Hello, I’m
Andrea Hartstein
MOTHER // PHOTOGRAPHER // ADVOCATE // BIRTH NERD
It seems only fair that if you will be inviting me into such a vulnerable space, I should invite you into mine. That’s me over there. I was just born. And then it’s me again, basking in the glow of skin to skin with my second daughter, Caroline. Yep, with my top off.
Truth be told, I’m just your average human being. While I’d love to tell you about my favorite travels, how I spend my Friday nights, and my hobbies outside of motherhood and all-things-birth, the reality is that I’m just not in that season of life. We’re slowly getting there.
Between my role as CEO/photographer/creative director/social media manager of this lovely little business and raising my 3 admittedly feral children, my favorite hobby to pursue is sleep. Some days, my diet consists only of cold (not by choice) coffee with International Delight Creamer and raw chocolate chip cookie dough, eaten during stolen moments when the kids aren’t paying attention.
I’m an external introvert and social situations often make me awkward. I prioritize function over fashion. My closet is full of the same shirts in the same neutral colors. I’m a sucker for a good fitting pair of jeans (my fav: Lane Bryant) and couldn’t be caught in a pair of heels. Because I value walking. And I can’t walk in heels.
I believe that children are the greatest teachers we have. My own have made me more mindful, more introspective, and more humble, and I owe them a debt of gratitude for making me a better human being. (I actually pay that debt to them in real money — every. day.)
I’ve been accused of taking life too seriously, but I’ve learned not to let that bother me. I’m a thinker, a knowledge-seeker, and I want to live a life full of purpose and impact.
Working with birthing people is a perfect opportunity for me to do just that.
Get to Know Me
My journey into photography started with a love for capturing meaningful moments. There was something about the way she laughed or the twinkle in his eye when he smiled at her. Getting the moment just right when a brand new dad came out into a waiting room full of people to shout, "It's a girl!" The look on their faces, shot at just the right moment, said everything in one picture.
Although I have a degree in history from Indiana University, I was fortunate to build a small business that allowed me to stay home with my children while doing something I love: helping families document their own histories.
Since 2007, I’ve had the privilege of photographing families and, over time, found immense fulfillment in birth photography, which I’ve specialized in since 2012.
In an industry where anyone can pick up a camera and call themselves a 'professional photographer', I chose to become a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) through Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in 2019, and I’m currently working towards my master’s degree with PPA. Of the 34,000 Professional Photographers of America photographers, only 8% are Certified. Each milestone in my career has been driven by a commitment to preserving life’s most precious moments for my clients.