The inaugural Virginia Living Photography Awards has concluded. Out of hundreds of submissions and thousands of votes, we’re proud to announce the best photography in Virginia. Below, meet the 2026 Readers’ Choice and Judges’ Choice winners across our Professional and Amateur divisions. These exceptional photographers will be published in Virginia Living magazine and exhibited at Quirk Gallery in Richmond from January 22nd through February 22nd.
Professional Division Winners
Judges’ Choice | People & Lifestyle
🏆 First Place Winner: Parks Rountrey, Mechanicsville
🥈Second Place Winner: Emily Alyssa Fisher, Fairfax
🥉Third Place Winner: Mark Atkinson, Virginia beach
Judges’ Choice | Nature & Wildlife
🏆 First Place Winner: Parks Rountrey, Mechanicsville
🥈Second Place Winner: Deborah Stachkunas, Colonial Beach
🥉Third Place Winner: Carol Stalun, Alexandria
Readers’ Choice | People & Lifestyle
🏆 First Place Winner: Marina Pierce, Cape Charles
🥈Second Place Winner: Natalie Parker, Ashland
🥉Third Place Winner: Kristie Bradley, Ashland
Readers’ Choice | Nature & Wildlife
🏆 First Place Winner: James Clawson, Gwynn
🥈Second Place Winner: Marina Pierce, Cape Charles
🥉Third Place Winner: Susan Ammons, Gloucester
Amateur Division Winners
Judges’ Choice | People & Lifestyle
🏆 First Place Winner: Bob Diller, Henrico
🥈Second Place Winner: Steven Nape, Radford
🥉Third Place Winner: John P. Lewis, Millwood
Judges’ Choice | Nature & Wildlife
🏆 First Place Winner: Fredrik Fatemi, McLean
🥈Second Place Winner: Lisa Watkins, Mechanicsville
🥉Third Place Winner: James Fatemi, McLean
Readers’ Choice | People & Lifestyle
🏆 First Place Winner: Angela Smith, Midlothian
🥈Second Place Winner: David Spanburg, Vienna
🥉Third Place Winner: Karen Komar, Yorktown
Readers’ Choice | Nature & Wildlife
🏆 First Place Winner: Lisa Watkins, Mechanicsville
🥈Second Place Winner: Jared Holland, Staffordsville
🥉Third Place Winner: Joy Gray, Centreville
The 2026 first place winners are featured in Virginia Living‘s January/February issue, available now. Click here to order your copy.
Want to explore all the exceptional work submitted? Browse the complete gallery of competition entries. Hundreds of photographs that showcase Virginia’s creative depth and vision.
What the winners earned
🏆 Recognition as Virginia’s best photographers
📸 Publication in Virginia Living magazine (First place winners only!)
🎨 Exhibition at Quirk Gallery, Richmond (Jan. 22 – Feb. 22)
🎁 Curated swag bag celebrating Virginia’s creative community
💚 One-year Virginia Living magazine subscription
🏨 Entry into drawing for luxury hotel getaway
🌟 Statewide visibility across digital and print platforms
THANK YOU!
We’re grateful to every photographer who entered, every reader who voted, and every member of Virginia’s creative community who made this inaugural competition a success. Through voting, we raised meaningful support for the Wildlife Center of Virginia, an organization dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education.
