“A story of human beings” Way Up North Europe’s Best Wedding Story 2017

And suddenly it happens and you are one of the finalists. You feel you have reached highest peak and you are already happy with that.

But the best is yet to come, name is up there, on the screen, the only one, because you have won. One of the best awards you could long for.

Of course there are things to say now, words that need to be shared and these words here below are mine.

First of all some words of gratitude and on top the list there are Anna and Josh who are the true core of this story. Silvia Bagni from Italian Wedding Designer who planned the entire event and all who worked so hard to accomplish such perfect day.

The story I would like to bring to you in is the one behind the images, behind the camera where my heart is and where there is the reason why this award means what it means to me.

From the moment I decided I wanted to be a wedding photographer it hasn’t always be a sunny day, actually sunny days are very few. There have been tough times, some days have been not easy, and I always had doubts I made the right choice. Days when I edited my photos while breastfeeding my son at the same time, those days that I felt I was a bad mother for not giving him my complete attention. Days of frustration for not booking enough work, for not achieving what I wanted. Days when it did not matter how fast I was running as I was always stuck. Because of all these days I came to a point that I was angry most of the time and felt like I was losing the direction.

This was when Way Up North happened to me. It was April 2016.

I went to Rome without any expectations. I thought was going to attend to a conference held by great wedding photographers who explained how to take good pictures. Luckily I was completely wrong. Way Up North found a key to take out of me all the reasons why I chose to be a wedding photographer and most important it helped me to discover the path to become a better wedding photographer. How this happened it would be far too complicated to explain. For sure it was for each singular word I heard and not only from the great speakers on stage but also from everyone I had the chance to meet.

This is why this award is so important to me. Because Way Up North itself has meant a real change in my professional life, and maybe not only there.

Of course I am also extremely happy I won in the category “best wedding story” as that is what I hope I will be able to keep telling. Someone said to me “it’s a story of human beings” and I am so proud the images could show it.

And yes, somedays I still feel that I am a bad mother, a bad wife,  a bad friend or daughter, that I am not a good photographer, that time is never enough, but now I know a path and I will keep walking on it, one foot after the other, slowly so that I can enjoy the most of this journey.

Finally I want to thank Cole Robert and Jakob Granqvist of Nordica Photography who created Way Up North, the judges of the awards Jonas Peterson, Max Wanger, Yeah Field Trip and Rock ‘N’ Roll Bride, The sponsor Gifyyyy, and all the finalists as it was an honor to be among such good professionals.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, to everyone who has inspired me.

Thank you to everyone one out there who keeps fighting for their dream, please keep dreaming. For sure I will.

And these below are the photos that won Way Up North Awards as “Europe’s Best Wedding Story 2017”