Help Us Capture Black Birth Joy — Because Every Birth Deserves to Be Remembered with Dignity, Power, and Love

Birth is powerful.

But for too long, Black birth stories have been told through the lens of fear, loss, and disparity — not joy.

I’m Tiana Lashae, an award-winning birth and newborn photographer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since 2015, I’ve been capturing families’ most sacred moments — the moments of strength, surrender, and pure love that unfold in the birthing space.

In 2024, I launched Black Birth Joy, a storytelling and photography project created to shift the narrative of Black maternal health — from fear to freedom, from pain to power, and from invisibility to visibility.

With generous support from the Region 9 Perinatal Collaborative, I was able to serve five Black families across Washtenaw and Wayne Counties in early 2025. Each family received:

✨ Complimentary birth photography

✨ Newborn and postpartum sessions

✨ A keepsake lay-flat album

These photographs became more than just images. They became a healing tool — a way for mothers to process their births, to reclaim their power, and to see themselves as the miracles they are.

Unfortunately, the Region 9 Perinatal Collaborative — which made this work possible — has been de-funded.

That means projects like Black Birth Joy are now without the vital institutional support that once helped us reach families and share their stories.

But this work cannot stop.

The need to honor and uplift Black birth stories is greater than ever before.

For 2026, I am seeking to raise $50,000 to:

Double our impact and serve 10 Black families across Southeast Michigan

Cover the full cost of participation (photography, editing, printing, travel, and materials)

Sustain the Black Birth Joy platform — including the website, community storytelling events, and social media outreach to educate providers and empower families

When we see Black birth joy, we believe in it.

When we believe in it, we protect it.

And when we protect it, we save lives.

Because representation matters. Because affirming care matters. Because Black births deserve to be celebrated — not feared.

Your donation helps tell a new story — one filled with joy, dignity, and hope.

Help us show the world what it looks like when Black families are supported, seen, and honored from birth.

Donate. Share. Be part of the movement to make Black Birth Joy visible.

Link to Black Birth Joy Project: https://tlashaephoto.com/black-birth-joy/