How a playful snap in a tiny Aussie town landed a top prize in the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards
A group photo taken in a small Aussie town has won a top prize at the Awards for International Wedding Photographer of the Year for 2024 – and it’s not hard to see why.
Chris Perkins, from Underatreehouse Photographywas happy to see his photo celebrated on the world stage when it emerged from the ‘I-Do Crew’ category.
This category, which is one of twelve breakout awards alongside Photo of the Year, required entrants to submit photos that captured a bridal couple with some or all of their attendees.
Based in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, Mr Perkins has been following the prestigious awards since they started eight years ago.
This year they had an incredible collection of over 2,000 entries submitted by 450 photographers from 63 countries.
‘I’ve submitted images for the awards before, but as you can imagine, because the standard was so high, I never really expected to get anything. I just crossed my fingers and hoped,” Mr Perkins told FEMAIL.
‘When the news came in that I had won one of the categories, I was absolutely stunned!’
The winning photo was taken in the small town of Dungog in the Hunter Region. Mr. Perkins’ couple Bridget and Alex had found a cute old theater during their travels and decided it would be a great place for their wedding.
Chris Perkins, from Underatreehouse Photography, was pleased to see his photo (photo) celebrated on the world stage when it 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 breathtaking photo of a couple getting married on top of a glacier
“They really wanted something different and unique 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 loved it and wanted to make it for them. When I saw the room I realized it was way too dark to take a good photo and so I decided to put up the two strobe lights you see at the back of the room to add some drama and “theatre” add.
“I then asked them to look past me as if they were watching a movie, so it was even less traditional and I love the result.”
And clearly he wasn’t the only one who thought that.
Mr. Perkins has been taking photos for as long as he can remember. As a child, he followed his parents on family vacations, trying to capture local cultures and small passing moments.
He then completed a bachelor’s degree in editorial and advertising photography at the Kent Institute of Art & Design in Great Britain.
“This experience taught me a lot about the philosophical and conceptual side of photography, and allowed me to experiment with different styles and learn how to tell a story through my images,” he said.
‘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 quickly and adapt. Weddings in particular require a wide variety of skills to ensure the day runs smoothly.
The winner of the Couple Portrait category went to Andri Tei in Singapore. The photo was taken at teamLab Future World at the Singapore Art Science Museum
The Dance Floor category was won by Ewelina Puk in Poland. She caught this moment during the couple’s first dance, after the sun had set
‘You have to respond quickly to changing events, but also keep people inspired and engaged for hours.’
It took him a while to figure out the secret to a great wedding photo, but he says adaptability and spontaneity are the key.
‘No matter how many weddings you photograph, every wedding 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 that counts is experience,’ he says. explained.
‘If I had to take one thing from this, it would be the attitude and behavior of the photographer. On a wedding day, emotions run high and people want it to be everything they hoped for. I do my very best to bring the right energy to the day to ensure everyone has the best time.
‘That doesn’t necessarily mean being wild, sometimes you have to be the calming influence and sometimes you have to stir people up. It’s about finding the right approach for each couple so they feel comfortable and confident being themselves.”
The ‘From Above’ winner was won by Yamil Calderon Tellitud in Mexico. He was admitted to a boutique hotel in the middle of the forest
Hollie Mateer from Yorkshire took out the Single Capture category and admits that ‘everyone who sees this image is laughing’. “I used perspective and scale to tell a joke with this photo – waiting for the exact moment I needed to bring the different elements together,” she said
Mr Perkins’ photo was in good company, with this year’s gallery of winners highlighting the most beautiful images from around the world.
Photo of the Year went to Bettina Vass Photography in Iceland with her breathtaking photo of a couple getting married on top of a glacier.
“Located in the beautiful surroundings of Vik on the south coast of Iceland, Katla Ice Cave is a place like no other,” she says.
‘This ice cave, named after the volcano under the Kötlujökull glacier, is a sight to behold. To reach it you have to make a hike and descent led by a trained glacier guide.’
‘No matter how many weddings you photograph, every wedding 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 that counts is experience,’ as Mr. Perkins explained (photo is one of the recent weddings he captured)
There she took the winning photo.
“The walk to the top was challenging but exhilarating, and as Mauli and Christian exchanged 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 Portrait winner in Singapore.