NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year is announced at the annual Iris Awards Gala Dinner annually.

The winner receives the title of New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year, along with prizes and the Rowan-Guthrie Trophy.

This award is presented to a professional photographer who displays a consistent excellence in photography, with the best photographic portfolio as selected by the judges.

Only professional photographers, resident in New Zealand, and who have entered a minimum of six (6) prints are eligible for this award. Overseas Photographers and Students are not eligible.

 

 

NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS

Year First Name Surname City Award
2023 Amber Griffin Wairarapa NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2022 Tony Carter New Plymouth NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2021 Richard Wood Havelock North NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2020 Esther Bunning Featherston NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2019 Katherine Williams Christchurch NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2018 Tony Carter New Plymouth NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2017 Richard Wood Havelock North NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2016 Katherine Williams Christchurch NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2015 Tracey Robinson Rotorua NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2014 Richard Wood Havelock North NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2013 Kaye Davis Palmerston North NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2012 Jackie Ranken Queenstown NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2011 Richard Wood Hastings NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2010 Tony Carter New Plymouth NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2009 Paul Gummer Palmerston North NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2008 Jackie Ranken Queenstown NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2007 Dean MacKenzie Christchurch NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2006 Mike Langford Queenstown NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2005 Tony Carter New Plymouth NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2004 Tony Carter New Plymouth NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2003 Tony Carter New Plymouth NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2002 Stephen Goodenough Christchurch NZ Professional Photographer of the Year
2001 Margaret Bake New Plymouth Champion Print Award – Portrait
2001 Esther Bunning Wellington Champion Print Award – Commercial
2000 Serena Stevenson New Plymouth Geddes Champion Print – Highest Scoring B/W
1999 Diederik van Heyningen Christchurch  
1998 Adrian Barrett    
1997 Tania Niwa    
1996 Alan Doak    
1995 Michael Pole    
1994 Faye Looney New Plymouth NZ Wedding Photographer of the Year
Champion Print Award – Wedding
1993        
1992 Cathy Dee   Champion Print Award – Portrait
1992 Margaret Bake New Plymouth Champion Print Award – Wedding
1992 Michael Overend   Champion Print Award – Commercial
1992 Anne Geddes   Champion Print Award – Unclassified
1991 Leigh Mitchell-Anyon   Champion Print Award
1990 Mike Langford   Champion Print Award
1989 Terry Winn   Champion Print Award – Unclassified
1988 Mike Langford   Champion Print Award
1987 Bill Lindberg Hamilton  
1986 Mike Langford   Champion Print Award
1985 Anne Geddes   Portrait Photo of the Year
1984        
1983 Sheila Connell Eltham Champion Print Award

 

HIGHEST SCORING PRINT AWARD RECIPIENTS

Year First Name Last Name City Award
2023 Richard  Wood Havelock North Highest Scoring Entry
2022 Graeme Gordon Australia Highest Scoring Entry
2021 Esther Bunning Wairarapa Highest Scoring Entry
2020 Jackie Ranken Twizel Highest Scoring Entry
2019 Loren O’Connor Havelock North Highest Scoring Print
2018 Tony Carter New Plymouth Highest Scoring Print
2017 Esther Bunning Wairarapa Highest Scoring Print
2016 Ilan Wittenberg Auckland Highest Scoring Print
2015 James Phillips Wellington Highest Scoring Print
2014 Catherine Cattanach Wellington Highest Scoring Print
2013 Jason Naylor Wellington Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2013 Danelle Bohane Christchurch Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome
2012 Richard Wood Napier Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2012 Jackie Ranken Queenstown Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome
2011 Esther Bunning Wairarapa Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2011 Jackie Ranken Queenstown Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome
2010 Tony Carter New Plymouth Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2010 Kaye Davis Palmerston North Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome
2009 Shelly Amerio-Higgins Palmerston North Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2009 Tony Carter New Plymouth Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome
2008 Tony Carter New Plymouth Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2008 Sue Bryce Auckland Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome
2007 Nikki South Tauranga Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2007 Stuart Riddell Auckland Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome
2006 Jo Grams Christchurch Highest Scoring Print – Colour
2006 Jackie Ranken Queenstown Highest Scoring Print – Monochrome

 

INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS

Years First Name Surname City Award
2023 Chris Saunders Australia

Australian Professional Photographer of the Year
2022 Chris Saunders Australia

Australian Professional Photographer of the Year

 
2021 Mieke Boynton Australia

International Photographer of the Year

 
2020 Nathan Maddigan Australia International Photographer of the Year
2019 Belinda Richards Australia International Photographer of the Year
2018 Aries Tao Australia International Photographer of the Year
2017 Kelly Tunney Australia International Photographer of the Year
2016 Leah Kennedy Australia International Photographer of the Year