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So many people enjoy photography and that is evident from all the awards that take place every year. This time we would like to introduce you to the International Wedding Photographer Of The Year competition which was established in 2017 in Australia.

It’s an award meant to highlight the talents of wedding photographers from all around the world and the competition is rapidly evolving and growing with the aim of becoming an exemplar in the photography industry.

In this list you will find the photos that were hand-picked by a judging panel consisting of other wedding photographers, including last year's winner James Simmons, so you can be sure that these images are photography elite. And you will also get to know better the winner of the contest as we had a little chat with him.

More info: IWPOTY | Instagram | Facebook

This year 415 photographers from 58 countries were competing in 9 categories: Black & White, Bridal Party, Couple Portrait, Dance Floor, Epic Location, From Above, Single Capture, Solo Portrait and Engagement or Pre/Post Non-Wedding Day.

There were 1,500 images submitted and the one that stood out to the judges was by Fabio Mirulla, a wedding photographer from Italy. He originally entered the Black & White Category with that photo. He also submitted photos for Couple Portrait and From Above categories that you will find in this list as they were also among judges' favorites.

In the winning image, you can see a play of perspective as the bride is captured getting ready for her day. She still hasn't put on a dress, but the lamp put in place of the dress creates an illusion as if she’s wearing it because the shape is so reminiscent of one.

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    Solo Portrait: Serafeim Serafeimidis

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    Last year’s winner, James Simmons, commented on the victorious photo in a statement to Bored Panda: “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.”

    Fabio will receive a collection of prizes that have a total value of $10,000. They include $1500 cash, Canon EOS R5 camera valued at $5,800, Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 printer, Atkins Lab $700 products, RAW Digital $1500 Lab dollars, Holdfast bridle leather M/Maker, Pixellu annual ‘All-Apps Bundle’, and a Narrative Select annual license.

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    Fabio told the organizers of the competition that he had an amazing time shooting the wedding for the bride who is captured in the photo. “Both the bride and the groom were wonderful and when I feel the connection with them and they trust me, my work gets really easy to do.”

    What fascinates Fabio about weddings and attracts him to them is that they are events in which “years and years of moments and emotions are condensed in one day, maybe just a few hours, that could fade away if not impressed in photos.” He also adds, “I’m a storyteller of the wedding day, a privileged witness of a couple’s joy.”

    Bored Panda also got in touch with this year's winner. We found out that it was the first time that he participated in this particular competition but it's not his first time at the rodeo. And it's not the first time he got to taste the sweetness of victory. He told us, "I like joining these kinds of competitions because through them I can test and improve myself comparing my work with that of other photographers around the world."

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    Engagement: Mic Panic

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    As you can imagine, wedding photographers take a lot of photos, so what's the method of choosing the one? Fabio says he doesn't have a secret formula and just follows his intuition, "There are some photos that I 'feel' more then others. Every year I collect my best photos in a folder on my computer and from it I choose the shots to send to contests. Sometimes, however, the choice is guided by the type of contest I'm about to send them to: there are competitions with a more reportagistic view and others that aim more at aesthetic beauty."

    After sending in the photo the last thing to do is jus wait. Fabio told us that every time he enters a competition, he hopes that his photo will be the one to capture the judges' eyes, however, he definitely didn't expect it, "It was a great surprise! Among other things, I was lucky enough to have other two photos chosen in two different categories."

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    From Above: Ky Luu

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    Leslie Jabine
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Um, listen guys - watch out for the Rats of Unusual Size....and make sure you carry a rope, you might need it.

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    So what's waiting for the winner in the future? He doesn't want to predict what this win could bring him but he would like to leave to the admirers of his work this message, "My photos are small stories within bigger stories, simple representations of a day that everyone can experience in his or her life and I would like my photography to be known for itself also outside the field of wedding photographers."

    So if you would like to follow Fabio and to know more about him, you could follow him on his Instagram where he has over 16k followers, his Facebook, Twitter or his photography page.

