Picture this: it's May 2007 and a young flower girl at a wedding in Tauranga is lining up with others for a family photo.
But it's been a long day and she starts crying. Her grandfather comforts her, putting his hands on her face.
It's a moment that Tauranga photographer Nikki South
catches on camera, not realising at the time just how good the photo would be.
Fast forward to last week and it was Ms South's turn to cry when the image earned her top honours at one of New Zealand's premier photo awards competitions.
Ms South, who mainly shoots weddings, won the prize for best colour print in New Zealand and Tauranga's only gold medal at the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP) annual awards.
A number of other photographers from the Western Bay were also honoured at the awards, including Bob Tulloch and Nicola Topping, who was made fellow of the NZIPP - the only one in the Bay of Plenty.
Ms South told the Bay of Plenty Times about her winning image, taken at the Matua wedding.
"I was waiting for the family to line up for a group shot when I saw her. It had been a long day for her and she was crying so her grandfather was trying to comfort her," she said.
"I took a couple of shots but it wasn't until I got home that I realised I'd got it."
The photograph scored the highest points - 94 out of 100 - of all 1100 entries. Ms South said she was blown away when the photo was judged best of the competition.
"It made me cry when I found out. It was so unexpected - a pleasant surprise and an honour. I was really shocked because I was going against some amazing photographers."
Before the competition she was a relative unknown in the world of Australasian photography, however the win had changed all that.
She has been asked to attend an international photography competition in Las Vegas but won't go because it takes place over the summer - the prime time for wedding photography.
While the photography prize and professional recognition are welcomed, Ms South said her achievements would also have practical benefits.
"I'm going to be upping my rates as I think this puts me in a different league!"
