It's a remarkable achievement for a couple who only set up their social photography business less than two years ago, and now they intend to build on their success and to make a serious attempt on both the Wedding and Portrait titles at the end of the year.

"I spent the whole of last year working really hard to try to get a Distinction in these Awards," says Damien, "and ultimately was disappointed. Now that I finally have achieved my goal I appreciate what it means. It's not something that's easy to win, and I couldn't be more delighted: now I'm going to go flat out to try to pick up a Distinction in the Wedding Category in one of the remaining Quarters so that both Julie and I can compete for the overall title!"

For Julie the thrill of being awarded a Distinction was made all the greater by the fact that she has only recently started to cover weddings, having been taught the skills of 35mm reportage photography by Damien. "I'm surprised and delighted to have achieved this Award," she says. "While Damien is setting up the group pictures at a wedding, I work as his partner to achieve unposed background pictures of the guests, and it was one of these pictures that was successful for me."

"It was taken at the biggest wedding we've covered to date, and the people were so lovely, and the locations that we found were so outstanding, that we both just kept taking pictures all day. It was a wonderful assignment, and the results we achieved reflected the fact."

Another name new to the Fujifilm Awards is Stu Williamson, who receives a Distinction in the Portrait Studio Category. "It's only the second time I've entered," he says, "but I'll be putting my work into the Awards regularly from now on. I use a lot of Fujifilm materials - the picture that won me the Distinction was shot on RDP - and not only is it beautiful film, but I'm very impressed with the way that Fujifilm gets behind the photographers who use its products. The Wedding and Portrait Awards have the potential to provide some great publicity, and the prize value is excellent as well."

Further Distinctions in the First Quarter have been achieved by Keith Thompson in the Digital Wedding Category and Gary Walsh in the Portrait Location Category.

Competition judges for this Quarter of the Wedding and Portrait Awards were photographer Annabel Williams and Alf Coombes, ex-social photographer and the Managing Director of Manchester Colour Labs.

"The standard of the winning entries is really high," says Alf, "and the quality of pictures entered into the Fujifilm Awards is undoubtedly getting better all the time. The variety of work that we were asked to judge was very impressive, and the level of imagination shown by those who gained Distinctions to lift their work above a more straightforward high street approach was really good to see."

Julie Lovegrove, Bristol

Digital Wedding Category

Keith Thompson, Reading

Potrait Studio Category

Stu Williamson, Market Harborough

Potrait Location Category

Gary Walsh, Stockton-on-Tees

Damien Lovegrove, Bristol