Judges | Association of International Boudoir Photographers

Meet the AIBP Visionary Awards Judging Panel

The AIBP Visionary Awards has sought out some of the top photographers and industry professionals with a proven background of excellence to facilitate the judging process. They hold the highest standards and integrity. The judging panel is truly dedicated to elevating the individual and the industry though this competition.

Roberto Valenzuela

Roberto Valenzuela is a world-renowned wedding, portrait, and fashion photographer, celebrated for his dynamic artistry and practical teaching style. A Canon Explorer of Light and former classical guitarist, he channels creativity and precision into his craft. Author of the bestselling Picture Perfect series and The Wedding Storyteller, Roberto’s expertise has made him a sought-after speaker at global photography events, inspiring photographers to elevate their work to extraordinary heights.

Heidi Margocsy is an Australian photographer based in Northern California. Her photography is heart centered and story focused, celebrating the extraordinary in every subject she photographs. Her love of story telling has enabled her to create portraits all over the world for entrepreneurs, authors, entertainers the LGBTQ+ community, and artists. Heidi’s images have been published and exhibited extensively in the U.S, Australia, Asia, Europe and the U.K. She has won numerous international portrait awards, and was recently named as a Finalist in the esteemed National Photographic Portrait Prize by the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.

Heidi Margocsy

Ester Kay

Esther Kay doesn’t just take photographs, she captures the soul.

As the heart behind Esther Kay Studio, Esther is devoted to preserving the raw, unfiltered beauty of motherhood. Through her lens, fleeting moments, a mother’s touch, the curve of a belly, the quiet strength in her gaze become timeless heirlooms of love and connection.

Her journey began far from the studio. For nine years, Esther taught first grade, until a birthday gift from her father, a camera, changed everything. The moment she photographed her first maternity session, she knew she had found her calling.

What followed was years of learning, late nights, and unwavering passion. Today, Esther stands as a celebrated artist and mentor, helping others uncover their creative voice.

Through her workshops, masterclasses, and mentorships, Esther teaches photographers to move past fear, embrace their artistry, and create images that feel.

For Esther, photography isn’t about perfection, it’s about emotion. It’s about light, love, and the moments that whisper: You are seen. You are loved. You are enough.

Pratik Naik is a high-end retoucher based out of the United States, specializing in commercial and editorial work. With over 15 years of experience, he retains a deep passion for mastering the art of retouching in Photoshop.

His background in fine art fuels his passion for retouching. Naik believes in a streamlined, seamless approach that respects the photographer’s original vision while striving for flawless results. His ultimate goal is to preserve the natural essence of an image while elevating it to the photographer’s exacting standards.

Alongside his retouching work, Naik finds great satisfaction in teaching. He enjoys simplifying complex techniques, making them accessible for aspiring retouchers. Witnessing the “aha!” moment when concepts become clear for a student brings him immense fulfillment.

Additionally, Naik is the founder of Infinite Color, a leading Photoshop color grading extension.

Pratik Naik

Additionally, Naik is the founder of Infinite Color, a leading Photoshop color grading extension

Karen Bagley

Certified Under Water Portrait artist and Master Portrait Photographer, Karen Bagley, is the creative lifeblood behind the brand of Significant Moments Photography.

Karen Bagley is known for combining her editorial eye to genres of portrait work not typically seen, creating an entirely new level of art work. Specializing in women’s portraits as well as her gift with underwater portraiture as a whole. She blends her high-fashion eye right along with the sentiment of the session she is documenting into portraits you will treasure forever.

Manifesting her journey through her art, this international award-winning powerhouse lives for bringing a new and elevated level of portraiture to the world. Her adventurous, creative, and sentimental demeanor is what led to the very strong desire to document such important memories. Due to this passion, and her growing brand of art work, this has led to her furthering her career in the industry by speaking to and teaching photographers worldwide to do so as well.

Ric is an internationally published and award winning photographer specializing in fine art portraiture, underwater, fashion, maternity, and boudoir. Of all the genres of photography his two main passions are maternity and underwater portraiture.

