One of the most exciting aspects of my photography journey has been entering photography awards. Entering these awards became more than just a way to gain recognition, it became an opportunity to grow and evolve as an artist.
THE PORTRAIT MASTERS AWARDS & ACCREDITATION
In 2020, I decided to challenge myself and push my creative boundaries with my Fine Art Portrait Photography. Being a member of The Portrait Masters (formally Sue Bryce Education), I felt so inspired to enter my images into their biannual competition.
The Portrait Masters is an International Photography Awards & Accreditation program. A panel of world-renowned Master Photographers critique and score all entries in 12 Portrait Categories for expression, connection, styling, composition, posing, lighting, focus, overall technique, presentation, post-production and storytelling. Each image is reviewed by five judges and an average score is given. Those images that meet and exceed professional standard, receive Bronze (70-74 points); Bronze with Distinction (75-79 points); Silver (80-89 points) or Gold Awards (90-100 points).
I am extremely proud that every single image that I have entered into these awards, have been awarded with Bronze, Bronze with Distinction, Silver and Gold! Due to my consistant results over the course of 2.5 years, I achieved my Associate Photographer Accreditation with The Portrait Masters in July 2022. This is a significant achievement - in 2023, there are only 3 other photographers from Western Australia who have achieved this level of accreditation.
AWARD WINNING RESULTS
In the January 2022 Portrait Masters Award round, I was overjoyed (& honestly so shocked!) to be awarded with 1 x Gold and 3 x Silver Awards. Up until this point, I had only received Bronze and Bronze with Distinction Awards.
To give you an idea of the fierce competition, the stats for this particular round of Awards were:
Total number of entries: 6766
Gold Awards: 6 (1 of these were mine!!)
Silver: 284 (3 of these were mine!!)
Bronze with Distinction: 993
Bronze: 4322
The remaining entries were Approaching professional standard.
INSPIRATION, CRITIQUES & GROWTH
Being part of such competitions exposes me to the works of incredibly talented photographers from around the world. It is inspiring to witness their perspectives, their unique interpretation of the world and the stories they tell through their images. These competitions allow me to learn from others, to draw inspiration from their work and to continuously challenge myself to improve.
The feedback and critiques from esteemed judges provide invaluable insight into my craft. Constructive criticism pushes me to refine my techniques and experiment with different styles. I am so grateful for this feedback, as I can see the advancement in my own work over time.
The thrill of entering photography awards is not solely about winning or recognition, it is about the journey itself. It is about the growth, the inspiration, and the sense of purpose it instills in me as an artist. The knowledge that I am part of a vast community who shares the same passion and dedication is so exciting. I am currently planning new Fine Art Portrait Sessions, with the intention to enter the images into future rounds of The Portrait Masters Awards. My next goal is to achieve Master Photography Accreditation status :) Thank you to everyone who supports me in my photography journey. I can’t wait to create more magic in my photography studio.
Christine
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