living - changing moments … all captured on film .
It’s once again that time of year when theInternational Association of Professional Birth Photographersannounces the winners of its yearly competition, and it’s safe to say that2024’s honorees…delivered.
The IAPBP has more than 1,100 + members in 51 countries .
Warning : these photograph admit graphic depictions of childbirth including nudity and , in two instances , child loss .
1.First, this photo of newborn twins breastfeeding for the first time won Best Overall Birth Details.
2.This striking image of an emotional mother stepping into a birth pool during labor was named Best Overall Labor.
3.This photo capturing the moments after a C-section — as the dad bonds with the baby and a doctor stitches up the happy mother’s incisions — was awarded Best Overall Postpartum.
(Warning: the next image depicts child loss, so you may want to skip ahead.)
4.In order to “honor and recognize the one in four birthing persons who experience miscarriage and/or infant loss,” the IAPBP has an Overall Hardship & Loss category — below is this year’s winner.
5.This shot of a doctor or nurse framed by a mother’s leg won the sub-category of Birth Details: Black and White.
6.This image of a breech birth won the sub-category of Birth Details: Documentary.
7.This photo of a baby fresh out of their mother and covered in vernix won the sub-category of Birth Details: Fine Art.
8.This snap of a baby boy dramatically entering the world via C-section won the sub-category of Delivery: Black and White.
9.The photographer of this photo used a mirror to capture the image of a baby’s head first poking out of their mother — it won the sub-category of Delivery: Documentary.
10.This photo — of parents celebrating the birth of a baby who is still attached to the umbilical cord — won the sub-category of Delivery: Fine Art.
11.This capture of a tired mother laboring won the sub-category of Delivery: Black and White.
12.This photo of a woman summoning the strength to keep going won the sub-category of Labor: Documentary.
13.This image of a laboring mother receiving tremendous love and support won the sub-category of Labor: Fine Art.
14.This image of a mother breastfeeding her children — one older, one minutes old — won the sub-category of Postpartum: Black and White.
15.This photo of a mother relaxing in a birthing pool with her new baby — as the baby grips their dad’s finger — won the sub-category of Postpartum: Documentary.
16.This photo of a mother and baby gazing at each other won the sub-category of Postpartum: Fine Art.
17.And this dramatic photo — of a baby clutching a doctor’s finger while still in the womb during a C-section — is the competition’s Overall First Place Winner.
In addition to the photos selected by the competition’s judges, the association’s members recognized these additional standouts:
18.This joyous moment was named the winner of the Members' Choice Best Overall Delivery.
19.This shot of a mother admiring the amniotic sac her baby came in (the baby was born en caul) was named Members' Choice Best Overall Birth Details.
20.This moment of love and unity was named Members' Choice Best Overall Labor.
21.This shot of a mother, her baby, and her fur baby was named Members' Choice Best Overall Postpartum.
22.And this photo of a father and grandfather grieving the loss of a baby born still won the Member’s Choice Best Overall.
Finally, here are some memorable photos that were named honorable mentions:
23.This photo of an emotional mother as a doctor holds up her baby was named an Honorable Mention in Delivery.
24.This image of a baby born in the occiput posterior position (when the baby is head-down but facing the mother’s front instead of her back) was named an Honorable Mention in Delivery.
25.This photo of a mother pulling her baby out of her abdomen during a C-section was named an Honorable Mention in Delivery.
26.This emotional shot of a grandmother meeting her grandchild was named an Honorable Mention in Postpartum.
27.And lastly, this capture of a mother breastfeeding her brand-new baby and older child was named an Honorable Mention in Postpartum.
Want to see more unforgettable birth photos? Check out all of the this year’scompetition entries.
