Gather Interviews Kate Pavlovsky, a Doulatographer in San Antonio, Texas
Kate Pavlovsky, LMT
Kate is a mom turned massage therapist turned doula turned birth photographer turned business mentor, offering all this and more to the San Antonio and Central Texas Hill Country areas. Not only does she provide her clients with a sincere passion for the birth process alongside a truly artistic eye in the portraiture she captures, but she does so while homeschooling and loving up her own little ones! What initially drew us to Kate’s work was her attention to detail and the very real and honest perspective she offers in both birth and parenthood. She uses her voice and platform to talk about such important topics like consent in the birth space, respecting family autonomy, and the realities birthwork presents for so many. To see more of her work, check out our roundup of 14 Ridiculously Talented Birth Photographers to Follow!
Tell us about your journey as a doulatographer. How did you get started?
After the birth of my first babe, I was infatuated with birth. Not only was it a magical yet grueling experience that challenges us to find our inner strength, but it also bonded me to the women in my birth team forever. I realized that these relationships -- the ones forged between a birthing person and their small, trusted birth team of midwives/doulas-- are something so desired and yet so rare in our current way of life. They are relationships that date back far before civilization. Even wild animals have been observed supporting one another through birth. It is instinctual for us to seek out these bonds with other humans during this transformational time in our lives.
I realized that I wanted to provide loving support for others as they walked the path toward parenthood. I wanted to provide them with friendship, care, and education. However, at the time we were also quite poor and I wanted to have a way to make money while building my business. I decided to go to massage therapy school and to get my massage therapy license. This would support me while becoming a birth worker while still being helpful once I became a birth worker (at this point I thought I would like to be a midwife, which takes years of school and apprenticeship without pay). While in massage therapy school, I talked a lot with my midwife about the process to become one. She suggested that I try doula work first. I sort of balked at the idea, thinking that I wanted more influence over the birth space. By the time I completed massage therapy school, though, I realized that doula work would be a good "foot in the door" on my way to midwifery. I immediately enrolled in an online doula program that a local midwife (and former doula) had started called Tiny Love Doula Certification. After completing that certification, I immediately started taking on births. I quickly fell in love with the role of "doula." It is exactly what I was seeking upon embarking on this journey: the role of a friend, confidant, and supporter.
After about a year as a doula, I started noticing birth photographers online. I LOVED the images immediately. During every birth I attend, I find myself admiring the birthing person's strength and beauty. The photos I was seeing celebrated the very moments I loved most when attending a birth. They were the perfect tribute to these awe-inspiring humans doing miraculous things. I loved the idea of having the opportunity to show my clients how badass they looked from my perspective.
I was not new to photography. I had played around with it off and on since high school. I had taken photojournalism classes and I knew my way around photoshop. But I WAS new to birth photography, so the first few births I photographed, I simply asked my birth doula clients if they wanted photos in addition to my doula services (free of charge). The first photos weren't great. It took me about 4-5 births to figure out what equipment I needed (I started out without a flash), when to snap photos and when to wait, how to edit in lightroom, etc. Once I felt confident that I could deliver a decent gallery every time, I began to charge for my birth photography services. Now, all of my packages include birth photography because I feel it is SUCH an important reminder of my client's inherent power. I want them to have that to look back on for the rest of their lives.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get started as a doulatographer, but doesn't know where to begin?
If you want to get started as any kind of birth worker, reach out to people in your community, but don't assume they should give you their time for free. Expect to pay them a coaching fee if they spend more than a minute or two answering the questions you have. If there are Facebook groups for doulas/birth photographers in your area, they are a great place to ask quick questions like "who did you certify through," or "what courses have you taken/do you offer for someone who wants to become a ____." I personally offer birth business mentorships for people looking to create a business like my own. It took me years of experience and trial & error to find my own way, and if I had found someone like me to guide me through, I would've made a lot fewer mistakes.
I'll tell you this for free-- if you are interested in birth photography, look into all the resources that Birth Becomes Her provides on their website (they have a Facebook group, too). If you are interested in doula work, try to befriend doulas in your own community to see what paths they took, and make connections. Go to local events. It is very important to start being very involved in your community because that is how you will find your clients. Also, be ready for COMMITMENT. This work is hard. It requires a lot of responsibility and dedication.
