Wedding photography is one of the biggest earners for pros, so it’s no wonder there’s now a successful competition celebrating its hottest shots. Yep, the results of the fifth International Wedding Photographer of the Year, sponsored by Canon Australia have just been announced. This year saw more than 1,500 images submitted across the contest’s nine categories, sent in by 415 talented wedding photographers from 58 countries.
The grand winner of this year’s competition was Italy’s Fabio Mirulla, with his smart and funny composition, entered into the Black & White category. Shot on a Canon EOS R5 and EF35mm f/1.4L II USM lens, delivering what the judges described as “just the right balance of creativity and storytelling. The photographer has taken the ‘earring moment’ in your average setting and elevated it with a great composition, timing and humour.” Ironically, Fabio also won a Canon EOS R5 as part of his prize, as well as a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 A3 printer.
The Runner-Up was from Canadian duo Andrew and Bec of Willow & Wolf Photography, with their superb shot, entered into the Epic Location category. Also shot on a Canon EOS R5, this time with a RF28-70mm f/2 L USM lens, this mountain side image saw the happy couple hiking through the dark to reach the summit.
Others in the winners gallery – those which topped their individual categories – included the images below, starting with the Couple Portrait section’s winner from Mic Panic.
In the Dance Party category, the winning image came from Ken Pak, shot on a Nikon Z 6 and Z 28mm f/1.8 S lens. And in the Engagement section, the top image came from Ruan Redelinghuys, shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM.
The From Above section, featuring images shot from drones as well as regular cameras from high angles, was topped by Harsha Maduranga Jayasekara, taken on a Canon EOS-1D X and EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. In the Group Shot category, the winning image came from Cafu Liu and was shot on Nikon D750 and 35mm f/1.4.
In the Single Capture Reportage section, the winner was Darren Wigley, who shot on a Nikon D4S and 17-35mm f/2.8. Last, but not least, the Solo Portrait category was scooped by Shari and Mike Vallely, and shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and EF50mm f/1.2.
Header image © Jinal Govind / International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2021 (iwpoty.com)