    #13

    Single Capture: Catherine Ekkelboom-White

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    The runner up is actually a photographer duo from Canada, Andrew & Bec of Willow & Wolf. They entered the category of Epic Location and the image is really spectacular and quite literally breathtaking as you can help yourself but imagine how scary it had to be to take it. 

    The press release have a wonderful description of the image giving more context to it, “A true statement 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.” The photographers reveal that the couple actually got engaged on that mountain peak and wanted to come back to the same place for their wedding.

    #14

    Bridal Party: Sergey Lapkovsky

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    Hens' Teeth
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wish we could all have friends like this! Hope they all have good lives.

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    #16

    Runner Up: Andrew & Bec – Willow + Wolf

    Runner Up: Andrew & Bec – Willow + Wolf

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    Luke Simon, International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards Curator, tells in the press release statement to us, “The awards are continuing to provide a unique platform for wedding photographers to have their best images reviewed and judged by our team of highly awarded and experienced educators and photographers.”

    The curator also touches on how challenging the pandemic was financially and is grateful for the sponsors so that they can further continue their mission. Luke says, “The awards provide a platform to celebrate diversity of all kinds as well as highlight and reward the incredible work being captured globally, in this ever-changing and often challenging wedding landscape.”

    #17

    Bridal Party: Cyron Sobrevinas

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    #18

    Single Capture: Adriana Ortiz

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    What do you think of these images? What are your favorites? Leave us your reactions in the comments and don't forget to upvote the pictures that left you the strongest impression!

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    #21

    Engagement: Willow & Wolf

    Engagement: Willow & Wolf

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    E
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always wear a wedding dress up a mountain just in case I get proposed to.

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    #22

    Solo Portrait: Damian Ciesla

    Solo Portrait: Damian Ciesla

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    Hens' Teeth
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Beautiful and deep capture! If edited he could look like he was in the 1800s!

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    #25

    Solo Portrait: Steven Stemmler

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    JD Lee
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Being a lady I’m all for breastfeeding. But as a wedding photo? In the dirt & snow. In a sleeveless dress. Doesn’t come off as natural & beautiful to me. It feels like it’s being thrown in my face with a passive aggressive dare to say anything about it.

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    #26

    Solo Portrait: Camila Urrea

    Solo Portrait: Camila Urrea

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    #27

    Single Capture: Avismita Bhattacharyya

    Single Capture: Avismita Bhattacharyya

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    #28

    Solo Portrait: Shari + Mike Vallely

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    Joran Quinten
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd cropped out the person on the right to be honest. Splendid photo though, with the reflection on the window

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    #30

    Solo Portrait: Alex Olguin

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    #32

    Bridal Party: Peta Laycock

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    #33

    Engagement: Brittany Diliberto

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    Poultry Geist
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My best friend told me once” women don’t wear polka dots yo impress men!We wear them for other women to enjoy “

