I did it. And I am very proud of it! Last year I organized a major international photo competition to celebrate motherhood, children and young families. For the first time!
Although there were already photo competitions with categories for family and children photographers, as a birth photographer I missed a competition that also welcomed unposed and birth photos. In most photo competitions the emphasis was on created or styled photos. And birth photos didn't stand a chance through censorship. That bothered me as a lifestyle and birth photographer!
So I decided to arrange it myself from scratch. It cost me blood, sweat and tears. And many investments, not least an investment of time. I had to convince people, I learned to persevere and persevere. But in the end, The Birth & Beyond Photography Awards were finally there!
But it helped that I believed very strongly in the concept that motherhood and young families should be celebrated. In all its styles, genres and types of photography. So not only posed or styled, but also pure and honest. As motherhood is real or can be.
As I said, birth photographers (or fresh48 photographers) often face censorship in photo contests. In addition, there are many maternity photographers who shoot unposed and unstyled. The BB Awards are a welcome addition to the existing range of photo competitions, where the stylized or studio photos often win. But of course those photos are also welcome! That is why I consciously opted for an unstyled and a posed newborn category, for example.
My intention is that ALL family photographers should be able to participate in photo contests, regardless of your genre, style or type of photography. The BB Awards are for any photographer who shoots families, motherhood and children up to 12 years old. Even the photographers without a big budget, because there is even a possibility to participate for free. ;)
I think that's important: EVERYONE should have the opportunity to show their most beautiful work to the world. And everyone must have the opportunity to win. Not just the people with money.
During the year I noticed my idea was slowly being embraced. The entries slowly trickled in and the BB Awards started to become more known. I could sometimes cry with joy when I saw that the competition had encouraged someone to submit photos that you knew were probably very daring. For example, I can still very well remember some very discreet photos of a delivery that took place in an Islamic country. Unfortunately they did not win, but I think it was already a victory that the photos were submitted.
I am proud of what I have created and I hope that I can show the world many more beautiful images of motherhood, childhood and young families. To start with, these Overall Winners and the 2020 audience awards! Life at its best!
More info: bb-awards.com
