APPA // What happened at the Australian Professional Photography Awards 2014

Back in June, I blogged about our achievements at the 2014 AIPP ACT/NSW Professional Photography Awards. I’m pleased to say, we’ve backed it up with some great results at the Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA), which were held last weekend in Sydney!

Apart from the scale and level of significance attached to the APPAs, the main difference between it and the state awards is that you are limited to entering a maximum of 4 images in APPA, and the scores/awards you receive for your images earn you honours points with the AIPP. For each silver award you receive one point and for each gold award you receive two. I’m a bit proud of my track record, because since I first entered in 2010 as an emerging member (who could enter a maximum of 3 images) I have received an award for every single image I’ve entered. I had enough points to receive my Associate the second year I entered, but I was still an emerging member and back then you had to be a fully accredited member for two years before you could receive your Associate, so I had to wait. Finally, last year, I was eligible and it was so brilliant that Jeremy and I both received our Associates at the same time. However, at the time I was only one point off also receiving my Master of Photography, for which you need to accrue an additional 10 points.

So on Monday night at our big gala dinner (the ‘Photography Oscars’, we like to call it!), I received my red ribbon for achieving Masters status, and I even have 4 extra points earnt this year which will go towards the next honours rung; first gold bar. I can also put a fancy little title after my name now, so that’s a bit special! Jeremy has 3 points earnt towards his Masters from the 3 silver awards he received.

There is always something to strive for with the AIPP honours system, and that is why entering the awards is such an important part of our photography business, and crucial to our ongoing development as photographers. I couldn’t imagine ever stagnating or becoming complacent with the opportunities the AIPP presents for growth. Two years ago, I wrote a very passionate post all about the AIPP awards and what the process means to me (it’s a great read if you’re a photographer thinking about entering the awards, or you want to understand why it might benefit you, but also helpful for potential clients to understand why being an accredited member is such an important thing to look for when you’re hiring a professional!). I feel the weight of what I wrote even more now because I owe so much of what’s good in my life to the AIPP. Jeremy and I wouldn’t have even met if we weren’t AIPP members, and didn’t actively participate in what they do!!!

Watching APPA prints being judged and seeing them displayed on the walls surrounding the judging rooms is one of my favourite things to do every year. Check out all the amazing 2014 APPA category winners here. We’re thrilled for all our friends and colleagues who did so well this year, and so incredibly proud of our friend James Simmons, for taking out the big one. This humble and talented peer of ours has made history: until now, a wedding photographer has never won the title of Australian Professional Photographer of the Year in the 38 years APPA has been running!!! His achievement means a lot to all wedding photographers, and others who make a living photographing every day moments. It’s amazing to see the industry moving and changing as it is, and to be able to immerse ourselves in it more and more each year.

We held off posting any of our images from the state awards until after APPA was done and dusted, so we’d now like to present the lot, for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy…

Katie xo

JEREMY’S IMAGES