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Last week I woke up with good news. I have been awarded the title of International Birth Photographer of the Year 2020 at the Birth Photographer International Image Competition (BPIIC). Not only thanks to my photos, but also because of my commitment to the community of birth photographers. I was very surprised by the news and almost fell off my chair when I read it. Really amazing.
Five years ago, I accidentally entered the photography world. At the time, I was still working as an inspector in the childcare industry. Each civil servant received a career budget that could be spent on something that had nothing to do with their own profession. With that money, I followed the basic training at the photography trade school.
It was intended as a hobby, but quickly got out of hand. In the end, I even quit my job. Not because it wasn't fun, but this is my passion. Birth photography is so special. All the emotions you can think of will pass by: relief, tension, exhaustion, sadness, and joy. I see everything through the lens. It is very special to be part of that as a photographer. I think it's great that people trust me to be in such an intimate moment.
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#1
Final score:
76points
In the meantime, I have attended dozens of deliveries. I do a maximum of two per month. You can't plan a hundred such shoots in a year. You never know when labor will start and there is no colleague I can alternate with, like a midwife. It is therefore very intense. I have experienced deliveries lasting more than 24 hours. Then, you work non-stop, without a break, and without sleep.
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#2
Final score:
71points
Janie Martini 5 years ago
As I’m looking at all the pictures my daughter and son in law are having their baby right now! Am sad and excited for them because I can’t be there with them. But he’s keeping us all informed ♥️♥️♥️
#3
Final score:
70points
For the competition, I had to send in not only photos, but also documents such as customer reviews and letters of recommendation. In addition, I had to demonstrate to what extent I am involved in the profession and committed to the community of birth photographers.
#4
Final score:
69points
Jennifer Crompton 5 years ago
My daughter scowled like that her whole 1st day. Lol. She was not happy to be on the outside
#5
Final score:
69points
That wasn't a problem for me. For example, I have been involved with others in establishing a quality mark for birth photographers in the Netherlands and Belgium, which shows hospitals that the photographer has sufficient knowledge and professionalism to attend a delivery. Of course, you shouldn't get in the way as a photographer. Several hospitals now work together with this quality mark.
In addition, I have set up a platform where Dutch-speaking birth photographers can come together. Here, people can consult and ask each other questions. There is a lot of interaction. It is meant to lift each other up a bit.
#7
Final score:
58points
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
The baby is like: I don't want to be here! Put me back this instant!!!
And I am also the founder of the Birth & Beyond Photography Awards. It's a photo competition for family photographers who capture motherhood with everything that goes into it. I thought it was important that there were more opportunities for birth photographers to submit their work to photo contests. As a lifestyle, fresh 48, and birth photographer, I was often left out with my genre and there was often no competition that suited me. At the Birth & Beyond Photography Awards, there is a special birth category, in addition to more common categories such as pregnancy, newborn, baby, children, and family. Motherhood should be celebrated, right?! All genres are therefore welcome: studio, portrait, fine-art, fresh 48, lifestyle, documentary, posed and un-posed photography, and more.
#8
Final score:
57points
Corey Smith 5 years ago
This reminds me of seeing my daughter for the first time and her seeing us for the first time. It's an indescribable feeling to those who don't have children.
Annie 5 years ago
I agree! My daughter opened her eyes and looked directly into mine for a long time : )
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Trinity Tummons 5 years ago
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Mike Puorro 5 years ago
Am I a bad person for saying this one looks like the alien from Alien?
#9
Final score:
56points
Sue Koches 5 years ago
As Robin Williams once said - "They hand you a little old man dipped in 40 weight!"
I hope to be able to do this work for a long time and to be able to professionalize birth photography even further. Despite the fact that standing on call is very intense, this is a wonderful job. I have grateful customers, I can be part of wonderful moments and see new life being born. It couldn't be more beautiful, right?
#10
Final score:
55points
Dorothy Cloud 5 years ago
Such a face on the baby. It's like.............I'm here & I'm so proud!
#11
Final score:
54points
Lucia Coleman 5 years ago (edited)
WOW this is amazing EDIT: i didnt mean it the way you might think
#12
Final score:
53points
#13
Final score:
51points
Kim Lorton 5 years ago
Skin bonding ... mom and dad! Each ones skin is different, and offers their child something different, emotionally! I love this!
#14
Final score:
50points
Kristen Medina 5 years ago
I will never forget starring at that flimsy blue curtain, waiting with desperation and anticipation for my baby’s first cries.
#15
Final score:
50points
Jennifer Baumann 5 years ago
C-section birth.... Beautiful.... I had 3 like this and I thank you for the photo as I have never seen this birth. xx
Debra Brooks Kapellakis 5 years ago
I also had 3 this way. Super cool to see this photo.
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Kim Lorton 5 years ago
Emerging from the veil of life. From wonderfully soft and floaty to cold, glaring new reality... birth. Welcome little ones, to the world!
Elizabeth Scarborough 5 years ago
I had 3 C-Section and by the 3rd one I had asked if I could see her being born. They covered me up except for the incision, moved the mirror that was above us and I saw her being born. It was amazing.
Lisette Sleno 5 years ago
oh that looks almost incredible....2 of my grandchildren were born by cesarean.
#16
Final score:
49points
#17
Final score:
48points
Quinton James 5 years ago
She looks like the kind of person who would quit living before she quit doing this job.
Alexandra Ghobrial 5 years ago
I'm guessing because the baby is like that in the uterus and they don't want to stretch it too fast?
