The Magazine of the BIPP / 2025 / Issue Four
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ISSUE FOUR, 2025
The Magazine of the BIPP / 2025 / Issue Four
Photographer of the Year 3
Qualification 22
International Print Masters 38
We review this year’s BIPP Photographer of the Year winners and explore the key factors that contributed to their success across a range of photographic disciplines.
We look at how Benjamin Cheng and Rob Sutherland created the panels that earned their Licentiateships, and speak with Paul Grogan and Andy Farrer about the Landscape panels that secured their Associateships.
We take a closer look at the awardwinning prints from this year’s competition and examine how creative vision and technical execution come together to form standout images.
Canines & Cameras 14
Fellowship 32
Behind the Master Print 48
We speak with Frankie Adamson about her photographic mindset, the creative decisions behind her work and the technical process that shapes her award-winning dog photography.
Stefanie Blochwitz earned her Fellowship with a panel inspired by Jungian psychology. We explore her motivations and the technical approach that brought this powerful work to life.
We chat with Giorgia Corniola, winner of the BIPP International Print Master, to discuss her studio practice and why print retains such enduring value in the photographic world.
the Photographer is published four times a year by the British Institute of Professional Photography, The Artistry House, 16 Winckley Square, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3JJ T: 01772 367968 E: admin@bipp.com W: www.bipp.com Front Cover: Frankie Adamson FBIPP
Head of Operations: Carmel Fanning
Editor: Joel Hansen, joel@bipp.com
President: Jeff Brown
Advertising: Tel 01772 367968 E-mail: admin@bipp.com
Directors: Paul Reiffer FBIPP (Chair) Barrie Spence FBIPP Matt Curtis LBIPP Johnson Wee FBIPP Michael Lane
UK Subscribers £30, Rest of the World £60 ISSN: 0031-8698. Printed and bound by Magazine Printing Company, Hoddesdon, Herts
Neither the BIPP nor any of its employees, members, contractors or agents accept any responsibility whatsoever for loss of or damage to photographs, illustrations or manuscripts or any other material submitted, howsoever caused. The views expressed in this magazine are the views of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the BIPP. All advertisements are accepted and all editorial matter published in good faith. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, that any particular product or service is available at the time of publication or at any given price. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or stored in a retrieval system, or broadcast, published or exhibited without the prior permission of the publisher. This magazine is the copyright of the BIPP without prejudice to the right of contributors and photographers as defined in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. Registered at Stationers’ Hall, Ref B6546, No. 24577. © BIPP 2025
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PRESIDENT JEFF BROWN
H
ere we are, the last magazine of the year, following on from a fabulous Big Bash at Holborn Studios in London. This year’s event took on a very different feel to those of the past. We did away with the traditional sit-down meal and formal dress code, opting for a more casual affair. Also, by dramatically shortening the awards presentation part of the night, this allowed people more opportunity to network, catch up and make new friends. It was great to have such a good turnout, with a lot of non-members coming along to see what the BIPP is all about. The International Print Masters attracted considerable interest not just outside the membership but also from outside the UK with entries coming in from around the globe. We can honestly say that both the competition and the awards night were a huge success. Not just financially but also for raising awareness of the Institute worldwide. When I first accepted the role of President 30 months ago, the future of the BIPP was very uncertain; at times it looked like our 120+ years of history could be coming to an end. But thanks to the hard work of the board, ambassadors and many of the members, we’ve turned that around. For the first time in years, we’ll be going into a new year in a strong position with a much clearer path and a vision for the future. With this in mind, for many of us, it’s time to start thinking about the direction of our own businesses going into 2026. Although I say it consistently to the photographers I mentor in over 20 countries worldwide, there really is no better way to achieve success than with a clear road map of goals for the coming year. Goal setting isn’t something that’s done the week before January, then forgotten about a few days into the new year. Goal setting is a weekly, 2 the PHOTOGRAPHER / 2025 / Issue Four
