2020 Birth Photography Image Competition - International Association of Professional Birth Photographers | birthphotographers.com

2020 Birth Photography Image Competition Winners Announced

The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers is proud to announce the winners of the 2020 Birth Photography Image Competition! Thank you to each and every IAPBP member who entered this year and, of course, the families who agreed to share their birth moments with us all!.

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The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers is proud to announce the winners of the 2020 Birth Photography Image Competition!

We are so thankful for the hard work of our judges, as narrowing down this year’s winner was no easy task. We appreciate their time and efforts. Winners were chosen on a point system and judged on technique, lighting, composition, emotional impact, creativity and storytelling. All images have been shared with the permission of the family and the photographer. Please respect their choice and copyright. Do not copy, print or save any of the images. Please share a link to this page!

Media:

If you would like to do a story on the competition please complete our Media Request Form before using or sharing any images. Images can only be shared once the form is complete. Proper credit and hyperlinks to the photographer / copyright owner are required. We will provide you with all the contact info, photographer links and watermarked / web ready images in one download. Requests for an interview or quote with our Director should be directed to media@birthphotographers.com.

Find a Birth Photographer or Videographer:

If you would like to find a birth photographer or videographer in your area, please visit our Artist Directory. If you are a birth photographer or videographer and would like to become a member of the IAPBP, you can find out more information on some of our membership benefits and packages on this page.

 

Please note: While birth is beautiful, it is also messy and real. You should expect nudity when viewing the entries. Be sure to scroll down to view all of the gorgeous entries from this year.

 

Competition Judges

Lauren Barnes
Founder - The Motherhood Collective
Website | Instagram
Caroline Bologna
Reporter - Huffpost
Website
Kristen Cook
Photographer / Mentor / Educator
Website | Instagram
Ash Davenport - MIKI STUDIOS - 2021 IEEE Review Panelist
Ash Davenport
Founder - MIKI Studios
Website | Instagram
Molly Flanagan
Founder - The Design School
Website | Instagram
Jaydene Freund
Birth Photographer & Mentor
Website | Instagram
Twyla Jones
Photographer / Educator / Mentor
Website | Instagram
Darren Mattock
Life of Dad / DADvocate
Website | Instagram
Jen McLellan
Founder - Plus Size Birth
Website | Instagram
Katie Norris
Founder - FOTO
Website | Instagram
Leilani Rogers
Birth Photographer & Educator
Website | Instagram
Lyndsay Stradtner
Founder - IAPBP
Website | Instagram
Kenda Sutton
Executive Director - Birth In Color
Website | Instagram
Natalia Walth
2016 IAPBP Winner / Photographer
Website | Instagram
Lauren Barnes
Founder - The Motherhood Collective

Lauren Barnes is the Founder of The Motherhood Collective, a nationally recognized Community-Based Maternal Health Program Model acknowledged as one of Virginia’s most impactful Maternal Health programs by Governor Ralph Northam. 

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Lauren currently sits on the Community Engagement Committee for the Virginia Neonatal & Perinatal Collaborative, The Central Virginia Maternal Health Collaborative, and the Lynchburg Breastfeeding Coalition. A frequent Subject Matter Expert in the area of maternal health, Lauren also uses her extensive background in the Performing Arts to help women make informed choices surrounding their arrival to motherhood. She firmly believes that empowered childbirth is the most innately feminine act a woman can perform.

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Caroline Bologna
Reporter - Huffpost

Caroline Bologna is a reporter at HuffPost, where she covers culture and parenting. A native of New Orleans, she graduated from Brown University and is currently based in New York. She is passionate about photography, world travel, and women’s issues.

Kristen Cook
Photographer / Mentor / Educator

Kristen is a sought-after photographer from Australia who is proud to document love; new relationships built of love and tiny humans built of love. Her work is beautiful, messy, honest, brilliant and full of emotion. Her unique eye and appreciation for the tiny moments bring a treasured perspective to our line-up of judges this year.

Ash Davenport - MIKI STUDIOS - 2021 IEEE Review Panelist
Ash Davenport
Founder - MIKI Studios

Ash Davenport is a renowned wedding and birth photographer from London, UK. A natural-born artist and thrill seeker, Ash is constantly raising the bar with his life and photography.

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He approaches every shoot as an exciting new adventure to capture images that make you smile, cry, and laugh out loud. He is constantly observing what’s unique about the people in front of him and the love that the connects family and friends. When he is not behind his camera, he’s running marathons, swimming competitively with his Olympian brother, or trekking up Everest (for his honeymoon).

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Molly Flanagan
Founder - The Design School

Molly is a talented photographer who travels around the world to tell stories for families with her camera. Her passion lies in the art of the home: the beauty of living life with little ones and the every day moments that make up the joys of life. She is also the founder of The Define School.

