Photographers who make creative portraits must think outside the box to highlight their subjects in a unique way. The Icon Awards recognizes iconic photographers, with previous winners in the portrait category recognized for creative techniques from composition to in-camera special effects. This week, we’re highlighting five creative portraits and Icon Award winners. Find inspiration from these stunning images by Kris Anderson, John Makris, Enrique Oliver Tortosa, Michael Kennedy, and Shannon Beauclair.

See the live judging for the next round of the Icon Awards in fabulous Las Vegas at WPPI in March 2025.

Kris Anderson, Images by Anderson

Kris Anderson of Images by Anderson often makes creative portraits of dancers, but for this shot, he decided to challenge himself to create a piece that looks like post-production was involved while creating it entirely in camera. He came up with the concept for this image, then sat down to figure out how to use strobes, continuous lights and long exposure to make the vision a reality. He mounted his Canon R5 and 28-70mm f2 lens on a rotating gimbal tripod mount. He used a Godox AD200 strobe firing once per second to freeze the dancer in place eight times, while a Neewer 660 LED RGB cycled through its color range to add the color effect. He then took an eight-second exposure, rotating the camera 360 degrees during the exposure. His work earned him a First Place and Grand Award for the In-Camera Artistry Open In-Camera Division in the Icon Awards.

If Anderson could go back in time and give himself one piece of advice as he was starting out, he’d say, “Make friends with other photographers. It took me a few years to figure out how important that was. Aside from having a network for advice or help, I’ve made friends that will be in my life forever.”

John Makris

When photographing couples, John Makris (@johnmarkisphotography) strives to capture images that feel real and alive by incorporating action and movement. For this shot, which won First Place for the In-Camera Artistry Wedding Division of the Icon Awards, Makris was working in a spectacular forest in Greece and envisioned an image where the couple and the landscape felt like one. He achieved that using a silhouette and a cool white balance. He captured the shot with the Sony A7R V and Sony 14mm f1.8 GM.

“While everything is important–light, composition, pose, camera settings, editing–everything should be driven by the same purpose: I am photographing love between two people,” Makris stresses. “If this exists permanently as an inner voice in my mind, then every choice of lighting, composition, pose, and settings is based on how to best show my purpose: love between two people.”

Enrique Oliver Tortosa, Enrique Oliver Fotografo

Photographer Enrique Oliver Tortosa (@enriqueoliver) says composition and impact have always been the hallmark of his creative portraits. For this shot, which won First Place in the Creative Division in Weddings for the Icon Awards, he wanted to create an image that was simple, but at the same time elegant and impactful. He captured the shot with the Sony a7R II.

The photographer says that the best advice he has been given is to believe in yourself. “When I started in photography, I told my wife that I did not want to go unnoticed in the world of photography,” he says. “She would tell me what I told myself at that time: the fight will be difficult and even more in my country where the rules that are imposed even today are far from my own reality. I decided to compete internationally where I can really express my style.”

Michael Kennedy, Theatre Ghost

Photographer Michael Kennedy of Theatre Ghost has specialized in theatre and dance photography for over 15 years. This shot, which earned First Place in the Portrait Division for Portrait Narrative, was a result of experimenting with different ways to capture a dance routine. He used the stabilization system in his Nikon Z6 and Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S lens to slow the shutter while still keeping just enough details intact. He used a variable ND filter in order to take this five-second exposure at f7.1. He then experimented with color balance in post to create a more ethereal feel.

“Take a business course and network with other photographers,” Kennedy advises. “Join an association, enter your work into awards, and try to connect with people who are in a position that you aspire to be in.”

Shannon Beauclair, Beauclair Photography

“Even when people are sick they are worthy of having their portrait taken,” says Shannon Beauclair of Beauclair Photography. She captured this portrait of her older sister after initially being reluctant to photograph her sister while enduring several chronic illnesses. Beauclair decided to use a documentary style to tell a story of her sister’s experience. She captured the shot with the Canon 5D Mark III and a 50mm f1.2 lens, earning a First Place and Grand Award in the Individual Portrait Division.

“The perfect shot is not the goal. It’s about the connection with your clients and documenting life’s moments in a way that is authentic to you,” she says. “Your style and skills will continue to evolve and grow in ways that are unexpected, and that’s OK.”

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching portraits and wedding photos. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to five images at a time) to: [email protected].