Photo: Noelle Mirabella Photography

By Shane Clausing

Prestigious photography awards

Local photographer picks up several international photography awards

Apr 10, 2020 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie photographer Cassandra Jones continues to make noise on the international photography stage.

Over the last several weeks, Jones has picked up some prestigious international awards in the world of photography.

Her photo Just Because She Carries It Well Doesn’t Mean It Isn’t Heavy (featured in the title) was awarded first place at the Portrait Masters in the Creative category and in the end was named the overall Grand Champion for the entire competition. The particular image is a single image capture (shot entirely in camera) and is based on Jones’ experience as a young single mother.

More than 11,000 pictures were submitted from around the world throughout nine different categories.

“I was surprised, there were 11,000 entries and there’s the most accomplished photographers from all over the world,” said Jones of her victory. “You don’t expect to be placed in the highest category with so much talent, it was very exciting,” said Jones.

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“I won the Grand Champion last year at the competition and that was the first time I had submitted my work, I really didn’t expect to get it twice.”

Jones was also awarded first place in the Newborn Portrait category, third place in the Child Portrait category, and third place in the Pet Portrait category for some of her other images submitted into the Portrait Masters competition.

Jones also entered her photos titled, ‘Cat Nap’ and ‘The Bear Collector’ into the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) competition.

Cassandra Jones photo ‘Cat Nap’. Photo Credit: Noelle Mirabella Photography

Cassandra Jones photo ‘The Bear Collector’. Photo Credit: Noelle Mirabella Photography

To enter the competition, the photographer must have their work printed and shipped to Las Vegas so the pictures can be judged in person.

Her photos were printed at a lab in Italy and shipped to the print competition in Las Vegas to be judged live.

The photos submitted at the competition saw Jones picture Cat Nap place second in the Child category and her photo The Bear Collector place third place in the Newborn category.

She also submitted her photos Cat Nap and Daddy Can We Please Make Apple Pie at the WPE International Photography Awards. The pictures earned first and second place in the Child Portrait category.

Cassandra Jones photo ‘Daddy can we please make apple pie?’ Photo Credit: Noelle Mirabella Photography

Jones’ photo Daddy Can We Please Make Apple Pie is also a finalist at the World Photographic Cup in Italy. The competition can be best described as the Olympics of photography.

It was supposed to take place this March in Rome, Italy, but because of the impact of COVID-19, the competition has been moved to September.

As of now, because of COVID-19, Jones has been forced to adjust like many people in the community. She owns Noelle Mirabella Photography and has a shop in Grande Prairie that she has had to temporarily close because of social distancing.

While she has been forced to temporarily close her shop, she adds that she is continuing to host and teach workshops to photography students from around the world. Her work can be found here.