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Her mission through The Define School is to help photographers gather the tools they need to find their own unique perspective, while building community through small classes and mentoring relationships with teachers.

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Jaydene Freund
Birth Photographer & Mentor

Jaydene is the photographer and doula behind Cradled Creations, co-founder of Canadian Birth Photographers, and a past winner of the IAPBP Image Competition. Located in Abbotsford, BC, Canada, Jaydene began photographing births in 2009, and has since captured more than 200 birth stories. 

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Jaydene won “Image of the Year” in our 2017 competition and has been published in Midwifery Today, Click Magazine, People, Cosmopolitan, Vancouver Sun, and Canadian Family. Her documentary birth film footage has also been featured in Huggies commercials and documentary films.

She co-founded Canadian Birth Photographers in 2011 and has deeply enjoyed watching the birth photography industry grow and change women’s perspectives on their birth options and choices. Her favourite aspect of shooting births is watching how women process their birth stories and see themselves as more powerful than they did before.

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Twyla Jones
Photographer / Educator / Mentor

An optimist, dreamer, and biologist turned photographer, Twyla has a unique talent of encouraging connection while simultaneously capturing emotive imagery. Her work is phenomenal and we are grateful for the unique perspective she brings to our judging panel this year.

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“I’m a biologist turned photographer turned educator. I have a deep love for capturing emotive images and love sharing my techniques with other photographers. Through mentoring others, I quickly found I have a talent for brainstorming unique marketing solutions for creatives and absolutely love sharing those lightbulb moments that can completely change the trajectory of your business!

I’m obsessed with organizing and rearranging my home that sits in it own tiny jungle, complete with a waterfall and tiny home treehouse, in the middle of town. I’d consider myself a boho, eclectic, maximalist which means lots of rich, vibrant colors and surrounding myself with eclectic pieces that bring me joy (I think I have at least one rainbow in every room of my house).

When I’m not decorating tree forts at home and propagating new plants that I find in my backyard, I’m at the beach with my husband and three sons, checking out our local farmers market, or hanging out at our family friendly cider brewery downtown listing to local musicians.

I’m an optimist, dreamer, procrastinator and believe you can manifest absolutely anything you want for you life!”

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Darren Mattock
Life of Dad / DADvocate

Darren has been working in the fatherhood and parenting spaces for over a decade as an educator, advocate, and mentor. After serving as an Expectant & New Dads Specialist, he went on to partner with Life of Dad in 2017. Darren now leads the Community & Social Media Team and continues to be passionate about helping to create better outcomes for dads, moms, babies, couples, families, and communities. He lives in Australia with his son Charlie, his greatest source of inspiration.

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“Being dad to my son Charlie is my greatest gift, my greatest joy, my greatest challenge and my greatest source of inspiration.”

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Jen McLellan
Founder - Plus Size Birth

Jen McLellan is a published author and founder of Plus Size Birth and the Plus Mommy Podcast. She helps people navigate the world of plus size pregnancy, shares tips for embracing your body, and laughs her way through the adventures of parenthood. Her work has been featured in major publications such as Yahoo Shine, Huffington Post, Everyday Feminism, and International Doula. 

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Jen has grown a community of over 177,000 via the Plus Mommy Facebook page. She authored My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide and co-wrote the Amazon bestseller, The Peachie Moms Guide to Body Love for Moms. Jen is also a childbirth educator, skilled patient advocate, professional speaker, wife, and mother to a charismatic 7-year-old.

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Katie Norris
Founder - FOTO

Katie Norris is an award-winning documentary Producer, who believes in the power of storytelling. Katie founded the film nonprofit Fotolanthropy to document and distribute true stories of strength and also started the FOTO brand to equip creative professionals with beautiful, functional photography products. Her work has been featured on People, FOX, Good Morning America and Netflix.

Leilani Rogers
Birth Photographer & Educator

Leilani Rogers is an award-winning, veteran birth photographer with a lifetime of experience in the visual arts industry. As the Founder of The Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project and Birthbound Photographer, as well as being named Austin’s Best Birth Photographer for over 6 years, she brings an unparalleled perspective to our 2020 judge panel.

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Growing up in Houston, TX I was raised to appreciate and partake in the arts as much as possible. I spent most of my time in dance and art classes, play rehearsal, the orchestra or violin and viola lessons. In college I received a degree in Viola Performance and Pedagogy, and after years of performing, recording, and teaching, I decided to raise a family. I have 4 kids, ages 13-20 and a husband who encourages me to follow through on all my crazy ideas. These special people have inspired me to pay attention to the little things, find and preserve joy in the day-to-day, and keep on keeping on no matter what. When people ask me how I became a birth photographer, I tell them that it was simply meant to be. My life as a mother and an artist intersected in 2011 when my sister-in-law invited me to document her birth. I photographed a lot of families back then, but that all changed very quickly once I realized my true calling. My love for documenting birth has evolved into a love for teaching birth photography. And when I’m not immersed in that work, I love to entertain, I love plants, and I love goofing around (read: embarrassing) with my kids.

