30 Powerful Birth Photos That Capture The Emotion Of Labour And Delivery

These raw and intimate images offer a unique perspective on the childbirth experience.

No life event compares to the experience of giving birth. To honour this powerful moment, many families hire birth photographers to document the raw emotions of labour and delivery.

The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers holds an annual photo contest celebrating this intimate art form, and on March 22, the organisation announced the latest winners. The 2024 Birth Photography Image Competition was open to the IAPBP’s 1,100-plus members across 55 countries and received about 500 submissions.

“Our association has grown by leaps and bounds and our members continually produce excellent, emotive, and educational birth photographs for the families that hire them,” director Lacey Barratt said in a news release. “I want to thank each and every person who entered this year and, of course, the families who agreed to share their beautiful and sacred birth moments with the world.”

Keep scrolling to see a selection of this year’s winners and other powerful submissions. You can visit the IAPBP website to see all the entries.

(Readers should note that the following uncensored photos show people in the act of childbirth.)

18
Members' Choice: Best in Postpartum
Sophie Bailey/Wild Mama Photography
19
Members' Choice: Best in Labor
20
Members' Choice: Best in Delivery
21
Members' Choice: Best in Birth Details
23
Best in Postpartum: Fine Art
24
Best in Birth Details: Black & White
25
Best in Birth Details
26
Best in Birth Details: Documentary
27
Best in Labor: Documentary
Portland Birth Photographer Natalie Broders
28
Best in Delivery: Black & White
30
Overall Winner and Best in Delivery
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