Julie Francom Birth Stories

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Julie Francom Birth Stories

Birth photographer and doula serving Salt Lake and Utah Counties.

08/07/2025

Bittersweet update- announcing my semi-retirement from birth work…

After a decade of walking alongside birthing families—as a doula, a photographer, and a witness to the most sacred moments—I’ve made the incredibly hard decision to step back from birth work.

For the past five years, I’ve had the honor of documenting strength, vulnerability, joy, and transformation through birth photos and video. It’s truly been one of the greatest privileges of my life. But as my own family enters a particularly demanding season, I know it’s time to shift my focus inward to be more present and available at home.

This decision didn’t come lightly. Birth work is part of who I am, and the families I’ve served have forever shaped my heart. I’m endlessly grateful for the trust you’ve given me to be there as your stories unfolded—often in the quietest, most powerful hours of your lives.

I also want to take a moment to recognize the beauty and power of my children whose births originally pushed me into birth work and advocacy but now whose needs are pulling me in a different direction.

Moving forward, I will only be taking on a very limited number of births for close friends and returning clients so if I have attended your birth in the past please reach out! My repeat clients hold a very important space in my heart. This isn’t a goodbye, but rather a re-centering. I’m confident this is the right path for me right now, even though it tugs at my heart.

But don’t worry, my advocacy for better birth is still alive and well. You will see me around in the birth world working with others to remove barriers to safe birth practices and improve outcomes!

Thank you for being part of this journey. For every tear, every push, every breath, and every photo—we have created something truly beautiful together.

With love and an overwhelming amount of gratitude,
Julie ❤️

03/16/2025

This year is was an incredible honor to be invited to be a judge for the IAPBP () annual birth photography competition. Thursday was the awards gala and let me tell you, the images submitted were PHENOMENAL! I was so excited to do to the awards gala in LA and hang with my roomies and and meet in person some amazing people like and others!

Birth photography is changing how we birth and showing people that it doesn’t have to be connected to a monitor, flat on your back in a brightly lit hospital room. We are showing a BETTER way to be born! It is a privilege to be among so many amazing photographers.

Thank you, Lacey for creating the gala this year! It was so much fun!!

02/03/2025

Making friends in the “mom era” is no joke—it’s like dating, but with toddlers pulling on your leg. Finding your people can feel tough. Between nap schedules, soccer practices, and just trying to survive the chaos, it’s easy to feel like real connections are out of reach.
But let me tell you—when you do find those friends, the ones who get it, who love your kids like their own, and who can laugh-cry with you over a lukewarm Dr. Pepper—it’s magic. These friendships run deep. They’re built on shared chaos, mutual survival, and the kind of support that only comes from living this wild mom life together. 💖
📸 .story.denver

01/08/2025

Winter mamas, this one’s for you! We only have a few months left for those dreamy, snow-filled motherhood and maternity sessions, and I am obsessed with capturing you in the Utah snow like the snow queen you are. 👑✨
If a snowy session is on your bucket list, let’s make it happen! Reach out, and we’ll plan for the next perfect snowfall.

01/07/2025

“What is needed for pregnant women and new mothers is for others to really take time to listen to them. So they can listen to themselves and find themselves.”
– Francoise Freedman, Birthlight
This resonates so deeply with me and is a huge part of my practice as a birth photographer. I’m not just there to take pictures—I’m there to hold space, to listen, and to honor the incredible highs, the hard moments, and everything in between. Birth is raw and real, and I walk alongside you through it all. If you ever need someone to confide in, someone to truly see you, I’m here.

12/31/2024

2024 Birth Stats!
20 births filmed
27 births photographed
27 births attended total
6 births as a backup
1 surrogate birth
7 bereavement sessions (2 birth, 1 still birth, and 4 end-of-life)
12 home & birth center births
15 hospital births
Jack - Favorite baby name!
21 hours - the longest time at a birth
7 minutes - fastest birth from when I got there until the baby was born (that I still made it to)
1 birth missed. Sometimes baby’s come SO fast!
WOW, what a year it’s been, and the fun doesn’t stop! I am still on call waiting for those end-of-December and January babies!

12/27/2024

Bouncing back is boring. Why are we so focused on who we were when we’ve been completely transformed—body, mind, and soul?
Our bodies have stretched, softened, and created life. On the inside, we’ve been renovated in ways we can’t even fully comprehend. We’re not meant to erase this transformation or shrink back into the person we were before kids. That version of us was amazing, yes—but she’s not who we are anymore.
Instead of bouncing back, let’s talk about bouncing forward. Let’s lean into the growth, embrace the change, and celebrate becoming the best version of ourselves NOW. Transformation isn’t something to fear—it’s where the magic happens.

12/20/2024

How much did your baby weigh? I love seeing the beautiful variety of baby’s size at birth!
💜 Under 4lbs
💙 4-5lbs
💚 6-7lbs
💛 8-9lbs
🧡 10-11lbs
❤️ 11+ lbs
I’ll go first 💙💛💚💛!

12/16/2024

Looking back on your birth experience, what’s one thing you wish you had known beforehand?
Was it about advocating for yourself, handling contractions, or even something simple like how birth snacks are a game-changer?
Share your experience—your insight could be exactly what someone else needs to hear…

12/12/2024

💙 What I Want You to Know about VBAC: Let’s Talk About “Failure to Progress” (FTP)
It’s one of the most common reasons given for Cesareans and a big fear for those attempting a VBAC. That phrase, "failure to progress," can stick with us, making us feel like we failed—and for those attempting a VBAC, it can create a cloud of fear that we might “fail again.” But let’s break it down because in most cases, an FTP diagnosis is not your fault. It’s often the result of outdated practices that don’t actually support physiological birth.
💙 Not all bodies dilate at the same pace, and not all labors fit into the "8-10 hour" mold. Every birth is different, but many providers stick to outdated timelines that don’t honor individual variations, leading to unnecessary interventions or a rushed FTP diagnosis.
💙 Your body needs to feel safe to labor effectively. Many families labor beautifully at home, only to stall—or even stop altogether—after transferring to a hospital environment. This disruption can lead to an FTP diagnosis simply because your body struggles to find its rhythm in an unfamiliar or clinical space.
💙 When labor is induced too early or without clear signs that your body is ready—like dilation, a softened cervix, etc.—it can often kickstart the cycle of interventions we hear so much about. This cycle frequently ends in a “failure to progress” diagnosis that feels frustratingly avoidable.
Did you hear “failure to progress” as the reason for your Cesarean? Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear your story.

Address

Burbank, CA
91501–91508, 91510, 91521–91523, 91526

Website

http://www.juliefrancom.com/

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