Labor is a beautiful thing, and some couples hire birth photographers to document childbirth‘s most raw, vulnerable moments.
To celebrate this deeply personal experience and the beautiful images that have frozen it in time, The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers holds a photo contest every year. The competition celebrates the best birth photos of the year in four categories: labor, delivery, postpartum, and birth details.
Thousands of breathtaking images are entered (see them all at the bottom of this page) each year, and winners are judged on a points system that includes technicality, emotionality, and composition.
Take a look at this year’s winners below:
2019 International Birth Photography Winners
First Place Winner
059 – Our Rainbow Baby is Finally Here
Belle Verdiglione
Belle Verdiglione Photography
Australia
Belle Verdiglione Photography
Best In Category: Labor
243 – Water Birth in Sunset
Dora Barens
Dora Barens Geboortefotografie
Netherlands
243 – Water birth in sunset – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Best In Category: Delivery
229 – Many Hands
Ashley Marston
Ashley Marston Photography
Canada
229 – Delivery – Many Hands – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Best In Category: Birth Details
029 – Enveloped
Samantha Evans
Sevan Photography
Canada
029 – Birth Details – Enveloped – Samantha Evans – – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Best In Category: Postpartum
359 – The Most Glorious Cleansing of All
Jerusha Sutton
Jerusha Sutton Photography
Australia
359 – The most glorious cleansing of all – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Best In Category: Fresh 48
186 – This is Us
Kimberly Kimble
Rushes & Waves
United States
186 – Fresh 48 – This is Us – Kimberly Kimble – – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Members Choice Awards
Members’ Choice First Place Winner
059 – Our Rainbow Baby is Finally Here
Belle Verdiglione
Belle Verdiglione Photography
Australia
Belle Verdiglione Photography
Members’ Choice Best In Category: Birth Details
029 – Enveloped
Samantha Evans
Sevan Photography
Canada
029 – Birth Details – Enveloped – Samantha Evans – – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Members’ Choice Best In Category: Delivery
250 – “They said I couldn’t do it.” – VBAC MAMA
Brittany Fisher
Micah Lynn Birth Stories
United States
250 – MCDelivery – They said I couldn’t do it. – VBAC Mama – Brittany Fisher – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Members’ Choice Best In Category: Labor
130 – My Love, My Hero
Cindy Willems
Birth Day geboortefotografie
Netherlands
130 – MCLabor – My love, my hero – Cindy Willems – – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Members’ Choice Best In Category: Postpartum
285 – Peek-a-Boo
Heather Sears
Heather Sears Photography
United States
285 – MCPostpartum – Peek-A-Boo – Heather Sears – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Honorable Mentions
013 – Little Koala
Dania Watson
Lauren + Douglas
Australia
013 – HM – LIttle Koala – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
058 – Nuchal Hand and Cord Baby Born Into Dad’s Hands
Belle Verdiglione
Belle Verdiglione Photography
Australia
Belle Verdiglione Photography
067 – Wake Up
Sarah Romero
Sarah Elizabeth Photography
United States
067 – HM – Wake Up – – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
082 – Pure Joy
Marjolein Loppies
Curacao Nasemento
Curacao
082 – HM – Pure Joy – – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
102 – The Final Separation
Lawren Snapka
Lawren Rose Photography
United States
102 – HM – The Final Separation – Lawren Snapka – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
173 – With Woman
Amanda Ditzel
Raleigh Birth Photography
United States
173 – HM – With Woman – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
193 – Sister In Arms
Deborah Elenter
NEO Photography
Uruguay
193 – HM – Sister in arms – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
194 – Can’t Take my Eyes Off You
Deborah Elenter
NEO Photography
Uruguay
194 – HM – Can’t take my eyes off you – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
257 – Sweet Brothers Meeting
BARBARA AVIZ
BARBARA AVIZ PHOTOGRAPHY
Brazil
257 – HM – sweet brothers meeting – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
265 – Induction: 43 Weeks
Elaine Baca
Lane B Photography
United States
265 – HM – Induction 43 Weeks – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
311 – Birth Leaves It’s Mark On Us All
Sarah Widnyana
Life & Lens Photography
Australia
311 – HM – Birth leaves it’s mark on us all – Sarah Widnyana – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
348 – A Father is Born
Heather Nerheim
Wildheart Photography
United States
Processed with VSCO with fn16 preset
353 – From All Angles
Shea Long
Coastal Lifestyles Photography
Canada
Photo taken by: Coastal Lifestyles Photography
354 – Needing Space
Shea Long
Coastal Lifestyles Photography
Canada
354 – HM – Needing Space – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
372 – The Emotions Of A Big Brother To Be
Bree Garcia
J&B Photography LLC
United States
372 – HM – The emotions of a big brother to be – Bree Garcia – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
376 – Her Rainbow is Here
Bree Garcia
J&B Photography LLC
United States
376 – HM – Her rainbow is here – The Seriously Inspiring Winners of the 2019 Birth Photography Competition – Pregnancy post by Mama Natural
Congratulations to all the 2019 International Birth Photography winners and honorees! (And, of course, to all the mamas and papas featured in these photos!) We are in awe of your beautiful and inspiring work!
