Top 2%! | Contest Placement

Jul 22

My Highest Placing Image — TOP 2%!!

Back in April, I entered my first international photography contest — Shoot and Share! Over half a million entries were submitted in 28 categories and (my favorite part) the public voted to determine the winners. It turns out over 100,000 people voted over 78 million times and the results are finally in!

Many of my lovely clients followed along as I shared my progress through the voting rounds, knowing for sure that I had made it to at least the 11th (of 12) round! So many of you voted even thought you had no way of knowing which photos were mine and I want to say THANK YOU!!!

Now, before I share my results, I have to mention something about the contest this year. If you’re in the photography world at all, you likely heard the complete disaster that occurred in the Shoot and Share world regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. Voting had ended and amidst the unrest in our country, Shoot and Share’s CEO made some completely tone-deaf and inappropriate comments regarding racism. (You can google Shoot and Share Controversy if you’re really curious.) I want to make clear that I do not agree with his comments, or position on BLM. As a former inner-city Philadelphia school teacher, I can tell you that racism is very real. I support BLM fully and will not be entering my photography in this contest in the future as a result of the actions made by this organization’s leadership.

Now, having said that, the voting that occurred in this contest was done by the public prior to his ridiculous comments. And since so many of my clients and followers supported me throughout the contest and took their precious time to submit so many votes, I will still be sharing my results.

18 of my 50 entries ended up placing in the top 30% for their categories. Eeeeeeek, you guys! I was beyond excited to do so well in a contest with such incredibly talented world-renowned photographers! My top placing photo was the one above of my twins and our pup watching the trash truck out our front door during our first try at potty training this January. This photo placed 660th of 24,869 photos in the Lifestyle category. That is top 2%. Holy crap. I’m beyond honored to have a photo perform so well.

You can see the breakdown for my other photos and their placement below. Thank you again to everyone who took time to vote and who cheered me on during the process. My first entry in an international contest was more successful than I ever could have imagined. I will definitely be entering others in the future!