RIBA at 66 Portland Place in Central London hosted the ninth edition of the Off To Work Event Photography Awards on Monday 5th June 2023 with an intimate wedding shot named the overall winner after a record number of entries.
Image credit: Matt Chung Photography
Some 200 event photographers and professionals enjoyed a viewing of over 120 shortlisted shots in the Florence Hall, while enjoying canapes and bowl food by Company of Cooks, part of in-house catering partner CH&Co, before moving to the Jarvis Hall Auditorium for a fun and fast-paced awards ceremony.
The prestigious Overall Winner trophy and a cheque for £1,000 was won by Manchester-based wedding photographer, Steve Grogan, whose intimate shot of a bride breastfeeding her baby while in turn being fed by her sister was a clear winner having gladdened the hearts of the judges. Entitled ‘Feeding Time’, the image was captured at Eaves Hall in Clitheroe.
Image credit: Steve Grogan Photography, 'Feeding Time'
Battersea Power Station’s relaunch event was the subject of the Overall Runner-up, brilliantly captured by Noah Goodrich, while last year’s overall winner, Luke Dyson, picked up a Highly-Commended trophy with his Music Events – Concerts category winner of Chris Martin and the crowd at one of Coldplay’s Wembley Stadium shows. He also won the Christmas Parties category.
Image credit: Noah Goodrich, Battersea Power Station's relaunch event
Venue specialist, Matt Chung, had a good night too, not only collecting the Venues category trophy for the third time with a shot of The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, but also won the Catering category with a shot taken at the Science Museum. Contrastingly, first time entrant, Emily Appleton, won the Trade Shows & Exhibition category, while James Bridle won the new A Listers category, which featured celebrities captured in an events context, with a shot of boxer Anthony Joshua. Cath Dupuy was named Best Amateur.
Image credit: Matt Chung Photography, 'The Painted Hall'
Despite being hastily relaunched last year after a pandemic-enforced hiatus, the not-for-profit competition attracted a record number of entries – over 1,700 images from nearly 200 event photographers. Indeed, the weight of entries for Music Events led to the category being split in two – Concerts and Performers. Moreover, the high quantity pushed-up the quality quotient, making judging more difficult than ever for the plethora of industry leaders on the panel, which numbered over 50 this year.
A further progression saw last year’s one-off Covid Chronicles category replaced by a new Royal Occasions class, which after the Queen’s passing ended up being equally poignant, but also as heartening, with shots from her majesty’s 75th Jubilee also featuring in the shortlist. The category was won by Jack Boskett with a stunning shot of the now Princess of Wales looking straight down his lens from a car during the Queen’s funeral.
Thomas Morgan, Head of Venues and Events Delivery at RIBA at 66 Portland Place, said: “We loved hosting the Event Photography Awards at 66 Portland Place as it was the perfect opportunity to showcase two of our most versatile event spaces: the Florence Hall and the Jarvis Hall Auditorium. It was a really great evening as we celebrated some incredible photography in the home of architecture.”
EPA Competition & Event Director, Graham Hill, added: “RIBA was the perfect and most wonderful venue for the awards, as it has both a plush auditorium for well over 200 people, plus a beautiful, high-ceilinged, light-drenched space in the Florence Hall, which also boasts a large outdoor terrace. The display of 126 short-listed images mounted on poster boards fitted so well, and with space to spare for a good-sized bar, booth for the EPA charity, The Photography Foundation, and networking. If they’ll have us, I’d book it again in a shot!”