monthly and quarterly task, that keeps you on track and looking out for those countless possibilities that we all can tap into, thanks to the internet and social media. Success is about being in the right place at the right time, building the right sort of network and being open to opportunity, because opportunity is everywhere, it’s just that most photographers don’t look for it. As photographers, we have more than just our image-taking skills. We have our experience, our knowledge and our understanding of our niche; we can also help educate, inspire and motivate others too. As a mentor, I’ve been approached by many brands within the photographic industry. I’ve appeared on hundreds of podcasts, produced hundreds of webinars, written for magazines and been asked to speak at conferences and events worldwide. Many of my mentoring clients have had incredible opportunities too, but only because they have made this their goal. They’ve set their sights on something big, taken that little step each day towards the bigger prize and remained consistent. I have a saying that I always refer back to, which in an online world is so important to the success of our businesses. Visibility is Credibility, Credibility leads to more Authority and the more Authority you have the more Opportunities come your way. You don’t need a big bank balance or a big network to achieve success. You just need a set of goals, a well written website, and a couple of social media platforms to really raise your visibility. Next year make it your goal to stay visible. Pick two social media platforms to really excel at. Learn the algorithm, do a few online courses about better content creation and start reaching out to the right sort of people for collaborations. Read up on AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) because AI Search is levelling the playing field, allowing any photographer to get their website on the first page of Google without paid ads or SEO knowledge. Just create good, helpful content, blogs and FAQ pages and you can start driving a lot more enquiries to your inbox. Don’t think of AI as a threat; use it as a tool to grow. Combine it with clear goals and a commitment to stay visible and consistent, then you’ll be on track for an awesome new year ahead. Remember I’m always here to advise; feel free to reach out, I’m happy to help. Wishing you a fantastic Christmas and successful 2026.
M O N T H LY CO M P E T I T I O N 2025/26
BIPP Photographer of the Year The BIPP Monthly Competition awards were presented at the BIPP Big Bash 2025 at Holborn Studios, during an evening celebrating the winners across both the Monthly and Print Competitions. It was a night that reflected the strength, dedication and creative excellence of the photographic industry.
Competition Chair Su Kaye FBIPP
BIPP Judges David Taylor FBIPP Jørgen Brandt FBIPP Paul Reiffer FBIPP Saraya Cortaville FBIPP John Parris FBIPP Panikos Hajistilly FBIPP David MacDonald FBIPP Jess McGovern FBIPP Sean Conboy FBIPP Gary Hill FBIPP David Stanbury FBIPP
T
his is the second year of the BIPP Monthly Competition and we are overwhelmed by its continued success. Across the 10 months from January to October 2025, we received a staggering 1348 submissions. From these entries, 282 images were awarded Commended, 347 achieved Bronze, 89 Silver and just four reached Gold. These results spanned 15 photographic categories, producing 13 final category winners overall. All submissions were digital and assessed online by BIPP certified judges, and we thank all those who volunteered their time to evaluate each entry. This competition rewards consistency over a sustained period, with winners decided by a member’s ability to repeatedly achieve high scores across the full 10 months. This provides a clear insight into each photographer’s focus within their chosen field and their ability to consistently produce high-quality imagery. Scores are accumulated throughout the year to determine each category winner and, ultimately, the Overall BIPP Photographer of the Year.
This year’s overall winner was Frankie Adamson FBIPP for her outstanding work in the Pets & Domesticated Animals category. Frankie’s images represent the very highest standard within her sector, demonstrating exceptional skill in composition, colour balance, creativity, posing and post-production. To achieve and maintain this level of quality is a true testament to her hard work, motivation and commitment to the competition format. We are immensely proud that Frankie will carry the title of BIPP Photographer of the Year, showcasing to the wider photographic industry the calibre of imagery produced within our association. We also congratulate all of the category winners for their outstanding achievements. On the following pages, we speak to the category winners to discover what they believe are the essential factors in creating impactful and successful imagery within their award-winning fields. Issue Four / 2025 / the PHOTOGRAPHER 3