The staff behind Rangefinder and WPPI has once again gathered (virtually this time!) to choose the 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography in 2020 and the time has come to share with you the most prestigious list in the wedding photography industry, one that recognizes 30 of the most promising and creative emerging talent of the year!
Of course, 2020 turned out to be an unprecedented year for everyone, and it hit the wedding photography industry very hard. Staying loyal to the competition’s criteria that all submissions be from real weddings and that all nominees be in business full-time for five years or less, we were pleasantly surprised (and amazed) to see that some of the 200+ nominees and subsequent honorees had only been in business for a year or two.
When we announced the 30 Rising Stars of 2019, we noted that it was our most international list to date; this year was the most U.S.-based group of Rising Stars since the start of the competition nine years ago. In fact, half of the 30 Rising Stars are based in the States in some capacity, whether full or part time—California, Washington, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, South Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana were all represented. You’ll also see familiar faces from Iceland, Canada, the Bahamas, El Salvador, Mexico, the UK, France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore. From those countries and states, there are 7 men, 14 women and 9 male-and-female partnering duos.
There’s nothing like a pandemic to put things into perspective. It’s little wonder that many of the chosen 30 photographers expressed that their intentional approach was concerned chiefly with longevity and timelessness. None of them wanted to follow trends—they wanted to be true to their own voice while, most importantly, providing clients with beautiful photos that they can share and look at with pride decades down the line. As you look through the full gallery of submissions (which appear exactly in the order the judges viewed them), you’ll notice incredibly strong black-and-white photos. It’ll likely come as no surprise to you there were more elopements and masked ceremonies represented this year, too.
You’ll also see more photographers shot on film and embraced an analogue aesthetic. In fact, photographers across both digital and film pushed their creative boundaries with playful editing techniques that swerved into surrealism.
Another buzzord: “in-between moments.” The 30 photographers are concerned with capturing what brides and grooms might have missed. We saw far fewer double exposures and clearly orchestrated photos. Those that were carried a strong message, from “Love is love” to Black Lives Matter.
We’re happy to be presenting a more diverse array of photographers than in years past, in more ways than one. The highlighted photographers each represent their voice and aesthetic—from airy editorial to high-def sharpness, cinematic vibes, black-and-white fashion and colorful photojournalism. The honorees each clearly emanated an authenticity in their wedding photography.
Announcing the new 30 Rising Stars is always a highlight for us at Rangefinder and WPPI. This year, it just so happens to serve as a high note on what turned out to be a tumultuous year. Please enjoy the gallery of work from each of the photographers, and, as always, follow us on Instagram for an exclusive monthlong takeover from the 30 Rising Stars. One photographer will be featured daily to share a few of the photos from their submission, and they’ll dig into the specifics on how they captured them both conceptually and technically.
Thank you to all of the nominees for the time you spent on your submissions, and if you’re curious about what goes into nominating, judging and choosing the 30 Rising Stars, read this piece: How to Become One of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography.