Michael Anthony Photography is proud to be recognized by the world’s most prestigious photography organizations and publications. Our work has earned international acclaim—yet our greatest reward remains creating timeless images for the people we serve.

awards & press

Recognized Worldwide. Honored at Home.
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a legacy of excellence

Our journey has been defined by a commitment to artistry, innovation, and storytelling. While we’ve been honored with numerous awards, our focus remains on delivering exceptional experiences and images to our clients. Here’s a selection of our most notable accolades:

current accolades

  • The World Photographic Cup has been one of my greatest achievements. The panel is made up of 32 different countries, and every image that is nominated is one of the top 10 in its respective country. After being nominated in 2019 for the second time to Team USA. Our wedding image "Reign," taken in Iceland earned the gold medal, helping Team USA win second place overall.

    In 2022, Michael was invited back to Rome to represent Team USA, where his image “Stairway to Eternity” earned him a second Gold Medal.

    • Gold Medal(2019) - 1st Place "Reign" - Wedding Division

    • Gold Medal (2022)- 1st Place "Stairway to Eternity" - Wedding Division

    • World Cup Winner (2022) - Team USA

    • World Cup Runner-Up (2019) - Team USA

    • Best of Nations - "Reign" - United States of America

    • 3 Images Nominated (2016, 2019, 2022)

  • One Eyeland's World Best Photographers image competitions ranked me as the #2 wedding photographer in the world in 2018. It was an honor that I did not expect, and this image competition measures a photographer's entire body of work for a single year, which to me was important because of the subjective nature of photography in general. Being honored by my industry peers was such an amazing feeling that I never take for granted.

    Accolades:

    • Ranking #1 Wedding Photographer in the USA (2019)

    • Ranking #2 Wedding Photographer Worldwide (2018 & 2019)

    • 40+ Images Selected for Awards

  • Professional Photographers of America (PPA) hosts an annual international photographic competition. The competition is widely considered one of the most competitive in the world. We were honored in 2019 with merits on all 4 of our entries and further honored by being awarded the coveted "Diamond Photographer of the Year."

    We have earned eight merits in two years of entering, with five images selected for the exclusive loan collection.

    In addition, Michael has been honored to speak twice at the National Imaging USA conference in 2018 and 2019, teaching photographers on the subjects of lighting and pose and why they should enter image competitions across the country.

    Accolades:

    • 16+ Merit Images

    • 10+ Images Selected for Loan Collection

    • Named "2018 Diamond Photographer of the Year"

    • Named "2019 Platinum Photographer of the Year"

    • Earned Master of Photography Credential in 2019

    • Grand Imaging Award Finalist 2018

    • 3rd Place, Wedding Division 2018

  • Wedding and Portrait Photographers International was the first international competition that we have ever submitted to. WPPI is one of the largest, most-respected image competitions in the world. The WPPI image competition is strictly print-focused and has been the reason that I have learned to print over the years. I believe that this competition has helped me to improve my skillset year after year. Taking place in Las Vegas every year, I make it a point to travel to Las Vegas early in order to listen in on the live judging every single year.

    In 2019, the last year I competed in this competition, I was honored with the privilege of becoming a speaker at WPPI after accepting their invitation for the first time on the subject of creating cinematic engagement photography.

    Accolades and Honors:

    • Over 35+ Awards in the 16 x 20 Annual Competition

    • Speaker in 2022 on Wedding Photography Technique

    • Speaker in 2021 on Wedding Photography Business

    • Speaker in 2020 on Wedding Photography Lighting

    • Speaker in 2019 on Cinematic Engagement Sessions

    • Speaker in 2018 at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City

  • Shutterfest is one of my most favorite conferences to attend. It was the first conference that invited me to speak publicly and has allowed me to be a key speaker at their conference, and national tours over the last 5 years. I have also had the incredible privilege of sitting on the judging panel at Shutterfest's CREATE competition for the last 4 years as well. I have been fortunate enough to speak at Shutterfest events in St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Tucson, and Dallas throughout the years.

