Q4 2008 PHOTO CONTEST RESULTS ARE NOW LIVE ON THE SITE!

The top twenty pictures from each category can be viewed by clicking the contest thumbs on the WPJA homepage.

All Gold and Blue medallions and new Photo Galleries will be added to the site over the next week. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work on all of the details related to this photo contest.

Photo by Cindy Brown, Georgia First Place - Getting Ready Getting Ready Category Description: "Getting Ready" entries spontaneously capture the prepping, grooming, arranging, outfitting, and nail-biting before the ceremony. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Cindy Brown, GA, USA 06. Diana Lott, TX-C, USA 02. Stacey Brandon, FL, USA 07. Shane Snider, NC, USA 03. Holly Pacione, CO, USA 08. Evan Bishop, CA-S, USA 04. Andre Maier, NY-C, USA 09. Shawna Herring, GA, USA 05. Genya Garrett, FL, USA 10. Marcin Rusinowski, POL

Photo by Chris Humphreys, California First Place - Ceremony Ceremony Category Description: "Ceremony" shots catch guests and participants throughout pre-ceremony, vow-exchange, and receiving line activity. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Chris Humphreys, CA-S, USA 06. Ben Chrisman, CA-N, USA 02. Michael Temchine, DC, USA 07. Joyce Perlman, CA-N, USA 03. Ben Chrisman, CA-N, USA 08. Nathan Bridges, IL, USA 04. Olivier Tops, FR 09. Sarah Bastille, MA, USA 05. David Murray, ME, USA 10. Christina Hernandez, CA-N, USA

Photo by Ryan Brenizer, New York First Place - Reception Reception Category Description: "Reception" photographs document festivities from the cocktail hour through the last dance and departure. Top Ten Winners From This Category*: 01. Ryan Brenizer, NY-C, USA 06. Milosz Wozaczynski, POL 02. Franck Boutonnet, Lyon, FR 07. Denise Cregier, NY-U, USA 03. Genevieve Nisly, OH, USA 08. Ben Chrisman, CA-N, USA 04. Elli Gurfinkel, MI, USA 09. Kristy Ann Mann, CA-S, USA 05. Michael Lyn, FL, USA 10. Jacob Pritchard, NYC, USA

Photo by Ronald Soliman, Delaware First Place - Kids (being kids) Kids (being kids) Category Description: "Kids" entries capture babies, children, and youth doing what they do best! Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Ronald Soliman, DE, USA 06. Alasdair McBroom, NIR 02. Karri North, ON, CAN 07. Anne Ryan, IL, USA 03. Christian Keenan, ENG 08. Adam Welch, CO, USA 04. Elisabeth Millay, NJ, USA 09. Britta Trygstad, ND, USA 05. Robert Mirani, MA, USA 10. Marianne Earthy, SWE

Photo by Dorota Kaszuba, Poland First Place - Details (Found) Details (Found) Category Description: "Details (Found)" encompasses tighter shots of the day's small slices AS THEY WERE FOUND. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Dorota Kaszuba, POL 06. Tom Paice, ENG 02. Matt Adcock, GA, USA 07. Debra Zeller, CA-N, USA 03. Aurel Virlan, ROM 08. Lauren Brooks OR, USA 04. Peter Van De Maele, MEX 09. Luke Edmonson, TX-N, USA 05. Andree Kehn, ME, USA 10. Jonathan Allain, FL, USA

Photo by Steven Bridges, Tennessee First Place - Action Action Category Description: "Action" entries capture key moments in peak action, highlighting body language and/or expressions. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Steven Bridges, TN, USA 06. Eng Hong Loh, SIN 02. Tony Cabrera, IL, USA 07. Everett Ayoubzadeh, MN, USA 03. Lawrence Ng, SIN 08. Jon Giffin, TN, USA 04. Marco Miglianti, IT 09. Christophe Viseux, FR 05. Mark Wallis, ENG 10. Jim Sun, MA, USA

Photo by Rich Janniello, New York First Place - Emotion Emotion Category Description: "Emotion" entries unobtrusively freeze intriguing expressions ranging from joy to tears. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Rich Janniello, NY-C, USA 06. Fadi Kheir, NY-C, USA 02. Andrew Collings, IL, USA 07. Patrick Low, MAS 03. Brett Buchanan, TX-C, USA 08. Dorota Kaszuba, POL 04. Sarah Bastille, MA, USA 09. Sharon Gutowski, MO, USA 05. Alison Yin, CA-N, USA 10. Ben Chrisman, CA-N, USA

Photo by Eng Hong Loh, Singapore First Place - Humor Humor Category Description: "Humor" photographs document the lighter side of the wedding day. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Eng Hong Loh, SIN 06. Sol Tamargo, MEX 02. Tony Cabrera, IL, USA 07. Christian Keenan, ENG 03. Monte Swann, MN, USA 08. Deborah Kates, IL, USA 04. Laura Olson, MD, USA 09. Shawna Herring, GA, USA 05. Aurel Virlan, ROM 10. Robin Lin, NC, USA

