5
(1)

[Warning: This story contains images some may find confronting, including images of natural birthing processes and stillbirth.]

There’s nothing quite as magical as when a baby is born. The marvel of humanity that connects us all. The wonder of life that speaks of a higher power. That juncture when a mum comes face-to-face with the child that had been growing inside of her.

Capturing such raw and emotional moments by the right photographer can create memories that last a lifetime. Every year, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP) celebrate that with an annual birth photography image competition.

The IAPBP birth photography competition

The birth photography awards has been running for 15 years and showcases the best of the best in birth photos.

In 2025, there were six main categories photos were judged in:

  • Best Overall First Place
  • Best Overall Birth Details
  • Best Overall Labour
  • Best Overall Delivery
  • Best Overall Postpartum
  • Best Overall Hardship & Loss

Each category also featured three additional subcategories:

  • Black & White
  • Documentary
  • Fine Art

The winners are images that are not only filled with story, emotion and detail, but taken with expert technical precision.

2025 birth photography awards winners

Here are some of the winners of this year’s birth photo competition.

Best overall first place

The fourth baby, but the first home birth. There was a fear the mum carried: “Can I do this?” That’s what surrendering looked like to this mother, who 20 minutes later delivered at home in an unplanned free-birth—she could do this.

“Surrender to the wave” by Anna Garvey (USA)

Best overall birth details

After a quick and intense delivery, their little boy was born at home in birthing pool. Mum and dad just pulled him up from the water, his umbilical cord still around his waist. The hands of mum and dad holding their newborn baby together so lovingly. Dad with his head close to mum, because she worked so hard. As if after the intense experience of childbirth, he says to her, “I got you. I carry you.” The expression on mum’s face tells everything. I see pain, I see sadness but also love and relief. The transformation you go through as a woman when giving birth, I see it all.

“I got you” by Sanne van Schaik (Netherlands)

Best overall postpartum

Pausing and taking a breath after trying to take her postpartum walk to the bathroom.

“Dizzy spells” by Colleen Murtha (USA)

Best overall hardship & loss

Dad spending his last moments with his baby girl, Brynnley.

“Baby Brynnley” by Sara Hunter (USA)

Best overall labour

The minutes before their lives change forever.

“A moment before becoming dads” by Dana Jacobs (USA)

Best overall delivery

A sweet quiet moment right after the birth of her first baby.

“Enveloped” by Stephanie Entin (USA)

Best birth details: Documentary

A beautiful calm breech birth. They expected her bum to come first, but whoop, there were two little feet!

“Fresh in fathers arms” by Lesley Hoogendoorn (Netherlands)

Best delivery: Black & white

Baby newly delivered by caesarean is unsure of his new situation.

“Ready or not…” by Jessica Dory (USA)

Best delivery: documentary

A couple filled with unspeakable emotions after the birth of their baby.

“Emotions” by Naomi Vonk (Netherlands)

Best postpartum: Black & white

That sweet moment when the tables are turned—even if it’s for just a while.

“I’ve got you mom” by Brittany Geisen (USA)

Best postpartum: Documentary

Nine months in mum’s belly. Nine months in the world.

“Nine months later” by Hanna Troch (Belgium)

Members’ choice best overall first place

This was such a magical hands-off home birth. And for me a unique photo, because the water was so clear (no blood and not cloudy) and the focus on the baby is spot on. I love all the flakes of vernix and the tiny lights. This photo has something almost otherworldly, and it looks like this baby is floating through a galaxy of love.

“Nebula of life” by Jaleesa Koelen (Netherlands)

Members’ choice best birth details

The path from the bathtub where the baby was born to the bed can be clearly visible. Renata’s bloody footprints on the floor are the first traces of her motherhood. Hospital birth in Poland. 2024.

“Following the traces” by Ania Wibig (Poland)

Members’ choice best labour

Not every woman wants to be held by her man during childbirth. Sometimes it is important for her that he is close, but somewhere in the shadow. Hospital birth in Poland. Summer 2024

“Supported from the shadow” by Ania Wibig (Poland)

Members’ choice best delivery

When foot come in first, breathtaking moment.

“Pretty little foot” by Vanessa Amiot (France)

Members’ choice best postpartum

A beautiful moment postpartum: dad is cuddling with his daughter while mum takes a moment to let it all sink in.

“A split second after birth” by Jessica Innemee (Netherlands)

Read next

For more birth photos, check out the IAPBP website.

How helpful was this article?

Click on a star to rate it!

5 / 5. 1

Be the first to rate this post!