How To Win A Major Award - With Your Eyes Shut

The winning image that gained me BIPP Yorkshire Avant-Garde Wedding Photographer of the Year. It means so much to have my wedding photography recognised in this way. This is the interview that appeared in York Press last week about my recent award.



A stunning raven-haired young bride has helped a local photographer win a major award – and she did it with her eyes shut.

Kate Blacker (31) a Leeds-based solicitor was welling up with emotion a few minutes after marrying her chartered accountant fiancé, Steve – and that’s when York wedding photographer, Annemarie King, clicked her camera shutter to capture a very special moment in time – and claim the prestigious Yorkshire Avant-Garde Wedding Photographer of the Year 2008 Award from the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP).

Said Kate: “Annemarie is a remarkable photographer – and we are thrilled that she has won a top award with this wonderful photograph.
We had just completed the ceremony at the Register Office and I was really starting to feel quite emotional. Annemarie sensed that we needed a short break so she whisked us off to the Bar walls and took the winning shot from high above us.
I was feeling so emotional I just closed my eyes for a moment as I threw my arms around Steve – and Annemarie captured the moment perfectly.”

Annemarie, who has been a professional wedding photographer for 16 years and shoots over 50 weddings county-wide each year, picked up the coveted title following a unanimous vote from the judging panel.

She said: “I used to do portraits as well but I became so passionate about recording that special day for the bride and groom that I stopped the studio work to focus solely on ‘big day’ photography.”

“I always get to know the couple a few weeks before the shoot so I get an idea of exactly what style of images they need. Steve and Kate wanted a portfolio of dramatic but quite informal, reportage-style pictures - so that’s what we did.”

Added Kate: “I wanted to commission a female photographer because I think they instinctively see all the little detail about a wedding day – often more so than men.
I felt more at ease being photographed by a woman, especially about some of the more intimate ‘getting dressed’ shots.”

Husband Steve added: “Annemarie took some great pictures – and there are a couple of quite intimate pre-nuptial shots that I promise you no male photographer would have been able to take.”

Annemarie spends at least three days after the event working on post-production techniques to make sure every image is perfectly presented.

“I just love this job” she said: “Many brides really want a woman to be holding the camera on their big day. Weddings - it’s a girl thing!!”

Sarah & Richard's Wedding

Sarah and Richard chose 2nd May for their special day and it was a beautiful traditional English wedding. I started the day at the brides home and shot some of the fun that unfolded there before heading off to the church - the fabulous Ripon Cathedral. The reception was held nearby at Newby Hall where I shot this picture of the couple.

Congratulations Sarah and Richard!!

Sunny Snowy Wedding Day

Who says that you need perfect weather to have a GREAT wedding day? Some of the most romantic and beautiful pictures I have shot have been on days with moody grey skies.

Congratulations to Rachel and Simon whose wedding photographs I shot on 22 March on a very beautiful snowy and sunny day.