It often seems like the general quality of wedding photography has dropped in recent years. I don’t know if it is because DSLR cameras have become so popular or because so many people who have just picked up their first DSLR consider themselves a “pro”. Maybe it is just due to the fact that so many photographers today, no matter their level, have a website or Facebook business page.
This isn’t a rant about the state of professional photography or a debate whether or not new photographers are ruining the industry. This is simply the reason why I now, more than ever, appreciate good wedding photographers.
That’s why I decided to share with you some of the best wedding photographs of 2014, selected by the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers.
The ISPWP set a target to raise the standards of the wedding photography profession.
As part of its ongoing activities the organization holds four photography contests annually, one per season.
Despite being members only, over 20,000 images were submitted to the quarterly 2014 contests. These photos came from 700 photographers located in 50 different countries.
Each contest includes 20 categories so there are a total of 80 winning shots each year. When I hear about an organization that gives out so many awards I usually suspect that they are trying to satisfy as many people as possible and believe that “everybody is a winner”, but I definitely can’t say that about the ISPWP.
Judging by the winning shots, I’d say the ISPWP is doing a great job meeting its goal.
This post is for those who love wedding photography, but mainly for those who have been losing faith in the industry.
I present you my favorite picks of the winning photos that were published in 2014.
1st PLACE | BRIDE PORTRAIT | SUMMER 2014
Gerhard Nel | Gerhard Nel Photography | The Hague, Netherlands
1st PLACE | BRIDE PORTRAIT | SPRING 2014
Eunice Montenegro | Eunice Montenegro Photography | Columbus, Ohio
1st PLACE | BRIDE PORTRAIT | WINTER 2013
Apresh Chavda | Apresh Chavda Photography | London, United Kingdom
1st PLACE | BRIDE AND GROOM PORTRAIT | WINTER 2013
Galina Nabatnikova | GRANINPHOTO.RU | Moscow, Russia
1st PLACE | BRIDE AND GROOM PORTRAIT | SUMMER 2014
Erika Mann | Two Mann Studios | Canmore, Alberta
1st PLACE | BRIDE AND GROOM PORTRAIT | SPRING 2014
Galina Nabatnikova | GRANINPHOTO.RU | Moscow, Russia
1st PLACE | CEREMONY | SPRING 2014
Nacho Mora | LOOK FOTOGRAFIA | Zaragoza, Spain
1st PLACE | CEREMONY | WINTER 2013
Raman El Atiaoui | RAMAN-PHOTOS | Frankfurt, Germany
1st PLACE | THE DECISIVE MOMENT | SUMMER 2014
Dennis Berti | Dennis Berti | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
1st PLACE | ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT | SUMMER 2014
Raymond Phang | Raymond Phang Photography | Singapore
1st PLACE | FAMILY LOVE | FALL 2014
Allen Ko | T-PHOTO STUDIOS Allen.Ko | Canton, China
1st PLACE | FIRST DANCE | FALL 2014
Peter van der Lingen | Peter van der Lingen Fine Art Weddings | Zwolle, Netherlands
1st PLACE | FRAMING THE SUBJECT | WINTER 2013
Ruslan Myts | Ruslan Myts | Novorossiysk, Russia
1st PLACE | GETTING READY | SPRING 2014
Tito Rikardo | THEUPPERMOST PHOTOGRAPHY | Jakarta, Indonesia
1st PLACE | HUMOR | SPRING 2014
Rich Howman | Elan Images | Bristol, United Kingdom
1st PLACE | KIDS WILL BE KIDS | SPRING 2014
Nick Chang | Justwedding | Hong Kong
1st PLACE | KIDS WILL BE KIDS | SUMMER 2014
Wellington Fugisse | Wellington Fugisse | Silves, Portugal
1st PLACE | PURE ART | WINTER 2013
Dan Petrovic | Dan photographe | Paris, France
1st PLACE | PURE ART | SUMMER 2014
Tatyana Chaiko | Tatyana Chaiko | Odessa, Ukraine
1st PLACE | PURE ART | FALL 2014
Emin Kuliyev | Emin Wedding Photography | New York City, New York
1st PLACE | VENUE OR LOCATION | SUMMER 2014
Szymon Nykiel | Lmfoto.pl | Cracow, Poland
1st PLACE | VENUE OR LOCATION | WINTER 2013
Carey Nash | Carey Nash Photography | Edmonton, Alberta
1st PLACE | WEDDING DETAILS | SPRING 2014
Ivo Popov | Ivo Popov Photography | Brussels, Belgium
1st PLACE | THE WEDDING DRESS | WINTER 2013
Aries Tao | Clovergraphy | Sydney, Australia
Now that you’ve seen what can be done when the wedding goes as planned, have a look what one bride did when her fiancé left her just before the wedding, or watch this photographer pull ninja moves to get his couple to smile.
Visit the ISPWP’s full list to see all 80 winning shots.
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