“Photographers’ customers want to be associated with winners” – Clare Bruce

Entry levels have soared in the popular Kodak Portrait & Wedding Awards competition.
Panellists scrutinised thousands of images from UK and Irish photographers in a day-long autumn judging at Kodak House.

Scotland’s Gordon McGowan picked up dual honours with a first place win in the 'Children' category and third place in the 'Open Portrait' section.
Stony Stratford’s Karen Parker emulated her Scottish counterpart with first place in the 'Open Portrait' section and 3rd place in the 'Children' category.

Said Kodak Professional’s Clare Bruce: “Our stated aim is to push photographic standards ever higher and these awards just go from strength to strength. The summer judging had been one of the best ever for accomplished work – and now the autumn equivalent has experienced one of the highest ever levels of entry from aspirational photographers. Judging is getting tougher at every session.”

She added: “Increasing numbers of portrait and wedding photographers are realising the positive effects of entering and winning awards. Their customers want to be associated with winners – particularly if they too stand a chance of winning a major prize.”

UK winners at the autumn judging were:

Children:

• 1st: Gordon McGowan (Alexandria, Scotland)
• 2nd: Amanda Lane (London)
• 3rd: Karen Parker (Stony Stratford)

Open Portrait:

• 1st: Karen Parker (Stony Stratford)
• 2nd: Sophocles Alexiou
• 3rd: Gordon McGowan

Pets:

• 1st: Tracey Clements (Caldicot)
• 2nd: Laura Yerbury (Aberdeen)
• 3rd: Sue Feast (Winchester)

Weddings:

• 1st: David Ward (Virginia Water)
• 2nd: Mark Lloyd Evans (Swansea)
• 3rd: Mark Cleghorn (Cardiff)

Overall winners in each category at the final judging of this year’s £15,000 awards programme will collect Kodak UK Appointed Wholesaler vouchers to the value of £750 and PR support.
Their winning customers will each pocket £1,000 cash.

Autumn 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.
Overall winners will be announced in December.
For more details on the Kodak Portrait & Wedding Awards programme call 01442 844368.

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