Courtesy Photo Alpena native Kimberly Kimble won Best in Category and Members’ Choice Best in Category in the 2019 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Image Competition for this photo of a couple and their newborn titled “This Is Us.” Kimble has earned worldwide accolades and runs her photography business, Rushes & Waves, in Oregon.

Kimberly Kimble loves taking photos of mothers and families with their brand-new babies, and now she has won an international award for her talent.

The Alpena native won Best in Category and Members’ Choice Best in Category in the 2019 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Image Competition for her photo of a couple and their newborn titled “This Is Us.”

“This contest is open to thousands of members worldwide and is published on an international scale so it’s a big deal for me and my business,” Kimble said in a press release to The News.

She explained over the phone on Thursday that this photo has been recognized and featured in national publications including the Huffington Post and BuzzFeed. It has also been published worldwide in Belgium, Italy, France, Australia, Vietnam and Switzerland.

“It is really exciting,” said Kimble. “I honestly was shocked. It’s a big honor.”

Kimble lives in Sherwood, Oregon, with her husband Danny Kimble and children Ellery, 10, Linkyn, 4, and Maxwell, who will turn 2 this month. She has lived in Oregon for nine years.

“It felt really validating for me that I’m on the right track with my work,” Kimble added.

Kimble is a 2007 graduate of Alpena High School and a 2009 graduate of Alpena Community College. She is the daughter of Joy Krawczak of Alpena.

Her photography business is called Rushes & Waves.

Reach Darby Hinkley at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com or 989-358-5691.