Photo by Brett Butterstein, Colorado First Place - Great Natural Light Great Natural Light Category Description: "Great Natural Light" entries capture moments brilliantly lit under natural and ambient lighting conditions. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Brett Butterstein, CO, USA 06. Ben Chrisman, CA-N, USA 02. Sarah Bastille, MA, USA 07. Siang Loo, WA, USA 03. Scott Juarez, TX-N, USA 08. Adam Welch, CO, USA 04. Paulina Garcia Hubard, MEX 09. Ronald Soliman, DE, USA 05. Luigi Rota, IT 10. Scott Lewis, PA, USA

Photo by Kenny Nakai, Illinois First Place - Creative Portrait Creative Portrait Category Description: "Creative Portraits" employ a fresh and artistic approach to portraiture in capturing the bride, groom, bridal party, family, friends, children and/or any other posed wedding party member. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Kenny Nakai, IL, USA 06. Derrick Ong, SIN 02. Edmund Tham, MAL 07. Lezlie Sterling, CA-N, USA 03. Andy DeLisle, AZ, USA 08. Gabriel Harber, CA-N, USA 04. David Burges, ENG 09. Marcin Labedzki, POL 05. Eng Hong Loh, SIN 10. Chris Humphreys, CA-S, USA

Photo by Siang Loo, Washington First Place - Engagement Portrait Engagement Portraits Category Description: "Engagement Portraits" should demonstrate the photographer's ability to create an interesting environmental portrait of their clients prior to the wedding day. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Siang Loo, WA, USA 06. Emin Kuliyev, NY-C, USA 02. Tim Harman, GA, USA 07. Emin Kuliyev, NY-C, USA 03. Shane Snider, NC, USA 08. Shane Macomber, CO, USA 04. Nick Fancher, OH, USA 09. Gabriel Harber, CA-N, USA 05. Marie Labbancz, NJ, USA 10. Rafal Wegiel, AL, CAN General Comment from a Q4 2008 Contest Judge: "Overall, your members should be pleased with what they submitted. I could probably eliminate my top ten photographs and still find another ten to replace them. Excellent work! Though I've commented on only the top five, the bottom five are in no way bottom photographs. They are also terrific and should be applauded." - Brian Lanker

Photo by Angela Lang, California First Place - Food & Drinks Food & Drinks Category Description: Anything food related; particularly, images showing the wedding party or guests enjoying the tastes of the wedding celebration. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Angela Lang, CA-N, USA 06. Brett Hartwig, AUS 02. Karen Bridges, IL, USA 07. Kristy Ann Mann, CA-S, USA 03. Jaime Viera, CA-S, USA 08. Kelly Shimoda, NY, USA 04. Ronald Soliman, DE, USA 09. Jenna Tye, BC, CAN 05. Ben Quillinan, AZ, USA 10. Lyndsay Undseth, CA-N, USA

Photo by Mark Earthy, Sweden First Place - Other Vendors Other Vendors Category Description: Submissions include images of musicians, DJs, bands, wedding planners, reception hall staff, florists, caterers, etc. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Mark Earthy, SWE 06. Stephen Loh, SIN 02. Ben Chrisman, CA-N, USA 07. Morgan Lynn Razi, TX-S, USA 03. Rob Witzel, FL, USA 08. Stephen Voss, DC, USA 04. Robert Mirani, MA, USA 09. Kori Hudson, AR, USA 05. Chris Hartwig, FR 10. Mark Earthy, SWE

Photo by Chris Moseley, Texas First Place - Cake Cutting Cake Cutting Category Description: These images should demonstrate the photographer's ability to anticipate a moment and/or look beyond the ordinary 'Cake Cutting' images. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Chris Moseley, TX-N, USA 06. Denise Chastain, NY-LI, USA 02. Tina Wright, AZ, CAN 07. Siang Loo, WA, USA 03. Kenny Nakai, IL, USA 08. Matt McGraw, NC, USA 04. Keith Simonian, CA-N, USA 09. Emin Kuliyev, NY-C, USA 05. Anne Almasy, GA, USA 10. Kirsten Shultz, ID, USA

Photo by Jonathan Kirshner, Illinois First Place - Toasting Toasting Category Description: For the "Toasting" category, we are looking for images of individuals toasting. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Jonathan Kirshner, IL, USA 06. Holly Pacione, CO, USA 02. Yu Hsin Seah, SIN 07. Maya Myers, CA-S, USA 03. Stephen Loh, SIN 08. John Zich, IL, USA 04. Thomas Sanderson, VA, USA 09. Art Pinney, WA, USA 05. Samo Rovan, SI 10. Dave Arntson, ND, USA

