Award-Winning Seattle Newborn Photographer: Inside My 2nd-Place Floral Session

People who know me will tell you that I’m happiest in my cozy Kirkland studio—coffee in my mug, camera in hand, and a family soaking up their first days together.

But once in a while, I step outside that cozy bubble and send a favorite image off to be judged on a global stage.

It’s equal parts thrilling and terrifying, but it keeps me growing—and, most importantly, gives my clients another layer of confidence in the photos we create together.

This year, that leap of faith paid off in the sweetest way.

Why I Still Enter Competitions

Every year, I debate whether to hit “submit.” Competitions are my personal roller coaster. I hand my work to a panel of seasoned judges and say, “Go ahead—scrutinize every detail.”

The nerves are real—but so are the rewards. Honest critique sharpens my craft, and a win gives you one more reason to trust that your newborn memories are in the hands of a proven professional.

So, I select a contest that I believe is important in my industry and submit my best work. That contest is the NAPCP International Image Competition, organized by a growing trade association of child photographers.

What Is the NAPCP International Image Competition?

After I hit “submit,” my photo joins thousands of others in the National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers (NAPCP) International Image Competition.

Judges score each entry on Impact (40 %), Creativity & Style (30 %), and Technical Merit (30 %). Then publish the podium winners in the NAPCP online gallery and Inspired Magazine. Think of it as a global report card for baby photography.

This year, the judges handed me a silver medal in the Newborn category. So what exactly did they see?

“Born in Bloom” — The Silver-Medal Portrait

The winning image is elegant and timeless: one tulip, one peacefully sleeping baby, and a soft light wrapping them both.

No extra props fighting for attention—just color harmony and calm expression. This restraint, it turns out, had the right amount of impact to earn a spot on the podium.

But the tulip portrait was only one part of this family’s Newborn Deluxe session.

Everything Else That Tells Your Story

A Newborn Deluxe session is a two- to three-hour studio session designed with flexibility to allow for feeding, soothing, and breaks as needed. I want the baby to be cozy and the parents to stay relaxed. It is a fully styled experience with a blend of posed and natural images.

Before every Newborn Deluxe session, I ask parents which colors speak to them. These parents chose blush and cream, so I found matching tulips at my local market (Trader Joe’s rarely lets me down).

After trimming a handful of stems, I created two floral setups: the single-tulip frame you just saw, and one with a few blooms tucked around the bowl. I work fast while the petals are fresh—click, adjust, click.