Girl in a Golden Dress, Georgia, 2009 © Vanessa Winship. From the series Georgia for a Song

Vanessa Winship won the Godfrey Argent prize for black-and-white photography in the 2008 National Portrait Gallery Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize but this year she's in the running for the main award.

Winship is one of four photographers shortlisted for the £12,000 prize, which is announced on 03 November. Also in the running are British photographer Paul Floyd Blake, Israeli-born Michal Chelbin and Serb-born, Canadian-based Mirjana Vrbaski. The first prize winner picks up £12,000, second prize £3000, third prize £2000 and fourth prize £1000. The Godfrey Argent Award-winner receives £2500, and this year this award will be given to the best photographer under 25.

Winship took her shot on one of many recent trips to Georgia, where she is trying to build a contemporary photographic portrait of the region. 'I found this particular young girl in the capital, Tbilisi, at one of the Palaces of Marriage,' she says. 'She was there as a guest at one of the many weddings that took place on that summer's day. I particularly liked the delicacy of her features and the way she held herself in what looked like a new and best outfit.'

Diane Smyth, deputy editor, was one of the judges of this year's NPG Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, alongside Sandy Nairne, director of the NPG; Terence Pepper, the NPG's curator of photographs; Sian Bonnell, artist and curator; Fergus Greer, photographer; and Stephen Snoddy, director of the New Walsall Art Gallery. The exhibition goes on show at the National Portrait Gallery, London from 05 November to 14 February 2010, after which it goes on tour around the UK.