming and I couldn’t be more proud, especially for the number of jobs it is creating especially for female entrepreneurs. My hope is that those who take it on will do so with a high level of sincerity and commitment. 

How have you grown since your first birth photoshoot to now, do you feel you have gained as a photographer and artist?

Confidence in my instincts and technical skills. Clarity of my vision and presence in that space. I’m really thankful for the experience, its taught me a lot.

Does everything usually go as expected, I mean births can be unpredictable… how do you deal with this as the photographer?

When I’m walking into a birth, I literally have no idea how this will go. I have no idea what frame of mind my clients will be in, no clue what type of birth outcome will be, what position she will deliver in, what the light will be like, who the additional team might be in the theater, or even what time I will be back home. The list goes one. There is no such thing as “expected”. By nature, you have to go in as a skilled documentary and watch as it unfolds.

 

If you are asking about what happens in cases of emergencies, even these I don’t know when or if they will happen. The most “routine” c-section can suddenly turn on you. The healthiest baby be born not breathing for a period or need immediate NICU. As a SABPA birth photographer, I am bound by a strict Oath of Conduct that says I put my camera down in life threatening emergencies and only resume when it is appropriate.