Portrait photography can run the gamut in type and style—everything from the traditional “head and shoulders” shot to lifestyle and environmental, candid and street, glamour, boudoir, maternity sessions and much more. Discover some of the eye-catching portraits and photos that stopped us in our tracks this week, all of them WPPI 2022 Award Winners in WPPI The Annual’s 16×20 Print, Album and Filmmaking competition.

Atlanta wedding photographer Andre Brown says that he conceptualized and booked this shoot while sitting at a table during the WPPI 2021 Awards show. “I first came up with the idea to do a group maternity shoot in early 2020 and then COVID happened. At that point I figured it would be hell trying to get a bunch of mothers together during such trying times as a pandemic. But the idea for this image was really born at the 2021 WPPI Awards show.”

As for the judges’ notes, Brown adds, the only real critiques for the image was that the flower on the apple box was too bright. “I really appreciated one of the judges fighting for this image to be higher. I really don’t think that people understand what goes into something like this, especially considering there are four kids in this (two toddlers and two babies) who wanted to nurse at a different time than when I wanted them to nurse.”

As for the title, “Foremothers”, Brown says the photo is intended to embody many facets of motherhood—”bearer, nurturer and comforter. I chose an analogous color scheme to signify harmony.”

Tatiana Lumiere says that when COVID began, she closed her studio and packed her gear away, leaving only one Westcott Solix LED Bi-Color light with barn doors. “I used that light for singing on the Smule app, which kept me afloat through the pandemic and the death of my father. Singing in the basement, where my studio is, until 3 a.m. and beyond with only Westcott light on helped me through those difficult times.”

In December of 2021 Lumiere decided to reopen her studio. “After almost 2 years it felt like starting anew,” she says. “I was craving creative flow again. I needed that light and love in my life. This shoot satisfied an urge. I scrambled together all the gear I could find: reflectors, Yongnuo YN560-III speedlite flash with wireless controller, my trusted Westcott Solix with variable color temperature, and a red scarf (used instead of gels…I just couldn’t find them). I wanted to convey a start of something new, a story of being touched by life energy and I wanted to use red and gold.

I had some gold makeup paint lying around and it felt right to do some body painting with it. The speedlite, covered with a red scarf, was shooting into a golden reflector. Instead of singing that night I was shooting until 4 a.m., feeling more alive than I had felt for many months.

WPPI Judge Kristi Elias wrote: “This portrait has beautiful warmth that you do not only see but feel. There is both strength and vulnerability in her pose and expression. This portrait is very different than anything we normally see in the boudoir category. The maker pushed the creativity in this category.”

Anthony Lemoine says this image was shot during the wedding of Christelle and Gonzague in Belgium at the Chateau Bayard.

“I love the balance of this image and the alignment of the couple with the rowboats that creates a rhythm in the picture,” says Lemoine. “I wanted to create a romantic image and also take advantage of the two small boats that could represent the path that the bride and groom traveled before being together.”

Lemoine says the judges liked the composition, the softness, the romanticism, the colors and the simplicity of the image.

Erum Rizvi says this image, titled Sarika, is a result of balancing mandatory coverage with an always-on vision for capturing moments that can become powerful memories of the wedding day.

“Indeed, when we look for those special shots that bring art and craft together, we can create images that become almost iconic for the family,” says Rizvi. “Think about it, how many photographs does any given family retain in their memories? In this case, my couple needed to honor both of their faiths and cultures. In just one day they had a Catholic ceremony, a Hindu ceremony, and a reception. With very limited time available to create portraits across two distinct ceremonies, I seized the opportunity to take this shot almost incidentally.”

Rizvi says that Sarika, the bride, was getting her hair styled into a Hollywood wave. “As Sarika bent down to look at her phone her hair shifted forward and covered one side of her face. I realized in that moment there was an opportunity here and asked everyone to pause so I could set up my shot. The look I was seeing reminded me of a Vidal Sassoon ad campaign, or something you’d see in a Toni & Guy look book while waiting for your hair appointment.”

The lighting source, adds Rizvi, is daylight coming in from a window to the left of the camera. “I shut the curtains just enough to allow a very controlled source of light to feather onto the bride’s face.

Said WPPI Judge Jugbir Dhillon of the image: “The importance of the author’s actions should be addressed. It’s not easy stopping the hair and makeup artist to take a portrait. It’s a NO ENTRY zone to move the hair midway on a wedding day to create a portrait. The image was retouched beautifully and the paper choice was spot on.”

Martina Warenfeldt loves this image because her client had a vision to combine a romantic feeling but with a fashion flair to it. “I think we nailed it,” says Warenfeldt. “Her husband did the throwing of the fabric and we managed to get that awesome movement in there in one shot. I love how she looks so proud, happy and so fabulous. This being an actual client shoot makes me extra happy.”

Warenfeldt continues: “The WPPI judges appreciated how this was a different maternity shot, having that fashion feel to it, and also how it was made in one shot and not a composite and I also got great critique on the print being on matte paper and that all the details were there.”

Dig into our recent Photo of the Day archives for even more compelling and eye-catching portraits and creative imagery of WPPI 2022 Award Winners.