These photographs celebrate the beauty and skill of giving birth - and they are spectacular

Giving birth is an experience like no other.

It's tough, gruelling, overwhelming and emotional, yet at the end of it all is the most incredible thing ever: a tiny baby, a little piece of you.

And to celebrate the beauty of birth and the skill of birth photographers around the globe, every year International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP) hosts a competition to share their photographers' incredible talent. 

“I am so thrilled to be able to feature the tremendous talent of our members in the image competition this year,” Lyndsay Stradtner, founder of the IAPBP, said.

“I want to thank each and every IAPBP member who entered this year and, of course, the families who agreed to share their beautiful birth moments with the world.”

Birth photography is a highly specialised field and the choice to have the experience documented is an intensely personal decision.

It involves the birth process, environment, the parents and those in attendance, but the results are truly spectacular.

Take a look at the winning entries and some of the honourable mentions below: 

Winner: Jayden Freund, Cradled Creations

Best in Category: Natasha Hance, Birth Unscripted

Best in Category: Katie Mathis, Katie Mathis Photography

Best in Category: Elizabeth Farnsworth, Elizabeth Farnsworth Photography

Best in Category:KourtnieScholz, KEDocumentary

Honourable mentions: Rebecca Coursey, Rebecca Coursey, Photographer + Doula

Honourable mentions: Elliana Gilbert, Elliana Gilbert Photography

Honourable mentions: Katie Mathis, Katie Mathis Photography

Honourable mentions: Karen Dalton, Birth in Focus

Honourable mentions: KimBerly Eckhardt, KimBerly E. Photography

Birth photography encompasses the tears of joy, the wonder of bringing a new life into the world and celebrates family, and tells the beautiful story of life.