This feels incredible to write but on Wednesday 21st January at the Wedding Industry Awards I won UK WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2026!!! I’ve won the South East region for the last three years and in 2024 I got runner up for the UK, in 2025 I also got runner up for the UK and this year was my last year of entering (I couldn’t handle the nerves anymore!) so to come away with the win fills me with a deep sense of happiness, contentment and relief (would it ever happen!?) Perserverence seems to have paid off. I asked out Kirsty (my Wife) twice- she said no. Third time- it was a yes! Three seems to be my number!
Kirsty and I made the long journey from Canterbury to Liverpool (complete with a flat tyre in the London area- kudos to Kwik Fit Welling for getting us back on the road). We’d planned to have a good old sight see of Liverpool but basically arrived in time to get ready then head to the awards. This was the first time the national final has been held outside of London and the venue (The Adelphi Hotel) was a good choice. All the Photographers in the final got together for drinks, it was really lovely meeting people I’d known about online and also reconnecting with old friends. Chelsea Cannar (last year’s winner) and Dave Scholes (2024 winner) were both there so that made the evening really special for me.
Onto the awards section of the night- I was so nervous (Kirsty had to keep me fed as I’d lost my appetite!) Hamish Irvine (a fantastic photographer from the North of England) got Highly Commended then as they announced me as the winner it was so sweet as the other Photographers hugged me, cheered me on, Kirsty gave me a huge kiss and I sprinted down the aisle as fast as I could (sorry Photographers Matt Rock & Colin Lavery), tried to do a jump in the air (looked a bit mad) and then chest bumped Damian Bailey (for the last ever time!) I was buzzing (and have been buzzing ever since). We partied until late (Kirsty still can’t feel her feet after the high heels on the dance floor) and after a breakfast with Ben Lee (another finalist) the following morning we journeyed home to tell the kids the news.
The whole Wedding Industry Awards process is incredibly detailed and involved. You have to get your couples to describe how they found having you at their weddings, you have to write about why you do what you do, you submit pictures and also videos. The awards are judged by experts in their field too. I got back some lovely feedback from my couples (see below) and as much as awards are brilliant to have nothing beats the feeling of making couples happy with the photos I’ve given them.
I’ve never tried to follow trends or fashion when it comes to my style of photography. I love honest, documentary storytelling and I’m so pleased that I won this award doing and showing the kind of work I love creating. I’m grateful to God for him giving me this job that I love so much and I’m grateful for everyone’s support! Ol x
My Ten Images I submitted
As well as a detailed breakdown of my shooting style, how I serve my couples and why I’m passionate about documentary wedding photography I had to submit ten images that I really love that show the kind of photos I take at weddings. I decided not to submit any “couple time” images but just moments that I really enjoyed taking.
About Me Video
I had this “About Me” video made for me a couple of years ago by Abigail & Luke films. I just love it. They captured a bit of me in action at weddings we had together and also came to my house to document a bit of family time. Couples have said they’ve really got to know me through this video even before meeting me. One Bride-to-be said that her and her Mum both cried seeing the video (she didn’t book me… hopefully they were good tears… she wasn’t crying cos of my face..)
Couple Feedback
I loved reading through the comments the Brides and Grooms left for me when I received all my voter feedback. Here’s just a few of the things they said about me. I think the most moving comments (one I actually cried over) were not only the ones about their wedding photos but what it was like having me around at their weddings.
