International Wedding Photographer of the Year winners show wedding photography is creative and fun

The fifth International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards has just announced its 2021 winners. If you think wedding photography is boring, this selection will prove you wrong and show you just how many fun and unique images you can get at a wedding.

This year’s competition received more than 1,500 images across nine categories, submitted by 415 wedding photographers from 58 countries. Among them all, Fabio Mirulla from Italy was selected as the overall winner, earning the title of the 2021 International Wedding Photographer of the Year. His cleverly composed and light-hearted capture shows the quirky and fun side of not just wedding photography, but photography in general. It was entered into the Black & White category, where it was also awarded as the winner.

James Simmons, last year’s Grand Winner and one of six judges of 2021 Awards, commented:

“Such a unique image that works on so many levels. The photographer has taken the ‘earring moment’ in your average setting and elevated it with the use of composition, timing, and humour to be a masterful piece of visual communication. The design, content and story are on point, which allows the viewer to extract an interesting narrative from the scene.”

The Runner-Up was Canadian duo Andrew and Bec of Willow & Wolf. Their incredible environmental portrait was entered in the Epic Location Category, where it was selected the winner. This photo is a “true testament to the importance of framing and timing, as well as to the bravery of this thrill-seeking couple who hiked through the dark of night to reach this heavenly mountain top for the sun-rise, before celebrating their marriage lake-side with their nearest and dearest that same afternoon.”

Take a look at the remaining category winners and runner-ups below. And for more information and inspiring photos, make sure to check out the contest’s website.