Load More Replies... #18
Final score:
47points
Andrew Gibb 5 years ago
for a horrible second I thought that the baby was being held by it's feet by the toddler
#19
Final score:
46points
#20
Final score:
45points
#21
Final score:
45points
Harold Houfek 5 years ago
I find this very interesting from a man's point of view. I love the attention and concern of the husband/father. Just wondering what cultural rite this is. Quite calming and loving.
lenka 5 years ago
This not a cultural right.... this is just birth - naturally and normally as it should be. Mum and dad are working through contractions together in the birthing pool. Midwife and nurse waiting patiently for active birthing phase. Birth takes time and if the mother and baby are not high risk then there is no need to turn it into the terrifying medical circus it so often turns out to be.
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Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
Birthing pool delivery attended by (I assume) the father and a midwife and a family member/friend?
Load More Replies... #22
Final score:
45points
hoRSefAce 5 years ago
I know it doesn't hurt them because their tendons haven't tightened or whatever but why do they roll them into a ball like that?
Kelly Harvey 5 years ago
They've been in a very compressed position for the whole of their existence. It feels normal, natural. It's why swaddling feels comforting at first for some babies.
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#23
Final score:
43points
Mary Dellenbusch 5 years ago
I hear it is more comfortable to give birth in water. Or, at least as comfortable as giving birth can be. More natural.
Debby Williams 1 year ago
I don't know how giving birth in water could possibly be "more natural", as humans are NOT water dwelling creatures.
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#24
Final score:
42points
Quinton James 5 years ago
She's just had a C-section and she looks like she's ready to roll off the gurney to hold her baby.
#25
Final score:
42points
#26
Final score:
41points
#28
Final score:
40points
#30
Final score:
34points
blugeagua 5 years ago
Yeah..... some people choose to have home births. They're coming natural and they usually have the midwife there.
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#32
Final score:
14points
#35
Final score:
14points
#39
Final score:
13points
ShikamaruPanda 5 years ago
Lol it looks like the poor baby is getting sucked up by the vaccum...
#40
Final score:
13points
#41
Final score:
12points
#43
Final score:
12points
#44
Final score:
12points
Awesome horse lover 5 years ago
IIII... think it’s still in the mother...
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Marsha Sturgill 5 years ago
Am I the only one that doesn't think newborns are so adorable? Smooshed faces and coneheads that only a mother could think of as sweet and cute. Amazing photograph, but.....................
Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
That's some neck torque! Hope the baby's neck wasn't damaged by that manoeuvre...
#46
Final score:
12points
#48
Final score:
11points
Lys Chen 5 years ago
My first thought was "Can´t you give them like two minutes before picking up your damn smartphone?!" It´s all about "If I don´t have any pictures of it on my phone, it didn´t happen"...I mean, obviously there was a photographer there!
Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 5 years ago
Usually Dad takes a photo for the grandparents or such.
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#50
Final score:
11points
#61
Final score:
9points
#65
Final score:
8points
#67
Final score:
7points
#79
Final score:
6points
lenka 5 years ago
More like... thank god that came out of me :-D By the end you are so uncomfortable you are just so releived. lol
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#84
Final score:
5points
Nianudd 5 years ago
Lovely pictures, but nope, never gonna do that. I don't care that my grandma keeps telling me I still have time, that's a hard no
Lys Chen 5 years ago
I feel you! Exactly my thoughts..I am scared as hell of the pain and that there´s no..."turning back"
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What do you think ?
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago (edited)
Great photos, childbirth truly is beautiful but also disgusting lol.
manon M 5 years ago
it has the merit of being honest. let's no longer hide the truth from future parents!!! aaah.. eeeww 😂
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Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
Yep. Human babies sure aren't the most attractive creatures when born... but I upvoted every picture because each of these infants is special/precious to their parent(s).
Kim Lorton 5 years ago
Beautifully intimate photos of the birthing process and result! I can see why you are the best! Thank you, for such a gift!
Bored Little Panda 5 years ago
Honest question not trying to sound sarcastic, but is giving birth in a pool better, why do you do that?
rehanne garvey 5 years ago
The water can help ease the pain, if there was anything wrong with it, it wouldn't be done:)
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Robyn Rob 5 years ago
I had a rough time. I still think about it 16 years later, ha ha. Totally expected an epidural and when it was time they told me the specialist was called to an emergency. No epidural for me. It was terrible. I know people go pain free and that's great if you choose it. But I wasn't prepped for that. I survived obviously but I never did it again!
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago (edited)
Great photos, childbirth truly is beautiful but also disgusting lol.
manon M 5 years ago
it has the merit of being honest. let's no longer hide the truth from future parents!!! aaah.. eeeww 😂
Load More Replies... Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
Yep. Human babies sure aren't the most attractive creatures when born... but I upvoted every picture because each of these infants is special/precious to their parent(s).
Kim Lorton 5 years ago
Beautifully intimate photos of the birthing process and result! I can see why you are the best! Thank you, for such a gift!
Bored Little Panda 5 years ago
Honest question not trying to sound sarcastic, but is giving birth in a pool better, why do you do that?
rehanne garvey 5 years ago
The water can help ease the pain, if there was anything wrong with it, it wouldn't be done:)
Load More Replies... Robyn Rob 5 years ago
I had a rough time. I still think about it 16 years later, ha ha. Totally expected an epidural and when it was time they told me the specialist was called to an emergency. No epidural for me. It was terrible. I know people go pain free and that's great if you choose it. But I wasn't prepped for that. I survived obviously but I never did it again!
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