Why do I participate in photography competitions?

I’m always learning, always growing as an artist, and I believe this is a major part of the improvement process: getting honest critical and unbiased feedback on my photographs to learn how my art might be improved.

For any photographer, not just a newborn and maternity photographer, being recognized for your photography, for the art you create, is the best!  It’s pretty amazing   Yes, of course this is a job, an occupation, and a source of income for my family. But: it’s so much more than that! The real award is the look on mom and dad’s face when they see these beautiful photos of their newborn, their baby, their child…their love. The real award is knowing how much these photos will be treasured by  families and future generations. The real award is creating gorgeous art that really means something to someone’s heart, that creates joy every time their eyes spot it on the wall of their home. Photography is definitely emotional, and that is what makes this work so meaningful.

View many of the photographs that have won awards in this gallery.

2023 – Portrait Photographer of the Year
Another trophy!  A much bigger one 😉  I am so proud but still a bit in shock over this one!

2023 – 9 Merit Images
Of the ten portraits I submitted, nine earned a blue ribbon, and one earned a red ribbon!

2022 – Best Black and White Image Award
*SQUEAL* I earned my first actual trophy for a portrait!

2022 – 8 Merit Images
I earned blue ribbons for all of the images I submitted!

This is the BIG one — the big leagues — the Super Bowl of Photography

2022 – 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁

2022 – 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝟭 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲
WHOA! This means my portrait will be published in the esteemed PPA Imaging Excellence Collection Book (formerly known as the Loan Collection).

2022 – 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝟯 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
All 4 images earned a merit, but one went on to do even better!

I know, you have no idea what that is, so let me explain why I’m totally freaking out (in the best way) over here! The International Photographic Competition (IPC) of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) was held in September 2022. I had been waiting patiently (okay, not so patiently ) until all judging was complete and I could share these images. I’ve mentioned before about submitting to small niche photographic competitions, but this year I really went for it. I jumped into the big leagues! I was so nervous. But: I am always trying to perfect my work, and I knew this was the next step. My goal was to have one image achieve a merit (blue ribbon quality) at the state-level Maine Professional Photographers Association (MPPA) image competition in May. I had no designs on IPC this year. I am still in shock at how this competition season turned out – and at how well my images were received More importantly, I am absolutely thrilled with how much I have learned through this process! Put yourself out there, my friends. Yes, it’s totally nerve-wracking, but: it is so worth it! What a ride!

HUGE thank you to those who offered feedback during the MPPA Image Critique Night in March! Without your comments these images would not have made it as far as they did. I am enormously grateful for your guidance. I have learned so much from you

The press release:

**IPC SILVER MEDALIST**

Augusta, Maine – Stacy Knapp of Stacy Knapp Photography in Augusta, Maine was named a Silver Medalist during Professional Photographers of America’s 2022 International Photographic Competition.

Knapp’s work will be on display at Imaging USA, held January 22-24, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Imaging USA is one of the largest annual conventions and expos for professional photographers.

A panel of 36 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from 5,021 total submitted entries at PPA headquarters in Atlanta. Judged against a standard of excellence, 2,211 images were selected for the Merit Collection and 1,013 (roughly 20 percent) were selected for the esteemed Imaging Excellence Collection—the best of the best. The Imaging Excellence Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated “Excellence Collection” book by Marathon Press.

The level of the award is determined by how many of those four images receive the highest possible honor—acceptance into the PPA Loan Collection, which is displayed at photographic exhibitions, conventions, and other photography events. Stacy Knapp was named a Silver Medalist, meaning that one of her four merited images also entered the esteemed PPA Loan Collection. In 2022, she was one of only 132 Silver Medalists.

About PPA:
Founded in 1868, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest and longest-standing nonprofit photography trade association. It currently helps 34,000 professionals elevate their craft and grow their business with resources, protection, and education, all under PPA’s core guiding principle of bridging the gap between photographers and consumers.

Watch the PPA Grand Imaging Awards 2023 on YouTube
(Silver Medalists begin at time 28:54; Stacy Knapp’s name appears at time 30:30)

This is the regional little brother to the International Photographic Competition.

2022 – 𝟮 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 the 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬 for 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆
What?! The Northeast District includes 11 states and 6 Canadian provinces, including cities like New York and Boston! Two of the top 10 district children’s photos were mine! I am still just totally overwhelmed by this. Did this really happen?!

2022 – 𝟰 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
All of the images I submitted earned a merit!

The Summerana Top Photographer of the Week award is an international portrait competition for all photographers, but typically the focus is on newborn, child, family, and maternity photos.  There is a weekly theme, and I like to compete with either Maine newborn photos or maternity photos on occasion. The Summerana competition photographs are judged based on creativity, idea, composition, image design, and implementation. Summerana is a virtual academy, community, and magazine for photographers and creatives intersted in improving their art and business.

My awards for Summerana Top Photographer of the Week:

*July 2019 – Blue
*February 2020 – Pink
*February 2021 – Pink
*February 2021 – Valentine’s Day
*March 2021 – Green
*December 2021 – Holiday Lights
*December 2021 – Christmas
*November 2022 – Fall Leaves
*February 2023 – Red
*May 2023 – Motherhood

Take a look at all of my newborn, child, and maternity photos that have won the Summerana Top Photography of the Week award in this gallery.

Woo hoo!  I’m thrilled to announce I won first place in the January 2023 AFNS Prime contest!🥇 With a series of portraits winning prime, gold, and silver badges, my overall points for the month won me first place!

AFNS Prime is a prestigious international competition focused solely on newborn, baby, and maternity portraits. I am so proud! And excited! (I realize these are a lot of exclamation marks — but oh my goodness — YAY!)

About the international AFNS Prime Award:
The AFNS Award is an international portrait competition for photographers in the fields of newborn photography, pregnancy/maternity photography, baby photography, and childhood photography. The AFNS Prime competition judges look for exceptional quality. Portraits are judged based on creativity, idea, composition, image design, and implementation.

Take a look at all of the images I’ve won AFNS and AFNS Prime awards for in this gallery.