Family and Group Portrait Photographer of the Year 2024
24 January 2025
I am incredibly honored to share that I have been awarded the title Family and Group Portrait Photographer of the Year 2024 by The Societies of Photographers.
This recognition means so much to me, not only because of the title itself, but because of the story behind the winning image, “My Peace.”
The Story Behind “My Peace”
This photograph was born out of a deep personal feeling. It was originally created for the International Photography Awards’ One Shot – Searching for Peace competition, under the theme Peace Through My Eyes. The moment I saw the topic, I instantly knew what peace meant to me.
For me, peace is simple. It means being surrounded by nature, somewhere quiet and beautiful like a forest, a calm lake, or the beach, and sharing that space with my sweet Marley. There is no other way I can better describe what peace truly feels like.
Finding the Perfect Location
I started looking for the right setting to bring that feeling to life. Not far from home, I found a lovely little lake, just ten minutes away, that immediately felt right. During sunset, the colors were soft and warm, and the light reflected beautifully over the water.
I had a clear image in my mind even before taking the camera out. I wanted a portrait of Marley and me sitting together on a wooden bench, looking out over the lake, surrounded by that golden light. It was a scene filled with calm and emotion, and I wanted the photograph to reflect exactly that.
A Bit of an Adventure
Bringing this idea to life turned into quite an adventure. My partner and I went to the location first to plan everything – the placement, the angle, and the best time for the light. On that day, the water was still and smooth, creating the perfect reflections.
When we returned with Marley, however, the weather had changed. The wind had picked up, the surface of the water was rough, and that quiet, peaceful reflection was gone. We tried several times over the next few days, but the conditions were never quite the same. In the end, I had to combine a few different shots to recreate the calm atmosphere I had envisioned.
Capturing the actual portrait was another challenge. Since I had to be in the frame with Marley, I used my camera’s phone app to trigger the shots remotely. The distance between where the camera stood and where we were sitting was large enough that the app kept disconnecting, and I found myself running back and forth between two little peninsulas more times than I can count. It was exhausting, but it still makes me smile when I think about it now.
From Vision to Award
The first version of My Peace was quite natural, and while I loved its simplicity, it didn’t quite reflect that exact feeling I was going for. I later revisited the image and gave it a softer, more ethereal look with better separation from the background.
That final version felt exactly right. It captured not just the scene, but the feeling I wanted to express – calm, love, and a quiet moment shared between me and Marley. That image went on to receive a Gold award from The Societies and ultimately won the title Family and Group Portrait Photographer of the Year 2024.
A Reflection of What I Love Most
This image represents so much of what photography means to me. It is about emotion, storytelling, patience, and connection. It is about creating something that feels honest and real, even when it takes time and effort to get there.
I am so grateful to The Societies of Photographers for this incredible recognition, and to everyone who continues to support and believe in my work. And of course, to my sweet Marley, for being my constant source of joy and inspiration.
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