for portfolio use
Limited availability for 2026 + 2027 estimated due dates
Understanding the Model Call for Portfolio Use
An Introduction to Co-Creating Your Birth Story
Birth is a milestone unlike any other—it is unpredictable, deeply personal, and profoundly intimate. As you prepare to welcome your baby, deciding how much of that journey to document, and ultimately how much of it to share, requires an immense amount of trust.
If you are reading this page, you are considering entering a Model Call Agreement. Unlike a standard, private photography booking, a Model Call is a specialized, collaborative partnership. In exchange for heavily discounted professional services, you are consenting to let the Photographer use the resulting imagery to educate future families, build a diverse portfolio, and showcase the raw, authentic beauty of birth to the world.
However, a Model Call does not mean you surrender your bodily autonomy or your peace of mind.
This guide is designed to walk you through exactly what a birth model call looks like in practice. Below, you will find detailed breakdowns of each phase of labor and delivery and a breakdown of the Consent Questionnaire you will use to customize your comfort level.
My goal is simple: to protect your privacy and uphold your dignity, while ensuring the Photographer secures the creative and promotional content necessary to sustain this unique, discounted opportunity.
Please read through these sections carefully as you prepare to fill out your customization questionnaire.
UNDERSTANDING THE MODEL CALL EXAMPLES
EARLY + ACTIVE LABOR
The early and active stages of labor are all about atmosphere, connection, and the quiet strength of the laboring parent. Imagery captured during this phase focuses heavily on the environment, the passage of time, and the emotional support system surrounding you. Because you are transitioning into intense physical work, these photos document the raw, unfiltered beauty of labor before the final delivery begins.
Angled/cropped/edited to ensure no explicit genitalia is visible.
discreet
Shot from behind or side-profile only.
side view / silhouette
Unidentifiable (Cropped/Framed/Edited)
No restrictions: unidentifiable
Full permission granted for Portfolio use
No restrictions
UNDERSTANDING THE MODEL CALL EXAMPLES
DELIVERY / CROWNING IMAGES
The delivery phase—culminating in the crowning and emergence of your baby—is the most powerful, raw, and transformative moment of the entire birth story. Imagery captured during this brief window documents the literal climax of your hard work and the exact second your baby enters the world.
discreet
Shot from behind or side-profile only.
side view / silhouette
Black + White images
Black + White
Unidentifiable (Cropped/Framed/Edited)
unidentifiable
Full permission granted for Portfolio use
No restrictions
UNDERSTANDING THE MODEL CALL EXAMPLES
IMMEDIATE POSTPARTUM / SKIN-TO-SKIN
The immediate postpartum period—often referred to as the "Golden Hour"—is a breathtaking blur of relief, euphoria, and pure awe. Imagery captured during this phase focuses on the raw, unscripted emotions of meeting your baby for the first time. The focus shifts from the hard physical labor to the soft, quiet, and deeply intimate bonding moments that happen right on your chest.
Angled/cropped/edited to ensure no explicit genitalia is visible.
discreet
Shot from behind or side-profile only.
side view / silhouette
Black + White images
Black + White
Unidentifiable (Cropped/Framed/Edited)
unidentifiable
Full permission granted for Portfolio use
No restrictions
UNDERSTANDING THE MODEL CALL EXAMPLES
NEWBORN IMAGERY
Newborn imagery captures the absolute freshness of your baby in their first hours of life outside the womb. This is a documentary, lifestyle style of photography that focuses on the breathtaking details of a brand-new human being. Unlike a scheduled newborn studio session weeks later, these images preserve the fleeting, wrinkly, fresh-at-birth details that change in the blink of an eye.
Public images limited to feet, hands, hair, features, or swaddled body (no clear face shots)
Macro/Detail Only
Full permission granted for Portfolio use
No restrictions
FAQ
What exactly is a "Model Call," and why is the rate so discounted?
A Model Call is a specialized session where the primary goal is business marketing, portfolio building, and educational content. Because you are agreeing to let the Photographer use the images to showcase their work, market to future families, and display the reality of birth, you are heavily compensated with a significantly reduced rate.
Birth is unpredictable. What happens if my birth plan changes? (e.g., unexpected C-section)
We fully expect the unexpected when it comes to birth!
If your birth plan changes due to a medical necessity or emergency, your model call status remains completely intact. The Photographer will adapt and document your new birth story within the safety bounds allowed by your medical team.
However, if changes are made for non-medical reasons (preference change) that completely prevent the Photographer from capturing viable marketing images, standard package rates will apply.
Can I change my mind about a specific photo after I see my final gallery?
Yes! I offer a 7-day "Change of Heart" grace period once your final gallery is delivered.
If you previously gave "No Restrictions" for a category, but see a specific photo and realize you just aren't comfortable with it being online, you can ask us to pull it from the marketing pool.
The only condition is that we must still be left with a minimum "floor" of viable marketing images to preserve your discount.
The mindset going into a Model Call birth is "all images but..."
Can I share the photos on my personal social media?
Absolutely! I love when you share your beautiful story.
Because this is a Model Call, we just ask for mandatory creator credit in your captions (e.g., "📸: Amie Bogart", "📸: Dove & Lioness Doula Services") and request that no personal filters or crops be applied to the images, as they represent our professional brand.
This is standard across all sessions!
Let's document your story
This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.