Shoot and Share Contest
Wow!! It has been wayyyy too long since I have done a blog post. I know I have missed blogging about a few sessions, but I promise to try and share more often from now on! BUT I have some very exciting news that I feel needs to be shared in more than just a few words.
As most of you know, I am a Teacher full time, and haven’t done photography for very long (just over a year). I finally took the leap in December 2016, and what a leap it was! I have met so many wonderful families, brides, couples, and learned SOOO much in regards to photography. I have also met a lot of wonderful photographers along the way who I am happy to call my friends. Even those living in other countries! Social media is powerful, and when used appropriately, can produce great things.
Fast forward to February 2018 when I first heard about the Shoot and Share contest through a friend (and yes, that friend is a photographer who lives in Michigan, whom I talk to almost every day now. If you are ever there, and need a photographer, check out Jane Victoria Photography-She is AMAZING! And killed this contest even better than I did!) I was hesitant to enter as I have seen a lot of other photographers work and I didn’t think I had any chance of making it very far. But I thought what the heck, it won’t hurt to enter and it will be great to see what styles other photographers have. There were a few different categories (around 10 I think-including things like bride, pets/animals, family etc.) and you could only pick 50 photos to enter into which ever category you wanted. Well it turns out 412, 379 photos were entered from photographers all over the world. That is almost half a million. Half a million! That is wild. So of course I knew I REALLY didn’t have a chance now. But it was fun to vote and it passed the time.
Weeks of voting went by with thousands of photos getting eliminated each round, and the only way you knew you were still in is if someone favourited your photo, as you got another heart. I watched that heart count like a hawk. I think I ended up with 50 something hearts, and I was hearing of others who were at like 200-900 hearts! I was surprised I even had 50, so that was an accomplishment in itself. Oh, and I should mention the voting was anonymous. Which was great, as you were judged solely on your talent and photo alone.
Now that the voting is finished and contest is over, you are able to see your photos, how they placed in their category, and connect with the other photographers who you favourited (which is awesome!) Needless to say, I was thrilled when I saw I had made some to the top 30% of their category! My heart count stopped going up when there was about 20% of total photos left, so I had NO idea I had any still in the contest past that point. But I did! One made it to the top 20% and one to the top 10% of their category, and I couldn’t be more excited!
I have to say the biggest thanks to all of my clients! Without you, there wouldn’t be Warrior Prints Photography (especially to Alysha and Justin, who took a huge risk and asked me to photograph their wedding, knowing it was my FIRST ever wedding! And funny enough, the majority of the ones that placed were from this). I look forward to capturing more stunning photos for next years competition, and continuing to meet amazing people! <3
Check out the ones that placed below!
