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Behind the judging

Our Judges 2024

Meet the professionals sharing their experience and expertise with the IPPVA Awards.

Introducing our IPPVA Judges 2024

The IPPVA Awards represent the pinnacle of recognition in the field of professional photography and videography in Ireland. As a member of the Ippva, entering these esteemed awards allows you the opportunity to showcase your skills and talent to industry experts and peers alike. Not only does participating in these awards provide validation for your hard work and dedication, but it also opens the doors to future opportunities for your career. The feedback and recognition received from the esteemed judges can help elevate your work to new heights and establish your reputation within the industry. Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this prestigious competition and take your career to the next level.


Martin Steenhaut, Belgium

Luzy Nuzum, Ireland

York Place, UK

Dominique & Liam Shaw
Photographers and Authors of “Is This Something?”

Dominique & Liam (York Place Studios) are photographers, authors and educators with a worldwide reputation for creating big photographs from seemingly insignificant scenes. Dedicated to treating all moments equally, the brother and sister team’s street-inspired documentary approach celebrates humour, relationships and connection in even the smallest of interactions.

Equally committed to creative education, that same signature approach forms the basis of their acclaimed workshop book “Is This Something?” – an exploration of the subtleties of composition and moment throughout every stage of a wedding day.

Whether sharing their ideas through conversation, the written word or through the images themselves, their mission remains the same today as the day their journey began: to push, with every photograph, to create something new and to take better pictures.

Hollie Mateer, UK

Aoife O’Sullivan, Ireland

John Gillooley, Ireland

Chris Copeland, Ireland

Rahul Khona

Joanna Brown

Joanna Brown Photographer Judge IPPVA
Joanna Brown Photographer Judge IPPVA
Joanna Brown Photographer Judge IPPVA
Joanna Brown Photographer Judge IPPVA

Claire Brown

Phil Voon

Lisa Devlin

Sean Lordan

Sean Lordan Photographer and IPPVA Judge


Leonard Walpot, Ireland


Konrad Paprocki, Ireland

Sven Hebbinghaus, Germany

Matt Parry, Netherlands

Nadine Lotze, Germany

Hi I’m Nadine – a wedding photographer and from Hagen in Germany. I usually photograph throughout the Ruhr area, but I also love to shoot weddings in other destinations in Germany and around the world.  My aim is to capture real and pure emotions and to create timeless and aesthetic photos – but always with a sense of humour too

For over 14 years I’ve been photographing weddings and portraits as a self-employed photographer. Since 2018 I have specialized more in documentary wedding photography and began to participate in photography contests: 2020 was a successful year for me. I was recognized as one of the top ten photographers in Germany by Fearless, Masters, WPJA and This is Reportage. On an international level, I have been named as one of the top ten photographers by Photographers keeping it real.

In 2021-2024, I was able to build on these successes. In total, I have already received over 250 awards and I am regularly invited internationally as a juror and also started as an educator in 2023. I am honoured to also judge for the IPPVA since 2024.

Nick De Clercq, France

Colm Kerr, Ireland

Philipp Malli, Austria

Tracey Lund, UK

Tracey is an international award winning photographer from England who specialises in Wildlife. Her passion for wildlife has taken her to magical places and this passion is easy to see in her images. She’s had exceptional international success too, including World Nature Photographer of the Year 2024, Sony World Photography Awards Wildlife Winner, FEP Wildlife Photographer of the Year to name a few. Tracey regularly hosts talks within the photography community and she has judged many international competitions. Tracey turned professional three years ago where she now takes fellow minded photographers to the places she loves.

Rodolphe Debyser, France

Award winning french pro photographer (+20 awards 2023 – 2024 – 2025)
European Photographer 2024 – 2025 (FEP)

Beauty, Still-life & Wildlife Photographer

Peter O’Donnell, Ireland

Vladimír Kysela, Czech Republic

Vladimir Kysela is a Czech photographer and visual artist. His work is rooted in landscape photography tradition; however, his ambition is to depict inner stories of the mind primarily through abstract and graphically conceived projects. He has always been interested in the moment of initial impulse for landscape interpretation. Since 2017 he is a member of the Czech Association of Professional Photographers. His projects, inspired by literary and artistic influences (Karel Hynek Mácha, Hans Christian Andersen, Antoine de Saint Exupéry, César Manrique, William Turner, Joan Miró) have received awards in major international competitions. Organizing workshops, courses, and lectures is an integral part of his artistic activities. While working on the Joan Miró project, he also returned to his artistic roots and frequently uses collage, combining photography with other visual art techniques.

“I like stories, I am fascinated by the talents and skills of writers but also of music composers, painters, and architects. I am fascinated by the ability of actors and musicians to interpret given works. But do not look for snapshots or documentaries of a scene in my pictures, rather for an echo of stories embedded in interwoven layers that are both real and abstract in the manner of a writer embedding individual scenes in the pages of their book.”

Michael Boehmlaender, Austria

Specialities: Landscape, Animal and Theatre Photography

Michael Böhmländer is a German QEP photographer based in Tirol, Austria.
After two decades as a Hotel Manager/Direktor, Michael became a self-taught photo editor, photographer and business owner.

Parallel to his work, Michael has taught photo editing online and hosted international photography workshops.
He has been a jury member for national and international photo contests.
Michael is also a 2 time FEP European Professional Photographer of the Year Awards Finalist.

