APPA 2018, a gold medal & a brand spankin' new year ahead...

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…

Winner - 2017 AIPP NSW Portrait Photographer of the Year!!!

I am absolutely thrilled to win the 2017 AIPP NSW Portrait Photographer of the Year (I was also named a finalist in the Illustrative Category). Judging took place in Sydney on the 21st-22nd May with entries from all over the state, with an awards ceremony held last Tuesday evening in Darling Harbour.

I came away with 2 gold awards & 2 silver awards across the portrait & illustrative categories which I am really proud of. Gold awards are not given out easily... to put it into perspective out of 680 entries just 22 golds were awarded - and I received 2 of them! Whoohoo!

It is such a huge honour (I am still pinching myself!), it really does mean the world to me to have won a category in the prestigious NSW Awards 3 years in a row!!

All I can say is dream big - you just never know unless you put yourself out there...

(my Portrait Category award winning portfolio can be viewed below)

Capture Magazine - The Annual

Yeeeew I was so stoked to see 'The Flower Project' in the 2016 Capture Magazine "The Annual" edition featuring the top 100 images across all genres of photography. It's been the 2nd year in a row I have had an image featured in the Portrait Category... I wonder if I can make it a trifecta in 2017?  

'2am Thoughts' Solo Photography Exhibition

I had the pleasure recently of exhibiting at the Grant Molony Art Gallery, Forresters Beach from 14th - 20th May with an AMAZING opening night on Friday 13th.

The exhibition name "2am Thoughts" is a reflection of where most of my image ideas first spark & emerge, in that divine space in between dreaming & over thinking life.

I was lucky enough to have Grant (the gallery owner who is also an amazing artist) create my logo for the event, the 3 birds is very symbolic to me - it's always my sign from the universe that I'm on the right path & it's all going to work out OK! (My family & friends will vouch for the uncanny moments that 3 birds have literally appeared out of nowhere while we are having discussions!). And yeah, 'Three Little Birds' by Bob Marley is one awesome song :)

Overall this exhibition was an amazing experience, and I thank each & every one of you who took the time to come & check it out - it honestly means the world to me.

Thank you to Grant, Elisa, Karen, Kat & Boo for all of your support in the lead up (and on opening night!), I could not have done it all without you

A huge shout out to my printer Mark from Zone Printing in Newcastle, and my framers Barry & Liane from Framing Alternative Erina Heights. Each & every piece was finished to perfection - it actually blew my mind when I saw everything up on the walls. Thank you. 

I am hoping to exhibit in Sydney next... and who knows where else (I've always wanted to head to London or the US... any one keen please get in touch!!), for now I shall let the universe and those 3 little birds guide me  x

- Shannon

* Here are a few images from the set up & opening night at the gallery