Judges Comments

Sweet, tender, quiet moments like these are often overlooked. Not seeing either of the faces doesn't bother me, because I like how the little girl is fixated on the buckle and the bride-to-be is fixated on the little girl. That kiss of light coming in adds to the angelic feel of the moment.

This is a lovely picture of a child helping the bride in what appears to be last minute fixes. It jumped out for its sweetness in content and the beauty and simplicity in the scene and composition. The photographer made a great decision by not getting too close and letting us look in on this moment just as it was.

Judges Comments

Thank goodness for the unexpected. I love the chaos and comedy involved in this moment. While getting fastened into her dress, the bride-to-be can't resist the urge to mother this child.

There were a number of similar pictures to this in the ‘getting ready’ category but this frame stood out for the energetic moment between the bride and child while the other women fix her.

Judges Comments

This picture has an intimacy and humor very interesting. Also the composition is very good with the man on the right closing the frame on its right.

Ah, when frat party meets bridal party... what a fun, care free moment between the bride and her bridesmaids. I love the layers in this frame, and how there are several different scenes playing out here: the conversation on the cell phone, and what looks like a toast coming between the two women in the lower right corner, to the guy sitting in the background just taking it all in. But my face is ultimately drawn to the woman in the center, with her mouth open, obviously encouraging the bride to chug.

This category had a fun mix of touching moments mixed with the celebratory pre-game atmosphere of getting ready for weddings. This frame captures that energy, and compositionally the picture’s layers work great in capturing everyone in the frame’s different experiences in this one moment.

Judges Comments

This picture is like a set of a movie. The lighting, the composition, the moment is perfect. It is one of my favorite pictures of all the contest images.

Judges Comments

Clean and simple, nothing fancy here just a solid, well composed elegant way to capture the pre-ceremony preparations. Appreciated the photographer keeping a step back and letting the proceeding unfold naturally before him or her. Beautiful image.

Judges Comments

I like the focus on the mirror and the cut on the body on the left of the frame and how without showing a face, the photographer can show us a bride.

Judges Comments

Loved all of the different faces and their looks of anticipation. Nice job of layering and keeping an eye on everything in the frame, especially the woman in the background. The expressions really tell the story!

Judges Comments

This picture has very simple composition. For me, it is one of the funniest pictures in the contest, because after seeing it, I imagine the situation inside the bathroom.

A simple image of a great situation. The photographer executed this perfectly, resisting the temptation to follow her right to the door and instead, hanging back and taking in the whole scene. Well done!

Judges Comments

Wonderful job by the photographer to see this scene in a completely different way. The bride's hand on her shoulder is a moment that not everyone would catch and it really brings this understated but lovely image together. The use of the strong backlight helps to keep the composition simple. A rare wonderful use of a vertical composition.

Judges Comments

I really like the composition and the moment the photographer decided to shoot. I also like the action of the three women helping the bride to dress in a room with a lot of chaos.

Judges Comments

This image stood out for it’s honest capturing of a questionable moment before this woman’s wedding. I’m glad the photographer kept a bit of distance, including a bit more of the scene as the bride sat being prepped. I’m left with a lot of questions about this situation, which I like.

Judges Comments

For me, it's the symmetry that makes this frame as the moments and composition came together perfectly. I wish there was just a little less of the black from the curtain on the right side so my eye stayed inside the frame a little more.

Judges Comments

The picture of the bride peering out a shrouded window and getting to see her groom (assumed) arrive in his burst of excitement is fantastic. Kudos to the photographer for staying back and capturing a very nice moment from a perspective that took patience and timing.

Judges Comments

Wonderful graphic image using an adventurous composition that takes full advantage of all the elements at hand. Nice memory for the bride of the dress and a memorable image in and of itself. Way to take a chance and think creatively!

Photographer's Comment

This photograph was shot just as the bride was taking her curlers out. It was a quick response and I just shot it as I saw the movement. It the quiet little moments that I look for in between the expected ones during the day.