I am not the best with blogs… clearly. My last one was in May 2018 (major whoops)
It’s not that I didn’t have any news to share, it was a huge year for me professionally! Basically things sped up as the year was drawing to a close - and BOOM it’s 2019! Seriously where did that time go?!
So a little recap for you:
I entered 4 images into the 2018 Australian Professional Photography Awards (also known as ‘APPA’) that was held in Melbourne. I won 3x silver in the Illustrative category, and 1x silver in the Portrait category. 4 images entered & 4 awards - a clean sweep & I was super excited!! (Anyone who enters these particular awards understands how hard the judging can be, and how many amazing images / photographers walk away with nothing…)
These awards also gave me enough points to achieve my Master of Photography with 1 gold bar (double masters), this has been a huge goal of mine…and it has taken many years to reach! So yeah, it was a very nice feeling to sit back & think “I did it!”
(please see the winning images below)
“Inner Child” Shannon Cotterill - Silver Award Portrait Category - APPA 2018
“The Fertile Void” Shannon Cotterill - Silver Award Illustrative Category - APPA 2018
“What Lies Beneath” Shannon Cotterill - Silver Award Illustrative Category - APPA 2018
“The Seasons of SHE” Shannon Cotterill - Silver Award Illustrative Category - APPA 2018
Also at the end of 2018 I received a beautiful surprise in the post, a Gold Medal (literally!) for the image ‘Sky Weaver” I had entered into the Trierenberg Super Circuit, Austria, earlier in the year…
Last but certainly not least, I was named a finalist in the Gosford Art Prize / Gosford Regional Art Gallery for the image “The Fertile Void”, it was an honour to have my print hanging on the wall alongside some truly breathtaking works of art…
Where to now…..? 2019 holds a lot of change for me, this much I know. I have made the final decision after 16 years to step back from my wedding & portrait business Bloom Photography. I shot my very last wedding back in October (for a truly divine couple, so very happy to finish on a high note!!) and now I am only doing limited family sessions.
It’s time.
Time for more space to allow creation. Time to really step into my creativity on a whole new level.
Am i scared? Hell yes…absolutely. I have left everything I know for something that I can't see yet! But I trust that if I just keep following the breadcrumbs of joy & inspiration, I will find my way.
I have some exciting projects on the cards, and many more concepts to bring from the unseen into the real world - it’s time to step up! So hello 2019, I must say I’m happy to see you…