It all started when…

Kate was pregnant and contacted Jess about Birth Photography. They hit it off immediately and Kate hired Jess for her birth. It was an epic, beautiful birth!

Later Kate became a photographer herself and their bond deepened and friendship blossomed. Jess and Kate shared similar goals and interests serving the birthing community and decided that a partnership would be the best way to grow! 

Being in a partnership allows Kate and Jess to have sustainable long lasting careers as birth workers, serve more families more intimately, have reliable responsible business practices, and to pull their resources together to educate families about their birthing options and what it means to have photography in a birthing space! 

Wondering how Jess and Kate work in a partnership? Learn the most faq about our business and your birth!

Jess Thomas she/her

Jessica began her doula training in 2013 while living in Denver, CO. She received her certification from CAPPA in record time as being backups to other experienced doulas in the area. After a year Jess bought a “fancy” camera in anticipation of her second pregnancy and birth. She became friends with birth photographers in the area and jumped on the opportunity to learn all she could. In 2015 Jessica’s family relocated to the Pittsburgh area and jumped right into the birth community, offering her doula services and testing out her new birth photography skills. By the end of the year Jessica officially started offering birth photography fulltime with her doula services. She is the most experienced birth photographer in the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. She is married to her husband Larrin, has two children and an adorable destructive Goldendoodle. Her favorite past times are cooking, but also eating out, snowboarding, playing guitar, and hiking.

Kate Csallner she/her

Kate is a Pittsburgh transplant (originally from Lancaster, PA) who fell in love with photography at a young age while flipping through family albums in her grandmothers kitchen. After the transformative experience that was the birth of her first daughter, a passion for birth was born. These two passions joined together with the creation of Pittsburgh Born Birth Photography and Doula Services. It is her deep belief that women and young girls as well as men and boys should view the female body in the primal and sacred experience that is birth. The magic of which, is one of societies greatest kept secrets. It is her great privilege to document this profound moment in families stories and she looks forward to continuing to serve the Pittsburgh area and beyond. Kate lives north of the city with her partner and their three children, Ella, Maci and Otto and, a small flock of chickens. In addition to all things birth she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, eating trash food and watching movies.