The yearly IPPVA gala is coming up this weekend, and I am a finalist in the Reportage category this time around. This means I could receive the title of “Reportage Photographer of The Year 2025,”, BUT the other finalists are amazing and have even won Gold awards, so I’ll be attending the gala without any expectations and cheering on my photographer friends who are also finalists. (Some AMAZING work awarded last year, honestly, Ireland is lucky to have all of these talented photographers.)
IPPVA Awards
“The Irish Professional Photographer & Videographer of the Year Awards is the flagship event of the IPPVA calendar. The Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer Awards run annually and are the showcase awards for our industry. Judged based on criteria of technical excellence, impact and creativity, the IPPVA awards have a crediblity that few other photography or videography awards in Ireland carry. Our awards are judged anonymously by qualified and experienced panels of Irish and international judges, and only images that meet the highest standards can obtain an IPPVA award. As such, an IPPVA award is a mark of excellence for any individual piece of work, or a body of work.”
I am delighted with this award in the 2024 IPPVA Awards for the Commercial category taken during a documentary commercial photography shoot with Sue Kelly from EquiSense.
The two photographs below were taken at the Hill of Tara during an outdoor family photoshoot in November. Totally unposed, I worked with the beautiful light and the magic children always bring to a photo session.
The photographs above and below were taken during a home party in Dublin. This family threw a party for their two daughters who weren’t making their communion but wanted the celebration and the fancy dresses. They invited friends and family members and I got to capture the fun, the mayhem, the dancing, the donuts eating. It was really brilliant.
Each of the children have a room painted in their favourite colour, and their little brother is pictured below in his – totally unposed.
Parties are really great occasions to photograph in a Reportage/Documentary way. Why? Because the hosts don’t want to spend all their time trying to document this event, which is, in essence, important to them. Whether it’s a small birthday party or a communion party, having a photographer to take candid photos of the guests takes the pressure off!
These three photos were taken after the communion ceremony and during the party.
Lastly, the above photograph was taken during a half day-in-the-life family session. During these sessions, I always try to include all family members in the frame when possible.
Fearless Family Awards
“Fearless Awards are photographs that are deemed exceptional by a panel of guest curators! Every few months, a new panel of distinguished photography professionals selects between 1 to 3 percent of photo submissions from our members as Fearless Awards.”
https://www.fearlessphotographers.com/family/awards.cfm
Do you know what? I LOVE how many colours show up in my photographs.
This photograph above is one of my favourites of all times. I love love love love LOVE the thumb lifted in the same way. I mean… It just says SO MUCH about childhood and our children mimicking what we do. I love it and I’m so happy it was awarded, because of it.
That’s it!
Thank you for reading! While I don’t take photographs of your families to win awards, it’s always nice to see my work recognised.
If you’ve been thinking of having a session with me but have been telling yourself “it’s not the right time, I’ll do it later”. Now is the time to contact me, and then we can discuss when is the best time to have your session.