How a playful snap in a tiny Aussie town landed a top prize in the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards

A group snap taken in a small Aussie town has won a top prize at the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards for 2024 – and it’s not hard to see why.

Chris Perkins, of Underatreehouse Photography, was delighted to see his photo celebrated on the world stage when it took out the ‘I-Do Crew’ category.

This category, which is one of 12 breakout awards in addition to Photo of the Year, required entrants to submit photos that captured a wedded couple with some or all of their attendees.

Mr Perkins, who is based in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, has been following the prestigious awards since they started eight years ago.

This year they had an incredible collection of more than 2,000 entries submitted by 450 photographers from 63 countries.

‘I’ve previously entered images into the awards but, as you can imagine, with the standard being 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’d won one of the categories I was completely gobsmacked!’

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 theatre on their travels and decided it would make a great place for their wedding.

Chris Perkins, of Underatreehouse Photography, was delighted to see his photo (pictured) celebrated on the world stage when it took out the ‘I-Do Crew’ category at the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards

The Photo of the Year went to Bettina Vass Photography in Iceland with her breathtaking image of a couple who married on top of a glacier

‘They really wanted something a little different and unique to them 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 thought was awesome and wanted to nail it for them. When I saw the space I realised it was far too dark to get a good shot and so decided to set up the two flash lights you see at the back of the auditorium to add a little drama and “theatre”.

‘I then asked them to look past me like they were watching a movie, so it was even less traditional and I think the result turned out great.’

And it’s clear he wasn’t the only one who thought that.

Mr Perkins has been taking photos for as long as he can remember. He would trail behind his parents on family holidays as a child and try to capture the local cultures and little passing moments.

He then went on to complete a Bachelor Degree in Editorial & Advertising Photography at the Kent Institute of Art & Design in the UK.

‘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 to work commercially as a photographer, though, that I really learnt the technical aspects, how to work with light and the ability to think and adapt on the fly. With weddings in particular, there is such a big variety of skills needed to keep the day running smoothly.

Winner of the Couple Portrait category went to Andri Tei in Singapore. The photograph was taken at teamLab Future World at 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 react fast to changing events, but also keep people inspired and engaged for hours on end.’

The secret to a great wedding snap took him a while to pin down, but he says the key is adaptability and spontaneity.

‘It doesn’t matter how many weddings you photograph, every one is different, be it the light, the attitude of the people, the vibe, the space you have to work with… so the first thing is experience,’ he explained.

‘If I was to pick one thing aside from this, it would be the attitude and demeanour of the photographer. On a wedding day, emotions are running high and people want it to be everything they hoped for. I try very hard to bring the right energy to the day to make sure everybody has the best time.

‘That doesn’t necessarily mean being wild, sometimes you need to be the calm influence and sometimes you need to hype people up, it’s all about finding the right approach for each couple so they feel comfortable and confident to be themselves.’

The ‘From Above’ winner was taken by Yamil Calderon Tellitud in Mexico. It was taken in at a boutique hotel in the middle of the forest

Hollie Mateer of Yorkshire took out the Single Capture category and admits ‘everyone who sees this image laughs’. ‘I used perspective and scale to tell a joke with this photograph – waiting for the exact moment I needed to bring the different elements together,’ she said

Mr Perkins’ photo was in good company, with the gallery of winners this year highlighting the most beautiful shots taken around the world.

The Photo of the Year went to Bettina Vass Photography in Iceland with her breathtaking image of a couple who married on top of a glacier.

‘The Katla Ice cave, nestled in the stunning surroundings of Vik on the south coast of Iceland, is a place like no other,’ she says.

‘Named after the volcano beneath the Kötlujökull glacier, this ice cave is a sight to behold. To reach it, you must embark on a hike and descent led by a trained glacier guide.’

It was there she captured the winning photo.

‘The hike to the top was challenging but exhilarating, and as Mauli and Christian exchanged their vows against the backdrop of the setting sun, it was a moment of pure joy and beauty,’ she said.

Other stand-outs included the runner-up, by Ewelina Puk in Poland, the Black and White winner by Kemran Shiraliev in Russia and the Couple Portrait winner by Andri Tei in Singapore.

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