website graphics / photos

Robyn Haas · 05-25-2006, 08:32 AM

Good morning ladies!

There are no silly, questions, right?!

If not using own photos, where do people get photos and graphics that they use on their websites? I searched to see if there was already any discussion of this on the forum; if I missed it, I apologize, and could somebody point me to that thread?

Otherwise - can people lend me some recommendations/resources for (directly or indirectly birth-related) photos or graphics that are available for public use?

THANK YOU!
Robyn

fearlessbirth · 05-25-2006, 10:35 AM

Hey, Robyn!

Not a silly question at all. For my website I used http://www.sxc.hu/. You can also

'free photo stock' or 'photo stock' and more sites will pop up.

Good luck!

~Tranquility~Doula · 05-25-2006, 10:44 AM

I bought some images from here http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php.

susan1 · 05-25-2006, 10:57 AM

Not a silly questions at alll ...I think it's a very good question...I am glad you ask because now I know.

Susan

Stacie · 05-25-2006, 11:31 AM

The photos on my site are mine, but I have used images from here for other things: http://www.sxc.hu/

fearlessbirth · 05-25-2006, 11:34 AM

Stacie..I think you are the one who recommended that site to me a while ago. Thanks! I found it very useful!

Matrescence · 05-25-2006, 02:26 PM

Something we did a while back was to contact local photographers who do a lot of pregnancy, birth, newborn photography and barter their pictures for a link to their site (free advertising for them and free pics for you). Of 2 photographers only the 1 was interested in bartering, she was wonderful about it, we were able to pick from any of the pictures on her website (since she had prior permission to use those) and all she asked was that each had a caption below it crediting her and linking back to her page.

Robyn Haas · 05-26-2006, 10:19 AM

great - thank you all so much for responding!

Have a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!

DL · 05-26-2006, 12:13 PM

I'm trying to figure out how to get a few photos of me working with couples in labor to place on my website and brochure. The nurses are always too busy, and I feel awkward about asking them. The largest hurdle, however, are that I haven't yet had any clients that would consent to any pictures being taken during labor, so I need to find a way to "compel" them to say "yes". I've been thinking about offering a discount for doula services for the first couple or two who would allow me to bring in a "photographer" in order to get some good, modest pics for marketing purposes. I don't know if I can find some way to barter with a birth photographer to come in (which would be super cool) or just find someone else (maybe another doula?) who's willing to snap a few pics. How have some of you worked out getting some of your doula/client labor photos? Any ideas or advice for me? TIA!

heathenmamaof5 · 05-26-2006, 01:17 PM

I would think that if you had good rapor with the couple they might let you use photos they select? That's what I was thinking of doing. Like have a photo gallery where I could add photos of "families in the making" as I go.

I have some nice pics that I had done at Olan Mills of me nursing my babies at 10 weeks of age. I also have a great pic of me bare bellied (pg with the twins) with Kelsey, Charlie, and Linzey. It was taken about a week before their birth. I figured I'd put those on the web site. Oh, and I have some nice ones of Kirk with various babies I think one with Linz and one with Kels. I thought I'd put those on the partners page of the site.

Of course, I need to take the time to actually work on the site. LOL

tlcdoula · 05-26-2006, 01:30 PM

The photos on my site were photos that I took of my sister

Wasn't that sweet of her to allow me to use them. For me I have a permission form and on it they can check off what type of photos they want taken. I tell all my couples that I will try to take photos if they want. I then have a list of types of photos (can't remember off the top of my head, but stuff like): photos of me in labor (modest, graphic), photos of the birth, photos of me nursing the baby, etc. Then below it there is a category that says something like: photos are only for my purposes, photos can be used by my doula for educational purposes, photos can be used by my doula for any purpose that she sees fit. I give it to every client and some will sign saying that they want only photos for themselves or some will say they don't want any and then others will sign saying they want it all and don't care. Make the permission form part of all the other paperwork they sign (contract, etc).

MothertheMother · 05-26-2006, 01:42 PM

what has worked for me is I take pictures with their camera and they send/copy me the pictures they are ok with me using. That way they don't say no ahead of time because they are worried about what I am going to use (or how they might look). Actually, I don't really discuss it with them before. I talk to them about it in the PP visit. I have some really nice pictures from the last birth that I have not updated my website with...ugh, if there were only more time in the day! Actually I want to do a lot of revamping and I am not feeling very creative yet. It will get there!!

DL · 05-26-2006, 02:12 PM

All of your ideas are honestly really good, but my problem is that just about all of my moms are all for photos being taken AFTER the birth (and usually consent to those being used for marketing purposes), but not one out of 12 has consented for photos during her actual LABOR. They won't even allow their birth partner to snap photos then because they think that they won't look "good", etc. I try to explain to them that I could snap some really sweet pics of Dad and her working together, but they never seem to want that....let alone any pics of me working with the two of them.

I'll keep trying. Someone will eventually say "yes", I suppose.

Thanks for your input!

tlcdoula · 05-26-2006, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula Lori

All of your ideas are honestly really good, but my problem is that just about all of my moms are all for photos being taken AFTER the birth (and usually consent to those being used for marketing purposes), but not one out of 12 has consented for photos during her actual LABOR. They won't even allow their birth partner to snap photos then because they think that they won't look "good", etc. I try to explain to them that I could snap some really sweet pics of Dad and her working together, but they never seem to want that....let alone any pics of me working with the two of them.

I'll keep trying. Someone will eventually say "yes", I suppose.

Thanks for your input!

Honestly all it will take is getting one mama to agree and having modest, attractive pictures to show others and they will all follow suit. I know that first part is so hard. Do you have any friends that might agree to letting you take some very tasteful photos at the very beginning of their labor - kind of like pretending to support them? (even if you don't stay for the whole birth)

DL · 05-26-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula

Do you have any friends that might agree to letting you take some very tasteful photos at the very beginning of their labor - kind of like pretending to support them? (even if you don't stay for the whole birth)

At the moment, no...I don't have any pregnant friends to ask. I will definitely keep that idea in mind, though. Thanks for your advice!