“Winning important industry awards builds both confidence and business” – summer panellist Wendy Aldiss
Kodak Professional has announced its summer winners in the £15,000 Portrait & Wedding Awards competition – and says that its drive to push photographic standards higher is working.
Clare Bruce, KPro marketing manager, said: “By common consent this was one of the best ever judgings in this increasingly popular programme. The Kodak Portrait & Wedding Awards are focused on consumer appeal and this summer we have received hundreds of entries across all four categories – including some highly accomplished work from photographers new to this competition.
Hawick-based John Parris has not only picked up first place honours in the Open category with his excellent study of a boxer, but also came second with another outstanding image in the Wedding section”
She added: “Our strategy with this programme is to help participating photographers drive more business through their studio doors and importantly to create more consumer awareness around the awards and the benefits of using professional portrait photographers.
" We are seeing positive signs that increasing numbers of photographers now realise they must be prepared to go the extra mile to win a Kodak award.
At the previous judging entries included pet pictures that were technically competent and well exposed but none showed real creativity. They simply weren’t good enough.
But this latest judging has produced some excellent work even in the challenging Pets category”
Panellist and former overall ‘Open’ category award winner Wendy Aldiss said:
“Overall the quality of images is improving this year. Photographers must set themselves goals in terms of creativity and technical competence. Winning important industry awards builds confidence and it builds business.”
UK Summer winners were as follows:
Open category:
1st: John Parris (Hawick)
2nd: Mark Cleghorn (Cardiff)
3rd: James Bignell (Surrey)
Children:
1st: Aoibreann Hopkins (Surrey)
2nd: Nigel Harper (Aylesbury)
3rd: Michael Dearden: Caerphilly
Pets:
1: Steven Taylor (Kendal)
2nd: Su Kaye (Radlett)
3rd: David Lynch (Devon)
Weddings:
1st: John Divers: (Shafton)
2nd: John Parris: (Hawick)
3rd: Paul Deverill (Nottingham)
Overall winners in each category at the final judging later this year will pick up Kodak UK Appointed Wholesaler vouchers to the value of £750 and PR support. Their winning customers will each win £1,000.
Summer judging, first, second and third prize winners share £350 worth of Kodak Q-Lab service reprint vouchers and personalised certificates, along with PR support for first prize winners.
Their winning customers share £250 worth of reprint vouchers.
For the first time in the history of the Awards programme, Kodak has agreed to allow images captured digitally on any manufacturer’s camera be entered in the competition. (All images MUST be output on Kodak Professional paper, whether captured digitally or conventionally)
Closing date for the autumn judging is October 21st, 2002.
For literature on the 2002 awards programme call 01925 246519
For further information, please contact:
Trevor Lansdown
Tel: 01206 241575
Email: trevor@lansdownpr.demon.co.uk
or
Kodak Professional
Tel: 01442 845146
Kodak Professional online: www.kodak.co.uk/go/professional