How Birth Photographer Carmen Bridgewater Captures the Beauty of the Birthing Experience
by Black Love Team
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April 11, 2024

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How Birth Photographer Carmen Bridgewater Captures the Beauty of the Birthing Experience

Carmen Bridgewater (Courtesy of Carmen Bridgewater)

Carmen Bridgewater wants Black mothers to know that birth can be beautiful. 

The Dallas-based birth photographer blends artistry, empowerment, and advocacy into her work, creating an experience that leaves Black mothers feeling valued and protected. Her journey into this remarkable field intertwines her passion for art with her dedication to empowering Black women during one of the most transformative moments of their lives.

Carmen’s path to birth photography wasn’t conventional. Armed with a degree in business administration with a focus in entrepreneurship and leadership, she initially treaded a different path as a project manager. However, her love for photography led her to explore various niches, from portraits to weddings, until she discovered that she and her husband were expecting their  first child. 

“Around the time that I gave birth to my daughter, Norah, I was looking at providers and soaking up all the knowledge and childbirth education,” Carmen says. “I learned that — like every other field — there’s really not many Black women in birth photography. I found that when Black women were being photographed, if they were to hire a birth photographer or they were being photographed themselves, it was often from the place of a survivor.”

“I wanted my own work to aim in the direction of not only dispelling fear, but showcasing the beauty of the birthing experience,” Carmen explains. “It doesn’t have to be just a story of survival. This could be a story of thriving.”

Transitioning from a corporate setting to the world of art wasn’t easy, but Carmen’s determination propelled her forward. Drawing from her business acumen and project management skills, she swiftly built her own successful photography business. “My focus shifted into what I actually love, which is art,” she explains, “and it grew really quickly.”

Carmen’s work isn’t just about the business of photography, however. It’s about changing people’s perspectives and helping others. Through her work, she sheds light on the disparities in maternal healthcare, particularly concerning Black women. While pregnant with Norah, Carmem says she learned all the frightening statistics about Black maternal health, including the Black maternal mortality rate

“I feel like the first thing we learn as Black women, when we get pregnant, is maternal mortality statistics,” Carmen says. “I started learning from a place of like, ‘I don’t want to be a statistic.’ I had this beautiful birthing experience, because I studied. I did my homework; I made sure that I had coping mechanisms and a support system, and a postpartum plan in place. Living through that has kind of helped me teach people that they can do the same.”

“You don’t have to base your birth plan in fear. It can be more placed in empowerment. I use my work to show that because, obviously, I can talk all day until I’m blue in the face, or I can write a think piece and people read it. But when I can show people…people say a picture is worth 1000 words, it really is.”

Carmen, who is pregnant with her second child, adds that Black maternal health statistics “don’t have much to do with our educational backgrounds or socio-economic status, but with implicit bias.” She encourages all Black mothers and birthing people to find “providers who respect your birth plan and believe in bodily autonomy.” She lists Dallas-based midwives Ashley Greene at Serenity Birth Center and Jennifer Mozeke at Trinity Birth Services as two of the many providers who practice this philosophy (see below for a full list of resources). 

Being a birth photographer means being on call 24/7, navigating the unpredictable nature of childbirth. Yet, for Carmen, the most rewarding aspect is the impact she makes. “The messages I get from complete strangers… who had no idea that birth could be beautiful,” she reflects, “that’s what changes minds.”

Carmen lists clients Josh Doctson and Haille Wimbish’s birthing experience as one of her favorites to photograph. She was there when the couple welcomed their second child, an experience Bridgewater says was peaceful from “the beginning of labor to the time the baby was in her arms.”

“That didn’t keep Josh from crying for [Haille],” Bridgewater says. “He wept silently to himself while holding her; SZA playing in the background. Her doula whispered to her, often eliciting some laughter and a smile from the laboring mom. Peace wasn’t just with Haille, it was hanging in the air. Draped around all of us. When the baby was born and dad announced the sex, a little girl, rejoice filled the room. It was an orchestra of weeping, screams of glee, and congratulations to the parents. This is the way birth was intended to be. Sacred, intimate, and fully supported.”

However, the journey isn’t without its challenges. Carmen shares the disappointment her clients feel when their birth plans don’t unfold as expected. Yet, through her photography, she helps them find solace and peace in their stories.

Inspired by the resilience of the Black diaspora, Carmen draws strength from the stories of her ancestors and the Black women who came before her. “I just love everything about us… our spirit, our will to live and thrive. The way we turn terrible situations into very happy experiences — even our rage. I just find beauty in every part of our being.”

“More specifically, my mom’s story and knowing what she’s come through,” Carmen adds. “My grandmother; she was a single mother to five kids. She was sometimes homeless, just beyond poverty, but how she had such a love for life and a spark about her. I’m inspired by our stories. And our stories are often erased, if they’re even documented in the first place. When we know where we’ve come from, it lets us know where we’re going. I want to preserve our stories and make sure they’re heard and inspire others.”

As our conversation draws to a close, Carmen leaves us with a powerful message: “Black women do not have to fear childbirth… It can be a beautiful experience. Take the time to learn, study, and freshen up on what this experience could be.”


Dallas-Based Maternal Resources:

Midwives:

Ashley Greene – Serenity Birth Center

Jennifer Mozeke – Trinity Birth Services 

Nikki Knowles – Dallas Birth 

Adrian Mills – The Spiritual Midwife

Teree Fruga – Mercy Midwifery

Birth Doulas:

Contessa Fowler – Nourishing Birth

Chanel Hogue – A Werking Mama

Christian Cade – Beyond Births

Eve Akins – Eve Birth Services 

Tequila Robinson – Mama 2 Mama 

Atiyya – A Brave Birth Doula

Lauren – Dox the Doula 

An-Taria – First Step Doula DFW  

Postpartum Doulas:

Diamond Jackson – Serene Postpartum Doula

Nayo Golden – Chef N Doula

Diamond D – Hands and Feet PCS

Cheryl Abrams – Babymoon Concierge

Black-Owned Birth Centers: 

Serenity Birth Center

Lovers Lane Birth Center

Birth and Wellness of Arlington

Black-Owned Easy Access Clinic: 

Abide Women’s Health Services

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