this particular competition, gathers professionals from all around the world, submissions have grown since its inception 12 years ago and it has become the pinnacle of recognition for birth photographers. As this genre becomes more and more recognized for its added value, both for the families that choose to have it, as for its role of changing the way we perceive birth, creating awareness and dismistifying miths and fears. Proportionaly to this increasing awareness, the community of artists that document the powerful event that is birth, has also grown, and with that, it has been raising its standards, both creatively and technically. I personally can vouch for that, as I have invested through the years inis continnuos education and gear.

While during pregnancy our bodys and our minds are required to expand, during post-partum there is a need to close our physical bodies and re-define ourselves as this new entity that is being a mother.

The closing of the bones, allows the time and space to address the physical and the spiritual/psychological aspects of this journey.

Although, originally set to happen after the first 40 days postpartum, in reality, this ceremony can be used in any time of your life that you feel the need to carve some space to honor, reflect or come to terms with, and it is not uncommon that this ritual is also used when woman have a hysterectomy, come to the end of their breastfeeding journey, or at the end of a marriage, miscarriage or battling an illness, whatever the reason, you are worthy of honoring yourself this way.