To say I am shocked is an understatement.
We weren’t able to make the Professional Photographers of San Antonio Annual Holiday & Awards Banquet on Sunday. We have been so busy with work and our little girl getting sick it’s been a tough week.
8:30pm Sunday night December 8th, I was at the computer working on photos and received a text message from a friend and fellow photographer I have looked up to for a long time. He informed me I had won Best Wedding Image of 2019 for Professional Photographers of San Antonio and my jaw about hit the floor.
This was the first image I submitted for a competition where you are judged on 12 elements that include; Story Telling, Impact, Technical Excellence, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Lighting, Technique, and others.
It’s been 11 years now since purchasing my first DSLR, 8 years since graduating from UTSA, and 6 years since Leslie pushed me to photograph people. I’ve always been an introvert and a bit socially awkward lol, but I’ve definitely come out of my shell for the best.
This isn't an award based on popularity as it was judged by certified professional photographers based on the 12 elements, some of which I quoted above. Even though we all appreciate people for voting in different competitions, this was completely different and very humbling, to say the least.
When we captured this bridal portrait over a year ago at Park 31 venue in Spring Branch Tx, it was towards the end of the session after we had captured many other stunning images of this beautiful bride. Park 31 is absolutely stunning inside and out and I wouldn't have chosen a different location to capture her bridal portraits. She and her fiance (now husband) booked this venue when it was just a concrete foundation! How amazing it must have felt for them her to sit on that elegant couch and just embrace the idea they would be getting married in a few weeks after this image was captured.
When I look at this image, there are so many emotions that now flow through it. Watching Sadie and her Mom react to this image and others during her portrait reveal at our home studio, then winning 2nd place during that month's competition and Members Choice (voted on by everyone that attended that month), and now a year later winning Best Wedding Image of 2019. I honestly still feel like it's a dream and even though it's not a "huge" award like "Photographer of the Year" or "Best overall Image," this is still a very big individual award for Leslie and I to embrace and continue pushing forward towards our dreams.
Photography is my passion and I have truly appreciated the opportunities that have come along since picking up my first DSLR.
I never once thought we would win anything and it’s still a bit unreal but can’t express my gratitude for everyone in our guild, fellow photographer friends we have met in the last few years that push us to improve, my friends and family, all of our clients we have had that put their trust in us, and of course my wife Leslie for being my everyday motivation and my biggest fan!
-Jeremy Vail
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