Portland Birth Photographer Natalie Broders Awarded Gold
Category: Story In One Image
Image Title: The Lovers After
August 1, 2023

Natalie Broders has received First Place in the category “Story In One Image” for her image titled “The Lovers After” in the 2023 Birth Becomes You Image Showcase. Click here to view all the winners.

“Two lovers exhale and close their eyes for a brief moment. Savoring the moment, letting that relief wash over them, having emerged on the other side whole and more in love than ever before. It is such a privilege to be invited into the sacred and intimate space that is birth. I am constantly humbled when a family allows me to document their transition into parenthood. Thank you, to this wonderful family, for allowing me to share their birth story – I am forever grateful.” – Natalie Broders

This image received the following written feedback from the image showcase judges:

Feedback Panelist #1: Jacinta Lagos

Ok, this might be my favorite birth image ever. The lovers after. I’m kinda speechless for this image. The
storytelling is fantastic and I love how the artist didn’t include a description when there’s actually no reason to describe what we’re seeing here. These two parents had just given birth and they rest as if they just had a sexual encounter. Birth IS a sexual event and this is very much a depiction of that. The exhaustion and relief are exactly the same as the ones you could experience after an orgasm. Even the foggy window denotes an intense physical activity that just happened. Technically is also beautiful. The tones, the composition, the highlights and shadows that hit the right places. The expressions, the bond between the three of them.

Wow, I’m blown away by this image. I have zero critics for this image.

The artist should be extremely proud about this image, its title and editing. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.

Thank you Jacinta!

Feedback Panelist #2: Dallas Arthur

I am so glad that I get to give you feedback on this image because it caught my eye right away! It is
stunning! And your title is perfect, reminding the viewer that they are lovers, collapsed in bliss and
euphoria together. It stands out for a lot of reasons, but especially because it is dad in the tub, skin-to-skin with baby, and mom resting on the couch and that juxtaposition is lovely. I love the detail in dad’s
hands and baby’s hair, contrasted with the softness in mom’s skin and her soft belly. There are so many
little details that I love, the foggy window, the light shining through her water glass, and my favorite, the
little peek of mom’s thumb on her partner’s head, connecting them. Your moody tone is gorgeous, and it
makes the lighting pop even more. I love the simplicity of this moment. There is nothing I would change
about this image: it is perfection!

Thank you Dallas!

Natalie Broders is a birth photographer, videographer and birth doula serving Portland Oregon and Vancouver Washington. She lives on a farm with her husband and 2 kids. They raise chickens and love to garden. Natalie loves babywearing, cloth diapering and is passionate about her work as an advocate for birthing people. She had one of her babies at a birth center and her second baby was born at home, in water.