Be still our beating hearts, we’ve just laid eyes on this year’s International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Image Competition winners and we’re speechless. And even more amazing? An Australian birth photographer has taken out top honours.
The annual IAPBP competition celebrates the beauty of birth and the immense skill of birth photographers by selecting winners in four categories: labour, delivery, postpartum and birth details. The images bring back a flood of memories for those of us who have been fortunate enough to give birth. Those moments during labour when we’re completely within ourselves. The moment we lay eyes on the baby we’ve waited so long for. The heart-swelling first meeting between siblings. It’s all laid bare and superbly captured by the world’s best birth photographers.
Here are the winners of the 2019 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Image Competition, including the first place winner, Belle Verdiglione from Perth.
First Place Winner: Our rainbow baby is finally here
via Belle Verdiglione — Belle Verdiglione Photography
Best In Category Birth Details: Enveloped
via Samantha Evans — Sevan Photography
Best In Category Delivery: Many hands
via Ashley Marston — Ashley Marston Photography
Best In Category Fresh 48: This is us
via Kimberly Kimble — Rushes & Waves
Best In Category Labor: Water birth at sunset
via Dora Barens — Dora Barens Geboortefotografie
Best In Category Postpartum: The most glorious cleansing of all
via Jerusha Sutton — Jerusha Sutton Photography
Members’ Choice Best In Category Delivery: ‘They said it couldn’t be done – VBAC mama’
via Brittany Fisher — Micah Lynn Birth Stories
Honourable Mentions
Little Koala
via Dania Watson — Lauren + Douglas
Nuchal Hand and Cord Baby Born into Dad’s Hands
via Belle Verdiglione — Belle Verdiglione Photography
Wake Up
via Sarah Romero — Sarah Elizabeth Photography
The Final Separation
via Lawren Snapka — Lawren Rose Photography
With Woman
via Amanda Ditzel — Raleigh Birth Photography
Sweet Brother’s Meeting
via Barbara Avis – Barbara Avis Photography
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
via Deborah Elenter — NEO Photography
A Father Is Born
via Heather Nerheim — Wildheart Photography
Birth Leaves A Mark On Us All
via Sarah Widnyana — Life & Lens Photography
Needing Space
via Shea Long — Coastal Lifestyles Photography
The Emotions Of A Big Brother To Be
via Bree Garcia — J&B Photography LLC
Read next …
If these incredible images have you longing for more, take a look through our online galleries of the world’s best birth photos, and ideas on photos you can take yourself:
- Winners: Birth Becomes Her photo contest
- Fresh 48: The photos to take in the first hours after birth
- Perfect pics capturing siblings meeting for the first time
Join our Facebook pregnancy groups
Expecting a baby? Join one of the closed Mum’s Grapevine pregnancy Facebook groups for non-judgemental support from other mums due at the same time as you.
Click below and join your group today.
