THE XP
THE EXCEPTION PHOTOGRAPHERS is an international association of wedding photographers which organizes competitions
(4 / year) for all its members and a competition called "THE MASTERS" at the end of the year for the best 8 of them.
INNOVATIONS
THE XP RANKING, permanent world ranking.
It's a sliding classification calculated on the last 4 GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENTS called "GAMES".
WORLD NUMBER ONE, THE XP honors the world number one of the XP Ranking.
After 4 GAMES + "THE MASTERS", the World Number One (WNO) will be the most complete photographer in the world because he will have won the most points in 5 very different competitions:
1 competition called "OPEN GAME"
(where all photos is possible)
1 competition called "ARTISTIC GAME"
(portrait photos or detail photos only)
1 competition called "REPORTAGE GAME"
(documentary photos only)
1 competition called "OPEN GAME OF THE YEAR"
(where all photos is possible from the current year)
The last competition in the end of the year: "THE MASTERS" for the 8 best photographers
(Stories contest)
The 200 XP Awards - 100 Awards in color, 100 Awards in B&W - of each competition are presented classified / jury's score.
THE XP JURY, Exceptional judges, chosen from among the best wedding photographers in the world, who receive
1000 compensation points in the XP RANKING due to their absence in the "GAME".
THE PROCESS to judge the photos is an Exceptional judgment process* with a French Touch:
One French judge in each XP Jury of 4 people and...
(* description of the process in the XP Rules)
... THE HEXAGON AWARD logo reminds this French Touch.
MASTER, the Winner of a "GAME" is named MASTER.
MASTER OF MASTERS
In the end of the year, the day after the last GAME of the year, the 8 photographers who have accumulated the most points during the current year are qualified for THE MASTER OF MASTERS alias "THE MASTERS". If a GAME winner's photographer (Master in the current year) is between ninth and twentieth place in the XP RANKING, he takes the place of the qualified photographer in eighth position.
This Event is a Stories contest, a story is between 17 and 23 photos* of the same wedding:
Engagement+Wedding+Day After or Engagement+Wedding or Wedding + Day After or just the Wedding.
The 8 best photographers are divided (according to their ranking) into two groups of four photographers for 3 "Rounds" / photographer in this groups.
A "Round" is a Story VS a Story (each judge will have only one choice between 2 stories).
The first two in each group qualify for the semi-finals.
5 Stories / photographer is sent numbered (Story#1 for Round#1, Story#2 for Round#2, Story#3 for Round#3, Story#4 for the semi-final, Story#5 for the final)
The Winner of "THE MASTERS" is named MASTER OF MASTERS. It's possible to win 3000 points** during THE MASTERS
* color or black and white photos or mix - all possibilities is accepted for THE XP Stories
** 400+400+400+800+1000
WINNER is named
THE MASTER OF THE MASTERS: +1000 points +500€ Cash +316€ XP credits*
Finalist: +800 points +236€ XP credits*
Semi-Finalist: Each Victory / "Round" = +400 points +156€ XP credits*
Qualified in "THE 8 BEST": Each Victory / "Round" = +400 points +76€ XP credits*
Score draw: +200 points
*316€ XP credits = 40 additional entries / GAME for the 4 GAMES of 2021, 236€ XP credits = 30 additional entries / GAME,
156€ XP credits = 20 additional entries / GAME, 76€ XP credits = 10 additional entries / GAME
WINNER of THE XP RANKING in the end of the Year win the most prestigious name of
WORLD NUMBER ONE OF THE YEAR (WNO 2020)
and win 500€ Cash too = 1000€ if the Master of the Master is
the World Number One 2020 + 316€ XP credits
WORLD CUP CHALLENGE is the name of the competition by country.
THE "TOP TEN" AWARDS is the name of the Editor's Choice just after the results of each GAME
The favorites priceless photos of JLG in ALL ENTRIES (with XP Ranking points).
THE "NEXT TIME" AWARDS is an another Editor's Choice with a great Award potential (anytime),
Selected in THE FINALIST PHOTOS (no XP Ranking points).
HALL OF FAME is a gallery photos that have been rated 90 points or more.
SEO
The SEO of THE XP will soon be outsourced
PHILOSOPHY
EVERYTHING FOR THE JURY: The additional entries money goes (in totality) to the XP Jury.
The philosophy is an important redistribution of earnings for judges and prizes.
COLOR / BLACK and WHITE: THE XP puts color and black & white photos in the spotlight in a balanced way.
RULES: No important rule changes during the year.
AND MORE
from 2021
It's the beginning of something much larger.
ARE YOU READY?
Join THE GAME !
ARE YOU READY TO PLAY ?
NEXT GAME: "THE MASTERS"
(in November)
THE EXCEPTION PHOTOGRAPHERS
THE BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS AROUND THE WORLD
JULIEN LAURENT-GEORGES
The XP Executive Director
