Meet April Trettel | Photographer & Doula

We had the good fortune of connecting with April Trettel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi April, how does your business help the community?
I love this question, as being a helping profession is something that always been of value to me.

Both aspects of my business, being a doula and being a photographer, are so important in helping the birthing people of our community. Birth is such a momentous event; and is one that we are often so underprepared for. We often do not get to grow up watching our mothers, sisters, neighbors give birth. So when we become pregnant, we are tasked with having to go through a life changing event that we have not even witnessed (not including the terrible representation of birth in the media). A large part of my role as a doula is to help pregnant people become prepared for birth. Whether this be through education and information, processing emotions around birth, or having the emotional comfort of a knowledgable person by their side throughout the process of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Birth photography too is a tool in which parents can process the experience of birth. In the birth space, time, reason, and memory are all altered to us. There are oftentimes aspects of our birth that we do not remember due the quick changing nature of birth, or the way we handle the intense nature of the event. Birth photography is one way to help capture that story of the birth. Not only the chronological story, but the emotional story as well.

Stepping into either, or both, of these roles in my profession is an honor. I love being able to support pregnant and birthing people in such a deep way that will have an impact on them for the rest of their lives. There is such a need for a shift in maternal care in our country; a need to bring the birthing person’s needs to the forefront of care. Adding as many birth support people to your birth team is a way to help prepare for the significant experience of birth.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I absolutely love connecting with other parents and supporting them either through doula work or photography. Prior to becoming pregnant, I worked as a therapist. When I became pregnant with my first child, I fell in love with the birth world and knew that I wanted to become a birthworker.

It was not easy to pivot from one career to another field. I had to do a lot of learning on my own about owning a business and marketing. Being passionate about the work that I was doing was a big driving factor in making the choice to enter a new career.

One of the biggest lessons I learned along the way is that your business needs to be a reflection of who you are and your work needs to connect with your values. I am a photographer, yes. But I am a photographer who wants to tell the story of connection and I believe that is reflected in my work. Through my work as a photographer or doula, I want to empower others to be mindful, genuine, and confident in who they are.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of the most fun places I have found in Los Angeles is called the Two Bit Circus. It is an indoor arcade for adults that has great food and drink options (the virtual reality rooms are especially fun). Honestly, I love taking people who visit hiking. I am near some amazing hiking trails, many of which end at waterfalls. I also like hitting up some of the tried and true Los Angeles places, such as Zuma beach or Griffith Observatory. One of my favorite restaurants for a special date is Yamashiro.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My growth as a birth photographer has been largely supported by Lacey Barratt of Lacey Barratt Photography

Website: www.apriltrettel.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/apriltrettelphotography

Facebook: www.facebook.com/apriltrettelphotography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/april-trettel-photography-and-birth-services-la-crescenta-montrose

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BSGWoLXPl-P-lyCSB-CYg/featured

Other: Clubhouse @apriltrettel

Image Credits
April Trettel Photography + Birth Services