If you're looking to showcase your work in one standout shot, then Best Photographic Image at the Modern Barber Awards is perfect for you. Whether you choose to take the photo yourself, or opt to work with a photographer, there is plenty of creative freedom in this category - the only real limit is that you can just submit one image.
You might decide to submit an image you already have, or perhaps you'll choose to take something especially for your entry - the choice is yours. Never forget that the point of your image is showcasing your awesome hair skills – style over content won’t win the day. It's also worth noting that you can only enter one image – multiple entries are not allowed.
If you're still a little unsure what entering this category might look like, check out the winners' shots from previous years below...
Sam Elliot, TONI&GUY Covent Garden, Winner of Best Photographic Image at the Modern Barber Awards 2024
Reflecting on his award win, Sam said: “Winning this award meant a lot to me because all of us here put a lot of our time, effort, and just a lot of ourselves into our work, so it’s amazing to have that recognised.”
Ainsley Joshua Walton, HAR SESSIONS, Winner of Best Photographic Image at the Modern Barber Awards 2023
Following his win at the Modern Barber Awards 2023, Ainsley shared: "This is what this is all about. This is going to give me huge amounts of confidence. For me, coming from a very small place, it’s amazing that I am now actually in this sort of limelight. So, again, thank you to everybody that has supported me.”
Stuart Wharry, Alchemy Hair, Winner of Best Photographic Image at the Modern Barber Awards 2022
Discussing his approach to entering Photographic Image, he explained: "Our salon does a number of photoshoots and enters various competitions throughout the year. This image was taken specifically for the Modern Barber Awards; it was my first time entering, I was inspired by themes from pop culture, the late 90s era - something that still had the fundamentals for shape and structure but also texture and layers.
"When picking my images, I always go with my gut and intuition - I'm looking for that feeling of 'that's the one'. When I first saw the image it stood out to me straight away; it highlighted everything I wanted to express and more."
Stuart explained that for him, one of the biggest reasons he decided to enter the Modern Barber awards was to gain credibility. He said: “In an ever-evolving and growing industry, along with changing times, barbering has never been as important to the modern day man. Industry pressures, along with the vast amount of competition, can make it difficult to gain recognition and credibility for your contribution and successes within the industry. The Modern Barber Awards gives barbers a fantastic platform to shout about our successes and to gain extra credibility, acknowledgment and appreciation for all aspects of modern barbering, creatively and commercially.”
Mikey Pearson, Maniefsto, Winner of Best Photographic Image at the Modern Barber Awards 2021
Jim Shaw and Daisy Carter, TONI&GUY Billericay, Winner of Best Photographic Image at the Modern Barber Awards 2020
The Modern Barber Awards are a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the talent and creativity in our incredible industry. If you want to be a part of this, then submit your entry now. The closing date is 5pm on February 21 2025, so you don't have long.
Still looking for more inspiration? You can check out the finalist's images from 2024 here.
