Our favorite time of year at Rangefinder is getting to announce our newest 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography. This prestigious list recognizes and honors wedding photographers who are creating an indelible mark on the industry.

The editors ask industry tastemakers—other editors, photographers, agents and consultants—to nominate wedding photographers from around the world for consideration to be chosen for the year’s list. Age is not a factor, but the photographer must have been shooting weddings full-time for five years or less. Once a photographer gets nominated, they put together a submission of 30 images that wholly represent their signature as a wedding photographer. When the editorial and creative staff at Rangefinder judges these submissions, they look for compelling narratives, consistent technique, visual cohesion and diverse subject matter. The photos must be sourced from all parts of a wedding day.

[Read: How to Become One of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography]

This competition began in 2012, and somehow every year, we encounter perspectives that are unlike any others we’ve seen at Rangefinder. These emerging photographers show promise in taking the aesthetics of wedding photography to new places. Visionaries today, they are the educators and mentors of the future. We recognize the exciting time it is to be a wedding photographer, and Rangefinder is honored to be part of highlighting and celebrating the talent, diversity and remarkable creativity in the industry.

Nominations, to be emailed to the editors, begin in June. The submission and judging process spans the summer, with photographers chosen in the fall, and the full list of 30 Rising Stars is announced at the end of the year.

Check out the announcement, along with observations from the editors, on the 2020 list of 30 Rising Stars, and see the gallery of their submissions here.