Happiness, tears, hugs, emotion - capturing all this and more is the task wedding photographers face in their line of duty. There’s no second takes with this genre, you can’t ask a bride to walk down the aisle again because you had the wrong lens attached, so wedding photography definitely creates an element of stress.
The best photographers not only handle these pressures, but also excel and create stunning imagery that the happy couple will treasure for a lifetime. . . well, at least until the divorce comes around. This week, the best of the best have been honoured as the annual International Wedding Photographer of the Year awards winners were announced.
The prestigious contest is open to both part-time and full-time professional wedding photographers and saw thousands of entries battle for a share of the prizes that totaled $25000 in value. This year’s Grand Winner was announced as Canadian photographer, Erika Mann, who netted the top prize for an epic capture of a bride, on a mountain, complete with rainbows - wow! Erika, commented on the image. “Paige and Daniel had a super low key wedding, with the reception taking place in their parent’s backyard. Thankfully their parents have one of the most beautiful backyards in the planet, along the banks of Cougar Creek in Canmore, Alberta. After a short, and unpredictable storm, we were treated to the most amazing double rainbow. ”
Image by Erika Mann/IWPOTY
The International Wedding Photographer of the Year contest not only celebrates the best in the business, but also provides plenty of inspiration for newcomers looking to take their first steps in the industry, so let’s check out some of the other winning images from the competition. . .
US photographer, Paul Woo, was awarded overall Runner Up spot for this heartfelt capture. “The child was the son of the bride. As everyone stood up and waited for the bride to come down the aisle, he started expressing so much emotion. I was solo shooting this wedding and this moment was difficult because I was secretly bawling behind the camera, and had to prioritize this moment over the bride coming down the aisle,” explained Paul.
Image by Paul Woo/IWPOTY
Irish photographer, Adrian O’Neill, took top honours in the ‘From Above’ category for this action-based couples shot. “The couple were a wedding photographer’s dream, they were so awesome. The couple gave me all the time I wanted to get stunning images of them. The actual shot was taken by me standing in the back of the convertible hanging on for dear life, but was so worth it,” commented Adrian.
Image by Adrian O'Neill/IWPOTY
Winner of the hotly-contested ‘Dance Floor’ category went to Canadian shooter, Mike Vallely, who managed to squeeze in the wedding couple, all their guests and some stunning mountains into just one frame.
Image by Mike Vallely/IWPOTY
Top honours in the ‘Black & White’ category went to Bruno Sauma, who captured an emotional moment between the bride and her father. “I am so proud I could capture and share this unique touchable moment during the Father-daughter dance. Her hero will always have a special place in her heart,” commented Bruno.
Image by Bruno Sauma/IWPOTY
Another entry to score highly in the ‘Dance Floor’ category was this fun frame from Lanny Mann, which showed how a low angle can bring more impact into an action shot and helped a younger wedding guest show off his dance moves.
Image by Lanny Mann/IWPOTY
This eerie image from Canadian photographer Angela Ruscheinski won the ‘Bridal Party’ category. “I’d scouted out this location in advance and had the idea to put Sydney and Brandon’s extra large bridal party in front of an impressive mountain backdrop. Instead, we had thick fog and fluffy snow. So, I rolled with it and mirrored the fog using my iPhone screen,” she explains.
Image by Angela Ruscheinski/IWPOTY
Who says wedding poses have to be stuffy and formal? Not Australian photographer Lucy Spartalis, who’s fun image (and unusual posing) made it into the Bridal Party category Top Ten shortlist.
Image by Lucy Spartalis/IWPOTY
Another unusual pose helped Jayme Lang to claim top spot in the ‘Couple Portrait’ category. “This image embodies so much of what I love about Wedding photography. When we walked into the parkade I was immediately drawn to the clean parallel lines and I envisioned the two of them laying in separate stalls, serene & statuesque,” she commented.
Image by Jayme Lang/IWPOTY
James Frost took on the famously turbulent weather of the Faroe Islands, a small island in the middle of the north Atlantic, to capture this fairytale frame of a happy couple. In the background is the waterfall of Gasadalur, the valley was previously inaccessible by road until as recently as 2006 when a tunnel was opened.
Image by James Frost/IWPOTY
Aerial photography has seen photographers get even more creative and this colourful image from Ye Htut, which was shortlisted in the ‘From Above’ category, shows exactly what can be achieved.
Image by Ye Htut/IWPOTY
Germany-based photographer, Marios Kourouniotis, used creativity and the power of reflection to capture the moment a bride arrived in her wedding car.
Image by Marios Kourouniotis/IWPOTY
. digitalrev.com2018-3-6 03:00