Beautiful and raw breastfeeding image wins international photography award

UK-based baby and family photographer, Karen Wiltshire, has been awarded the coveted title of Newborn Photographer of the Year thanks to her striking, natural portrait of a breastfeeding mother.

Karen is a specialist in newborn and baby photography and runs a thriving portrait photography business (Karen Wiltshire Photography) from her home-based studio in Poole, Dorset. She’s photographed more than 1000 babies since she started her business back in 2011.

Speaking about the significance of the award-winning breastfeeding image, she said: “I’m really keen to play a part in normalising breastfeeding and to shake off the stigma around what is an entirely natural part of motherhood. My hope is that by winning an international photography award for one of my breastfeeding images, and having this portrait seen by thousands of people as a result, it’ll help breastfeeding to become even more widely accepted and celebrated.

I’m really keen to play a part in normalising breastfeeding and to shake off the stigma around what is an entirely natural part of motherhood.

Karen Wiltshire

The international panel of judges for the Societies of Photographers remarked: Karen’s portrait is …“a lovely, tender moment caught between mother and baby. This image caught the judge’s eyes straight away as it’s not something they often see in the competition, and its impact carried it through to win the category.“

Of the award win, she said: “Competition is extremely tough in every category of the Societies awards, so I’m absolutely thrilled to have been titled Newborn Photographer of the Year!  I took a chance and entered a “different “ kind of newborn image and you made my dreams come true. I’m immensely proud of my winning portrait – it’s beautiful and raw, and just perfectly natural. It makes me very proud to be a photographer.”

The award-winning breastfeeding image

I’m immensely proud of my winning portrait – it’s beautiful and raw, and just perfectly natural. It makes me very proud to be a photographer.”