“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”– Mae West
Picture this, it was a quiet Friday evening – about 10:00pm, and my phone starts to whir into life, it’s a pretty unusual time to be getting all these notifications, at that time of night!
I can hardly believe what I’m reading: “The ISPWP is proud to announce the 2017 Wedding Photographer of the Year, and the TOP 100 Wedding Photographers in the World…” I scroll down urgently looking for my name – and there I am, at number 46.
I knew I had done ok with awards this year (I’ve written about it more on my 2017 roundup) but to be named as the 46th best wedding photographer in the world by the ISPWP is literally something which I can’t put into words. No really; I’ve tried, in-fact I’ve attempted to write and re-write this post a few time to convey the sheer feeling of joy and pride – but my words always fall short. After all I’m a photographer and not a writer!
The ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers) is an organisation of the best wedding photographers in the world. It’s competitions are judged by members and so it’s fair. The ISPWP is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious places to win awards for wedding photography and it showcases the best of the best… of the best. Collecting 7 in a year is incredible, but moving through to the top 100 is a different thing altogether. Of my 7 winners 5 are in the top 10, and of those 5, 2 are in the top 3!
In addition to the ISPWP naming me as the 46th top in the world, that also means (based on UK winners) I’m ranked at number 3 in the UK. I don’t know what’s feels better, being 46th out of everybody, or 3rd in the UK! Both are incredible.
Thank you to Joe at the ISPWP and congrats to all the other winners, especially my friend Cristiano Ostinelli who rightly took the No 1 position.
Below are my winners, all 7 of them for 2017. it’s a very proud moment in my life and the best Christmas present I could have ever hoped for.
10th Place – Humor
Winter 2017 Contest
18th Place – First Dance
Spring 2017 Contest
8th Place – Humor
Spring 2017 Contest
16th Place – Framing the Subject
Spring 2017 Contest
3rd Place – Emotional Impact
Spring 2017 Contest
3rd Place – Humor
Summer 2017 Contest
10th Place – The Decisive Moment
Fall 2017 Contest
