Honored and Grateful: St. Louis Birth And Baby wins International Award and Recognition

Written By St. Louis Birth and Baby

Each year, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP) hosts an image competition that brings together some of the most powerful and emotional moments in birth photography. With 722 entries from around the world in this year’s competition, we are truly honored to have our work recognized among so many talented artists.

This year, Dana Jacobs of St. Louis Birth & Baby was awarded Gold for the 2025 Judges’ Award for Overall Category Winner in Best In Labor for the image “A Moment Before Becoming Dads.” This recognition is deeply meaningful, not just for us as photographers, but for the families who trust us to document their most intimate and life-changing moments.

certificate of authenticity for a gold award for best in labor category in the international association of professional birth photographers annual image competition.

Additional Recognitions

We are also thrilled to share that multiple images from our team placed in the Top 10% and Top 20% of all entries:

 
badge reflecting that these photos were in the top 10% of all images submitted to the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Image Competition
An overhead perspective of a mother's older son taking a photo of his mom in a birth pool during her labor at home.

“Big Brother. Birth Photographer.” by Dana Jacobs

A close-up photo of surgeons in blue scrubs using a vacuum to assist baby in being born via cesarean birth.

“What Happens Behind the Curtain” – Anna Sutkowski

 
 
 

📷 “After Waiting All Night” – Dana Jacobs
📷 “Emerging Into The Light” – Anna Sutkowski
📷 “Shape & Shadow” – Dana Jacobs
📷 “Surrounded By Blood” – Dana Jacobs
📷 “When Mom Can’t” – Dana Jacobs

 
Family meets baby for the first time with joyful smiles on their faces and phone cameras in hand after waiting patiently for baby's arrival while mom labored and ultimately birthed via c-section.

“After Waiting All Night” by Dana Jacobs

An overhead view of a mother surrounded by her sister, husband, and two sons as she pushes out her third son during her homebirth..

“Surrounded By Blood” by Dana Jacobs

A brand new baby is lifted out of her mother's womb during a surgical birth. Baby is squinting into the bright light of the operating room even before being completely out of her mother's body.

“Emerging Into The Light” by Anna Sutkowski

A birds-eye-view of a woman in a black bra laboring on her couch with golden sunlight streaming in and casting shadows in geometric shapes on her body.

“Shape & Shadow” by Dana Jacobs

A dad holds his brand new baby who was born moments earlier via cesarean skin-to-skin in the operating room with his wife in the background still undergoing surgery.

“When Mom Can’t” by Dana Jacobs

A Heartfelt Thank You

Birth photography is more than just images—it’s storytelling at its most raw, beautiful, and transformative. To the families who allow us into their birth spaces, thank you. Your trust is the reason we do this work. To our fellow birth photographers, we are continually inspired by your artistry and dedication to this field. And to IAPBP and the judges, we deeply appreciate this recognition.

At St. Louis Birth & Baby, we are passionate about capturing the depth and emotion of birth—the quiet strength, the raw intensity, the love that fills the room. These moments deserve to be remembered, and we are honored to be the ones behind the lens.

With gratitude,
The St. Louis Birth & Baby Team

St. Louis Birth and Baby
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