Chemainus birth photographer Ashley Marston has won first place in the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP) annual photo competition.
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MarstonB次元官网网址檚 photo titled B次元官网网址楧addyB次元官网网址檚 GirlsB次元官网网址� features LadysmithB次元官网网址檚 Justin Webber with his daughters Avery, Evelyn, Olivia, and newborn baby girl, Junia, shortly after she was birthed by her mother Nikki.
B次元官网网址淎shley has been taking pictures of our family since 2014,B次元官网网址� Nikki said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been amazing. Ashley has been there to photograph the birth of three of my kids. ItB次元官网网址檚 been really cool that sheB次元官网网址檚 gotten to watch my family grow over the years.B次元官网网址�
Junia was birthed at home in May 2020. She had been lying breech until 39 weeks, and the Webbers thought they would have to give birth by c-section. COVID-19 protocols would have only allowed one visitor in the hospital, which would have forced them to cancel their plans with Marston, and left them scrambling to organize child care.
B次元官网网址淏ut at the last second Junia turned around, and everything was good to go. We actually called Ashley at about midnight after an hour of labour,B次元官网网址� Nikki said.
The now internationally recognized photo was taken around 3 a.m. that night in their Ladysmith home.
B次元官网网址淣ikki gave birth beautifully and joyfully to this baby in the birthing pool in her living room with all of her girls and her husband surrounding her. It was incredible,B次元官网网址� Marston said.
B次元官网网址淛ust before I left the dad crawled into bed and put the baby on his chest, the girls crowded around, and I snuck in for one last shot. That was it. I left as the sun was coming up.B次元官网网址�
Marston has been working as a birth photographer in the Cowichan Valley since 2014. She has worked with families from North Nanaimo to Victoria, but does most of her work in Cowichan. Her birth photography previously earned accolades from National Geographic 2018.
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Two other photos from Marston were recognized in the IAPBP competition. Her photos B次元官网网址楬ome Birth in a PandemicB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榃hen Time Stands StillB次元官网网址� were given honourable mentions. B次元官网网址楧addyB次元官网网址檚 GirlsB次元官网网址� was also picked as the MemberB次元官网网址檚 Choice in the Postpartum category.
For the Webber family, the international recognition has put a spring in their step, but what matters most to them is the precious memory that Marston captured.
B次元官网网址淲hen I look at the picture IB次元官网网址檓 reminded of the togetherness that weB次元官网网址檝e experienced together during the pandemic, and I really hope that other people can see this picture and be reminded of the good things that have happened for them during this time,B次元官网网址� Nikki said.
For more of Ashley MarstonB次元官网网址檚 work visit:
