The Art of Excellence: How Photography Competitions Elevate YOUR Portrait Experience

I just finished submitting my images to be reviewed and scored for the Icon International Photography Awards for 2026, and that discernment process is always an enlightening one. “Am I good enough?”

It’s both humbling and exhilarating to have the opportunity to place my work directly alongside some of the best photographers in the world. While it’s easy - from the outside - to see the competition as an exercise in chasing trophies or collecting titles, it’s really about growth. Every year I look to improve my skills, lighting, shadows, editing, composition and storytelling capabilities.

Every submission forces me to slow down and study my work with fresh eyes. I look closely at each element: composition, light, emotion, texture, the story that I want to tell. I analyze what worked, what could be stronger, and how I can push beyond my current limits to create something even more resonant and timeless.

I never know what images will do well, that’s part of the stress and fun. I am currently working towards my Double Master Icon designation, with hopefully 4 of my images scoring high enough to add to my credits towards that goal.

This process sharpens me as an artist, but more importantly, it elevates the experience I offer to my clients. Each year, I walk away from competition season with new ideas, refined techniques, and a deeper understanding of how to bring out authentic beauty and emotion in every portrait.

Submitting my work to competitions is a way for me to stay accountable to my craft - to ensure that I’m not just creating beautiful images, but creating art that endures. It challenges me to keep evolving so that every client who steps into my studio benefits from the lessons learned and the inspiration gained along the way.

Because, ultimately, great portraits are more than photographs. They’re collaborations between artist and subject, shaped by intention, skill, and a shared trust in the process. That’s what I strive to bring to every session - the refinement that comes from experience, and the passion that comes from and endless learning process.

And if an award (or two) happens to come my way throughout that process, well… you won’t hear a single complaint from me!

Thanks for all your support and enthusiasm through the years, I so appreciate it!

-Shannon