Birth is beautiful – let’s share it with the world!
We are pleased to announce and launch the 2021 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Image of the Year Competition. Each year, IAPBP recognizes excellence in birth photography. This is our eleventh year sharing beautiful images of birth with our members, our Judges, friends, family, fans, the media and ultimately, the world!
Judge Panel
Our 2021 Judge Panel is comprised of past winners, birth industry leaders, and photography industry leaders. The panel will once again be choosing an overall 1st Place Winner, Best in Category Winners and Honorable Mention winners. We will also be hosting a Members’ Choice awards again this year so all members will have a chance to vote and provide feedback.
Image Categories
For our 2021 Image Competition we will have five separate categories:
- Labor – Early labor through Transition
- Delivery – Begins when baby begins to exit the body up until delivery of the placenta
- Postpartum – After placenta delivery and remaining in the birth space
- Birth Details – Details of the birth anytime during early labor through postpartum
- Fresh48 – Taken within the first 72 hours in any location
Each category can be entered as many times as you want, with a limit of five total entries. So if you have 5 great labor images, you can enter 5 labor images.
Entry Fees
The entry fee for a single image will be $25 USD. A discount will be applied if you choose to submit multiple entries.
- One Image: $25 USD
- Two Images: $40 USD
- Three Images: $60 USD
- Four Images: $80 USD
- Five Images: $100 USD
Changes to the entry form allow you to enter multiple images on one form versus having to submit a new form for each image. This is how you can take advantage of the discounted entry fee.
Prize Amounts
- Overall 1st Place Winner: $750 USD
- Best in Category: $200 USD each
All entries must have been captured in the 2019 or 2020 calendar years and be submitted to the competition by January 15, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST.
Winners will be announced at the beginning of February once the votes have been received and tallied from both the Judges and Members. Please view our complete list of terms and conditions below for details. If you have any questions regarding the competition or entry process please use our dedicated competition email address: competition@birthphotographers.com.
2021 Terms & Conditions
Entry Deadline:
All entries must be submitted and received by Friday, January 15, 2021 at 11:59:59 PM EST. Winners will be announced at the beginning of February once the votes have been received and tallied from all judges and member choice votes.
Membership Requirements:
You must be a current member of the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers, LLC (IAPBP) to be eligible to enter. Membership will be verified for each entry before winners are announced.
Entries Guidelines:
Photograph must have been taken within the 2019 or 2020 calendar years, January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. Any photograph that received an award or Honorable Mention recognition in the 2020 IAPBP Image Competition are not qualified to enter the 2021 Image Competition and will be removed if submitted. Members may enter up to a total of 5 images. The categories are: Labor, Delivery, Postpartum, Birth Details and Fresh 48. Members can enter multiple images in any category not to exceed 5 images in total. For the purposes of this competition, the end of delivery and the beginning of postpartum is determined once the placenta has been delivered during the birth process. Postpartum images should be photographed within the first 48 hours of birth to qualify. Up to 5 entries are allowed on one entry form. A valid entry consists of a paid entry fee, an image category, an image title, a model release and one birth photograph saved in two ways: (1) a full resolution unwatermarked image for judging purposes only. This image will not be shared publicly. Unwatermarked images ensure a fair Judging process. When judging is complete these full resolution images will be deleted from the IAPBP server and not used in any other way. (2) a full resolution watermarked image. This image will be used in the gallery that goes live to the public and offered to the media with proper credits given to the photographer. Once your entry and images have been submitted, that submission is final and images may not be swapped out or replaced. Images must be in digital format only. All digital files must be in JPG format. Both black and white and color images are acceptable. The photograph must be a single work of original material taken by the member. Photographers that work in cooperatives or have joined businesses may each enter up to 5 images each. Entries are based on copyright owner so while you may share a business listing, you are both members in your own right. Each member can enter their own photos in the competition. The photo entered must have been taken by the member entering it. By entering the competition, the participant acknowledges that the submitted photograph is an original work created solely by the member and that the photograph does not infringe on the copyrights of any person or entity.
Entry Fees:
The entry fee for a single image will be $25 USD. A discount will be applied if you choose to submit multiple entries on one form.
- One Image: $25 USD
- Two Images: $40 USD
- Three Images: $60 USD
- Four Images: $80 USD
- Five Images: $100 USD
Watermarks:
IAPBP requires that watermarks be present on images presented to the public and media. Small, non-obtrusive watermarks are acceptable. IAPBP reserves the right to ask members to reduce the size of the watermark if we feel it is too large or takes away from the overall image and presentation. Opaque watermarks, instead of large colorful watermarks, tend to work best as they are less likely to distract from the image itself. If we do not receive an edited image upon request within 24 hours the entry will be disqualified. You may re-enter the same image with the adjusted watermark if it is submitted before the end of the competition deadline as stated below.
