The event of the photographic year – The Master Photographers Association Awards 2017

Each year hundreds of professional photographers congregate in a hotel in Hinckley in the Midlands for the photographic event of the year, the Master Photographers Association Awards 2017.

The two days host a packed schedule of professional development classes for photographers covering subjects from technical lighting, posing and styling through to marketing and business studies.

Keynote speakers this year ranged from Paul Wilkinson and Deborah Selwood, through to a demonstration running throughout the Sunday, on how five different Fellows of the MPA would tackle photographing the same sitters.

MPA West Midlands Regional Team – Jamie Morgan, Karen Massey and Mike Baker

Highlights of the classes for me included James Musselwhites’ talk on the more than 100 steps he took to achieve Fellowship of the organisation.  Friend and colleague, Belinda Buxton delivered a course I have been championing in the industry over the last year about first aid and basic safety within the family photography studio.

The rotunda of the hotel hosts a busy trade show throughout the day, and turns into a gallery of competition finalists come the Sunday evening, whilst delegates enjoy a champagne reception.

Seven thirty arrives, and the party begins, with the commencement of an annual tradition, since the Association’s inception in 1952, the Master Photographers Association Awards 2017.

Celebrations began with a roll call of all professional photographers achieving a qualification within 2017. I was one of a group of Four Photographers from the same mentoring group presented with my Professional Qualification diploma on the night.

Master Photographers Association Awards 2017 – Gary Hill Progress To Success Group 2016-17

As the evening progressed, the results of the International Print Competition were announced by Chairman and host for the evening, Ray Lowe.

I was pleased to walk away with a Merit Award for Pet Portraits and a Merit Award for Architecture & Commercial Photography.

Merit Award Winner – Pet Portraits – Master Photographer Association 2017

Merit Award Winner – Architecture & Commercial – Master Photographer Association 2017