2018 International Birth Photography Winners
Want to view more breathtaking images? Check out last year’s winners below.
First Place Winner
098 – Stunning Siblings First Encounter
Marijke Thoen
Marijke Thoen Birthphotography
Belgium
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 98-Marijke Thoen Geboortefotografie Cisse-2
Best In Category: Labor
002 – Nowhere and Everywhere
Rebecca Coursey-Rugh
rebecca coursey, photographer + doula
United States
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 2-rebeccacourseyrugh-4
Best In Category: Delivery
201 – En Caul Baby Birth
Daniela Justus
DANIELA JUSTUS FOTOGRAFIA
Brazil
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 201-PARTOGABRIELA-39-2
Best In Category: Postpartum
114 – Flesh of my Flesh
Esther Edith
Esther Edith Photographer & Doula
United States
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 114-Postpartum 1- Esther Edith Spokane Birth Photographer (watermarked)
Best In Category: Birth Details
203 – Birth of a Brother
Daniela Justus
DANIELA JUSTUS FOTOGRAFIA
Brazil
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 203-NASCIMENTOISABELLA-119-2
Members Choice Awards
Members Choice Winner
107 – Three Become Four
Esther Edith
Esther Edith Photographer & Doula
United States
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 107-Delivery – Esther Edith Spokane Birth Photographer (watermarked)
Members Choice Best In Category: Postpartum
288 – Take my hand, Hold my heart
Tamara Milldove
Milldove Photography – Maternity, Birth and Newborn
New Zealand
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 288-IMG_0834bw3mp
Members Choice Best In Category: Birth Details
160 – Bulging Forewaters
Cat Fancote
Capturing Birth
Australia
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 160-Bulging-Forewaters_FullRes_Watermarked
Honorable Mentions
019 – Underwater Scream
Caroline Devulder
Caromama
Belgium
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 19-SIFRA_209
029 – Love Complete
Marjolein Loppies
Curacao Nasemento
Curacao
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 29-Love Complete – Curacao Nasemento SMALL
036 – Mother Hat
Lela Beltrão
Coletivo Buriti
Brazil
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 36-cecilia_58
049 – A Physiological Third Stage
Paige Driscoll
Santa Cruz Birth Photography & Doula Services
United States
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 49-iabp contest (3)-2
064 – Admiration and Relief
Kandyce Joeline
Songbird and Oak Photography
Canada
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 64-Baby Cota 179-2
088 – How Big
Megan Brock
Meg Brock Photography
United States
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 88-John Laury Birthday (226 of 290)
150 – Nurse Liinda
Tammy Karin
Little Leapling Photography
United States
Birth-Photography-2018-Winners-150-LL_Nurse-Linda.jpg
193 – Liquid Gold
CARLEE MELENKO
C Daisy Birth and Lifestyle Photography
Canada
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 193-IMG_2118
233 – Labor by Candlelight
Ashley Marston
Ashley Marston Photography
Canada
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 233-2D5A1645-2
267 – Touch
Krista Evans
Krista Evans Photography Inc
Canada
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 267-Touch-WM
293 – Fist Bump for Mom
Neely Ker-Fox
Ker-Fox Photography
United States
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 293-birth photography, columbus, ga, ker-fox photography, clear drape WM
311 – Birthing Waves
Robin Baker
Birth Blessings Photography & Doula Services
United States
Birth Photography 2018 Winners – 311-RobinBakerDetails2017web
Where to See More
2019 Image Competition: http://birthphotographyimagecompetition.com/
International Association of Professional Birth Photographers: http://birthphotographers.com/