Ric travels the US with his wife Kayla and teaches workshops as well as speaks or runs photo booths at photography conventions throughout the US.

When he’s not taking pictures or teaching workshops, Ric helps his wife with her company Kayla Douglas Artistry.

Ric is an ambassador for Baby Dream Backdrops, Aftershoot, Embrace Presets, Spider Camera Holster, Cheetah Stand, and Aftershoot.

The most important thing for Ric as a photographer is that every client, every photographer, and every creative walks away from every interaction with him feeling loved, inspired, and valued.

Ric Lewis

Ric travels the US with his wife Kayla and teaches workshops as well as speaks or runs photo booths at photography conventions throughout the US.

When he’s not taking pictures or teaching workshops, Ric helps his wife with her company Kayla Douglas Artistry.

Ric is an ambassador for Baby Dream Backdrops, Aftershoot, Embrace Presets, Spider Camera Holster, Cheetah Stand, and Aftershoot.

The most important thing for Ric as a photographer is that every client, every photographer, and every creative walks away from every interaction with him feeling loved, inspired, and valued.

Emma Finch

Emma Finch is a multi award-winning professional portrait photographer, speaker, and educator with a career spanning over a decade. Her achievements include being named Portrait Photographer of the Year 2024, securing a place in the prestigious Top 3 International Portrait Photographer of the Year, and earning over 60 international publications, including multiple covers. She has also been a nine-time finalist in Portrait of the Year. Equally at home working from her Manchester studio or on location, Emma works with both commercial and private clients.

Inspired by feminine strength and elegance, she strives to capture the essence of a woman’s beauty in timeless, sophisticated portraits. With extensive expertise in lighting and posing, combined with an innate ability to put women at ease, she has attracted clients from across the UK, as well as Europe and the USA, to her business, Belle Privé Photography.

Beyond her work behind the camera, Emma is a passionate educator and speaker. She has presented at major industry events such as The Photography Show and the London Photo Convention. In addition to Belle Privé Photography, Emma also runs Emma Finch Photography, specializing in family, children, and lifestyle photography on location.

Gary Box opened his first storefront studio in 1989. 36 years and 18K clients later it still blows his mind.

Although mostly known for high school seniors, Gary’s studio covers the full range of portrait offerings including families, children, boudoir and business headshots. His studio is a full service studio with high end printed products as their focus, including wall art and albums. At one point, he was doing over 1000 sessions a year, but now focuses on a smaller number of high end clients and only photographs about 200 sessions a year.

Gary also is passionate about helping other photographers grow in their photography and their business.

Gary Box

Gary Box opened his first storefront studio in 1989. 36 years and 18K clients later it still blows his mind.

Gary also is passionate about helping other photographers grow in their photography and their business.

Shawn Black

Shawn Black is an international award winning boudoir photographer, author, and educator from Boston, Massachusetts. He has also been the owner and president of AIBP (Association of International Boudoir Photographers) since 2021.

Shawn is best known for the dramatic lighting and editorial look of his images which has made him one of the most recognized photographers in the genre. He has written for and had his work featured across the top industry publications such as Rangefinder and Professional Photographer magazines.

While being behind the camera creating will always be his first love, he has always been passionate about pushing the genre forward and educating which is why in 2021 he acquired and became president of AIBP. This move has allowed him to further advocate and educate for the boudoir community. As an educator Shawn has spoken at WPPI, Imaging, Shutterfest, ClickCon, Exposure Europe Conference, AIBP Retreat, and numerous stand alone workshops and private mentorships.

The industry recognizes Shawn as one of the top photographers in the boudoir genre as he is sponsored by numerous industry leading companies including Floricolor, Geekoto, 17hats, Aftershoot, Pro Prints, Fundy, and Evoto. He was recognized by AIBP in 2017 as The Photographer to Watch and in 2019 as The Photographer of the Year as well as garnering many other awards through out the years from different organizations and publications.

Everything Shawn does as a photographer, educator, and advocate for the boudoir community follows his belief that boudoir is for everyBODY, which is why his tagline has always been #BeBoldBeSexyBeYou, with BeYou being the most important part.