Professional Photographer of the Year Award
Wedding image wins Photographer of the Year award
Photographer of the Year. I’ve never been the type of photographer forever shooting for and entering competitions. In the early days of my career, I once had a book thrown at me across the newspaper picture desk. My crime was I had failed to enter a recent front-page shot of mine in the annual Press Photography awards. But in the last eighteen months or so I’ve entered a few wedding images into various wedding photography awards and with some success.
Yesterday evening I was in Cheltenham for the PPOTY awards ( Professional Photographer of the Year ) organized by Professional Photographer magazine, one of the UK’s premier photography monthlies. I had entered one of my favourite wedding images from last year into the wedding category and was happy with it being shortlisted. The presentation was held at the Parabola Arts Centre, with all the shortlisted images on display on wooden easels. Well, almost, my image wasn’t there? The reason became clear when Adam Scorey, Group Editor at the magazine, announced the winner of the wedding category. With the entries judged by documentary wedding photographer, Kevin Mullins – my image had won. My image was underneath the others on display, waiting to be revealed as the winner.
( A downside of winning a photography award was having to pose for a photograph having collected the trophy and certificate. I know which side of the camera I prefer to be on! 🙂 )
But that was not all. As the presentation continued, working through the different categories, it did briefly cross my mind as odd that each winner seemed to be asked to talk about their winning image and I hadn’t been. I put it down to no more than I had been one of the first to go up and Adam had forgotten. I was wrong!
Each category winning image had then gone through for the panel of judges to select the overall winner, for the title ‘Professional Photographer of the Year 2012′. It was a genuine shock to see that my image came up on the screen, that I’d won the overall prize. Bit more than just a wedding photography award.
Kinda glad I went now! 🙂 A big thank you to Adam and his team at the magazine and to the panel of judges. But also the sponsor of the wedding category, Folio Albums and congratulations to all the category winners and shortlisted finalists – some lovely work.
But the most thanks have to go to Sophie & Jeremy. For having the confidence to hire me to document their wedding day last September. And as someone said to me at the awards, it didn’t hurt the image to have had such a beautiful bride to shoot! 😉
Cheers guys! Nice to say I’m the Photographer of the Year! 😉
Congratulations Martin! Delighted for you, and I hope you celebrate in style all weekend!
Definitely a very well deserved accolade for a favourite photographer of mine – so very pleased to read this. Congrats
Awesome! Congratulations on well deserved win.
Big congrats Martin! Cracking shot!
A super image Martin, huge congratulations- really well deserved!!
Very well deserved, Martin. A stunning image of a stunning bride at a stunning location. Great to see a wedding image win the overall prize, too.
Stunning image Martin, really well deserved.
I didn’t realise you won the overall prize! Outstanding, and as Steven said, it’s great that a wedding image was recognised for this accolade.
Well done Martin. I remember thinking to myself how lovely that picture is when I first saw it. Your two awards are richly deserved.
Loved this shot from the first time I saw it Martin. Well deserved, killer image and a lovely bloke too.
Congratulations Martin, fantastic image and a worthy winner.
We are very proud of Sophie and Jeremy and agree with you that she was a beautiful bride. We are somewhat biased ! Congratulations to you on the award
Congratulations. This image is amazing, well done and well deserved.
Well done Martin..Nice image..see quality will out…Cheers …Paul
Well done mate, well deserved
Beautiful image – a well deserved win. Congratulations!
Congratulations Martin – wonderful shot.
It’s a cracker, Martin, a well deserved award!
Never could work out the shot but love it all the same. Great eye.
Great news Martin – I can see why! Cheers, Jonny
This has always been my favourite wedding image from last year – justly won, well done Martin!
WELL DONE! well deserved:) very proud
A brilliant photograph which shows all the skill and craft of a true photographer, honed over many years into this shot. Congratulations & well deserved !