A group photograph taken in a small Australian town won first prize at the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards by 2024, and it’s not hard to see why.
Chris Perkins, of Photography under the treeI was delighted to see his photo celebrated on the world stage when he took out the ‘I-Do Crew’ category.
This category, which is one of 12 featured awards in addition to Photo of the Year, required entrants to submit photos capturing a married couple with some or all of their attendees.
Mr Perkins, who lives in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, has followed the prestigious awards since they began eight years ago.
This year they had an incredible collection of over 2,000 entries submitted by 450 photographers from 63 countries.
‘I had submitted images before for the awards but, as you can imagine, with the standard being so high, I never expected to get anything. I just crossed my fingers and waited,” Mr Perkins told FEMAIL.
“When the news came that I had won one of the categories, I was completely stunned!”
The winning photograph was taken in the small town of Dungog in the Hunter region. Mr. Perkins’ couple, Bridget and Alex, found a nice old theater on their travels and decided it would be a great venue for their wedding.
Chris Perkins of Underatreehouse Photography was delighted to see his photo (pictured) celebrated on the world stage when he won the ‘I-Do Crew’ category at the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards.
Photo of the Year went to Bettina Vass Photography in Iceland with her stunning image of a couple getting married on top of a glacier
“They really wanted something a little different and unique for themselves and had an idea for a group photo of all their guests sitting in the cinema seats wearing 3D glasses,” Mr Perkins said.
‘I just thought it was amazing and wanted to let you know. When I saw the space I realized it was too dark to take a good photo and decided to install the two flashes you see at the back of the auditorium to add a bit of drama and “theatre”.
“Then I asked them to look past me as if they were watching a movie, so it was even less traditional and I think the result was fantastic.”
And it’s clear he wasn’t the only one who thought that.
Mr. Perkins has been taking photographs for as long as he can remember. As a child, he followed his parents on family vacations and tried to capture local cultures and small passing moments.
He then completed a Bachelor of Editorial and Advertising Photography at the Kent Institute of Art & Design in the United Kingdom.
“This experience taught me a lot about the philosophical and conceptual side of photography and allowed me to experiment with different styles and learn to tell a story through my images,” he said.
‘However, it wasn’t until I started working commercially as a photographer that I really learned the technical aspects, how to work with light and the ability to think and adapt on the fly. For weddings in particular, a wide variety of skills are needed to make the day go smoothly.
The winner of the Couple Portrait category went to Andri Tei in Singapore. The photograph was taken at teamLab Future World at the Singapore Art and Science Museum.
The Dance Floor category was won by Ewelina Puk in Poland. She captured this moment during the couple’s first dance, after the sun had set.
“You have to react quickly to changing events, but also keep people inspired and engaged for hours on end.”
It took him a while to figure out the secret to great wedding photography, but he says the key is adaptability and spontaneity.
“No matter how many weddings you photograph, each one is different, whether it’s the light, the attitude of the people, the atmosphere, the space you have to work with… so the experience comes first,” he says. explained.
‘If I had to pick something besides this, it would be the photographer’s attitude and demeanor. On a wedding day, emotions run high and people want it to be everything they expected. I try very hard to bring the right energy to the day to make sure everyone has the best time.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean being wild, sometimes you have to be a calm influence and sometimes you have to encourage people, it’s about finding the right approach for each couple so that they feel comfortable and confident being themselves.”
The winner of ‘ Desde Arriba ‘ went to Yamil Calderón Telltitud in Mexico. It was taken in a boutique hotel in the middle of the forest.
Hollie Mateer, from Yorkshire, removed the Single Capture category and admits “everyone who sees this image laughs.” “I used perspective and scale to tell a joke in this photograph, waiting for the exact moment I needed to bring the different elements together,” he said.
Mr Perkins’ photography was in good company, and this year’s gallery of winners highlighted the most beautiful photographs taken around the world.
Photo of the Year went to Bettina Vass Photography in Iceland with her stunning image of a couple getting married on top of a glacier.
“Katla Ice Cave, situated in the stunning surroundings of Vik on the southern coast of Iceland, is a place like no other,” he says.
‘This ice cave, named after the volcano beneath the Kötlujökull glacier, is a sight to behold. To reach it, you must undertake a hike and descent led by a trained glacier guide.’
“No matter how many weddings you photograph, each one is different, whether it’s the light, the attitude of the people, the atmosphere, the space you have to work with… so the first thing is the experience,” said Mr. Perkins explained (pictured is one of the recent weddings he captured)
It was there where he captured the winning photo.
“The hike to the top was challenging but exciting, and when Mauli and Christian exchanged their vows against the backdrop of the setting sun, it was a moment of pure joy and beauty,” she said.
Other standouts included Ewelina Puk’s runner-up in Poland, Kemran Shiraliev’s Black and White winner in Russia, and Andri Tei’s Couple’s Portrait winner in Singapore.