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The IPPVA awards programme

We are delighted to announce the names of all the finalists from our 2025 Photography Awards Programme.

All photographers who have won 4 or more awards in the same category throughout the course of the year and have entered at least two rounds have now progressed as a finalist to the end-of-year awards to becaome the IPPVA

All photographers who have won 4 or more awards in the same category throughout the course of the year and have entered at least two rounds have now progressed as a finalist to the end-of-year awards to becaome the IPPVA Irish Photographer of the Year.

Congratulations to all who have made it to this list. The standard expected to receive an IPPVA award is very high.

We would like to thank all our judges! The time and effort involved are much appreciated.

The Irish Professional Photographer of the Year and the Irish Professional Videographer of the Year as well as all category winners will be announced at the annual gala dinner which is a highlight of our events calendar. We are delighted to have been able to set Saturday, January 24th, 2026 as the date for this amazing night.

Below you will find the names of the finalists for the Photographer of the Year 2026 title.

Architecture Photography

IPPVA Photographers can submit to the Architectural category any image of the interior or exterior of a building or structure, in whole or in part, as a detail or graphic, where the integrity, design, and structure of the building are the primary focus of the image.

The image must be sympathetic to the architectural elements of the structure. While there is an obvious emphasis on the technical elements of the image, the judges are looking for harmony between the design of the building/structure and the composition of the image.

award winning interior photography
Award Winning Interior Image by Janice O’Connell

The following professional architectural photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Architectural category during the award rounds in 2025.

Wedding Videography

A successful wedding video should demonstrate a balance of technical excellence and emotional impact. While judges will consider cinematography, audio, editing, and colour grading, they are equally looking for a compelling narrative flow, genuine connection, and a sensitive portrayal of the couple’s experience throughout the day.

The following professional wedding videographers based in Ireland have been named as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year Awards 2026, having achieved multiple awards in the Wedding Videography category during the 2025 award rounds:

Commercial Photography

IPPVA Photographers can submit to the Commercial category any image that is commissioned to illustrate a product, people, expertise or to promote brand awareness.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Award-Winning Photograph in the Commercial Category by Deirdre O’Keeffe.

The following professional commercial photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Commercial categories during the Award Rounds in 2025.

Creative & Fine Art Photography

In the Creative & Fine Art category, IPPVA Photographers are invited to submit creative photographs in all mediums, including Human Form. Anything that contributes artistically to the image is allowed including editing, manipulation, compositing, use of illustration, and graphic elements. However, all elements must be photographed/produced by the entrant.

Award-Winning Photograph in the Creative & Fine Art Category by Paul O’Connell.

The following professional Fine Art photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Creative & Fine Art category during the award rounds in 2025.

Wedding Shorts Videography

A successful Wedding Shorts entry should showcase a strong blend of creativity, technical skill, and emotional resonance — all within a concise format. Judges will be looking at cinematography, audio, editing rhythm, and colour grading, but just as importantly, they want to see a clear sense of story, authentic emotion, and a thoughtful representation of the couple’s connection captured in a short, impactful piece in up to 120 sec.

The following professional wedding videographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year Awards 2026, having achieved multiple awards in the Wedding Shorts category during the 2025 award rounds:

Commercial Videography

A successful Commercial Videography entry should demonstrate strong technical execution paired with clear communication of a brand’s message or purpose. Judges will consider cinematography, audio quality, editing, pacing, and colour grading, but they will also be looking for effective visual storytelling, clarity of concept, and a polished production that aligns with the needs of a commercial client.

Due to a low number of entries, the Commercial and Commercial Shorts categories have been combined into a single category: Commercial Videographer of the Year.

The following professional commercial videographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year Awards 2026, having achieved multiple awards in the Commercial Videography category during the 2025 award rounds:

Landscape & Nature Photography

In the Landscape category, IPPVA members may submit any image that portrays a landscape or Nature. 

Judges will be looking for a strong emphasis on originality and artistic merit. Images taken at common/popular Landscape locations will require something very unique in their approach in order to stand out. Fine-Art Landscapes are also a part of this category.

Award-Winning Photograph in the Landscape Category by Darragh Muldowney.

The following professional landscape photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Landscape & Nature category during the award rounds in 2025.

Wildlife Photography

In the Wildlife category, IPPVA members may submit any image that features animals in their natural environment.

Judges will be looking for authenticity, originality, and strong artistic merit. Images of commonly photographed species or locations will need a truly distinctive approach or moment in order to stand out. 

Phil Pound award winning photographer
Award-Winning Photograph in the Wildlife Category by Phil Pound.

The following professional landscape photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Wildlife category during the award rounds in 2025.