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    #34

    Dance Floor: Ken Pak

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    #36

    Bridal Party: Cafa Liu

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    #37

    Engagement: Mic Panic

    Engagement: Mic Panic

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    #38

    Single Capture: Nandini Mishra

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    #39

    Bridal Party: Cat - The Apartment Photography

    Bridal Party: Cat - The Apartment Photography

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    #40

    Couple Portrait: Zoe Yoffe

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    #41

    Solo Portrait: Camilla Andersen

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    #42

    Solo Portrait: Anna Tarabrina

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    #43

    Solo Portrait: Ky Luu

    Solo Portrait: Ky Luu

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    #44

    Single Capture: Adriana Ortiz

    Single Capture: Adriana Ortiz

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    #45

    Dance Floor: Jonathan Ong

    Dance Floor: Jonathan Ong

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    #47

    From Above: Weng Lee

    From Above: Weng Lee

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    #48

    Engagement: Ekaterina Mukhina

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    #49

    Couple Portrait: Isle + Oak Photography

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    #50

    Solo Portrait: Viviana Calaon Moscova

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    #51

    Single Capture: Emily Serrell

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    #52

    From Above: Fabio Mirulla

    From Above: Fabio Mirulla

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    #53

    Single Capture: Shari + Mike Vallely

    Single Capture: Shari + Mike Vallely

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    #54

    Dance Floor: Dan O'day

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    #55

    Dance Floor: Dan O'day

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    #56

    Dance Floor: Gaelle Meheut

    Dance Floor: Gaelle Meheut

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    #57

    From Above: Ekaterina Mukhina

    From Above: Ekaterina Mukhina

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    #59

    Engagement: Ruan Redelinghuys

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    #60

    Engagement: Michael Chan

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    #61

    Engagement: Michael Kouk

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    #63

    Couple Portrait: Luke Fletcher

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    #64

    Single Capture: Jamie Murcutt

    Single Capture: Jamie Murcutt

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    #65

    Single Capture: Nathan Walker

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    #66

    Dance Floor: Bee Two Sweet

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    #67

    From Above: Glen Nicholls

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    #68

    From Above: Patrick Lombaert

    From Above: Patrick Lombaert

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    Sparkleybright
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How very clever!! I love this, especially the jacket flying in the air.

    #69

    From Above: Jordan Wheatley

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    #70

    From Above: Matt Porteous

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    #71

    From Above: Nikki Leadbetter

    From Above: Nikki Leadbetter

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    #72

    Bridal Party: Lucy Spartalis

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    #73

    Bridal Party: David Le

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    #74

    Couple Portrait: Dennis Tan

    Couple Portrait: Dennis Tan

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    #75

    Single Capture: Sonal Dalmia

    Single Capture: Sonal Dalmia

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    #76

    Dance Floor: Dane Tucker

    Dance Floor: Dane Tucker

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    #77

    Dance Floor: Shari + Mike Vallely

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    #78

    Dance Floor: Isabelle Bazin

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    #79

    From Above: Andrew Pavlidis

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    #80

    From Above: Steven Stemmler

    From Above: Steven Stemmler

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    #81

    Bridal Party: David Le

    Bridal Party: David Le

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    #82

    Bridal Party: Cyron Sobrevinas

    Bridal Party: Cyron Sobrevinas

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    #83

    Engagement: Gaelle Meheut

    Engagement: Gaelle Meheut

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    #84

    Engagement: Mic Panic

    Engagement: Mic Panic

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    #85

    Couple Portrait: David Le

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    #86

    Couple Portrait: Gagan Dhiman

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    #87

    Solo Portrait: Dan O'day

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    #88

    From Above: Zoe Yoffe

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    #89

    Bridal Party: Aldo Baskoro

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    #90

    Bridal Party: Jeff Chang

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    #91

    Couple Portrait: Michael Chan

    Couple Portrait: Michael Chan

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    #92

    Solo Portrait: Emily Raftery

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    #93

    Dance Floor: Kim Burrows

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    #94

    Bridal Party: Olga Bhana

    Bridal Party: Olga Bhana

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    #95

    Bridal Party: Emily Raftery

    Bridal Party: Emily Raftery

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    #96

    Bridal Party: Shari + Mike Vallely

    Bridal Party: Shari + Mike Vallely

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    #97

    Engagement: Yan Timo

    Engagement: Yan Timo

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    #98

    Engagement: Cafa Liu

    Engagement: Cafa Liu

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    #99

    Engagement: Aldo Baskoro

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    #100

    Couple Portrait: Dane Tucker

    Couple Portrait: Dane Tucker

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    #101

    Couple Portrait: Nikki Leadbetter

    Couple Portrait: Nikki Leadbetter

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    #102

    Dance Floor: Rodolfo Aguirre

    Dance Floor: Rodolfo Aguirre

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    #103

    From Above: Harsha Maduranga Jayasekara

    From Above: Harsha Maduranga Jayasekara

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    #104

    From Above: Sergey Lapkovsky

    From Above: Sergey Lapkovsky

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    #105

    Couple Portrait: Dan O'day

    Couple Portrait: Dan O'day

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    #106

    Dance Floor: Stuart Dudleston

    Dance Floor: Stuart Dudleston

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