Media feeds are filled with dismal stories about the state of black maternal health and less than desirable outcomes in labor and delivery. Tiana Lashae is on a mission to change that. Instead of leading with fear and uncertainty, Lashae wants to show moms and moms-to-be that the birth experience can be a moment of beauty.
Lashae, a photographer working with families and newborns, decided to document these experiences and share these images with families and medical communities.
“Black Birth Joy is a photo campaign that I created in 2024 to help shift the narrative of black maternal health to be more empowering and positive by using art as advocacy,” Lashae said. “Black Birth Joy provides local families with complimentary birth and newborn photography services, along with a portrait album enabling them to reflect and process their birth experience more sacredly.”
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Lashae captures these moments and turns them into art. She distributes these images in birthing spaces in Washtenaw and Wayne County in an effort to increase positive black birth representation.
“Not only will black expectant moms feel seen in spaces where we’re usually silenced, but they will feel empowered to not only seek care but to prioritize the birth experience. Both health care providers and families connect with real imagery and real stories of positive black births instead of fear-mongering data and horror stories in the media.”
Lashae was inspired by a mom who gave birth to twins at the University of Michigan Medical Center, where she witnessed a supportive staff that was patient and accommodating to the mother’s needs.
“Her babies were born in a room where her feelings and voice mattered. She got the birth she planned for. The staff, doula, and husband all worked together effortlessly. It was incredibly healing to see, fueling the inspiration for Black Birth Joy.”
Lashae believes that these are the stories that need to be told more often.
“The more families believe they can have a safe and supported birth, they will. Our stories need to be told from a lens of joy and love, not fear and statistics,” Lashae said. “Photographs create conversations and conversations create change.”
Sharing these uplifting stories also helps the educators and advocates in the medical community.
“When it comes to black maternal health, positive and empowering black birth photographs can serve as affirmation, education and integration into healthcare systems,” Lashae said.
Lashae has been photographing babies for a decade. She is hopeful that Black Birth Joy will impact a diverse community while increasing cultural representation.
“Birth photography is a powerful processing tool for families looking to document their birth experience for any reason, but especially for beauty, understanding and closure,” she said. “Uplifting stories are necessary to shift the narrative to be more positive.”
