The one thing that I have learned in my 25 years of photography.... is that there is always more to learn.

My whole photography career, I have always strived to work hard, create beautiful connections with my clients and become a better photographer. I try to do that in some way every day. For that reason, I love to attend workshops and conferences to better my craft and to network with other photographers. 3 years ago I attend the first of the Portrait Masters Conferences and it changed me forever. Not only do they bring in the highest quality international speakers, but they have built a strong community of photographers all over the world and I can call many my friends. The conference has inspired me to be better.

I just returned from the 3rd Portrait Masters Conference and am still on a high from all of the amazing speakers, photo shoots and friendships made.

Until the Portrait Masters, I have never been interested in image competitions and accreditation. For me, if my clients loved their images... that was good enough for me. But something sparked my interest in entering in their accreditation process. I realized that by challenging myself to create fine art and high level images required for competition, that I would in turn become a better photographer. For me and for you. So I did. I have been learning a lot of what it takes to compete and earn my accreditation and I have fallen in love with the creative process. So much.

Thanks to all of my clients and model call subjects the past couple years... I am happy to announce that I have earned my associates. I am half a point away from earning my Masters and will do so with the next competition. I am beyond honored to be among top photographers internationally. The images are judged by 5 master judges internationally and awarded Bronze (hight professional standard), Silver (Exemplary professional standard) and Gold (Excellence in all technical and creative). 

This last round, I was not only awarded 8 silvers and many bronzes... but also was in the top 20 of the Teen and Senior portrait category. A high honor.

And I couldn't have done any of it without you, my beautiful clients.

So I will celebrate my win and then I will get back to work because I have a Masters to earn and a Gold to reach. My work will never be done... 

because there is always more to learn. 

xoxo

annie