When I started my business just under a year ago, I had no idea where it would take me. I barely knew how to use the entry level DSLR I had and I had zero experience running my own business. I made an effort to focus on being better than I was the day before, and I’ve worked my butt off and continue to do so. My clients are incredible, I adore my mentors, and my dream becomes more of a reality each day.

Earlier this year, the 2016 Shoot & Share Photo Contest popped into my newsfeed. I had never entered my photos into a contest before, and to be honest, I wasn’t really sure how I felt about being judged against the best photographers in the world. I said a prayer, took a leap of faith, and went all in. 50 photos submitted across multiple categories. I was in.

Voting spanned a few weeks, with 10 voting rounds total. 4 photos from a particular category popped up and you would choose your favorite, and then 4 more would appear. The photos that appeared on my screen were some of the best photos I had ever seen. I felt so vunerable knowing my photos were in the mix of the 250,000+ photos entered. How would my photos stack up? The bittersweet part of the Shoot & Share contest is they don’t tell you if your photos are still in. You can see if a photo has been favorited, but it doesn’t tell you what photo. You have to wait until the very end to see how you did.

I received an email that dorve me to tears on Friday. “Congraulations, Dawn! One of your photos made it to the top 100 in a category!”.

Yes, you read that right. Top 100. 50th to be exact. 50 out of 6,074 photos in that category.

Not only did I have 1 in the Top 100, but I had 15 total in the top 30%.

Wow.

My grandpa always said “the good Lord has you by the hand, just read the signs.”

I’m listening, Lord. Thank you for the sign I’ve been praying for. 

Now, to share the photos! Feel free to click on the photo to be directed to the Shoot & Share site where you can see details about each photo!

Top 100

Top 10%

Top 20%

Top 30%