Reportage Photography

In the Reportage category, IPPVA members may submit any image that documents real events, moments, or stories as they naturally unfold.

Judges will be looking for authenticity, narrative strength, and a clear sense of truth in the moment captured. Images from commonly photographed events or situations will need a unique perspective or storytelling approach to stand out.

Noel McIntyre Preportage Press Monalisa
Award-Winning Photograph in the Reportage Category by Noel McIntyre.

The following professional landscape photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Reportage category during the award rounds in 2025.

Newborn Traditional Photography

IPPVA Photographers can submit newborn images derived from commissioned newborn portrait sessions in this category.

Newborn babies included in submitted photographs are less than 6 weeks past their due date. This allows for babies who are born premature to be included in this category when they are well enough to be photographed. The images may include other people including parents, siblings.

Aoife O'Connor Newborn awards image
Award-Winning Photograph in the Newborn Category by Aoife O’Connor.

The following professional newborn photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Newborn Contemporary and Traditional Category during the award rounds in 2025.

Newborn Contemporary Photography

IPPVA Photographers can submit newborn images derived from commissioned newborn portrait sessions in this category.

Newborn babies included in submitted photographs are less than 6 weeks past their due date. This allows for babies who are born premature to be included in this category when they are well enough to be photographed. The images may include other people including parents, siblings.

Award-Winning Photograph in the Newborn Category by Laura Moran.

The following professional newborn photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Newborn Contemporary and Traditional Category during the award rounds in 2025.

Portrait Photography

IPPVA Photographers can submit portrait images derived from commissioned portrait sessions to the Portrait category. 

Award-Winning Photograph in the Portrait Category by Sharon Smith.

The following professional portrait photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Portrait category during the award rounds in 2025.

Maternity Photography

Caroline Flynn Award winning photographer
Award-Winning Photograph in the Maternity Category by Caroline Flynn.

The following professional portrait photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Maternity category during the award rounds in 2025.

Family Photography

Award-Winning Photograph in the Family Category by Grazina Mahon.

The following professional portrait photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Family category during the award rounds in 2025.

Domestic Animal and Pet Photography

Award-Winning Photograph in the Domestic Animal & Pets Category by John Ohle.

The following professional portrait photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Animal category during the award rounds in 2025.

Wedding Classic & Contemporary Photography

The Wedding – Classic Category is where IPPVA members submit posed, traditional, or classic wedding photography.

The classic style focuses on taking posed shots of the couple and the group at large and involves a lot of direction from the photographer. It may not necessarily capture the emotions of the day as a whole but will give some beautiful traditional shots.

This category shows reverence to the classic wedding images of the past that are the definition of timeless.

Award-Winning Photograph in the Classic & Contemporary Wedding Category by Sean Sharpe.

The following professional wedding photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2023, having won multiple awards in the Classic & Contemporary Wedding category during the heats in 2022.

Wedding Creative Photography

Images submitted by IPPVA photographers to the Wedding – Creative category closely follows market trends or even sets new ones. 

Creative wedding photography is modern, contemporary, fresh, and exciting. This style of images may have many of the classic elements but also incorporates many modern and creative elements, often pushing the boundaries beyond the norm in wedding photography.

Posing or client interactions may be unusual and break convention. Compositions, cropping, and styles of processing may also be key elements in an award-winning image of this type. The photographer must clearly convey their understanding of the elements of modern, creative photography and show that they have attempted to understand the genre.

These images may be less about the mood of the day or the couple as characters, but instead the vision and artistic style of the photographer.

Award-Winning Photograph in the Creative Wedding Category by Tanya Williams.

The following professional wedding photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Creative Wedding category during the award rounds in 2025.

Wedding Documentary Photography

Documentary wedding photography is also known as reportage or journalistic wedding photography. The aim of this type of photographic style is to document the wedding day in an unobtrusive fashion, conveying a clear narrative. 

IPPVA members can only submit images that are completely undirected and had a ‘hands-off’ approach when taken.

It is imperative that documentary wedding images tell a story. This is where there is a difference between documentary and candid. There are many moments that can be captured on the fly, i.e. ‘candidly’ but this does not necessarily make it a documentary image. 

The judges will be looking for a story/drama/life/emotion, looking to see that the photographer has composed the shot to include the elements needed to convey that story. 

Konrad award winning wedding documentary photo
Award-Winning Photograph in the Documentary Wedding Category by Konrad Paprocki.

The following professional wedding photographers based in Ireland have been announced as finalists in the IPPVA Irish Professional Photographer and Videographer of the Year awards 2026, having won multiple awards in the Documentary Wedding category during the award rounds in 2025.

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