This is Rangefinder’s eighth year culling, critiquing and finally choosing the 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography. The 30 Rising Stars are emerging photographers—educators and mentors of the future—who show promise in taking the aesthetics of wedding photography to new places.

In June, all kinds of industry editors, photographers, agents and consultants nominated wedding photographers from around the world for consideration to be chosen for this year’s list. About 300 nominees submitted 30 images that wholly represented their signature as a wedding photographer.

Every year when the editorial and creative staff at Rangefinder is judging these submissions, they look for compelling narratives, consistent technique, visual cohesion and diverse subject matter, sourced from all parts of a wedding day, shot with an artistic flair grounded in truth.

The caveat is that each of the 30 Rising Stars must have been shooting weddings full-time for only five years or less.

Every year, we encounter perspectives that are unlike any we’ve seen, and the pool of talent has grown increasingly international since the competition’s beginnings. Back in 2012, the vast majority of nominated and chosen photographers were based in the U.S., but that scale has truly tipped.

This year marks our most international yet. It includes all kinds of countries from several continents around the world, some of which—Hawaii, Finland, Slovenia, etc.—are completely new to the competition.

We’re proud to see this diverse representation, as well as the wide variety of honed styles—from colorful and editorial to subtle and cinematic. See it all in our online gallery.

Thanks to all the nominators, which includes Junebug, The Knot and more, and all our nominees for producing such thoughtful portfolios.

Without further ado, this year’s list…

Ameirfikri

Ash Powell

Becy Farr (Belle Art Photography)

Colin Ross

Corinna & Dylan

Daniel López Pérez Photography

Daniela Villarreal

David Ruff

Elizabeth Austin-Davis

Eric-René Penoy

Janine Licare

Johanna Rosenlew

Katz Photography

Lukas Leonte

Luke Bell

Matteo Innocenti

Me & Georgia

Melody Joy

Natalie J Weddings

Plan Liebe

Quyn Duong

Rafal Borek

Randi Kreckman

Rimi Sen

Rosa Garrido

Sara Lincoln

Tinted Photography

Tjeerd Paul Jacobs

Urška & Domen

Will Khoury