20 award-winning photos capture the terror and beauty of giving birth during the pandemic
Canela López
- An international photography organization announced the Birth Photography Image Competition winners.
- The photos were judged for a number of categories, including labor, birth details, and postpartum.
- The pandemic made 2020 an especially difficult year for parents and birth photographers alike.
Note: This post contains graphic images of birth.
Childbirth was already an incredibly difficult and painful process that required strength and tenacity. But the pandemic added an entirely new layer to giving birth in 2020.
While the childbirth photographers that capture these precious moments lost much of their work last year, the images that were captured only emulated the beauty of new life amid so much grief.
The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IABPB) announced the winners of their annual birth photo competition this month.
The entries from across the globe were judged in five categories: birth details, labor, delivery, postpartum, and Fresh 48 (which documents the first few hours of life).
Read More: 15 award-winning photos that show the terror, beauty, and joy in giving birth
"We are incredibly proud of the entrants of this year's competition because in spite of all we endured in our community in recent months, this contest represents the resistance birth photographers have to overcome unforeseen challenges," Liz Cook, director of the IABPB, said.
"We are proud to present to you a breathtaking body of work that shares life's most powerful moments from 2020."
Here are 20 of this year's winners and honorable mentions.
First place overall
"Daddy's Girls," by Ashley Marston of Ashley Marston Birth Photography who lives in Canada.
Best in category: birth details
"The Origin Of Life," by Charlene Foertser of Charlene Foerster Fotografie who lives in Germany.
Best in category: delivery
"The Greatest Love In The World," by Anne Lucy Silva Barbosa of Anne Lucy Fotografia who lives in Brazil.
Best in category: fresh 48
"Nourish," by Jami Edgar of Touch of Hart Photography who lives in the United States.
Members' choice best in category: delivery
"Grace," by Danny Merz of danny merz | geburtsreportage who lives in Germany.
Members' choice best in category: fresh 48
"Nursing A Newborn," by Carey Lippert of Carey Lauren Photos & Films who lives in the United States.
Honorable mention
"The Strength Within You Is Greater Than Any Storm," by Lisa Phillips of Lisa Phillips Photography who lives in the United States.
Honorable mention
"The Miracle of Life In Your Hands," by Nora Dalmasso of Nora Dalmasso Fotografia who lives in Argentina.
Honorable mention
"You And You And Me," by Brittany Knapik of The Birth Story Collective United States.
Honorable mention
"A Mother's Guidance," by Cat Fancote of Capturing Birth who lives in Australia.
Honorable mention
"Home Birth in a Pandemic," by Ashley Marston of Ashley Marston Photography who lives in Canada.
Honorable mention
"Welcome Little Woman," by Kate Kennedy of Kate Kennedy Birth Photography who lives in Australia.
Honorable mention
"Birthing Queen," by Kate Kennedy of Kate Kennedy Birth Photography who lives in Australia.
Honorable mention
"Examining Every Detail," by Lisa Phillips of Lisa Phillips Photography who lives in the United States.
Honorable mention
"Reborn," by Rianna Cross of Birthspoke who lives in Australia.
Honorable mention
"When Time Stands Still," by Ashley Marston of Ashley Marston Photography who lives in Canada.
Honorable mention
"Of All Our Travels, This Journey Will Be Our Greatest," by Dana Jacobs of Dana Jacobs Photography who lives in the United States.
Honorable mention
"This Moment 2020," by Kandyce Wagar of Songbird and Oak Photography who lives in Canada.
Honorable mention
"Erupting into Being," by Laura Brin of Rewild Her who lives in Australia.
Honorable mention
"Silent Night," by Rianna Cross of Birthspoke who lives in Australia.
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