The Results Are In: 2019 Shoot & Share Contest

It’s that time of year again: revealing my personal standings in the annual Shoot & Share Photography Contest.

If you recall, I did really (really!) well in 2018. Last year was my first time entering, so it came as quite a shock that my images performed as well as they did: a whopping twenty-one of my images placing in the top 30% and higher — one of my images even took seventh place, which may not sound like much, but 7th place out of tens of thousands of images, from around the globe, is pretty spectacular, especially for a newbie.

But this year I’m afraid I didn’t fare as well: thirteen of my images placed in the top 30% or higher. I shouldn’t be bummed, but I admit I am. I went “All In”, as I did last year, and still only a third of my images landed in those coveted spots. Because I’m a Type A person, and the sort of artist who likes to compete with herself, pushing and pushing to better myself versus the artist I was last year … it stings to not have done as well as the year before

BUT —

It gives me all the more reason to push even harder for 2020!

And thirteen images from the 2019 Shoot & Share Contest landed in the top 30% or higher ain’t bad. I’ll take it.

So without further ado, here are my top ranking images from the 2019 Shoot & Share Photography Contest, noting the round each image made it to (out of twelve rounds) and individual placement in their respective categories:

Category: Travel/Landscape

Round 7/12 placing 7614/28,552

Category: Teens/Seniors

Round 7/12 placing 9,826/39,136

Category: Teens/Seniors

Round 7/12 placing 10,524/39,136

from Class of 2019 - Veronica in the Magic Kingdom

Category: Kids

Round 8/12 placing 10,900/52,543

Category: Creative Projects

Round 8/12 placing 4,578/12,262

Category: People Portraits

Round 8/12 placing 6,045/25,034

Category: Creative Projects

Round 9/12 placing 2,214/18,262

part of Fine Art Storytelling: Dorothy In Oz

Category: Teens/Seniors

Round 9/12 placing 4,213/39.163

Category: Teens/Seniors

Round 9/12 placing 1,569/39,136

Category: Kids

Round 10/12 placing 2,543/52,643

Category: Creative Projects

Round 10/12 placing 1,800/18,262

Category: Creative Projects

Round 11/12 placing 752/18,262

And my highest placing image in the 2019 Shoot & Share Photography Contest, one of my personal favorites from a Fine Art Storytelling Collective done last year, “Dorothy in Oz”:

Placing in the Top 100, Category: Creative Projects

Round 12/12 placing 52/18,262

My Florida Neighborhood Photography Challenge

There is no shortage of "look what I can do" photography challenges, everything from photographing on-the-sly at Target and Hobby Lobby, to boldly hosting a fashion session at Lowes.  I really enjoy seeing what other artists are able to create, with a little posing finesse and mad editing skills.  

Being new to Florida, I'm still learning my way around -- not just where to find the nearest Lowes, but also my neighborhood, which is sprawling and foreign to me (even after living here for a few months).  I decided to set out for a few minutes and begin learning my way around ... taking with me a model, a couple of pretty dresses, and my Nikon D700.  Here are a handful of photos I "found" along the way (with some "behind the scenes" shots too), all taken less than a mile from my photography studio.

Just the side of a nearby building, a stark white stuccoed surface, full of yummy texture.

The truth about being an artist is this: the "artistic temperament" is real.  I'm not always a happy, sunshiny person.  I have low days (really low ones), and on this particular day, I just wasn't Feelin' It.  I had to make myself grab my camera, make myself get out there, make myself do the work.

We found a giant bush -- with fresh, yellow blooms.

I was really feeling the dark and moody edits for these.  It was an overcast day (to match my mood).  So for the final images?  Grungy and shadowy and angsty it was!

Are these images better in color, or black and white?  I'd love to know what you think.

That breeze was perfectly timed.  I love some good hair movement.  

And an extra l'il something for this shot.  The trees were the perfect framing, and I was really digging the depth and sort of naturally created "stretched" perspective.

I think I prefer the black and white on this one.  Channelling my inner "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children".  How did I do?

The Results are in: 2018 Shoot & Share Contest

Have you ever been that kid in a candy shop?  You know the feeling:  you walk in, and laid out before you is this rainbow-colored assortment of delights, the likes of which you've never imagined, much less seen, before -- floor to ceiling sweetness, all sugar coated and promised glistening goodness.

This feels exactly like that.

Each January, photographers from around the world come together to participate in The Shoot & Share Photography Contest, an international competition that is not only free, but also fair.  Beginning the first week of February, images are voted on in a completely random and anonymous fashion.  Photos by professionals who have been in the business for 30+ years, brand new amateurs, and everyone in-between -- and no one knows who the photographers are until the voting is complete and the awarding begins in early March.

This year was my first time entering, and lemme tell you:  the competition was fierce! I've not seen photography talent and skills like this since ... well, ever.  And I didn't expect much to come of my work, tossed as it was in an ocean of vibrant colors, expert editing, perfect posing, and exceptional lighting.

So color me shocked -- like an awed child in a sea of gorgeous candy -- when I watched as my images plowed right through rounds one, two, three and four, on to rounds five and six, and then pushing past seven and eight ... all the way through round twelve.  

My photos made it all the way to the finals, the top 3.1% of all images submitted.  Y'all, one of my images even placed.  

