Meet the Photographer
Hey, I'm Emily Merck.
Your birth and motherhood photographer. Serving growing families throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. That is Jacksonville, Yulee, Amelia Island, St. Marys, Brunswick, and beyond. I’m a Christian mom of two boys, living in the beautiful chaos of early motherhood myself. Most days you’ll find me working during nap time or late at night when the house is finally quiet.
As I edit your birth stories, I’m usually sitting at my computer crying right alongside your family on the screen. I tell you, this job never loses its wonder or exhilaration. My days are a mix of motherhood, storytelling, and squeezing in my ever-expanding list of hobbies like crocheting, reading, graphic design, cooking, and working part time with my husband on our strawberry farm.
Why Birth Photography?
When my own boys were born my sister held my phone and recorded everything. The videos are shaky and imperfect, but they are still so priceless to me.
Neither of my births went the way I imagined. They were nothing like I planned or envisioned, with moments of chaos, fear, and overwhelm. I really didn’t feel empowered or like superwoman at all. But having those moments documented allowed me to look back and see something different from what I felt in the thick of postpartum, as I wondered why I couldn’t accomplish the births I had prepared for.
Watching those moments back, I saw how deeply I loved my babies and how happy I was when they were finally in my arms. Even after births that didn’t feel glamorous or heroic, there was so much joy. Processing my births through photo and video helped me release the made-up narrative of defeat I had created in my mind and see the truth instead: I was a mother who worked hard for her babies and was simply so happy to be their mama.
Document Your Story.
I photograph and film births and motherhood because these moments deserve to be remembered the way they actually felt. When you’re in labor, you’re working so hard just to move through each moment that so many details slip past you.
Whether your baby arrives in the soft morning glow through quiet transitions and concentrated efforts OR in the dark of night through primal growls, a claw clip dangling from your hair, and fingernails deep in your partners arm… THAT is your birth story.
Whether you're empowered or afraid to ever give birth again... It’s a story worth documenting and remembering.
I'm here for you.
When I walk into a birth space, my goal is simple: to feel less like a vendor and more like a friend you already trust (who’s great with a camera). The kind of friend you could sit across from at breakfast and talk about motherhood for hours. Someone who can quietly and respectfully document the strength and intimacy of your birth story while adjusting to your needs, your space, and the rhythm of your labor.
Document your motherhood.
Because these moments pass quickly, but the story of your baby, your motherhood, and your growing family deserves to be remembered.