The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP) has announced the winners of their 2018 photo contest, and the powerful photos that they have judged to be the winners show the raw beauty and drama of childbirth, as well as the sheer joy that follows.
Last year’s contest was extremely high in quality and emotion, and this year the birth photos competition delivers once again. Each image tells a story of labor pains, perseverance, relief, and joy. They document a new human’s first moments of life and a family’s first moment of unity. You can see the full list of winners here.
For a little background on birth photography we spoke to one of the finalists of the competition, Tammy Karin of Little Leapling Photography (Her photo is called ‘Nurse Linda’). “This annual contest is a huge part of not just bringing awareness to a genre of photography. It plays a major role in this growing movement toward empowering women, improving our birth options, as well as inspiring us to dig deeper and fight for the types of births that are safest and best suited for our families and us,” she told Bored Panda.
“Labor is an incredibly difficult genre and most of us photographers get burned out from all of the on-call time. Few realize the level of commitment needed to not just show up at the right time, but to insert ourselves into the typically intimate environment without having any negative impact on the mother’s progress. It’s not just about standing in the right place at the right time; we must truly understand and respect the birth process.”
The genre is growing as more women become aware of it, but Tammy is aware that there is still a certain stigma and taboo around the graphic nature of many images. “I know most people in our culture are still not comfortable with it,” she told us. “But, birth photographers are not just going for shock and awe when they share detailed images of a baby emerging. I’d love to join that push for normalizing the sharing of those kinds of powerful captures. In general, our culture tends to sexualize everything and inject fear into the birth process.”
As such, we must warn you that many of the photos below are intense, graphic, and NSFW, so reader discretion is advised. While one day birth photography will undoubtedly become more mainstream and accepted, we are not quite there yet. Scroll down below to see these powerful and undoubtedly cool photos, and let us know what you think in the comments.
More info: IAPBB
#1 First Place Winner: Stunning Siblings First Encounter
Image source: Marijke Thoen Birthphotography
#2 Raw Emotion
Image source: Lifetime of Clicks Photography
#3 Honorable Mentions: Nurse Linda
Image source: Little Leapling Photography
#4 Hello
Image source: Carlos Chow Ho Fotografia
#5 Brand New Toes
Image source: Breanna Lynch Photography
#6 Newborn-Licious
Image source: Belle Verdiglione Photography
#7 Sealed With A Kiss
Image source: CATHERINE BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
#8 Best In Category: Delivery, En Caul Baby Birth
Image source: DANIELA JUSTUS FOTOGRAFIA
#9 Love Does Not Divide, It Multiplies
Image source: artshaped photography and birth services
#10 Best In Category: Labor, Nowhere And Everywhere
Image source: rebecca coursey, photographer + doula
#11 Discovering The Love Chromosome
Image source: Emilly Gama Fotografia
#12 Woman Power
Image source: neo photography
#13 You Can Do This. I Love You!
Image source: Jody Deijnen Photography
#14 So Much Love
Image source: DANIELA JUSTUS FOTOGRAFIA
#15 Honorable Mentions: How Big
Image source: Meg Brock Photography
#16 Best In Category: Birth Details, Birth Of A Brother
Image source: DANIELA JUSTUS FOTOGRAFIA
#17 A Surrogates Kiss
Image source: Lillian Craze Birth Photography
#18 Honorable Mentions: Fist Bump For Mom
Image source: Ker-Fox Photography
#19 A Sound Of Bliss, The First Cry
Image source: Snap Life Photography LLC
#20 Colorful Life
Image source: Renate van Lith Fotografie
#21 Rumpled
Image source: Sevan Photography
#22 Into The Light
Image source: Kate kennedy birth photography
#23 Honorable Mentions: A Physiological Third Stage
Image source: Santa Cruz Birth Photography & Doula Services
#24 1642 Days Of Wishing
Image source: Angelfire Photography
#25 Free
Image source: Truckee Birth Photographer
#26 The First Embrace
Image source: Santa Cruz Birth Photography & Doula Services
#27 Goddess Of Life
Image source: Cat Fancote – Capturing Birth
#28 Shhh, Brandnew Love, Shhh
Image source: geburtsreportage
#29 Honorable Mentions: Labor By Candlelight
Image source: Ashley Marston Photography
#30 Honorable Mentions: Birthing Waves
Image source: Birth Blessings Photography & Doula Services
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