I’m really not one for awards, I know you may find that a little hard to believe, but stick with me. How many times do you hear that phrase….”award winning photographer”, it’s so clichéd these days, it just runs of the tongue with the greatest of ease. So many people throw it around with such impunity that it has almost become a joke. That is until you reach certain heights.
When I restarted my love affair with the old awards I decided to go for the best of the best. It started out with joining the incredible Fearless Photographers. After all being part of that “club” seemed to be the bench mark that was set to the highest of standards. Fearless it was and that was to be the gold standard I set for myself. Several attempts came and went at submitting images for consideration, so many knock backs, so many not quite making the grade moments. It really was so frustrating and so disheartening too. Alongside the Fearless was other awards too. The incredible Wedisson collection, which, no disrespect, is certainly one of the more easier nuts to crack. I managed to get my first one on my first attempt.
On The Edge
On The EdgeThis incredible scene was so natural, so breathless and so amazing to see. Jane and Ben had walked up a hill ahead of me in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. The day was just perfect for them, and this beautiful scene unfolded as if to make their day end as perfectly as it had been throughout.
This was the perfect start to my love affair with the awards. I felt so pleased, not only for myself, but for this beautiful couple. Their faith in me repaid ten fold as the auspicious judges had given them, and me, a great honour. My first Wedisson.
Job done there.
Next, even though I was still attempting to crack the Fearless Nut. (it was proving a very had nut to crack) was another hard nut…..the amazing Master’s Of Wedding Photography awards. This is as tough a nut as the Fearless, given that they only have bride and groom pictures, or images with the happy couple in and the standards are so high. Therefore, there can be no single shots of the bride….groom, and so on. Which makes it a little more difficult picking the right images.
However, I had something rather special in my bag, an amazing portfolio shot of Emily and Olly whose wedding I had captured back earlier this year.
Emily + Olly
Emily + OllyWhat a beautiful and amazing day this was….Emily and Olly’s wedding will always be that bit more special to me, and landing my first Master’s Award was the cherry on a big fat juicy cake.
Read more right HERE to find out why.
Onto my last award of 2017….my third, and final award. At the third attempt no less. My coveted Fearless Award. Yes there are many who have gone before me, some with so many of these awards to their name that just one seems so small, so insignificant, but to me, well it is a big deal. The holy grail of wedding awards is mine 🙂
To end the year with three amazing awards to my name is truly special. It reinforces what I do for all my couples, to create and document their wedding day in as natural and artistic a way as possible. Jenni and Mark’s wedding was one that just kept on giving. Here is my Fearless award (as seen above) it is one I will always treasure and shows just what images can be achieved on the coldest and wettest of Summer days.
Through The Rain
A momentous effort by Jenni and her bridal party who were just so determined to get to the beautiful Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall in North Wales. More about their wet, windy and amazing day can be seen by clicking play on the below image….please do, believe me when I say, it’s worth it.
I can honestly say, with all it’s ups and downs, this year has been so damn special and I can only thank, humbly, those who have allowed me along to capture their special days. I truly hope, and pray, that what I have captured for you is enough. Enough for you to shed a tear, to crack a smile….to embrace a warm glow, as you look back through your images, reliving your day. All I ever want is for you to be happy.
I hope you are.
So back to my opening statement….I really am not one for awards, and I really am not, I am probably what you might call, a reluctant entrant, so why do I enter these? Is it for the recognition? The self improvement aspect? No…..not really, in truth it is because I want to be the best there is, and to be the best there is I have to continually push myself. I do not profess to be the best, far from it. But I will always, even when fighting Cancer, give my couples 110% nothing more and nothing less. I am in the award game for this reason. I need to be inspired and to bring my A game to each and every wedding I do….it’s simply that good enough is never good enough.
Much love and thanks to each and everyone of you….and those yet to be. Thank you all for being part of this amazing, and brilliant, journey.
Phil
