About Portland Birth Stories

Hello!

My name is Ashlan Taylor, and I’m the photographer behind Portland Birth Stories. As a birth photographer, it’s essential that you feel at ease and comfortable being yourself around me. Witnessing some of the most raw and vulnerable moments in my clients’ lives, I aim to strike a balance between being approachable yet invisible. While you focus on the life-changing work of birth, my camera will quietly capture the details that might otherwise fade from memory. Let’s connect over a cup of tea to see if we’re a good fit.

A bit about me: I hold a photography degree from Kingston University in London, England. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working as a photojournalist, a resident photographer at the Federal Reserve, and a high school photography teacher. After having two children of my own, I shifted my focus to the incredible journey of birth and motherhood. Each birth story I witness inspires me with its raw beauty and strength. My goal is to create timeless, unique images that honor each family’s experience, providing high-quality photographs to be cherished for generations.

In 2016, I founded The Milk Stories, a photoblog and Instagram account celebrating the highs and lows of feeding our young. Inspired by my own feelings of isolation during breastfeeding struggles as a new mother, I wanted to create a space where others could feel less alone. One day, I hope to take The Milk Stories on the road, exploring the cultural, geographical, and historical influences shaping motherhood today. Monthly sessions currently take place in Washington and Oregon.