Let's let that sink in for a minute.  (It hasn't sunk in for me yet, so I'm still trying...)

An image of mine actually placed in the top ten in an international photography competition.

What.

Maybe 2018 really is  my Year of Possibility.  

I am beyond astonished -- nay, utterly floored -- and overwhelmingly honored to have witnessed nearly half of the 50 images I submitted place in the top 30% and higher of a competition encompassing more than 412,000 total submissions.  This is not false modesty.  I am truly blown away to have done so incredibly well in my first year of submissions, with so.  much.  astounding talent.

Here a graphic of what that looks like:

Pinch me.  I might be dreaming. 

Want to see which of my photos placed?!  Well keep scrolling, my friend because here they are!

(Placement is shown beneath the image as number/total entries in category.)

Wedding Couple - placing 7,546/36,983

Kids - placing 10,143/35,570

Kids - placing 8,954/35,570

Seniors - 6,095/29,460

Styled Portrait & Fashion - placed 2,243/11,101

Model: Princess Keilee

People Portraits - placed 4,127/14,733

Chicago, October 2014

Family Portraits - placed 5,623/26,963

Engagement & Couples - placed 7,930/37,145

People Portraits - placed 2,210/14,733

HMUA & Model: Brittianna J

Creative & Personal Projects - placed 2,199/13,502

HMUA: Brittianna J

Creative & Personal Projects - placed 1,993/13,502

Pets & Animals - placed 1,652/14,426

Kids - placed 4,385/35,570

See MORE from this session HERE.

Travel & Landscape - placed 1,129/16,373

Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida, December 2017

Emotion & Excitement - placed 605/8,800

Creative & Personal Projects - placed 1,266/13,502

Travel & Landscape - placed 303/16,373

Castaway Cay, Bahamas, October 2017

Teens & Seniors - placed 209/29,460

People Portraits - placed 210/14,733

Model: Alicia Wright

Creative & Personal Projects - placed 393/13,502

Styled Portrait & Fashion - placed 7/11,101

Model: Princess Keilee

Anatomy of an Artist's Work Space

It's officially Official:  I'm a Floridian.  A real, honest to goodness Florida photographer.

It's still sinking in.  Mostly I drive around, doing my grocery shopping, wearing my new favorite Strawberry Revolution tee, sippin' a hot cuppa while I do a little business planning at my new favorite coffee/tea shop, hittin' up Disney World on the weekends ('cause we're Annual Passholders now) .... and I keep having to remind myself that yes, dreams really do come true.

I'm a Floridian.

With this new reality has come a lot of work:  unpacking boxes, breaking down boxes (whilst conquoring mountains of paper -- m o u n t a i n s ), and setting up hearth and home.  But perhaps the most fun I've had in all is setting up my new photography studio.

I'm a Floridian with a photography studio.

I'm currently in the throws of shopping around for new furnishings to host clients, additional wardrobe for my client closet, backdrops for the walls, and eyeing some off camera lighting options -- but a major component to all of this is the crafting of the all-important editing and work space, a desk and place to call my own, filled with all the things to inspire a gal in the creation of client dreams.

I love it -- and I wanted to share this space with you today!

Here it is, the Lauren Bee work space.  This is where I do all of my e-mailing clients, editing fine art photography, blogging (like now!), and drinking of copious amounts of coffee. 

I know, I know.  It's not especially "wow factor!" -- but allow me a few moments of your time to point out the finer things in this creative photography life of mine -- like the giant pouf I keep on hand for when one of my teenagers needs to bend my ear, or the furry friend who vigilantly patrols the place.

Check out that gallery wall of mine!  It has an eclectic collective of all that I love -- pretty things, Disney things, and inspirational things:  a treasured print channelling my favorite animated Disney movie, by artist June Kim of Hediun's Atelier; an adorable yellow submarine that I snagged in an Alabama thrift store for a dollar;  a lovely beaded cross which keeps a girl like me humble and kind, reminding me who and Whose I am;  a fun, custom piece by painter Kate Kennamer;  an adorable green "luck dragon", purchased in Epcot Japan;  a painting I just fell in love with, by artist-poet Cherie Burbach;  and a deeply treasured piece by my favorite fine arts college professor, Sally Crain-Jager, now deceased but whose grace and encouraging teaching I will never forget.

I keep near me a painted block by a sweet friend of mine, always reminding me to do what "makes my soul shine"; cute l'il bumble bee thumbtacks by Sarah Crooks, for keeping printed documents within arms reach; and swanky honeycomb felt boards for showcasing said printable and thumbtacks.

Lastly, my favorite coffee mug, Haunted Mansion themed and treasured find from a previous trip to the Disney Parks.  And let's not forget my adorable studio gnomes -- who have Galic names, of course (L to R): Raibert, Fergus, Pip (grey cap), Alban, and Dougal, handmade by the fabulous Still Stitchin' (who can also be found here).

I work here.  But since I'm being honest, this work of mine is more like play.  I just love my job, and I love surrounding myself with little bits of magic and whimsy -- keeps my soul alive and makes my passion in life all the more enjoyable.

Do you think I'm missing anything?  I'd love to hear your suggestions for studio additions in a comment below!