weddings

BIPP North West Region Professional Photography Awards - Creative Wedding Winner 2009

Winning image BIPPNW awards 2009 taken inside The Lancaster Priory Church in October !
 
   

Last year I was fortunate to win the 'BIPP Creative Wedding Photographer of the year 2008' AWARD with an image from Adele & Roy's wedding, this year I was back to defend my title amongst some brilliant wedding photographers many based in Manchester.

The Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, in Warrington on saturday 24th April was the venue for The British Institue of Professional Photographers (BIPP) North West Regional 2009 awards night chaired by Ian Southerin & guest speaker David A. Williams from Melbourne, Aus. From 6.30pm we bought drinks and looked and admired the many beautiful images countless photographers from the region had entered. The judges job is never easy. Whoever they are I salute you!

One of mine and gills favourite images titled 'Gothic Bride'  photographed inside The Lancaster Priory church in October last year gained me the title for the 2nd year running - back to back titles of 'BIPP Creative Wedding Photographer of the year 2009' North West Region.

Spending many hours sat by the computer paid off in defending my crown from the Cheshire, Manchester based photographers who themselves did very well also on the night in other categories. Here's a link to show you the others shortlisted from origianl 50 entries, CW denote the Creative Wedding category. All of the images were presented on 20"x16" 5mm board to a panel of judges, my 3 images entered printed on this occassion by David Farnell labs of Lancaster who did a great job for me. 
    
I was worried that this image may have been overlooked as it is very unusual for a wedding photograph, Kim opted for a black dress at her wedding and my aim was to make an artistic statement along the lines of John Parris/ Gordon McGowan style of wedding photography whom are both great artistic photographers I admire. My influences in the art world are the Old master styled painters like Caravaggio and Velasequez and I have tried to apply this dark low key imagery to my images, as judges do seem to like it.

On a technical note, because the October rainy day was so dark and gloomy outside, inside was even worse in the Lancaster Priory church there was very little available daylight to work with and to make matters worst looking over Kim at 40 ft up made me suffer from vertigo and was very difficult to keep the camera steady at 1/30th after directing her. However despite all this the camera a Canon 5D excelled in this low light enviroment.

Winning the BIPP Creative Wedding award was important for me because;

a) It is in keeping with my style of preferred wedding work
b) I believe the most challenging category in weddings from the 3 - Traditional, Reportage & Creative.
c) Consistency
d) If I win it next year do I get to keep it? :-)
e) My main aim in all of this is to be awarded the FBIPP. I hope this image will go towards that total tally of 20 stunning images into becoming a Fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photographers one day. This organisation is the oldest now over 100 years and most prestigious.

The BIPP's main website is here
The BIPP North West Regions website is here  

SWPP Update - Gold Awarded

Update. Back in January I submitted an image to the SWPP (Society of Wedding Photographers) taken of a bride called Boo (love the nic-name) at one of my favorites venues The Merewood Hotel, Lake District. Anyway originally it was marked as a Silver but has since been upgraded to a Gold so I'm happy about that, here's the image again. Each quarter they review Silvers as a panel of judges and not on an individual basis, which is how they are selected generally.
  
 

2008 BIPP North West Pro Photography Awards. Venue at Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, Warrington

MPA/BIPP North West Professional Photography Awards. Venue at Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, Warrington 
What a wonderful event that was staged by the 2 main photographic organisations The BIPP/MPA for the North West Region (from Carlisle, Cumbria down to members in Crewe, Cheshire) to host this years Professional Photographic Awards night region hosted brilliantly by Nigel Jay the Newsreader.
Myself & Gill, my mother,Tim (assistant) headed down to Warrington for a Champagne reception/ dinner, where all 14 categories were on display that's 140, 20"x16" prints shortlisted down from approx. original 1000 computer entries. Originally 61 images had been entered into the Creative Wedding section.

 
I had my eyes only on 1 award since last year, although wedding has 3 categories there was only 1 title I was after (to start with anyway):-).
Approx. 150 people attended the awards ceremony including 80 photographers from all over the North West Region. Creative Wedding was 3rd out of 14 so I didnt have long to wait, just after the starters.
10 images were shortlisted to be printed then assessed by a panel of experienced judges at the NEC in February.
Martin was awarded Gold for his winning image 'Flames of Passion' taken at The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, nr Preston at Adele & Roy's Wedding August 3rd.


Bronze was awarded, phew not me, I was looking down breathing deeply keeping a low profile, 'Silver'.....Ray Kearney's name was shouted a brilliant creative photographer whom on the night did very well. 'Gold'.......Martin Crombie, I was shocked I got up and walked up to the front to be presented with a framed certificate and Trophy by Andrew John Sherriff who also did very well on the night. Heres me looking made up, my first Title,
Creative Wedding Photographer of the Year NW 2008, or Overall Creative Wedding Photography 1 Gold Winner. (Technical details Fuji S2+17-55 - 1/30th F2.8 400asa, CS3)
So out of 100 entries my image won which wont come as a surprise to my bloggers to hear was taken at Adele & Roy's wedding. Ray Kearney won Wedding Album of The Year the only other category I entered, Andrew John Sherriff (Sherriff Studios) not to be confused with
Andrew John Photography of Liverpool, cleaned the board and won overall Title of NorthWest Photographer of the Year, and Ray got Title of Wedding Photographer of the Year title. Next year I will enter more categories as I didn't know about the points system which adds up to go towards the bigger titles. A brilliant night, one to remember and I'll be back next year

'Creative Wedding Photographer of the Year NW 2008'

BIPPNW Awards set for 19th April 2008
Well the excitiment is almost over, less than 3 weeks to find out whose won
Out of final 10 images I have 2 shortlisted. Heres the 10. The judging has been done its just a waiting game now.I also put in for 'Wedding Album of the Year' so it will be interesting to see whose won.