The winners can be seen at: www.cherubs.uk.com/cheruboftheyear-winners.php

The successful photographers are: Greg Cameron Day (2 awards), Jennifer Robertson, D & M Loney Photography (4), Elmcroft Studios (2), Ian Crowe, Panikos Hajistilly, Melvin Sillcock, Collin Davies (3), Lynne Brereton (2), Tim Spiers, Nigel Milligan and The Astbury Studio. Each of these photographers now move forward to the final judging that takes place in February 2011, which culminates in the ultimate prize: Cherubs Photographer of the Year.

The Awards form part of the Cherubs programme, a major consumer promotion run by the MPA,  that recognises the UK’s very best baby photography. Cherub of the Year is open to members of the public who have their babies photographed by their local MPA Cherubs photographer. Each customer who wins a quarterly prize receives a £25 shopping voucher but more importantly goes forward to the final judging when a massive £10,000 will be presented to the parents of the  ‘Cherub of the Year’!

“Cherubs has been the backbone of many photographers’ businesses for several years and this year we’ve really ‘upped the game’ by offering a huge prize to the winning consumer,” says Colin Buck, MPA chief executive. “Congratulations to all our first quarter’s winners, one of their customers could be walking away with a cool £10,000 in a few months! This is a great incentive and it really seems to have captured the imagination of the general public.”

In addition to entry into the competition, each parent who books a Cherubs sitting receives three complimentary portraits to record their baby’s first year presented in an Art Leather triple Folio.

Cherubs is still open to new participating photographers, for further information go to www.cherubs.uk.com/leads or to find out more about the MPA, visit www.thempa.com

MPD May 09

The link above will open the latest edition in digital Flash Reader form that you can read on-line, print off, or download.

This website welcomes new photographers to the magazine, which can already be read on-line through our free public Flash Reader editions (see PUBLICATIONS in the right-hand column). MPA also welcomes all aspiring professional photographers to join as Affiliates, a grade below full membership open to those who itend to go full time within 3 years.

The MPA itself is restricted to full time, professional, qualified photographers and new members must pass the Diploma in Professional Photographic Practice before reaching the next stage, submission of a panel of 20 images for Licentiate qualification. Only after both these stages – normally completed in six months to a year – can they remain in membership and use the MPA logo and designated qualification.

The Catch-22 situation is that in order to qualify, you may require skills and information hard to find unless you are already a member. This is why the Affiliate membership category was established, to welcome photographers into the Association with the ability to attend regional meetings, receive the magazine, and have access to all the information full members require.

This website is in the early stages of development (May 2009) and will change substantially over the coming months. Please bookmark it, and make a return visit occasionally to see what’s new.

- David Kilpatrick Hon FMPA FBIPP
Publisher and Editor, Master Photo>Digital