Celebrating 5 New Awards at the PPANI 60th Anniversary

Back at the end of March, I  got the glad rags on and attended the 60th anniversary awards ceremony of the Professional Photographers Association Northern Ireland (PPANI) in the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel. Somehow I’ve only just gotten around to properly writing about it now. This post is only two months late, but we will roll with it. 😂

To be fair to myself, I did post an Instagram update the day after the awards. Here’s the proof! So technically I wasn’t completely silent about the whole thing. 😅 Between editing sessions, replying to emails, photographing lots of gorgeous clients, and trying to keep up with life in general; this blog post ended up sitting on my to do list a wee bit longer than planned.

But better late than never, eh? Especially when the night was one I’ll not forget… it just might take me a while to tell you (if you don’t follow me on social media).

A Huge Night for Professional Photography in Northern Ireland

The PPANI annual print competition is one of the most respected events for professional photographers in Northern Ireland. Each year, photographers submit their work to be judged at a professional level, with only the highest scoring images making it through to the finals.

What makes the competition even more valuable is that judges from The Society of Photographers travel over each year to judge the entries, bringing incredible industry expertise.

The judging takes place over two rounds, and the first round is open for members to attend. This means we get to hear live feedback and critique on our images. This is something that is genuinely invaluable as a photographer, as I am always wanting to improve my skills for my clients.

Of course, winning awards is amazing (and I definitely won’t pretend otherwise 😂), but I really do not expect to win when I enter my images. It is a daunting process; having your work critiqued by huge industry professionals. I enter so that I can walk away with valuable knowledge that helps me refine my work, strengthen my creativity, and ultimately provide an even better experience for my clients.

One of the things I love most about PPANI is the opportunity it gives for us to continue to learn and improve. Not just with the awards process, but with workshops throughout the year. I am so glad I took that leap to join such a welcoming association.

My 2026 PPANI Award Wins

I was absolutely thrilled to have five of my images selected as finalists, which already felt like a huge achievement in itself.

Then awards night happened… and honestly, I still get a rush looking at those shiny glass awards in my studio.

I’m so proud to have received:

• Family Photographer of the Year
• Open Portrait Photographer of the Year – for one of my maternity portraits
• Pet Photographer of the Year
• Overall Portrait Photographer of the Year (highest scoring image across the entire portrait category!)
• 1st Runner-Up Newborn Photographer of the Year
• Top 5 Finalist in the Child Portrait Category

To receive recognition across so many areas of the photography I offer (from newborn and maternity photography to family, children and pet portraits) means so much to me because these are sessions that I love and specialise in. It almost feels like a little pat on the back – like I am going in the right direction.

The Award That Meant the Most To Me

Winning Pet photographer of the year for the 2nd year running was a highlight for me. Not only that but my pet portrait also won Overall Portrait Photographer of the Year. It was an especially proud moment, as this award was given to the highest scoring portrait image across all portrait categories.

And the fact that it was awarded to one of my pet portraits makes it even more special. Not only that, but this gorgeous boy is my very own pooch! Will he sit for a photo outside the studio? Not a chance, but in the studio he is the perfect pup! It is like he was destined for me.

As someone who absolutely adores photographing animals (even the slightly chaotic ones who refuse to sit still unless bribed with treats), it was such an incredible moment to have that work recognised in such a big way.

Take a look at all my award winning images from 2026

My Journey with PPANI So Far

Since joining PPANI in mid 2024, this was my third awards ceremony, and I’m incredibly proud to now have:

• 11 photography awards
• Recognition across multiple photography genres
• Continued growth as a professional photographer

Being surrounded by talented photographers who constantly push creative boundaries has inspired me so much over the past couple of years, and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of such a supportive photography community.

Award-Winning Photography for Families, Maternity, Newborns & Pets

If you’re looking for an award-winning photographer specialising in newborn, family, maternity, child, and pet photography in Northern Ireland, I’d love to work with you.

My sessions focus on capturing genuine connection while also embracing a little bit of chaos when needed (especially when dogs, toddlers, or both are involved 😂).

Whether you’re welcoming a new baby, updating family portraits, celebrating your pregnancy journey, or creating beautiful images with your fur baby, my goal is always the same: to create timeless photographs you’ll treasure forever.

Thank You!

I’m so grateful to PPANI for hosting such an incredible event, and to the judges from The Society of Photographers for their time, expertise, and valuable feedback.

Most importantly, thank you to every single client who trusts me to capture such important moments in their lives. Your support means more than you know, and every session allows me to continue doing what I genuinely love.

Now that I’ve finally written the blog post, maybe you won’t have to wait as long until I share any good news. 😂

Looking to Book an Award-Winning Photographer?

If you’d like to book a professional newborn, family, maternity, or pet photography session, I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s create something special together.

Contact me today at Amie McAllister Photography to secure your booking and capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments.

📩 Get in touch now to book your photoshoot!

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