What's the most valuable advice you've ever received, either professionally or personally?
To diversify my offerings. To provide a variety of services within the community in order to be more relevant, more sought after, and more useful to my clientele.
What's something about this work that shocked you the most, that you wish you'd known before you got started?
That sometimes birth and death go hand in hand.
That sometimes birth is triumphant, and sometimes it is traumatic.
Nothing can prepare you for the abuse you may witness as a doula, especially when you are fresh and naive and haven't yet learned all the ways to protect your clients and yourself.
Nothing can prepare you for the call when a client loses their baby... whether at 13 weeks... or 18 weeks... or 38 weeks.
These experiences leave scars. They take a toll.
There is no positive without the negative. It's the very essence of life. It's yin and yang. Being privy to the most ecstatic moments of life means we are also privy to some of the darkest moments. Being a good doula, and even birth photographer, means we are willing to walk with our clients through the darkness and open our hearts to them and support them throughout their experience to the best of our abilities.
What are your thoughts on life-work balance as a birth worker? Is it achievable?
Here's the thing-- I recently read an article that says the idea of a work/life balance is a fallacy, and I think that's true. There is no balance. It is all a part of who we are. The important thing is to practice being focused and present with whatever is surrounding you at the moment. Don't overbook yourself with clients. I personally take 2-3 births per month, because, with a husband who works full time (albeit from home) and 3 homeschooled kids of our own aged 1-5, that's all I can handle. Some people can handle 5-6 per month. Only you know what you can handle, and what feels too chaotic. Be sure you are able to be present with your family, your friends, and each individual client. Schedule vacation time when you are off call and take time off of social media as well. It's worth it. You'll still book births and you won't be as stressed, trust me. I've been doing this more lately and it works.
What is missing in your local birth community? What's a need that isn't being met yet?
I'm seriously wishing for our own Gather Birth Collective! Y'all have me dreaming up the perfect team. (ed. note: MOVE HERE AND JOIN US PLEASE WE LOVE YOU!)
The birth community in San Antonio is booming though. We have a handful of birth centers, numerous homebirth midwives, dozens of doulas, and more and more birth photogs every day. We have chiropractors and acupuncturists and massage therapists. We could probably use more massage therapists who specialize in prenatal/postpartum massage. I am unable to serve all the people who request my massage therapy services because it is just too high in demand.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to have a positive and empowered birth experience?
CHOOSE YOUR BIRTH TEAM WISELY. Seriously. It makes a huge impact on your experience.
Also, take your time to research evidence-based birth practices. Learn all of your options so that no matter what twists and turns your birth journey takes, you are prepared to make your own decisions so that you feel empowered even if your original plans are derailed.
It can be overwhelming to try to figure out where to begin when researching your options and planning a positive birth experience, which is why I created my "Empowered Birth Toolbox," on sale in my store.
The Empowered Birth Toolbox includes a Childbirth Prep Workbook, which will help you uncover your beliefs and preferences regarding your birth experience. It will refine your knowledge by guiding you through a comprehensive list of topics related to a multitude of birth scenarios, so you will be confident in all of your decisions. It also includes a worksheet to help you interview and choose a great care provider, a mandala coloring book with birth affirmations, a partner support worksheet to help your partner realize how they can best support you throughout labor, and a postpartum planning workbook.
What are three things you can't live without lately?
Topo Chico, my new Godox v-860 II N flash for Nikon (with a LITHIUM RECHARGEABLE BATTERY), aaaand my Burt's Bees lip balm because it's chapped lip season.
What's next for you/your business?
More online content! I have been building up content for months now to be released on my blog (and announced via Instagram). So keep a heads up in the coming months because I will be posting SO MUCH info for parents-to-be (and fellow birth workers). I'm also going to be releasing a distance doula course for parents who either: (1) want to work with me but live too far to be feasible, or (2) can't afford the in-person support of a traditional doula, but want the remote support in order to increase their chances of having a positive birth experience.