Photo by Janne Miettinen, Finland First Place - Weather Weather Category Description: For the "Weather" category, entries include the effects that the weather had on the wedding day (hot, cold, rain, wind, etc.). Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Janne Miettinen, FIN 06. Dave Arntson, ND, USA 02. Janis Ratnieks, LV 07. Ronald Soliman, DE, USA 03. John Zich, IL, USA 08. Brooke Lagstein, NJ, USA 04. Kim Bednarski Anderson, WI, USA 09. Nadra Edgerley ME, USA 05. Scott Reynolds, CA-S, USA 10. Edmund Tham, MAL

Photo by Vera Varley, Quebec First Place - First Dance First Dance Category Description: For the "First Dance" category, we are looking for images of the bride and groom hitting the dance floor for the first time as a married couple. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Vera Varley, QB, CAN 06. Stacy Richardson, MD, USA 02. Tara Lokey, OK, USA 07. Christian Keenan, ENG 03. Joseph Gidjunis, PA, USA 08. Richelle Brown, IL, USA 04. Andre Maier, NY-C, USA 09. Mike Topham, VA, USA 05. Roey Yohai NY-C, USA 10. Craig Rogers, RI, USA

Photo by Hassel Weems, Georgia First Place - Departure Departure Category Description: "Departure" images depict the moments when the bride and groom are leaving the reception area and their guests at the end of the wedding day. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Hassel Weems, GA, USA 06. Morgan Lynn Razi, TX-S, USA 02. Scott Juarez, TX-N, USA 07. Wansheng Chen, SIN 03. Lina Jang, NY-C, USA 08. Carl Bower, DC, USA 04. Brian Wedge, ME, USA 09. Josh Stephenson, CO, USA 05. Danny Iskandar, IN, USA 10. Ronald Soliman, DE, USA

Photo by Rick Collins, British Columbia First Place - Full Frame (Black and White) Full Frame (Black and White) Category Description: Full frame, edge to edge, straight from the camera, no cropping, and ONLY in black and white (conversion to B&W is allowed). Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Rick Collins, BC, CAN 06. Samo Rovan, SI 02. David Murray, ME, USA 07. Lauren Brooks, OR, USA 03. Scott Lewis, PA, USA 08. Stephen Loh, SIN 04. Vera Varley, QB, CAN 09. Earl Christie, MA, USA 05. Mark Kegans, IA, USA 10. Jay Premack, DC, USA

Photo by Adam Welch, Colorado First Place - Ring Details Ring Details Category Description: Entries that depict shots of the rings, either set-up and controlled by the photographer or as they were found. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Adam Welch, CO, USA 06. Kent Meireis, CO, USA 02. Konstantin Andruhin, RUS 07. Laura Schoeggl, WA, USA 03. Fadi Kheir, NY-C, USA 08. Ken Luallen, NC, USA 04. Emin Kuliyev, NY-C, USA 09. Andree Kehn, ME, USA 05. David Christensen, GA, USA 10. Tina Wright, AZ, USA

Q4 2008 CONTEST JUDGES

BRIAN LANKER, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Brian Lanker has won numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for his feature photography. He was named National Newspaper Photographer of the Year in 1970 and again in 1976. Read More...

SUSAN WALSH, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Susan Walsh has worked as a staff photographer for the Associated Press for the last 15 years covering everything from Presidents to Patriots — the ones from New England, or course! Read More...

MARY F. CALVERT, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Mary F. Calvert has been a staff photographer at The Washington Times since 1998. While she has covered the White House and presidential campaigns, her calling is documenting the plight of women around the world. Read More...

DENNY SIMMONS, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Denny Simmons is a University of Missouri graduate, currently a photographer with the Evansville Courier & Press. Past positions include picture editor at the News Sun and the St. Joseph News-Press. Read More...

AMANDA VOISARD, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Amanda Voisard is a freelance photojournalist who recently relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona. A graduate of Ohio University, Amanda worked as a staff photographer since 2006 at The Palm Beach Post in south Florida. Read More...

LISA KRANTZ, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Lisa Krantz has been a staff photographer at the San Antonio Express-News since March 2004. Previously she worked at the Naples (FL) Daily News for five years. Read More...

BOB CAREY, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Bob Carey's passion for photography began in high school and has spanned over four decades. His love for capturing moments in time led him to a career in photojournalism. Read More...

YUNGHI KIM, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Yunghi Kim is a freelance photographer based in New York. For 12 years, she was a staff photographer at the Boston Globe, and the Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts. Read More...

WPJA Q4 2008 CONTEST SPONSOR - D-65 WORKSHOPS The WPJA is proud to announce that D-65 sponsored our Q4 2008 contest. Through this sponsorship, the WPJA and D-65 have come together to offer our members an exciting opportunity to be educated by some of the digital innovators in the photography industry. Click here for more information about these D-65 workshops.

2009 DATES Seattle: August 14th - 17th Chicago: September 11th - 14th New York: October 2nd - 5th Los Angeles: November 13th - 16th New Orleans: December 11th - 14th

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS FROM OUR TOP 3 PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM 2007: