At an awards gala, the most important photograph lasts only a few seconds. The winners walk on stage, collect their trophy, and the screen behind them displays the campaign name. That moment can’t be repeated, and it’s exactly why the organiser hires a photographer.
In late November 2025 I photographed the MIXX Awards 2025 gala, IAB Poland’s annual competition for the digital industry. Around 170 entries, 43 nominated campaigns, 9 gold trophies and categories such as Advertiser, Agency and Media House of the Year. The venue: the Polish History Museum in Warsaw.
What happened
The evening started long before the stage. Registration, a marble atrium, guests descending a grand staircase to the auditorium. The auditorium, with its red ribbed walls, is a set piece in its own right, so I photographed it widely before it filled up to the last row.
Then the ceremony. An opening with a saxophone against a large logo, the host, category after category, and a series of walk-ons. The organiser made sure the winners stayed on stage for the photo, which makes the job much easier: every winning team has its shot with the screen showing the campaign and company name.
Then everything in between: an applauding audience, a spontaneous hug after the results are announced, a group selfie of winners on stage, and an after-party among balloons with the gala’s logo.
What I pay attention to at a gala
The order of presentations is my work plan. Before the gala I know how many categories are on the programme, so no walk-on to the stage catches me off guard.
The screen is part of the frame. A photo of the winners with the category and campaign name visible writes its own caption: PR and social media get material that doesn’t need describing from scratch.
A gala is also its audience. Reactions from the hall, networking during breaks and set details round out the report, because after the event you need more than just shots from the stage.
Result
IAB Poland published a report from the gala on its website, and the event was widely covered in trade media. The material was used to communicate the competition results.