Special Considerations:
This competition is specific to live birth only. IAPBP is very sensitive to those families who have lost a child before, during or immediately following birth. While this competition is focused on live births, we have tremendous compassion for those who have suffered a loss.
Model Releases:
You must have permission from those featured in the image to share the image publicly in the form of a model release. The entry form includes a place to upload your model release. Upon request, each member must be prepared to provide a signed release from all persons who appear in the photograph submitted authorizing the photographer and its authorized parties to reproduce, distribute and display the entry in connection with the competition. IAPBP is particularly mindful of having releases when the entry contains nudity. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification at any time during the competition and selection of an alternate winner. If at any time, one or more persons featured in the image requests that the image be removed, even with a signed model release, the image will be removed at the discretion of IAPBP without refund of the entry fee.
Judging:
Each entry will be judged separately by the panel of Judges based on creativity and photographic quality.
Images will be judged for:
- Technical integrity – Judges are asked to consider focus, sharpness, detail, depth of field, color, brightness, contrast, saturation, proper use of light, etc.
- Emotional value – We want the judge to consider if the photograph evokes emotion, were they moved when viewing it, is it interesting, is the style appealing?
- Composition – Does the photograph tell a story? Where is your eye lead to in the photograph? Is the photograph balanced, and if not, is it creating the visual impact it should? We ask judges to consider Framing, Viewpoint, Background, Visual impact.
- Creativity – Was the entrant able to convey their idea, message or thought in an original and imaginative way through their lens? Does the photograph tell a story? Does the image stand on its own, as complete and outstanding? Is there a Wow! Factor?
In the event of a tie, the tied entries will be re-submitted to the Judges for a re-judging between the tied entries alone. Decisions of the Judges are final. Winners will be notified by email. Winners will be determined as follows: 1st Place Winner, Best in Category for Labor, Delivery, Postpartum, Birth Details and Fresh 48. Acknowledgment for Honorable Mentions will also be given at the discretion of the Judges. 1st Place Winner is only open to images taken in the year 2020. Additionally, IAPBP members will be asked to choose their favorite images via voting on the IAPBP website. Member ballots will be tallied and Members Choice Awards will be given as follows: 1st Place Winner, Best in Category for Labor, Delivery, Postpartum, Birth Details and Fresh 48. 1st Place Winner is only open to images taken in the year 2020. All winning image(s) will be featured on birthphotographers.com. The winning image will also be used on the birthphotographers.com social media account and throughout the year for marketing purposes.
Judges 1st Place Winner and Members’ Choice Award for 1st Place Winner will be reserved for images photographed in 2020 only. All other categories are open to images taken throughout 2019 and 2020.
Media:
Historically, the IAPBP Image Competition has drawn mass media attention. Members should be aware that their work may be shared by both large and small media outlets. IAPBP works hard to be sure that members are given proper credit with links. While we cannot control every aspect of media sharing and going “viral,” we are asking the media outlets to sign an agreement that they will give proper credit before getting access to a downloadable folder of watermarked, web ready, entries. Photos, your business name and email address will be provided to the media. Entrants can opt out of having your info and photo(s) going to the media on the entry form. Please be aware that your images may still be shared from the gallery itself, even if you opt out.
Cash Awards & Prizes:
The following prizes will be awarded to the winners chosen by our judge panel: Overall 1st Place Winner: $750; Best In Category (Labor, Delivery, Postpartum, Birth Details and Fresh 48): $200 each. Honorable Mentions will be awarded at the judges’ discretion and do not receive a cash award. Members’ Choice awards do not receive a cash award. Cash prizes will be delivered via PayPal within 5 business days of the winning announcement. Additional prizes by corporate sponsors can be added at any time during the competition and may be distributed to the winners at the discretion of IAPBP. Prizes for products and store credits cannot be exchanged for cash value. Corporate sponsors are solely responsible for prize delivery of their products / services. IAPBP reserves the right to adjust the prize amounts based on participation. No prize transfer, assignment, or substitution by winners permitted.
Additional Rules, Terms and Conditions:
All qualified images entered in to the competition will be presented to the Judges. If for any reason the competition is not capable of running as planned, The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the competition. If The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers elects to cancel or terminate the competition, we will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs and refunds are not applicable . This contest is void where prohibited. By entering, members also agree to be bound by these Official Rules; that the decisions of the Judges are final and binding with respect to all matters relating to the competition; and if the entrant wins that The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers may use the winning photographs and each winner’s name, photograph, likeness, etc. in any publicity or advertising relating to the competition or future promotions without compensation or approval (except where prohibited by law). The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers reserves the right to verify the validity and originality of any entry and/or member and to disqualify any member who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these official rules or who tampers with the entry or voting process. Void where prohibited.