In 2010 one of my favourite actresses, Sandra Bullock, pulled off the most controversial award-winning weekend of all time. She was awarded the Oscar for 'Best Actress' for her role in "The Blind Side" only one day after receiving the Golden Raspberry for 'Worst Actress' in "All About Steve." I like her acting in both films but seems like not everyone shared my opinion on that. What does that say about her quality of acting and what can businesses, especially the wedding industry, more specifically Wedding Photographers learn from that?
Winning an award as a Wedding Photographer is often seen as the ultimate validation of skill, creativity, and professionalism. Between 250,000 and 300,000 couples get married in the UK each year and having an award dazzling on your page can be a great lead to more couples coming your way. But do "award-winning" Wedding Photographers truly outshine their competitors? Let me share my thoughts real quick.
I think before we dive deeper into this, it's helpful to understand why the "award-winning" label holds such a big influence in the Wedding Photography world. The wedding industry is filled to the brim with suppliers and in crowded markets like this, awards help businesses stand out from the competition. Not only that, but it can be a fundamental aspect of building trust among wedding couples. To many, an award strengthens the reputation and has a similar value as approximately 100 client reviews together. In addition, award recognition often leads to higher media exposure and acknowledgment within the industry, making the Wedding Photographer's visibility and credibility more trustworthy. That should be enough reasons for any Wedding Photographer to focus on winning as many awards as possible, right?
Coming from a Photographer who has not received a single award and who has been part of the industry for some years now without this special recognition I always remind myself about the following: photography awards are subjective. Judging criteria vary, ranging from technical skills with light and exposure to artistic interpretation through editing. What resonates with one judge may not necessarily appeal to the others. What one couple may consider breathtakingly beautiful, another may find very uninspiring. Therefore, the preference for a particular photographer is highly subjective and can't be determined purely by the number of awards they've won. In other words, ANYONE has a chance to win an award and at the end of the day, what truly matters to most photographers is the satisfaction and happiness of their clients. Whether it's one couple or ten couples, they all deserve the same high quality with or without special recognition from a third party. Ultimately, the ability to connect with clients on a personal level and exceed their expectations is what should motivate everyone to reach for the stars. By looking beyond awards and trophies and focusing on what truly matters – creating timeless memories and unforgettable experiences – both photographers and couples can find complete fulfillment in the art of wedding photography.
Back to Sandra Bullock's awards - acting involves a blend of the movie script, the director's guidance, and the actor's interpretation, resulting in an outcome influenced by numerous factors and different opinions. It is not only her acting that got judged, it's the whole package. The awards she received were based on the subjective views of judges. Some loved her work, some didn't and that's okay! The most important thing is that these awards didn't change her brilliant acting in the slightest, she is still one of the best in the industry. Now, from my subjective viewpoint—see how that works?
To all you non-award-winning wedding photographers: while it's important to acknowledge the special recognition received by your 'colleagues', don't be disheartened if you didn't even make it onto the nominee's list. Instead, commit to giving your absolute best efforts, ensuring that both you and your couple are not just satisfied, but truly ecstatic about the results. Continue to pour your heart and soul into your work, creating high-quality images that deepen your passion for your craft with every single photo you take.
