"In the photo Touch, we get to ride along on the “birth-high” that this couple is experiencing. Their apparent joy brings me joy and their laughter warms me from the inside out. Even while the focus of the photo is intentionally off-center(and on the placenta), we can still see a full scene of the parents elated reactions."

"I love that this birthing person is surrounded by joy and love. The realness is apparent as well as the love in the room."

"There is this rawness, something supportive and feeling of being held in this image.You can feel the intensity of birth while also the strength of the birthing person as they are being supported by their village."

"As someone who has had a miscarriage and struggles with fertility, this image showed the range of emotions one experiences during times where you thought you’d be experiencing a deep sense of joy.  This image explores the broad spectrum of emotions that can fill you up: rom grief and loss to the calm nurturing care from loved ones."

"I am such a sucker for photos of dads with their babies! And here we get two of them, easy choice for me! I also love how peaceful everyone looks."

Janice Formichella

"Now the mother of a 9-month old, I've found myself thinking recently about what it's going to be like for her the next time I'm pregnant, and when I give birth. This image feels like a lovely dream to me. I see what I hope for myself and for my daughter here."

Cheyenne Varner

"I was immediately drawn to this image. A reflection of this spectrum of birth that we don’t get to see often. A testament of how the way birth affects all - each hand representing a different part of the village whose heart was and will continue to hold this child, tenderly but needing to be tethered strong for each other as they move along the rest of this journey."

Laurel Gourrier