Documentary and Lifestyle

Birth and Newborn Photographer

San Jose, CA

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A blonde haired woman kissing a newborn's cheek in the hospital.
Japanese family. Brother meeting new sister for the first time.
black and white documentary style photo of dad holding baby in the hospital
A young boy sitting on the edge of the bed while the rest of his family sits behind him.
A newborn baby wrapped in a green blanket lays in a hospital bassinet.
A black and white photo. Out of hospital birth at a birth center. A mom comforting her daughter while she's in labor.
Mother nursing baby in bed
A Japanese newborn baby with her great grandmother.
A white woman holding a newborn baby while sitting on a beige chair.
A black and white photo of a woman kissing her newborn baby while sitting in a hospital bed.
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A newborn baby lying on a bed looking directly at the camera.
A newborn baby lying in a hospital bassinet surrounded by his siblings.
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A Mexican man holding his newborn baby close to his face.
An older sister reads to her newborn baby brother on the bed.
Black and white photo of a newborn baby with fuzzy cheeks and pursed lips. His arm extended and you can see his profile.

Taiyo is Japanese for the sun. Just like the sun, babies bring light and joy and represent life. Once they’re born, our lives shift and begin to revolve around them. No matter where or how it takes place, a baby’s birth is a sacred occasion. Your birth story matters. It’s a transformative, life-changing experience that deserves to be documented.

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  • A woman in labor supported by her husband and mother in the hands and knees position at a birth center.

    Birth

    Intimate documentary style photos taken from active labor to an hour postpartum. Hospital, birth center, and home birth.

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  • Newborn baby wrapped in a green blanket lying in a hospital bassinet.

    Fresh 48

    A laid back, baby led session during the first 48 hours of life either at the hospital or at home.

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  • Mexican family holding their newborn son in a well lit living room.

    Newborn

    A cozy newborn session in the comfort of your home during the first to second month after birth.

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Photography of Japanese woman with long, brown highlighted hair.

Hi! I’m Elizabeth Mei.

I go by Liz, unless we are speaking Japanese, then I prefer Mei because Liz in Japanese sounds like “squirrel” and I’m not a fan. Thanks for being here!

I want to create artful and intimate photos that make you nostalgic for your current stage of life while you’re still living it. The kind of photos you look at and not only remember what you and your baby looked like, but how it all felt. The joy, relief, surprise, and even the exhaustion. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, let’s chat!

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Birth Becomes You certified birth photographer badge.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep volunteer badge. Bereavement.

Time and nature tend to blur the memories of birth. Birth photography allows you to revisit the sacred moment you met your baby over and over again.