[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 16 years and showcases the best of the best in birth photos.
In 2026, there were six main categories photos were judged in:
- Best Overall First Place
- Best Overall Labour
- Best Overall Delivery
- Best Overall Birth Details
- Best Overall Postpartum
Each category is split into 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.
2026 birth photography awards winners
Here are some of the winners of this year’s birth photo competition.
Best overall first place / best overall labour / best labour: Documentary / Members’ choice best labour
This image is taken at their home with a light that became almost as a painting.
“Parto renacentista / Renaissance birth” by Albany J Alvarez Fotografía (Mexico)
Best overall delivery
Between water and air, life is gently welcomed.
“In careful hands” by Rayke Geboortefotografie (Netherlands)
Best overall birth details
Amniotic fluid streams from baby’s nose and mouth while mother gathers her strength to birth her baby on the next push.
“The next push” by Natalie Broders Photography (USA)
Best overall postpartum / best postpartum: Fine art
“Welcome to the light”: First words spoken from mother to child as she held him on the floor in her living room, surrounded by the people she loves the most.
“Welcome to the light” by Natalie Broders Photography (USA)
Best labour: Black & white
This couple had a really deep and warm connection which I loved capturing!
“I see you I feel you” by Moniek Aansorgh Fotografie (Netherlands)
Best labour: Fine art
Getting some pain relief while monitoring the baby before delivery.
“I choose you” by Paulina Splechta Birth Photography (USA)
Best delivery: Black & white
A midwife becomes a mother and cuts her own cord in the operating room during her cesarean birth for breech.
“She cut the cord herself” by Natalie Broders Photography (USA)
Best delivery: documentary
A unique moment where life begins, full of strength and emotion.
“The beginning” by Mariann Mondragón (Mexico)
Best delivery: Fine art / Members’ choice best delivery
This photograph is of a cesarean birth. The first thing you see, and what I focus on, are the tiny feet of the newborn. It’s not an everyday situation. For me, it was wonderful to be able to capture this image, honouring the beginning of the miracle of life.
“First steps into the light” by Nora Dalmasso Fotografia (Argentina)
Best birth details: Black & white
Strong legs kick out and pull back in, laid across mum’s belly, the same way they did when only she could feel his kicks inside.
“The kicks I knew” by Natalie Broders Photography (USA)
Best birth details: Documentary
We expected to see the baby’s face before he turned toward the mirror, but birth is unpredictable. I was moving between and under the hospital bed, focused on the moment rather than the details. During selection, her face in the bloody mirror became visible. What matters is often revealed afterward.
“Her mirrored emotions” by Ivaphoto (Netherlands)
Best birth details: Fine art
A baby remains safely tucked within the intact amniotic sac during a delivery.
“Between the realms: A soul still wrapped in silence” by Jaleesa Koelen (Netherlands)
Best postpartum: Black & white
Dad is from Gambia and up till a week before his little girl was born, it was not sure if he could attend the birth. When finally his documents were okay-ed, his baby daughter decided to be born, just three days after his arrival in The Netherlands.
“Holding his babygirl for the first time” by Beauty of Birth (Netherlands)
Best postpartum: Documentary
One of twins. Her brother was already born, and the mother’s body suddenly let go of everything. She was born in her waters, with her own placenta and her brother’s like a hat on her head. I’d never before seen a baby born in the waters with the placenta. There’s an old myth in the Netherlands that a child born in the veil brings lifelong happiness. I wish that for this family.
“Born in the veil” by Cynthia’s Fotografie (Netherlands)
Members’ choice best overall first place / Members’ choice best birth details
“Birth team” by Jaleesa Koelen (Poland)
Members’ choice best postpartum
“In the hours after” by Melanie Lopez Photography (USA)
Read next
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- Why this baby is squished into this glass tube
- How being pregnant has changed
For more birth photos, check out the IAPBP website.
