This is the second quarterly photo contest offered by the Wedding Photojournalist Association for 2009. The contest is exclusively for images created by WPJA photographers.

The Wedding Photojournalist Association recognizes the accomplishments and creative excellence in the wedding photojournalism industry. Contest competitions reward talent with medallions, contest points, a traveling trophy, titles and professional recognition.

Catergories – Q2 ’09 WPJA Contest

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. Ring Details
Entries that depict shots of the rings, either set-up and controlled by the photographer or as they were found.

06. Emotion
“Emotion” entries unobtrusively freeze intriguing expressions ranging from joy to tears.

07. 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.

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

09. 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.

10. Trash The Dress (TTD) Portrait
Any image, created AFTER the wedding ceremony (typically from a different day), that depicts the bride or couple in formal wedding attire, trashing the dress, regardless of setting. Examples include the following:

Water – fully or partially immersed in a swimming pool, lake, ocean or even a puddle

Urban – within city or town life, amid well-trafficked or heavily populated areas, urban ruins, housing or architecture, graffiti-covered structures, social landscapes, busy streets or sidewalks, amongst transportation including cars, trucks, trains or subways

Rural – within a country, rustic, natural or rural setting, lying in a field or walking on a dirt road, among livestock or within an isolated pasture