You're probably heard of an "unplugged" wedding before

but if you haven't let me tell you what it is. This is when the bride and groom request that the guests stay OFF their phones during the ceremony. That means no pictures, no video recording, no live streaming the event. NOTHING.

Why though?

Because this disrupt the experience for the bride and groom! It also makes the wedding photographers job a little more difficult when there are cell phones that take away from the elegant images they're capturing! While the photographer tries to capture the beautiful brides walking down the aisle, or the grooms face when his bride walks down the aisle...the image is spoiled by Aunt Karen who has her iPhone out in the middle of the aisle. Now, let's think about this. Who's image/video will turn out better? Aunt Karen? Or the HIRED professional?

Believe it or not...the same problem can come up in a birth as well.

Reason #1

You are your family should be in the moment. This isn't so much a problem for moms and their spouse. Y'all are busy focusing on other things while you're laboring, ya know? BUT...someone needs to tell the excited family to take a step back, kindly of course.

I know, I know, I know. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. are SO excited for the little one(s) to arrive! But think about this, how special would it be for them to LIVE in the moment? Instead of reaching for their phone as soon at they walk into the room to see the new bundle of joy. I totally get it, they want to take pictures and show off to ALL their friends. Just ask them to keep their phones in their pockets and the pictures will happen later. Once everyone has had moment to soak in the amazing job you did bring a new life into this world.

Reason #2

You don't want others to share the news. Social media can do many things. Some good, some bad. But in this case family members tend to share news that isn’t theirs. While some moms don’t mind their Grandma telling all her Facebook friends that she’s about to have another great grand-son, most moms would prefer to tell the exciting and happy announcement!

I know that I did not care for the announcement to be made as soon as my children were born. I mean, let baby and mama get adjusted for a moment! Implementing a strict “no social media posts until we give the ok” rule is a good way to avoid having your good news shared without your permission.

Reason #3

Birth photography isn't for the faint of heart. This one may sounds a little selfish, but hear me out.

There is a lot going on in a small space, whether you are giving birth at home or in a hospital. There’s also a lot of things you may not want captured forever. Just like a wedding day, you may not want to see your baby being born and your Aunt Susie with a phone in her hand in the background. People hire me for my experience, and I do my best to capture the experience from start to finish. But my job can be even more difficult if family members try to crowd in with their phones.

Ultimately, your birth is all about YOU and YOUR new family! If you want to have family members take photos or Facebook Live your birth, go for it! The important thing to remember is that it is YOUR CHOICE, not one that is being made for you.