The Art of the Unexpected: How a Stolen Glance at a Cake Redefined Wedding Photography

ADELAIDE, SA – December 03, 2025 – In a world saturated with perfectly curated images, a single, unscripted moment of childhood curiosity has captured the highest honor in wedding photography. UK photographer David Scholes has been named the Grand Winner of the prestigious 9th International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards (IWPOTY) for 2025. His winning photograph, a humorous and masterfully composed image of a young boy gazing intently at a wedding cake, triumphed over more than 2,500 entries from 568 photographers across 61 countries.

The win is more than a personal achievement; it’s a powerful statement on the evolving landscape of an entire industry. By celebrating a candid, story-driven image over a traditionally epic or posed portrait, the IWPOTY awards have spotlighted a definitive shift towards authenticity and reportage in capturing life’s most significant celebrations.

Anatomy of a Winning Moment

The award-winning photograph was captured at Mitton Hall in the Ribble Valley, not during a climactic event, but in a quiet, in-between moment. David Scholes, a third-generation photographer with a documentary-led philosophy, recounted how the image came to be through constant observation. While wedding guests mingled on the terrace, Scholes turned his attention to the reception room.

“I don't stop working at weddings and even when there doesn't seem to be much happening I will still look for something interesting that can be part of the story,” Scholes explained. He initially noticed a young boy running back and forth outside the window where the cake was displayed. Recognizing the narrative potential, he saw an opportunity to elevate a simple shot of the cake into something more profound.

“To me a photo of a cake is boring, but I thought if I can catch this kid in one of the window frames as he's running and use the cake as context to frame the shot that would make a better picture,” he continued. Scholes’ technical and artistic instincts took over. He crouched low, switched from a longer 85mm lens to a wider 35mm prime lens to better frame the scene, and carefully squared his composition. The decisive moment arrived unexpectedly. “As I did the kid suddenly stopped and noticed the cake - pulling the face that I've captured here. Shortly after this the boy ran off.”

This single capture, born from patience and anticipation, encapsulates Scholes’ entire approach. Specializing in wedding photography since 2010, he focuses on capturing “real moments, genuine emotions, and authentic connections,” a style that has already earned him 18 Fearless Awards and the title of UK National Wedding Photographer of the Year in 2024.

The Rise of Reportage

Scholes’ photograph was submitted to the “Single Capture / Reportage” category, a division with stringent rules that underscore the industry’s growing respect for photojournalistic integrity. The category demands images that are “found, not created,” explicitly banning photographer intervention or posing. Furthermore, post-processing is limited to basic adjustments, with a strict prohibition on cloning or removing elements. Finalists are even required to submit their original RAW camera files for verification, ensuring the captured moment is genuine.

The judges lauded the winning entry for its simplicity, storytelling power, humor, and balanced composition. In selecting this image as the overall winner, IWPOTY—a globally recognized benchmark in its ninth year—has sent a clear signal. The pinnacle of wedding photography is no longer defined solely by dramatic landscapes or flawlessly styled portraits, but by the ability to distill a complex narrative into a single, honest frame.

This marks a significant point in the evolution of wedding photography awards. While previous winners, such as 2024’s Grand Winner Bettina Vass with her stunning shot of a couple in an Icelandic ice cave, have celebrated epic beauty, the 2025 choice champions a different kind of mastery: the art of seeing and capturing the profound in the ordinary.

A Paradigm Shift Driven by Authenticity

The acclaim for Scholes’ work is not an isolated event but the crest of a wave transforming the wedding industry. A powerful trend, driven largely by younger generations like Gen Z, is the move away from “Pinterest perfection” and towards what some call “authentic chaos.” Influenced by the unfiltered nature of platforms like BeReal, couples increasingly desire photos that reflect the true feeling and spontaneous joy of their day, imperfections and all.

Industry analysts point to several key trends for 2025 that align with this ethos. Documentary and photojournalistic styles are no longer niche; they are becoming the signature approach. There is a marked shift towards true-to-color editing that avoids heavy-handed filters, creating a timeless look. Photographers are also using higher f-stops to keep more of the scene in focus, which supports a storytelling approach by providing more context. Some are even blending styles, creating a hybrid “docutorial” that marries high-fashion editorial elegance with raw, emotive documentary moments.

This shift redefines the role of the wedding photographer. Instead of being a director of scenes, the modern photographer is an observer, a storyteller who must blend in, anticipate action, and possess the patience to wait for moments like a boy’s fleeting fascination with a cake. It’s about capturing the atmosphere, the belly laughs, and the quiet tears—the very things that make a wedding day unique.

The Technology of the Unscripted

This artistic evolution is intrinsically linked to technological innovation. The tools photographers use are critical in enabling this unobtrusive, documentary style. Scholes himself is transitioning from a Nikon D750 DSLR to a mirrorless Nikon Z6, a move many professionals are making. The silent shutter mode on mirrorless cameras is a game-changer, allowing photographers to capture intimate moments without the audible click that can break the spell and make subjects self-aware.

Furthermore, his preference for lightweight prime lenses—specifically the 35mm and 85mm—over heavy, conspicuous zoom lenses is telling. This setup allows for greater mobility, speed, and discretion, enabling the photographer to move through a crowd like a guest rather than an intrusive vendor. While ground-level intimacy is key, technology like drone photography is also being integrated to provide sweeping, cinematic establishing shots of venues, offering a dynamic counterpoint to the personal, candid moments captured up close.

Ultimately, the 2025 IWPOTY award celebrates a photographer who masterfully combined patience, artistic vision, and the right technology to capture a story that resonates universally. While Maddie Mae’s stunning 2nd Place photograph of a couple in a Utah sand dune cave showcases the continued power of epic romance, Scholes’ win solidifies the industry’s pivot towards the deeply personal. It affirms that the most enduring memories are often not the ones we stage, but the beautiful, fleeting, and authentic moments we are lucky enough to witness.