This is my third year in a row entering the Australian Professional Photography Awards.  This was most definitely my best year yet.  I just wanted to share this exciting news with everyone, so here goes….

I won four out of four awards and ended up as a finalist in the Australian Family Photographer of the Year category.  That means I was in the top three in Australia considered for this high honour.  How awesome is that!?  I was pretty proud of my efforts this year. : )  I won a gold award, a silver distinction and two silvers for my entries.  My first time winning a gold at a national level.  So happy about that.  Here’s a look at my entries from this year:

This image scored a 91 (Gold Award).  There were two out of the five judges that actually scored it in the gold distinction rage as well.  The image tied for the highest scoring print in the Family category for the ACT entrants.  We have some awesome talent in the ACT.

This image scored an 88 (Silver with Distinction).  I was quite pleased with this result as it only scored an 80 at the state awards.  I even had one of the judges score it a 91 (gold award).  How awesome is that?!

This print scored an 84 (Silver Award).  Just missed out on a Silver Distinction by one point.  This image received a gold award at the state level back in May.

This image was new to the awards and ended up scoring an 80 (silver award).  I was very happy about that as I had no idea how it would go.  I just love this image.  This was taken seconds after she gave birth to her second baby.  This is a long time client of mine.  Such a special experience photographing a birth.  I would do it every day if I could.  So beautiful.

These are my awards.  Hanging on the wall in the studio entrance.  The middle one is the Australian Family Photographer of the Year Finalist certificate.  The others are the individual awards for the above images.

Oh, and to top it all off, our State ended up winning a trophy this year for being the highest scoring state in all of Australia!  How awesome is that?!  I’m the President of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography here in the ACT, so I accepted the trophy on behalf of everyone that entered from the ACT.  It was an awesome night at the awards dinner in Melbourne last month.  I had several friends that received high honours.  So please for everyone!  Here’s a look at the trophy:

Thanks so much for letting me share my success!  I take pride in my work and I’m glad others notice and award me for my efforts.  : )

~Shanna