"Linda Burney Airborne" was taken just after the same-sex marriage bill vote passed on December 7, 2017 and shows the diminutive Ms Burney in a celebratory embrace with Liberal MP and tireless same-sex marriage campaigner Warren Entsch.

Mr Coch says the image is emotional given Ms Burney had lost her son, who was gay, just weeks earlier.

"As a father myself I was just thinking, 'how can she even be here at work such a short time after', but it was really important to her," he said.

"It was a bipartisan and emotional moment that was very nice to see.

"It summed up that day."

Mr Coch said he was surprised to win, though he knew it was a good shot when it happened.

All Walkley winners receive a prize of Nikon camera equipment.

Australian Associated Press