
About
Richard Wood | Hawke's Bay Photographer

I am a full time industry accredited Hawke's Bay photographer.
My portfolio is diverse through many genres. Much of my time is spent educating and mentoring professional photographers around the world in the fields of creative, illustrative photography. When I'm home here in my home town of Hawke's Bay with my partner Fleur and daughter Emilie-Rose, I'm still true to my roots and continue to operate as a working photographer in the areas of Portraiture and Wedding photography. I would call my style 'Classic' whilst sometimes moving into the realm of a smooth Vanity Fair aesthetic where I can. A classic timeless style is important to me so that my Bride's photographs do not date through the change of photographic kitsch trends. It's important that wedding captures are beautifully classic and not over 'cooked' so that they hold longevity for decades to come. Photographs are your heirlooms.
The demands of my international work and family mean I now shoot fewer weddings a year, but I continue to do so simply because I still continue to love it. I shoot for quality rather than quantity as through working as a photographic judge and accreditation examiner, my eye for detail, quality and beauty is an appreciative one.
I believe wedding photography should display fun, love and laughter. I don't shoot lots of 'dry' in wedding photos. It's your day and you need to be enjoying it! My job is keeping you in a fun and relaxed space on your day. Don't like posing? Don't like being in front of a camera? Then I'm your photographer.
Award Titles
2021 NZIPP New Zealand PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
2021 Awarded MASTER of the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International)
2021 NZIPP Open Portrait Category Winner
2021 NZIPP Expressive Category Winner
2021 WPPI Master
2021 Asia Pacific Awards - GRAND AWARD | OVERALL WINNER
2021 Asia Pacific Awards - 1st Place Open Category
2021 Asia Pacific Awards - 2nd Place Open Category
2021 Asia Pacific Awards - 1st Place Portrait Category
2021 Asia Pacific Awards - 4th Place Portrait Category
2021 Asia Pacific Awards - 6th Place Portrait Category
2021 Asia Pacific Awards - 6th Place Wedding Category
2020 Awarded NZIPP Grand Master with 2 Bars
2020 NZIPP Grand Master of the Year
2020 NZIPP Open Portrait Category - Highest Scoring Print
2020 WPPI GRAND AWARD
2020 WPPI Illustrative 1st Place
2020 WPPI Contemporary Portrait 1st Place
2020 WPE International Photographers - Europe 3rd Place Award - Portrait
2019 World Photographic Cup. BEST OF NATION
2019 WPE International Photographers - Europe. 2nd Place Award
2019 WPE International Photographers - Europe 3rd Place Award
2019 NZIPP Open Portrait Photographer of Year
2019 NZIPP Illustrative Photographer of the Year
2019 NZIPP Highest Scoring Grand Master
2017 NZIPP NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Bar to Grand Master of Photography (GMNZIPP x2)
2017 NZIPP Illustrative Photographer of the Year
2017 NZIPP Creative Portrait Photographer of the Year
2017 NZIPP Grand Master of the Year
2016 New Zealand Grand Master of the Year
2016 Finalist NZIPP New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year
2016 NZIPP Central Districts Professional Photographer of the Year
2015 Finalist NZIPP New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year
2014 NZIPP NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
2014 NZIPP New Zealand Illustrative Photographer of the Year
2014 Awarded title of Honorary Spider Fellow
2013 Awarded with the title of 'NZIPP Grand Master of Photography'
2013 Finalist NZIPP Professional Photographer of the Year
2012 International Colour Awards (Master's Cup) Portrait 2nd Place
2012 International Colour Awards (Master's Cup) Portrait 3rd Place
2012 NZIPP New Zealand Classic Portrait Photographer of the Year
2012 NZIPP New Zealand Illustrative Photographer of the Year
2012 NZIPP Highest Scoring Colour Print
2012 Finalist NZIPP New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year
2011 NZIPP NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
2011 NZIPP New Zealand Creative Portrait Photographer of the Year
2011 International Colour Awards (Master's Cup) Portrait 2nd Place
2011 International Loupe Awards Portrait 3rd Place
2010 Finalist NZIPP New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year
Wedding & Portrait Photographers International Awards

World Photographers Europe Awards

New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography

x33 Gold & Gold Distinctions | x77 Silver & Silver Distinction | x15 Bronze
Asia Pacific Awards 2021
