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 |