When I started shooting weddings, it was a revelation. Having been married myself, to a man I consider to be my soul mate, having struggle through high times and low times, through sickness and in health, through our own baggage and the complexities we add to each other, weddings are about more than a day to me. It’s about the promise of things to come. That the person you care about most in the world will always have your back, and you will always have theirs. To know what that truly means makes me a passionate photographer of peoples weddings.
And now, after 9 months of pregnancy, 86 hours of labor, and one very beautiful 9.5 lb baby later, to call photographing a birth a revelation feels an understatement. (btw if you are pregnant and due in april, Birth Photography is 1/2 off 
) I’m very thankful to have made a new friend upon moving here to California, in Courtney and Erin (erinheartscourt.com). Courtney was about a month behind me in her pregnancy, and we made a deal on our first lady date that we would trade birth photography. Little did she know what she was in for on my end – but she was there to photograph the most intense part of our journey – in all it’s incredible, . As for her, she was (thankfully, as I regained my strength) 2 weeks overdue despite her efforts to evict the little one. She started her induction that morning, and progressed slowly and erratically. I got a text from Erin – they just broke her water, she’s at 4cm. Here I am, thinking it will be hours before they needed us, planning to go to dinner in Pasadena and wait for their call. I texted back something about heading out in an hour or two. The next text I got back said only, 7cm. Yipes! So Huz, Uma and I jumped in the car and raced to Pasadena – 40 minutes away. 8cm. I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to make it, and I think they might have thought the same. I jumped out of the car and left Huz to strap Uma to his chest, and raced to their room. She was at a 9 last time they checked and was feeling ready to push. One hour later from when I walked into the door, this little half Court and half Erin came into the world, purple and bloody, and a girl (they kept it a surprise!). Avellana. Avi. So amazing.
To be there with Courtney and Erin was so amazing. We haven’t known each other long, but to have been there for each other during these incredible times, to have photographed each other in these, the most passionately difficult and amazing experiences of our lives is a bond that I’ll always cherish. I’m so grateful Courtney’s given me the go ahead to share these images with you. They are my favorites. I can’t wait to get Uma and Avi together for their first lady date!
, and my new baby girl!, and also, the return of Husbone, Punam Bean Photography is offering ALL SHOOTS booked for the month of April 2012 BY APRIL 15TH 2012, half off! So if you’ve been wanting to book a family session, a last minute wedding, an engagement session, a boudoir session, or anything else you could dream up, now is the time! Here are the details:
A few days later, on a GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME stroll around the neighborhood. It worked!
by punambean
Oh my gosh, I’m crying! Punam, I ended up on your site because were doing beauty for Leah at the Ace tomorrow and then here Im seeing the birth of Courtney’s and Erin new baby girl! These pictures are amazing. Small world and Im glad to have stumbled across you and your work!
Oh my goodness, where have I been?! I don’t know how I could’ve missed this. What an incredibly beautiful experience and what touching photos. The cry is my favourite-you really feel it.
Congratulations E+C & to you too Punam, for being very brilliant.
So intense… in the most wonderful way possible.
LOVE!!! Thank you for capturing the most amazing moment in our lives. With your 86 hour labor and my freakishly long pregnancy and short labor our girls are the yin and the yang to each other, destined to be best friends. Love you!! I am so happy you moved to Cali
Beautiful moments captured Punam
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