Sunshine Coast wedding photographer Ben Sowry wins Sony Alpha photo award

A tradie turned wedding photographer has won a prestigious award for a stunning wedding photo, revealing how to capture magic moments on couples’ special days. SEE THE PICTURES.

Ben Sowry’s image, ‘To honour you’, which was entered in the wedding category, was declared overall winner of the grand prize in this year’s Sony Alpha Awards. Picture: Ben Sowry.

A Sunshine Coast tradie turned wedding photographer has won a prestigious award for capturing an image of a bride’s magical moment on a couple’s special day.

The nuptials were held in Sydney earlier this year, with Sunshine Coast wedding photographer Ben Sowry saying the trick to wedding photography was to catch a “peaceful moment” within the “beautiful chaos”.

The wedding photographer won the 2024 Australia and New Zealand Sony Alpha photo award for the wedding category and grand prize.

His picture was aptly labelled “To honour you”.

A couple captured on their wedding day by Ben Sowry, a Sunshine Coast award-winning photographer. Picture: Ben Sowry Photo.

His winning photograph was shot at a three-day wedding in May, which combined South Indian, Nigerian and western traditions.

“The bride entered the Nigerian ceremony, with fistfuls of US$1 bills being handed to her symbolising prosperity, support and blessings,” Mr Sowry said.

Ben Sowry. Picture: Contributed.

“Making the image was incredibly difficult, as I had to twist and weave through more than 120 people tightly packed within a Sydney suburban backyard to find the frame I wanted.

“Thankfully I managed to get this composition.

The photographer has worked across the world since hanging up his tool belt in 2016. Picture: Ben Sowry Photo.

“I love that the scene was so incredibly loud and vibrant.

“Yet the photograph comes across as an incredibly peaceful moment within the beautiful chaos.”

Ben Sowry has captured countless magical moments in his career as a wedding photographer. Picture: Ben Sowry Photo.

When asked if this was the bride’s favourite shot from the day, the award-winning photographer said, in jest, that he hoped so.

The 34-year-old wedding photographer, based at Cooroy, said winning was an “incredibly humbling experience and totally unexpected”.

Mr Sowry was invited to attend an exhibition at the Sony Scene Trade Show at White Bay Power Station in Sydney where his winning photograph was showcased.

Another couple’s special moment captured on their wedding day. Picture: Ben Sowry Photo.

“I was unable to attend the event as I was documenting a wedding in regional NSW and had my wife and toddler in tow,” he said.

“I never expected to win the wedding category, let alone have my photograph selected as the grand winner of the awards.

“I was in shock after hearing the news, I just kind of started laughing, and hugged my wife and daughter.”

The Sunshine Coast wedding photographer has Wedding photo capture by Ben Sowry, a Sunshine Coast award-winning photographer. Picture – Ben Sowry Photo.

Formerly an electrician, Mr Sowry hung up his tools and took a leap of faith into the wedding photography industry in 2016.

Soon after he was named one of the 30 rising stars of wedding photography by New York’s Rangefinder Magazine in 2017.

Ben Sowry’s wedding photography has been recognised by several wedding industry publications. Picture: Ben Sowry Photo.

Then shortly after he catapulted to success and was named Australia’s top emerging wedding photographer by Capture Magazine.

“Which snowballed my career from working locally to the international level,” Mr Sowry said.

The photographer has shot couples in incredible locations including churches, outdoors and more. Picture: Ben Sowry Photo.

Before he knew it the humble SEQ sparky was photographing weddings across the USA, Hong Kong and all over Australia.

“I moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2017 to work among some of Australia’s best wedding vendors,” Mr Sowry said.

“And now I work and live in what I believe to be one of the most beautiful locations in the world.”