Paul Wilkinson FMPA FBIPP FSWPP is a multiaward-winning international photographer and co-author of the best-selling book Mastering Portrait Photography, and shares his skills through the free companion site MasteringPortraitPhotography.com. In this monthly series he shares his experiences and stories as he talks about the trials and tribulations of becoming a pro photographer.
A long with a team of fellow photographers, I have judged (and then celebrated) some of the UK’s very best pro photography in the past week or two. It is one of the greatest pleasures I have – there is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing some of the most incredible work up close and personal – but it is not without its challenges. It is, after all, a huge responsibility that we take on. At the end of every session, you can’t help but replay some of the assessments that the judging panel made and, hand on heart, you want to know that you made the best possible decisions.