An award gala in a marquee in a park has one feature no conference hall has: transparent walls. Behind the audience’s backs, the Jabłonna Palace is visible the whole time. That view has to work in the material, because it’s what sets this gala apart from any other.
In June 2025, I photographed the Mazowiecka Lady D. and Mazowiecki Gentleman D. competition gala for the Mazowieckie Centrum Polityki Społecznej (MCPS). These are annual awards for people with disabilities who are active in society and at work. An outdoor photo exhibition on easels stood in front of the marquee, and a TV crew was also working on site.
What happened
The award ceremony is the heart of this material. The client wanted photos of the winners, the director and the team, so I watched every entrance onto the stage: speeches, a handshake at the statuette, flowers, a group photo of all the award winners at the end.
The strongest shots from a gala like this aren’t staged. A winner turning to the applauding room and waving. Two award winners hugging on stage right after receiving their statuettes. The host and a winner bursting into laughter between the official points of the programme. You have to wait for these moments with the shot already framed.
After the ceremony, a band with an acoustic guitar and a djembe took over the stage, and the guests scattered into conversations by the palace. The evening was closed by the outdoor exhibition, where the winners took photos together.
What I paid attention to
At an awards gala for people with disabilities, every shot of a winner has to be dignified and flattering. No candid ambush shots, no awkward moments. The stage, the presentations, wide shots of the room, and the emotions the winners show themselves.
The material also includes what often gets missed: a sign language interpreter on stage, MCPS branding in the background of the shots, boards for social programmes in front of the marquee. The organiser gets a complete set for press coverage, social media and programme summaries.
Result
The material reached MCPS the day after the gala. The Centre uses photos from the competition in its own publications, and the collaboration on the gala has lasted several years and is already booked for the next edition.
