Birth photography is an incredibly intimate and powerful art form. To honor this work and the families who choose to document and share these vulnerable moments, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers holds an annual photo contest.
These photos capture intimate, miraculous moments that show human life does go on, despite the hardships we’ve all faced in the past couple of years. We are still in awe of the way families trust a photographer to document this profound moment in their lives.
On Wednesday, the IAPBP announced the winners of its 11th annual Birth Photography Image Competition, which celebrates excellence across four main categories: labor, delivery, postpartum, and birth details. Subcategories for recognition include black and white, documentary, fine art, and hardship and loss.
“We are incredibly proud of the entrants of this year’s competition because, in spite of all we endured in our community in recent years, this contest represents the resistance birth photographers have to overcome unforeseen challenges,” IAPBP director Liz Cook said in a press release.
“We are also thrilled to introduce a new, impactful, and powerful subcategory titled ‘Hardship & Loss,’” she added. “We desire to honor the 1 in 4 birthing persons who experience miscarriage and/or loss and inviting images of these events into our celebration of birth photography is one way we can do this. We are proud to present to you a breathtaking body of work that shares life’s most powerful moments from 2021.”
Overall Winner “A Touch Of Love”
Best in Labor “Accepting A New Plan”
Best In Delivery “The First Look”
Best In Postpartum “Twins First Latch”
Best in Birth Details: “She Roars”
Best In Delivery: “Dad Catches His Baby Girl”
Best in Labor: “My Sacred Birth Cocoon”
Honorable Mention: “Ecstacy”
Honorable Mention: “Love And Support”
Honorable Mention: “Transition Tears”
Honorable Mention: Absolute Joy
Honorable Mention: After Birth
Honorable Mention: Bloom
Honorable Mention: Daughters Of A Midwife
Honorable Mention: Life-Giving Nectar
Honorable Mention: Touch Of Love
