The world’s most incredible birth photos, capturing every imaginable moment of labour and delivery, have been recognised in this year’s annual Birth Photography competition.

This year the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Annual Birth Photography Competition winners were revealed at a winners exhibition in Melbourne. The awards celebrate the beauty of birth and the skill of birth photographers around the globe in four main categories — birth details, labour, delivery, and postpartum.

“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,” Lacey Barratt, from IAPBP said. “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.”

Best Birth Photos 2024

From the highest of highs to devastating lows, these are the birth images awarded the best in the world for 2024.

Please note that this is birth – it’s messy, raw and real. The following images contain nudity, blood and images of stillbirth.

Best Overall First Place

Nora Dalmasso of Nora Dalmasso Fotografia: “Holding Hands”, Argentina

Best in Birth Details

Luma Braz of Luma Braz Fotografia: “Ponte Entres os Mundo”, Brazil

Best in Labour

Chinelle Rojas of Tampa Birth Photographer: “Relax, Soften, Open”, United States

Best in Postpartum

Jessica Innemee of Vi-Photography: “A whole story in one image”, Netherlands

Best in Hardship & Loss

Kyra Wijnhausen of Earth Side Doula Care: “Generation Lost”, United States

Best in Birth Details: Black & White

Ania Wibig of Obiektywnie Najpiękniejsze: “Focusing”, Poland

Best in Birth Details: Documentary

Best in Birth Details: Fine Art

Tiarra Doherty of Mother Wolf Birth Photography: “Vernix and Breastmilk Rings”, United States

Best in Labour: Black & White

Emily Santi of Emily Santi Birth Photography: “In the Shadows”, United States

Best in Labour: Fine Art

Laura Brink of Rewild Her: “Heart Hold”, Australia

Best in Labour: Documentary

Natalie Broders of Portland Birth Photographer Natalie Broders: “Unyielding Resolve: Pushing through”, United States

Best in Delivery: Documentary

Settia Tin of Hello Baby Geboortefotografie: “Reflections of Birth”, Netherlands

Best in Delivery: Black & White

Lauren Maggi of Lauren Maggi Photography & Doula: “Into their hands”, United States

Make sure you check out these Birth Photos You Apparently Don’t Want To See and the winner’s of the 2022 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Awards and the 2023 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Awards.

Let us know which of these incredible photos is your favourite in the comments below.

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