PA Life was excited to join the fantastic evening at the beautiful 81/2 London venue to celebrate the Best Ever Event Photography Awards. The 10th anniversary event of the annual Event Photography Awards revealed ten past EPA Overall Winner images alongside the winners of fifteen Best Ever categories. The photographs were judged through an online system that attracted votes from some 4,000 event industry professionals from over 40 countries across the globe.
The competition culminated in a superb event in the City of London’s stunningly renovated Skinners Hall, now rebranded 8½ London. Having enjoyed a tour of the new and renewed spaces, guests enjoyed lavish hospitality provided by venue’s exclusive caterers, Blue Strawberry, served by the handsomely uniformed staff of competition founders, Off to Work.
81/2 London was a perfect venue to host the Best Ever Event Photography Awards
The magnificent main Livery Hall played host to award-winning images from the past ten editions of the competition, creating an impressive and inspiring gallery of images, augmented by a carousel of shortlisted shots on screens. All the printing and event production was facilitated by the brilliant Visions Group, who also did a fantastic job tastefully bathing the venue in mood lighting throughout.
Winner: Cath Dupuy in The Painted Hall in Greenwich
The winner and runners-up of the Best Ever Event Photography Awards
Best Ever EPA Overall Winner was a stunning image captured by Cath Dupuy in The Painted Hall in Greenwich. The iconic space regularly features in the Venues category of the competition, but before triumphing in the Final vote, ‘Lunar Reflection’ won through in the Best Ever Cultural Events category as it captured Luke Jerram’s ‘Museum of the Moon’ installation, reflected in a glass-topped table.
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- Runner-up: Matt Chung, Painted Hall
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- Runner-up: Steve Grogan, Feeding Time
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- Runner-up: Andrew Billington, Multitasking
The runaway overall winner of EPA 2023, Feeding Time by wedding photographer, Steve Grogan, was the runner-up, while the two highly commended images were the delightful Multitasking by Andrew Billingham, which won EPA 2019, and another shot of The Painted Hall by venue specialist, Matt Chung.
The coveted Best Ever Portfolio award was judged on past performance in the competition and was won by Noah Goodrich who outscore the field having won seventeen EPA accolades over the years – although without ever winning an annual EPA Overall title.
The Peoples’ Choice Award was won by Anne-Marie Forker, who was the one photographer to win two Best Ever categories – and her other final qualifier can second in this trophy’s public vote!
Having won the annual title twice in the past, as well as being a runner-up, it was no surprise when Ian Knight was announced as the winner of the Best Amateur Award.
About the Event Photography Awards
The not-for-profit competition was founded in 2014 by Philip Atkins, CEO of event staffing agency Off to Work, to highlight the importance of great photography to the sustenance of the industry. He commented: “Photography does so much to amplify, justify and sustain the events industry, so it’s not only heartening that the competition has not only reached its 10th Anniversary, but that the special Best Ever contest was so well supported by the industry and saw so many people vote. Very well done to all the worthy winners, whose amazing work created a wonderful exhibition at a stunning venue.”
Competition & Event Director, Graham Hill, commented: “We owe huge debts of gratitude to our sponsors and supporters, event and media partners for making this special contest and awards event possible. The Best Ever EPA competition has been a great success with engagement and votes coming in from over 40 countries across the globe. Moreover, it culminated in a wonderful awards event with winning images from the past decade on display in the most magnificent venue… Fabulous!”
Additional Information
Event Photography Awards were founded in 2014 by Philip Atkins, Managing Director of premier event staffing agency Off to Work, to celebrate the (often unsung) photographers who contribute so much to the validity, sustenance and marketability of the events industry.
The judging and online voting is facilitated through the SurveyLegend online system. As well as event professionals through the public vote, the awards are judged by a panel of some 50 industry leaders who were responsible for choosing the Best Ever Overall winners.
Enter the Event Photography Awards 2025 by end of March
Entries for EPA 2025 are open and can be submitted through the website before the end of March. The cost is £25 for each set of 5 photos.
Event companies, venue and agencies can submit photos on behalf of photographers. Moreover, their staff and event-profs in general can enter, as the awards are open to both professionals and amateurs, who are judged together, although there is also a separate Best Amateur award.
Thank you to the Event Partners & Supporters
- Event Organisers & Staff – Off to Work
- Venue – 8½ London (Skinners Hall)
- Catering – Blue Strawberry
- Event Production – Visions Group
- Printing – Visions Group
- Display Kit – X-Hibit
- Trophies – Aford Awards
- Badges – Outstand
- Photography – Splento
- Voting Platform – Survey Legend
As the editor of PA Life I’m honoured to be included in the judging panel.
