Breathtaking images that were crowned as  winners of the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards – from a surprise visit from a bird to couples’ death-defying stunts

Copper is the traditional metal to celebrate a seventh wedding anniversary, but it's all gold for a Canadian photographer, who won the top prize in the seventh wedding anniversary celebration. Awards for International Wedding Photographer of the Year.

More than 1,700 beautiful wedding photos from 300 wedding photographers, spread across 11 categories.

However, the photo of the 'big winner' was taken by Tara Lilly, who captured the breathtaking moment a bird landed on the bride's head and settled in as the groom read his vows.

The incredible photo was submitted in the Single Capture category and won first prize.

Second prize went to Italian wedding photographer Carmelo Ucchino, who captured the moment a newlywed couple embraced as water fell brilliantly around them.

Looking back on the recording, Tara recalled the moment she saw the bird land on bride Mikaela's head as the couple exchanged their vows during their picturesque ceremony in Whistler, Canada.

“Just as Mitch (the groom) started his vows, a nosy whiskey jack came in and landed right on Mikaela's head,” she explained on the radio. Awards for International Wedding Photographer of the Year website.

“Mikaela's shock, surprise and laughter were not enough to dislodge this bird,” she added.

The rules for this category require that entries may not be manipulated or photoshopped beyond standard color and lighting adjustments.

Runners-up were Italian wedding photographer Carmelo Ucchino, who captured the moment a newlywed couple embraced as water fell brilliantly around them. This moment was registered in the Dance Floor category.

“In this photo, water is actually falling from the roof in an almost surreal context, it is a dance floor where the bride and groom are doing their first dance together,” Carmelo explains. “I fondly remember the slippery floor…A few slips and lots of laughter to make the story of this wedding even more vivid.”

Other categories entered into the contest included: Couple Portrait, The I-Do Crew/Group Photo, Black and White, Engagement/Non-Wedding, Epic Location, From Above, Solo Portrait, Break the Rules, and Lit .

“With the successful completion of the seventh annual Awards, we continue to provide exposure and a unique platform for wedding and elopement photographers to have their best images reviewed and judged by our team of highly awarded and experienced educators and judges,” Luke Simon, the International The curator of the Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards, said.

Jeff Tisman won the I Do Crew/Group Shot, cramming 16 people from the wedding party into one unique photo

The photo of the epic location was credited to Aimée Flynn, who captured an epic photo of newlyweds celebrating their nuptials during a Superman-style kiss – in the middle of a rock climb

Aimee Schaefer won the couple portrait. She said that before the photo was taken, they were all pelted with rain, sleet and snow but were then treated to the 'most beautiful and moody sunset ever'

The winner of From Above was Ben Lane of Tinted Photography – who captured a photo of a bride and groom as the sun rose on Italy's Lago Di Braies

Traci Edwards won the Break The Rules category, capturing an epic photo of a bride and groom under the stars in a hanging rappel in the middle of an arch to look up at the stars.

Shankhesh Jariwala took the best solo photo of the competition and revealed that there was a 'very interesting story' behind the photo hanging behind the bride

Van Middleton won the Lit category and captured a photo in Australia's Worrowing Estate showing the newlyweds illuminated by a full moon and the videographer's LED lights

Fabio Mirulla took the photo in Tuscany and wrote that he was “in the right place at the right time.”

'This year we saw an increase of 200 additional entries compared to last year, partly due to a return to business as usual bookings for photographers closer to pre-COVID.

'It is exciting to see how the sector is recovering after a number of difficult years.

“Along with the Awards Program, we're working to help photographers book more clients by adding a wedding photographer search directory for couples in love to find their other perfect match.

'As wedding and elopement photographers we spend a very large part of this crucial day with our couples, often as much or more of the day than they spend with each other, so it is imperative that couples have a place to find the right professional to capture their photos. day.'

The 2023 International Wedding Photographer of the Year winner received more than $3,000, as well as products from sponsors including Prograde Digital, Holdfast Gear, Pic-Time, Narrative Select, Godox, Koi Knives and ImagenAi.