Melbourne photographer Yervant Zanazanian

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER WINS 2009 AIPP AUSTRALIAN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Melbourne photographer, Yervant Zanazanian, will be awarded 2009 AIPP Australian Wedding Photographer of the Year award at Australia's most prestigious photography awards dinner, the Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards (or 'APPAs') in Sydney 29th June. His award-winning portfolio was among a total of 2,367 prints entered by 655 professional and student photographers from around the country.

Now in their 33rd year, the Canon AIPP APPAs are a celebration of photographic excellence and represent the best of the best in Australian professional photography.

APPA Chairman, Peter Eastway acknowledged the superior level of photography in Australia stating that, 'When a photographer wins the APPAs they join an elite group of the world's best photographers.'

Images are critiqued through an extensive peer-review process which drives ever-increasing standards of quality, innovation and artistic expression among Australia's professional photographers. More than fifty of Australia's top photographers came together in Darling Harbour Sydney for three days last week to determine each of the category winners.

The AIPP Canon APPAs are open to all professional and student photographers in Australia. Yervant's images will feature as part of the 2009 Canon AIPP APPA travelling exhibition, which will tour Australia commencing in Melbourne from October 12th 2009 and appear in the 2009 Canon AIPP APPAs book.

Background to the Canon Australian Professional Photography Awards
The Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards are open to all Australian and overseas professional photographers. In addition to the coveted 2009 Canon AIPP Australian Photographer of the Year Award, entries are also judged in sub-categories covering specialised forms of professional photography including: Commercial, Illustrative, Self-Promotion, Portrait, Wedding, Science, Environment & Nature, Landscape and an Open Award. As the winning entries are judged by their peers in professional photography, the awards represent the best of the best professional photography in Australia.

2009 marks the 33rd year of the AIPP's Australian Professional Photography Awards and the 8th year of Canon's major sponsorship. Award-winning images will go on national tour in the AIPP's Canon APPA Travelling Exhibition and be showcased in the AIPP's Canon APPA book.

About Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP)
Founded in 1963, the AIPP is a not-for-profit organisation run voluntarily for and by professional photographers and industry representatives who seek to set a standard of excellence within the photographic industry. The AIPP strives to promote and maintain the highest standards of professional competence and business ethics in the industry. By maintaining rigorous entry criteria and a binding Code of Ethics for members, as well as providing ongoing education via seminars, workshops and events, the AIPP is a brand of trust in the photographic industry. AIPP Committees represent members on important issues such as copyright; taxation, legal and business matters; insurance; digital imaging and work practices.