A WIDNES based photographer has had images selected to be in the finals of The Xperience Professional Portrait Awards.

Mike Evans, owner of Evolutionary Events and photographer at Evolutionary Images, has 21 images in six categories. The portraits were selected out of more than 2,500 images in the recent second judging of the year and will go through to the finals in November at The Xperience awards ceremony in Cardiff.

Mike, whose specialist subject is dance, has been running Evolutionary Images for four years - delving into creative portraiture and offering a wide range of photographic services including Magic Mirror/Mirror Me photobooth hire for parties and corporate events.

He said: "Having your work recognised by your peers is always a thrill, but when they are client images and they can also gain from the experience, it’s just icing on the cake."

National organisation the Xperience Group first launched the awards in 2015 to develop creativity in every shoot as well as to challenge the photographic studios from across the UK and Ireland to make photographers step outside their comfort zones with everyday clients.

Training Director Mark Cleghorn said: "In these testing times, with our business doors closed, the creative community of small business may get overlooked, but this is a fantastic opportunity for the finalists to shout out and celebrate their business, their art and their passion.

"The standard of entries this year so far is exceptional, and I am looking forward to seeing how these photographers develop trends and style even further once they are allowed to be a photographer again."

Prizes for the winning entries include a studio trophy and a £500 wall portrait for their client, specially printed and custom framed to hang in their home.

For more information or to discuss a portrait with Mike, who also won the Dance and Team Category in 2018, visit: mike@evolutionaryimages.co.uk.