Honoring Ancient Traditions: A Birth Photography Session Rooted in Indigenous Wisdom – McAllen, TX

In the heart of South Texas, where the land holds deep ancestral memory, I had the honor of capturing a sacred moment—a photography session centered on the ancient spiritual practices of birth work. This session was more than just taking pictures. It was a spiritual offering, a blessing, and a reflection of the timeless connection between birthing people and those who hold space for them.

Midwife sits in front of pregnant person and holds a rose over pregnant person's hands as they start a blessing for the pregnant person.

As a birth worker and birth photographer in McAllen, Texas, my intention is to honor the cultural roots that continue to guide our community. This session highlighted a blessing ceremony for a mother-to-be, inspired by the wisdom of our ancestors—who recognized that birth is not just physical, but spiritual, emotional, and communal.

Image of a woven basket holding a feather fan, candles and ancestral shaker musical instrument along with some handkerchiefs.

We gathered in a quiet, natural setting, where gentle touch, prayer, herbal medicine, and energy alignment became a part of the ritual. These elements are still practiced today by some traditional birth keepers throughout South Texas and beyond. With each photo, I aimed to capture not just the beauty of the moment, but the deep respect we hold for life, lineage, and healing.

Pregnant person sits and adds tobacco to a metal bowl as a part of her pregnancy blessing ceremony. Midwife sits in the distance smiling.

In this work, I welcome all birthing people, regardless of gender identity, family structure, or background. My practice is rooted in inclusion, trust, and cultural reverence. Whether you’re planning a home birth, birthing in a hospital, or receiving postpartum support, I am here to document your story and hold sacred space.

Midwife uses smoke to cleanse the space and pregnant person during their blessing ceremony

If you’re looking for a birth photographer or birth worker in McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, or surrounding areas in the Rio Grande Valley, I would love to connect with you. I specialize in honoring your birth space in everything I do: pregnancy blessings, birth & postpartum support, culturally rooted postpartum cerradas or closing of the bones ceremonies & birth photography.

Let us continue to honor the medicine of our ancestors—one birth at a time.

Midwife blessing a pregnant person in a maternity blessing ceremony


2020 Birth Photography Image Competition Winners!

IAPBP 2020 Best Birth Photos!

The 2020 IAPBP Winners were announced! Have you been following this contest?

#IAPBP2020Competition #BirthPhotogs @BirthPhotogs

70-VI-Photographylogo.JPG

Remarkable images were entered into this year’s IAPBP Birth Photography Competition. This year’s first place winner is VI-Photography with her photograph “A Moment of Silence.” Way to go! This moment she captured is breathtaking. I can almost feel the calm in the room and that sigh of “I did it!”

Check out the rest of the winners. Let us know if you have a favorite. We’d love to know which photograph moves you.

Bree Farcia of J&B Photography, LLC“Warrior”United States

Best in Birth Details Winner is Bree Garcia of J&B Photography, LLC with her image titled: “Warrior.”

Best in Delivery | Alexandria Mooney of Alexandria Mooney Photography | “Unmasking The Many Layers Of Birth” | United States

Best in Delivery is Alexandria Mooney of Alexandria Mooney Photography with her image titled “Unmasking The Many Layers Of Birth.”

Best in Fresh 48 is Natalie Weber of Natalie Zepp Photography with her photograph titled “Denial” | United States

Best in Fresh 48 is Natalie Weber of Natalie Zepp Photography with her photograph titled “Denial.”

Best in Labor goes to Shea Long of Coastal Lifestyles Photography with her photograph titled “Morning Light Creeps In.” - Canada

Best in Labor goes to Shea Long of Coastal Lifestyles Photography with her photograph titled “Morning Light Creeps In.”

Best in Postpartum goes to Kristi Visscher of Kinship by Kristy with her image titled “Vernix Constellation.” - Australia

Best in Postpartum goes to Kristi Visscher of Kinship by Kristy with her image titled “Vernix Constellation.”

What an incredible collection of images, right? This year is the 10th year that IAPBP hosts this birth image competition. I bet that as you scroll back through the years, you’ll notice that the artists just keep getting better and better at documenting all the details that make each birth unique.

As artists, we are working collectively to bring birth to a new light so that the generations to come can embrace the raw beauty that comes with it.

Birth is sometimes a taboo subject among families or communities which can then lead to a fear of the unknown. Details aren’t always talked about but these images bring light to those very details we need to take control of our own lives. To empower ourselves with knowledge so we can take on our own journey with confidence.

Let’s celebrate all these incredible winners and all the artists around the world dedicated to normalizing birth again. It’s a huge team effort and I’m so proud to be standing side by side with all these amazing artists.

#celebratethebeautyinbirth #normalizebirth

~Norma H