There is a Japanese word “Aware” that means “the bittersweetness of a brief and fading moment of transcendent beauty. It’s that “last burst of summer” feel, or the transience of early spring.” (source)

Every birth I attend there is a moment when I feel this aware, no matter how brief it may be. For me it is the moment when the baby is between the two worlds of the womb and the outside world. It is the end of the pregnancy and the beginning of a whole new adventure.

This moment can pass so quickly some may never have an opportunity to see the beauty of this exulted moment, the magnitude lost because the moment is so fleeting. Maybe the intense joy that comes right after overshadows how surreal and magical this moment can be; it becomes bittersweet.

When I am photographing a birth (natural, medicated or cesarean) I aways try and capture this moment, even if the parents think they don’t want “those types of images.” While I know this won’t be on their Christmas card or used as a Facebook profile picture, I hope it gives them the opportunity to really see this beautiful and transitory moment.

These moments are so intimate and not what I typically share. Knowing this, I am extremely grateful to the mother that granted me permission to share this image with you.

Sarah Boccolucci is a birth photography and videographer serving Boulder, Fort Collins, Denver and surrounding areas.