Lisa Burns, Australia

Susanna Oksanen, Finnland

Alfonso Novo, Spain

Enda Cavanagh, Ireland

Kurt Vansteelant, Belgium


Kurt, a passionate photographer born in Belgium in 1964, has always been captivated by the individuals in front of his lens—whether in portrait or reportage photography. With a keen eye for light and composition, he strives to capture the very best in every subject.

Hervé Le Reste, Belgium

Serap Seker, Canada

I am a photographer and educator specializing in newborn, maternity, and family photography. Over the past decade, I have photographed more than 2,000 babies from 95 countries, capturing the beauty of life’s most precious moments.

As an educator, I’ve shared my knowledge and experience with over 1,000 photographers, helping them grow their skills and confidence in this incredible craft. I’m also the founder of NewGen Photographers & Awards, a platform dedicated to celebrating excellence in photography and fostering a supportive global community.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a profession that allows me to tell meaningful stories and inspire others to create lasting memories through their art.

Maternity photo cork woman in a blue dress

Krzysztof & Maria Slowinski, Poland

Portrait and Family Photographers

Krzysztof & Maria Slowinski are award-winning photographers based in Poland, known for their stunning Portrait Photography. With a passion for capturing authentic moments, they are also known to offer a blend of creativity and precision in every shot. Explore their unique style and exceptional work today!

Portrait Judges

Victoria Prince Newborn family Photographer in Corfe Mullen.

Victoria Prince, UK

Family Photographer

Victoria is an award-winning photographer based in Dorset, specialising in maternity, newborn and child portraiture. Having been in the business for over 10 years, Victoria has recently opened her dream home studio where she offers clients a luxurious, high-end photography experience. Victoria loves to capture babies and children naturally and authentically. Her purpose-built studio is flooded with soft, natural light and offers the perfect backdrop for images with a more lifestyle feel that her clients fall in love with.

Victoria offers training to beginner photographers in small group workshops as well as bespoke 1:1 training. Find the link below!

Justina Cereskaite, UK

Family Photographer

Lucas Rodrigues Dutra, Brazil

Portrait Photographer

Maria Presser, Spain

Maria Presser is an accomplished children’s photographer and mentor.

Maria’s work masterfully blends natural light in outdoor settings with artificial light in the studio to capture the magic of childhood. Beyond creating art, she is deeply committed to helping photographers elevate their skills and businesses through workshops, mentoring programs, and her role as co-owner of @insight.inspirarte, an online education platform for Spanish-speaking photographers.

She is a Sony Alpha Ally and brand ambassador for AfterShoot, Evoto, and Zoom Laboratorio Fotográfico. Maria has been featured at photography conferences across Latin America, the United States, and Europe 

Her accolades include being a judge, finalist, and honoree in prestigious competitions like 35 Awards, Voice, Shine, Rise, IPA, WPE, FAPA, and IPPVA. Additionally, she co-produces and hosts the podcast Cuentos con Luz, fostering a creative community among photography enthusiasts.

Alina Holohan, Ireland

Newborn Photographer

Gary Hill, UK

Portrait Photographer

Vadym Yatsun, UK

Portrait Photographer

Yasmin Mason, UK

Maternity & Newborn Photographer

Rashida Keenan, Northern Ireland

Family Photographer

Karen Stein, Ireland

Newborn Photographer

Marie de Verdier, Sweden

Family Photographer

Commercial Judges

Angela Adams, UK

Daniel Otero Sobrino, Spain

Dani Otero is a semi-professional architectural and fine art photographer with a passion for capturing unique perspectives in landscapes and urban environments. With years of experience and a dedication to visual storytelling, Dani brings a sharp eye for detail and artistic composition to every project. His approach combines technical precision with a creative vision, aiming to evoke emotion through every image.

Friedrich Jansenberger, Austria

Commercial & Architecture Photographer

Gareth Byrne, Ireland

Commercial & Architecture Photographer

Manu Manu Rigoni is Brazilian, lives in Recife judge and photographer for Reportage photography

Manu Rigoni, Brazil

Manu Rigoni is Brazilian, lives in Recife and discovered the power of storytelling in photography. Master’s student in Communication at the Federal University of Pernambuco, with emphasis on the research Aesthetics and Culture of Image and Sound; specialization in History of Art; co-founder of FDF Brasil – exclusive directory for family photographers; co-founder of the DocF Award, which celebrates the production of documentary family photography in Brazil and Latin America. She has already been a judge of national and international family competitions, such as the Documentary Family Awards in 2021. She photographs families from all over Brazil and also for her authorial projects. In 2022, she had her first photo exhibited at Les Rencontres d’Arles-in Arles, France.

Manu Manu Rigoni is Brazilian, lives in Recife judge and photographer for Reportage photography
Manu Manu Rigoni is Brazilian, lives in Recife judge and photographer for Reportage photography
Manu Manu Rigoni is Brazilian, lives in Recife judge and photographer for Reportage photography
Manu Manu Rigoni is Brazilian, lives in Recife judge and photographer for Reportage photography

Robert Biesemans, Belgium

Vanessa Herrmann, Germany

Els Korsten, Netherlands

Marisa Martins, Portugal

Hollie Mateer, UK

Jose Sunset Films, UK

Videographer

Aldo Piscina

Videographer

    • Neil Warner, Ireland

    Videographer

    Carmelo Scuderi, Italy

    Videographer

    Colm Kerr, Ireland

    Videographer