THE 2006 WINTER CONTEST

The Wedding Photojournalist Association recognizes the accomplishments and creative excellence in the wedding photojournalism industry. WPJA contest competitions reward talent with cash awards, trophies, a traveling trophy, titles, PIX pages, higher page positioning and professional recognition.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST CATEGORIES

01. Getting Ready
"Getting Ready" entries spontaneously capture the prepping, grooming, arranging, outfitting, and nail-biting before the ceremony.

02. Ceremony
"Ceremony" shots catch guests and participants throughout pre-ceremony, vow-exchange, and receiving line activity.

03. Reception
“Reception" photographs document festivities from the cocktail hour through the last dance and departure.

04. Kids (Being Kids)
"Kids" entries capture babies, children, and youth doing what they do best!

05. Details (Found)
"Details (Found)" encompasses tighter shots of the day's small slices AS THEY WERE FOUND. NOTE: This category is NOT for set-up detail shots. It's important that images submitted in this category don't contain content controlled by the photographer.

06. Action
“Action" entries capture key moments in peak action, highlighting body language and/or expressions.

07. Emotion
“Emotion" entries unobtrusively freeze intriguing expressions ranging from joy to tears.

08. Humor
“Humor” photographs document the lighter side of the wedding day.

09. Silhouettes, Shadows & Good Light
“Silhouettes, Shadows & Good Light" entries include candid graphic images, which brilliantly emphasize natural and/or artificial light, darkness, backlight and/or shadows.

10. Creative Portrait
“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. Candid moments are not eligible for this category.

NOTE: Though this category may resemble traditional portraiture for some, the key here is to be creative with your subjects.

11. Engagement Portraits
"Engagement Portraits" should demonstrate the photographer's ability to create an interesting environmental portrait of their clients prior to the wedding day. This is the only category where non-wedding day images are allowed.

12. Food & Drinks
For the "Food & Drinks" category, we are looking for anything food related; particularly, images showing the wedding party or guests enjoying the tastes of the wedding celebration. Submissions should have a human element to them. Any shots illustrating the process of preparation, serving, and partaking of any part of the meal are most welcome.

13. Scene Setters
“Scene Setters" provide the essence of the story through one image. Such photographs are derived when the photographer steps back and takes it all in.

14. Musicians & DJs
"Musicians & DJs" submissions can include images of musicians in action, playing strings, winds, keyboards, guitars, etc. at the ceremony or cocktail hour; as well as shots of bands/DJs doing their "thing"!

15. Cake Cutting
These images should demonstrate the photographer's ability to anticipate a moment and/or look beyond the ordinary 'Cake Cutting' images that many would come to expect from a wedding.

16. Toasting/Speeches (amended 1/11/07)
The "Toasting/Speeches" category incorporates images of individuals or groups toasting, as well as those giving toast-related speeches throughout the day.

17. Weather
For the "Weather" category, entries include the effects that the weather had on the wedding day (hot, cold, rain, wind, etc.).

18. Transportation
“Transportation” images include brides in limos or carriages, bridal parties en route to the ceremony or reception, trolley rides, antique cars, buses and other transporting themes.

19. Mirrors (creative use of)
Looking for images which reflect creative and unique usage of "Mirrors" in the events surrounding a wedding.

20. First Dance
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.

21. Departure
“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.