Achievements: Austin’s Best Birth Photographer 2013-2019, Featured on television and in print in The Huffington Post, Midwifery Today, Redbook Magazine, People, FStoppers, CLICK, SELF, Cosmopolitan, ABC News, TODAY, Woman’s Day, and Hello Giggles, Keynote speaker at Off-Call in 2015 and 2017, Instructor at The Baby Summit in 2016, Both finalist and winner in prior IAPBP Image Competitions (2014/2017), Finalist in Lensculture’s Portait of the Year Competition 2017, Exhibited with Lensculture throughout Europe in 2018, Finalist in ClickinMom’s VOICE Collection 2017, Editor’s choice with National Geographic Your Shot’s “The Gift of Life” assignment 2017, 6th place in Birth, Shoot&Share in 2018 Competition, Founder of the Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project Founder of Birthbound Photographer

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Lyndsay Stradtner
Founder - IAPBP

Lyndsay is the Founder of IAPBP as well as the owner and creator at Life in Motion Photography. Her award winning work has been featured in many publications and has brought numerous opportunities to mentor other photographers from around the world. She founded the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers in 2010.

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Since then, she has since worked tirelessly with representatives worldwide to pioneer the beauty of birth photography in the media. She calls Austin, TX home but she currently travels around the U.S. in an RV full-time with her husband, children and dogs.

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Kenda Sutton
Executive Director - Birth In Color

Kenda Sutton-EL is a Birth Justice and Maternal Health Advocate and has over 10 years of experience as a passionate activist. She is the Co-Founder of Birth In Color RVA, a birth collective focused on providing culturally-centered support to pregnant persons, families and the birthing community.

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Kenda also holds the tiles of Holistic Nutritionist, Student Midwife, Certified Lactation Counselor, Perinatal Maternal Mental Health Counselor and Doula. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a BS and is currently attending National College of Midwifery. Kenda has spent more than ten years advocating  in the areas of healthy foods, maternal mortality, reproductive justice, alternative medicine, and nutrition education.  She believes the maternal health care system is systematically broken and Black Women and infants are the most effected. Kenda believes the change starts with us and will continue to create that change by sharing the stories of the women she serves.

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Natalia Walth
2016 IAPBP Winner / Photographer

Natalia has been a birth photographer & videographer for seven years. Prior to starting her business, she was an Air Force Reservist in her “spare time” while simultaneously working for a busy law firm in Los Angeles, CA.

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She is a mother of three girls (one in heaven) and a wife to her God-fearing husband who supplies her caffeine addiction and adds to her laugh lines. Their dream is to travel the U.S. in an Airstream, but she quickly remembers that they have a 100 pound German Shepherd who whines too much.

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Judge’s 2020 Competition Winners

Best Overall | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | A Moment of Silence by VI-Photography
FIRST PLACE
Jessica Vink of VI-Photography
“A Moment of Silence”
Netherlands
Best In Category Birth Details | IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | Warrior by Bree Garcia
Best In Birth Details
Bree Garcia of J&B Photography, LLC
“Warrior”
United States
Best In Category Delivery | IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | Unmasking the Many Layers of Birth by Alexandria Mooney
Best In Delivery
Alexandria Mooney of Alexandria Mooney Photography
“Unmasking The Many Layers Of Birth”
United States
Natalie Zepp Photography - First Place Winner 2020 Birth Photography Competition - DENIAL | FRESH48
Best In Fresh 48
Natalie Weber of Natalie Zepp Photography
“Denial”
United States
Best in Postpartum | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | Vernix Constellation by Kristy Visscher
Best In Postpartum
Kristy Visscher of Kinship by Kristy
"Vernix Constellation"
Australia
Best In Category Labor | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | Morning Light Creeps In by Coastal Lifestyles Photography
Best In Labor
“Morning Light Creeps In”
Canada

Members’ Choice Awards 2020 Winners

Members' Choice Best Overall | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | Ring of Fire by Katie Torres
Members' Choice FIRST PLACE
“Ring of Fire”
United States
Members' Choice Best in Birth Details | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | BABY NOAH EMPELICADO by Jana Brasil
Best In Birth Details
Jana Brasil of JanaBrasil Fotografia
“Baby Noah Empelicado"
Brazil
Best In Category Delivery | IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | Unmasking the Many Layers of Birth by Alexandria Mooney
Best In Birth Delivery
Alexandria Mooney of Alexandria Mooney Photography
“Unmasking The Many Layers Of Birth”
United States
Members' Choice Best in Labor | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | I am a Birthing Goddess by Sophia Costa
Best In Labor
Sophia Costa of The Sophia Co
"I am a Birthing Goddess"
United States
Members' Choice Best in Fresh 48 | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | Her Cup Runneth Over by Martha Lerner
Best In Fresh 48
Martha Lerner of zenmamalove
“Her Cup Runneth Over...”
United States
Best Overall | 2020 IAPBP Birth Photography Contest | A Moment of Silence by VI-Photography
Best In Postpartum
Jessica Vink of VI-Photography
“A Moment of Silence”
Netherlands