    Accolades:

  • The WPE Awards are an international organization that celebrates photographic excellence worldwide. Created in 2006, the Awards are now one of the most prestigious events in the photography industry.

    With over 80 different categories, the WPE Awards aim to cover all genres and styles of photography. From Abstract to Wildlife, there is a category for every type of photographer.

    The WPE Awards are open to both amateur and professional photographers and host a year-long competition that focuses on consistency. In order to be successful, a photographer needs to have a variety of award-winning images, rather than just a single one. I love these competitions because they keep me working all year long to create accolade-worthy images.

    I entered this year-long competition in 2021 and earned the title of #2 Photographer Worldwide, #1 Photographer in the USA, and, earned the most points among wedding-focused photographers in the competition

    Accolades and Honors:

    • 2nd Place Worldwide - 2021

    • 1st Place USA - 2021

    • 3 First Place Images, 3 Second Place Images, 3 Third Place Images

    • 69 Total Award-Winning Images

SOME OF OUR AWARD WINNING IMAGES

A woman in a white, flowing dress with intricate lace details stands against a dark, rocky cliff wall. The dress has an extended train flowing behind her, and she gazes softly at the camera.
A bride with long, wavy hair wearing an elegant wedding dress with lace details and a floral headband, standing sideways against a decorative wall.
Bride in a wedding dress standing on grand staircase with ornate railings, backlit by a window with curtains, in an elegant, historic interior.
A couple in wedding attire standing by the ocean at sunset, surrounded by rocks and cliffs.
A man in a tuxedo crying during a wedding ceremony, surrounded by two men in tuxedos, outdoors with people seated in the background.
A woman in a red dress with a long train riding on the back of a man in a black suit and sunglasses on a motorcycle in a rocky desert environment.
A woman in a lace dress posing against a white wall with framed black-and-white photographs, and a man in a suit moving past in the foreground.
A woman in a red gown standing on rocks against a dark, cloudy sky.
A woman holding a beige cloth, with her eyes looking upward, and a faint, ghostly image of a face behind her in a dark, artistic setting.
A woman in a long red dress posing in front of a stone wall with large carved statues of historical figures.
Indian bride and groom performing a traditional dance on grand marble staircase in ornate, historic building with detailed carvings, chandeliers, and wall lamps.
Rings in a champagne flute filled with water, with water splash.
A couple dancing in formal attire on a spiral staircase with low lighting, black and white photography.
A woman in a flowing dress with long hair, standing with her hand on her chin, surrounded by large, detailed angel or bird wings, in a dark setting.
A woman in a white wedding dress with lace details stands on black volcanic rocks in front of a fierce waterfall, with a man in a black suit in the distance, against a dark, cloudy sky.
A bride standing on the steps of a historic, ornate building with large columns and a domed roof, dressed in a flowing gown and veil.
A newlywed couple in wedding attire lies on a romantic gondola ride, with the groom kissing the bride on the cheek, floating on water decorated with ornate furnishings.
Black and white portrait of a woman with dramatic eye makeup and feathered collar accessory.
A woman in a white wedding dress stands barefoot in front of a large, dark church with a tall, pointed steeple, under a sky with scattered clouds.
A wedding ceremony inside a church with chandeliers, ornate decorations, and a bride and groom standing at the altar.
A bride and groom in wedding attire standing close in a snowy outdoor setting, gazing into each other's eyes.
A woman in a white wedding dress stands on a large moss-covered rock in a desolate landscape under a cloudy, overcast sky.
Black background with the white text 'RF Rangefinder' in a stylized font.
Black background with the word 'BRIDES' in large white serif font centered in the image.

FEATURED IN

Junebug Weddings logo on a black background with white text.
The cover of Shutter magazine with a black background and gray text.
Black background with white text that reads "PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER".
Text saying "Modern Luxury Weddings" on a black background.
Black background with white text that reads 'California Wedding Day'.
Text that says 'the knot' in white cursive font on a black background.