Journalism graduate places first in professional photojournalism competition

Abbey Cutrer, a 2025 University of Kentucky journalism graduate, won two major awards at the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar contest. 

 

At the contest, which was held last month, Cutrer placed first with a photo story in the Feature Picture Story category. Other winners among Cutrer in the category included photographers from both the Associated Press and the Washington Post.

 

Cutrer also won a third place award for a single photo in the Feature Picture category. 

 

The Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar is America’s longest continuously operating photojournalism conference, and its contest is entered by professionals producing work from around the world. 

 

Cutrer’s submitted photos were taken while she was a student at UK at the Picture Kentucky Workshop but entered as professional work given her graduate status. 

 

"It was a really full circle moment for me to be honored with this award," said Cutrer, who attended the seminar as a senior last year hoping to network and make connections. "I've been entering in student contests my whole life and this was the first time I entered as a professional." 

 

Cutrer also thanked David Stephenson, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media, for his mentorship at the Picture Kentucky Workshop. 

 

“The professional photojournalists entering this contest are the best of the best,” Stephenson said. “For Abbey to win a first place award with work she produced as a student is remarkable and an acknowledgment of her talent and dedication to telling visual stories in her community.”

 

Cutrer is currently finishing a six-month internship at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

 

Read more about the winners of the contest here.