Why I Participate in Photography Competitions
My roots come from classical music training: practicing your instrument for many hours a day, every single day; putting other things aside to be better; after a new piece of music is mastered (or even when not so much), playing it for fellow students, mock auditions, juries, competitions, and job auditions. When I fell in love with photography I took the same mindset with me into the visual arts. I not only “practice” with my cameras all the time but I also constantly challenge myself through participation in competitions.
Does a photographer need to have awards in order to be considered professional? No, of course not. It is art and in the end the most important thing is whether you love and connect with what they create.
I am very competitive by nature. Maybe I always was, or perhaps I developed it through my musical training. This is how I am, though, and I absolutely love to improve through getting feedback on my work. That is why I try to take part in the best and most prestigious competitions in the world – I want to hear the reactions to my work from the masters of photography so that I can achieve that same level of prestige and mastery.
My journey with competitions started about a year after I started taking photos. During one of the sessions I had to improvise and I created my first image that I truly felt synthesized the essence of what I was trying to do with my art. I submitted it to one of the biggest competitions called WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photography International) held in Vegas. It is one of the most prestigious international competitions and one of the very few that still judges physical prints, rather than just digital photographs. When I received a message that I was awarded 2nd place in the boudoir category I felt million feelings and it was some sort of relief at the same time, relief that I am on a correct path and other people see it too.
WPPI was the place I went to admire great photographers. It’s where I got inspired at the beginning of my journey and I dreamed that perhaps one day I would be able to see my work among such an amazing collection of photographers. Having this dream fulfilled gave me an incredible amount of motivation to only do my very best with every single image I create.
Since then, I have participated in numerous competitions. I try to diversify places where I submit my work as much as possible. I am proudest of the fact that images that I submit to competitions are very often images made during normal client sessions. As a boudoir photographer this is extremely important to me to show every person that they are a work of art and I am inspired by them.
As of writing of this post, I was recognized more than 30 times at a variety of large and prestigious competitions. One of the things I am always trying to maintain is my authenticity. The work I submit is barely edited – I want to keep it organic, authentic, and emotional, just like the sessions I create for you.
And what’s in the future? Trying to fall asleep better than I woke up that morning and being inspired by you every single day.
One of our most recent recognitions came from the world’s largest boudoir magazine, Boudoir Inspiration Magazine. I was honored with the titles of Best Black-and-White Photographer of the Year and Best Male Boudoir Photographer of the Year. Additionally, a photograph created in our new Salt Lake City studio received a Top 5 title at the highly prestigious International Photography Awards.
CHECK OUT MORE OF MY AWARD WINNING IMAGES HERE: https://www.silkandsaltphoto.com/awards
