There I was, front row of the judging, shaking inside because I was so nervous. Being judged by highly commended professionals in the industry was more nerve-wracking than I had anticipated. In truth, I wasn’t there to become an award winning photographer. I was there to see how far off I was from receiving a coveted ’80’. 80 being the threshold for above average skill in all applicable elements of professional photography standard.

I had entered the print competition at The Newborn and Portrait Show where you are directly competition with other professional portrait photographers. The Newborn and Portrait Show has one of only two print competitions held in the UK annually. There are industry bodies who give out monthly awards. However, these are different in the sense that your photo is awarded a grade (sometimes gold, silver, bronze, highly commended etc) but there isn’t a limit on how many people can get any particular grade. It is not a competition, it is a grading.

Images scoring 80 or higher get rejudged for the finals. The judges relook at the images together and decide which images will come 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Subsequently, the judging on all four of my images happened, scoring three 81’s and one 85! Only two other images in the entire competition had scored 85 points and they were in other categories. Then the penny dropped. My images were the only ones to score above 80 in my category. My images were the only ones in the finals for my category. Holy toast!

My front row friends had the same realisation as me. As the judges called a short break, we all ran off to fetch a celebratory coffee and I called my number one cheerleader, Eric, to tell him what just happened. And then my other biggest supporters, my Mum and Dad.

I spent the rest of the day in a daze, supporting my friends in their categories and listening to the critiques given by the judges, trying to soak up any top tips and improvements I could implement in my work.

Award Winning Means Getting on a Stage… Yikes

Fast forward two days and it’s time for the Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation. Not being one to enjoy the full spotlight, and realising I was going to be walking quite some distance to the stage and indeed, up the steps to the stage in 4 inch stiletto Cinderella shoes, panic started to rise within. Eric, my superhuman, had hopped on a train, tuxedo in hand, to support me winning my first award.

Thankfully, the organisers of The Newborn and Portrait Show only made me walk once. I collected my 3rd, 2nd and 1st place trophies and carried them back in a tray-like fashion. Without falling over my own feet! I’d call that a success.

The video can me seen here: Gala Dinner

Back to the business as usual, empowering mamas to be, capturing the sweetest smalls whilst they still are small and celebrating family and kids of all ages… just now with a bit more glam as an Award Winning photographer.

If you are considering any kind of shoot, get in touch here and lets make some magic.