6 award-winning birth photos that will take your breath away

It’s that time of year again when the winners of the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IABPB) are announced, and we get to look on in awe at some amazing photos that celebrate the beauty of birth and the skill of birth photographers around the globe.

Liz Cook, director of the IAPBP says: “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. 

“We are also thrilled to introduce a new, impactful, and powerful subcategory titled Hardship & Loss. 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.”

NOTE: The photo that won the Hardship & loss category is at the end of this article – we’ll include a warning before it so you can click away if you don’t want to see it.

Overall winner

A touch of love by Bárbara Aviz

Overall birth details winner

The Tiniest Feet by Dania Watson – Lauren + Douglas

Overall delivery winner

The First Look by Ebony Allen-Ankins – Ebony Allen-Ankins Photography

Overall labour winner

Accepting a new plan by Sara Avila – SARA AVILA FOTOGRAFIA

Overall postpartum winner

Twins first latch by Jessica Miles – Miles Photography

Trigger warning: The next photo contains an image of infant loss.

Close this article now if you don’t want to see it.

Trigger warning: infant loss

Trigger warning: infant loss

Overall hardship & loss winner

As long as I am here with you my perfect by Meike Nagorny – Meike Nagorny  m.o.m.e.n.t.s