I never thought submitting to 7 photography competitions in a single year was anything remarkable.

To me, it was simple:
I had images I believed in. I had the entry fees (barely, sometimes). So I entered.

That’s it.

No big celebration, no pat on the back. Just another quiet moment of trying — again — to see how my work would hold up.

But lately, I’ve been realizing something I didn’t give myself credit for:

It is a big deal.

It’s More Than Just Submitting Work

To enter 7+ competitions in a year means:

I had to create a strong enough body of work to even consider sharing it
I invested in my work — financially, emotionally, and artistically
I faced the possibility of rejection (again and again) and didn’t let it stop me
I put my photography on international stages — and walked away with recognition

That’s not nothing. That’s not background noise.
That’s proof of my persistence.
And more than that — it’s professional practice.

Most photographers never submit to even one competition. They’re scared. Or unsure. Or waiting until things feel “ready.”

And I get it.
Some years, I haven’t had the images either. Some years, I’ve been too broke. Too tired. Too unsure. But this year? I did it. I showed up. So wish me luck on all my 2025 entries (and a few I have entered in 2026 comps!)

Honorable Mentions Are Not a Participation Ribbon

I used to think being listed as an Honorable Mention wasn’t worth celebrating.
I didn’t think it “counted.”

But now I know:

Px3 (Paris), IPA (New York), ND Awards, LensCulture, Sony — these are serious competitions
Honorable Mention means I placed in a global field of working photographers
I’ve received multiple recognitions across these contests — that’s not luck.

And it’s time I stopped brushing that off like it’s no big deal.

Some Years You Have the Images — Some Years You Build Them

That’s the truth.

This year I had the work.
But most years? I was still in the making phase. Still shooting, still searching, still waiting for the moment the light and the emotion aligned.

That’s how it goes.

The work doesn’t always show up on schedule. But when it does — I’ve learned to be ready. To put it out there. To believe it might resonate beyond my own lens.

So Yes — It Is a Big Deal

Not because 7 is a magic number.
But because I’m showing up.
I’m doing the work.

So to anyone out there quietly submitting, quietly trying, quietly wondering if it matters:

It does. You do. Keep going.

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⏳ Want to Follow This Journey?

If you're curious about my next project, print shop plans, or behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to build a photography life from the ground up — stay tuned.
Because I’m not done. I’m just getting started.

I Didn’t Think Entering 7 Competitions in a Year Was a Big Deal — But It Is

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