Hi 🙂
My name is Miguel Ponte and I was born in 1979, in Madeira Island, Portugal, a little portuguese island that lies 500 km (310 miles) off the coast of Africa, knowned by the alias pearl of the Atlantic, but also the island of eternal spring or even the garden island of the Atlantic. I am also the proud father of a little girl that showed me that love doesn’t exist only in lenses . I have always considered myself as a family oriented guy with a taste for travel, a good talk, good food, good wine, coffee and general knowledge.
I majored in psychology and human resources management, but my true passion is in fact photography and capturing those little moments that reveal real emotions, with no scripts or any forced poses, accompanying the unfolding of events in the most genuine way possible.
My presence at weddings is usually discrete, interacting with the bride and groom and their guests in the softest and warm way so that they don’t feel pressured, feeling free to share their special day with me and give me the enormous honor of capturing their memories.
Experience:
- First wedding photographed: 14-09-2014;
- Number of weddings so far: >100;
- Number of photoshoots: >120.
Afiliations & Presence in Wedding Photography Platforms:
- ISWP – International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers
- WPJA – Wedding Photojournalist Association
- MYWED – Wedding Photographers Community
- Inspiration Photographers
- This is Reportage
Awards and other recognitions:
- Photo of year award at the MYWED Awards 2018;
- Juri member of the 8th edition of the 2020 national wedding photography and videography contest held in Romania;
- 6 FEARLESS Awards;
- 5 REPORTAGE Awards;
- 6 ISPWP Awards;
- 6 Diamond WPJA Awards;
- 4 Artistic Guild WPJA Awards;
- 10 INSPIRATION Awards;
- 22 stamps of “Best photos of the Year” at MYWED;
- 193 stamps of “Best photos of the Week” at MYWED;
- 65 stamps of “Editors’ Choice” at MYWED;
National rankings:
- Currently in the 1st place in the MYWED ranking for Portugal;
- Currently in the 1st place in the INSPIRATION Photographers ranking for Portugal;
- Currently in the 2nd place in the FEARLESS Photographers ranking for Portugal;
- Currently in the 2nd place in the ISPWP ranking for Portugal;
- Currently in the 5th place in the THIS IS REPORTAGE ranking for Portugal;
International rankings:
- Currently #24 in the MYWED World Ranking;
- Currently #66 in the FEARLESS Photograhers World Ranking;
- #40 in the THIS IS REPORTAGE Top 100 Photographers of the Year 2019;
- #46 in the ISPWP TOP 100 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD 2019;
- #71 in the AG WPJA TOP 100 INTERNATIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS OF 2019;
Relevant publications:
- Photo used on a article about Madeira in WEDDING, the leading wedding magazine in Russia, Sep/Oct Edition, 2017;
- Photo used on article about destination wedings in Madeira in MłODA PARA, a polish wedding magazine, Feb. Edition, 2018;
- Photo cover of Madeira Digital Magazine, march, 2016;
- Landscape photos on the centerfold of Madeira Digital Magazine, october, 2014.
Press references:
- “61 of the best wedding photos taken in 2018” – INSIDER;
- “61 of the best wedding photos taken in 2018” – INSIDER;
- “32 Award-Winning Wedding Photos That Will Pull You In – Wedding photography on another level” – HUFFINGTON POST;
- “And the photo of the year goes to… Miguel Ponte” – DIÁRIO DE NOTÍCIAS;
- “Maderean photographer sees work published in biggest russian wedding magazine” – DIÁRIO DE NOTÍCIAS;
- “Inside my Camera Bag” – SHOTKIT;
Recent training:
- Photography course, by Inforstudio & IMart8, 2012
- Advanced course in landscape photography, by Inforstudio & IMart8, 2013
- “Can you see the light” black & white photography workshop, by Humberto Almendra, 2013
- Stop motion and time lapse photography workshop, by Daniel Camacho, 2014
- Night photography workshop, by Daniel Camacho, 2014
- Emotional fine art wedding photography workshop, by Nelson Marques, 2015