A Southport wedding photographer is celebrating winning six awards in a national competition in London.
Matthew Rycraft, owner of Matthew Rycraft Wedding Photography & Rycraft Studios in Birkdale, won the accolades at the recent Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers competition. The photographer, who shoots weddings across the UK, as well as TV celebrities, walked away from the competition with seven rosettes, along with an excellent commendation and found himself finalist in the Wedding Photojournalism Photographer of the Year category for the second year running.
The image which found itself a finalist was taken of four children relaxing together just before the wedding ceremony.
Capturing the page boys and flower girls naturally playing, Matthew waited five minutes for the perfect moment to develop.
Despite already being highly decorated for his work over the last 15 years, Matthew said he was in awe of the talent around him during the competition.
He said: “It’s a real honour to have six images that the judges felt were of exceptional quality. Images are entered from photographers worldwide.
“Considering I entered seven images and six were awarded, this is my best result to date, especially being a finalist for the second year running.”
Matthew’s work won awards in the Wedding Day, Wedding Photojournalism categories, giving the Birkdale photographer another seven rosettes to take home with him, making a grand total of 17 hanging in his studio.
Matthew edited, printed and mounted each of the winning images at his Birkdale studio.
He said: “Having produced these images myself in my studio, to see that hard work pay off is very satisfying.
“It’s also a lovely achievement to know that my couples wedding photographs were so highly thought of, it’s a great moment for them also. It’s not often your wedding photograph wins an award.
“For me my true reward is seeing how happy and elated my couples are when I tell them the news.
“All of my winning images were on display at the London exhibition so they can inspire others and future photographers.
“It’s a real honour to be featured with some of the best international photographers there is.”
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