Honorable Mentions

2020 Honorable Mention | 0680 | ON THE DAY YOU WERE BORN. by Sarah Maverick Photography
Honorable Mention
Sarah Maverick of Sarah Maverick Photography
“On The Day You Were Born”
United States
2020 Honorable Mention | 0666 | UNPLANNED, FURIOUS AND FREE by J&B Photography LLC
Honorable Mention
Bree Garcia of J&B Photography LLC
"Unplanned, Furious and Free"
United States
2020 Honorable Mention | 0631 | SHE WATCHES THEM by Ashley Marston Photograhy
Honorable Mention
Ashley Marston of Ashley Marston Photography
"She Watches Them"
Canada
2020 Honorable Mention | 0612 | FRESH by Brittney Hogue Birth, Baby, Family
Honorable Mention
“Fresh”
United States
2020 Honorable Mention | 0576 | IN IT TOGETHER by Lori Martinez Photography
Honorable Mention
Lori Martinez of Lori Martinez Photography
“In It Together”
United States
2020 Honorable Mention | 0569 | DANCE WITH ME ON YOUR LONG WALK by Kate Carlton Photography
Honorable Mention
Kate Carlton of Kate Carlton Photography
"Dance With Me On Your Long Walk"
United States
2020 Honorable Mention | 0561 | HOLDING TWO SONS by L.E. Ellis Photography
Honorable Mention
Lindsey Ellis of L.E. Ellis Photography
“Holding Two Sons”
United States
2020 Honorable Mention | 0417 | BREECH by Birth Day geboortefotografie
Honorable Mention
"Breech"
Netherlands
2020 Honorable Mention | 0397 | COLOSTRUM DRUNK by Coastal Lifestyles Photography
Honorable Mention
"Colostrum Drunk"
Canada
2020 Honorable Mention | 0383 | WE'VE GOT YOU BABY! by Belle Verdiglione Photography
Honorable Mention
Belle Verdiglione of Belle Verdiglione Photography
"We've got you baby!"
Australia
2020 Honorable Mention | 0233 | SILENCE by Love & Little Birth Photography
Honorable Mention
"Silence"
Netherlands
Honorable Mention | 0169 | IN BETWEEN by DANIELA JUSTUS FOTOGRAFIA
Honorable Mention
Daniela Justus of Daniela Justus Fotografia
"In Between"
Brazil
2020 Honorable Mention | 0481 | OVERFLOWING LOVE by BÁRBARA AVIZ
Honorable Mention
Barbara Aviz of BÁRBARA AVIZ
"Overflowing Love"
Brazil
2020 Honorable Mention | 0309 | REACTIONS by Paulina Splechta Birth Photography and Films
Honorable Mention
"Reactions"
United States
2020 Honorable Mention | 0174 | A DRAMATIC ENTRANCE by Lauren + Douglas
Honorable Mention
Dania Watson of Lauren + Douglas
"A Dramatic Entrance"
Australia
2020 Honorable Mention | 0283 | MILAGRE DA VIDA by JANABRASIL FOTOGRAFIA
Honorable Mention
Jana Brasil of JanaBrasil Fotografia
"Milagre Da Vida"
Brazil
2020 Director's Favorite | 0624 | STRETCH. ARCH. SURRENDER. by Cat Fancote
Director's Favorite
"Stretch. Arch. Surrender."
Australia
Giving Back

We are proud to support Mother Health International with a portion of the proceeds from our 2020 Annual Birth Photography Image Competition.

Mother Health International is committed to reducing maternal, infant and child mortality rates by creating culturally competent and sustainable birth centers using the midwifery model of care. They currently work with midwives in areas where the burden of perinatal mortality is extremely high such as Northern Uganda, Haiti, Guinea and Senegal. They have clinics staffed by traditional midwives who work side by side with local nurse midwives and visiting ‘resident’ midwives from around the world.⁣

This year, because of our members’ participation in our annual image competition, we were able to make a donation to Mother Health International to cover birthing kits for 150 women to have safe deliveries in areas of extreme economic poverty.

Mother Health International Logo

Would you like to learn more about Birth Photography or stay in-the-know about our Annual Image Competition?

Please join our email list, we would love to stay in touch!



Past Competitions

2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013 / 2012

All 2020 Competition Entries

 

Design Braizen
Development Alchemy + Aim