“Born in Bloom” – The Newborn Portrait That Earned 2nd Place
Behind-the-scenes look at “Born in Bloom,” my newborn portrait that earned 2nd place at the 2025 NAPCP International Image Competition.
Last Update: February 16, 2026 • Newborn
People who know me will tell you I’m happiest in my cozy Kirkland studio – coffee in my mug, camera in hand, and a family settling into those first days together.
That’s the work.
But once in a while, I step outside the quiet routine and submit one image to be judged. Not by clients, not by friends, but by people whose job is to look closely and score what they see.
It’s equal parts thrilling and uncomfortable. It also keeps me honest.
In 2025, a newborn portrait from my studio, titled “Born in Bloom,” earned 2nd place in the Newborn category of the NAPCP International Image Competition.
In this post, I’m taking you behind the scenes of the image and the competition judging process.
Why I Still Enter Competitions
Every year, I debate whether to enter image competitions.
Competitions are a strange experience as a photographer. You work slowly and carefully, then hand the result to a panel of judges and say, “Go ahead—scrutinize everything.”
The nerves are real, but so is the value: critique sharpens your decisions, and the process forces you to simplify, refine, and improve.
And for families, it’s an added layer of confidence. Your newborn days are fleeting. When you hand that season over to someone else to document, you want to know there’s skill behind the calm.
What the NAPCP International Image Competition Measures
NAPCP’s International Image Competition is judged online through their scoring system, with images scored anonymously. Each entry is scored by at least three judges, and scores are averaged using a weighted criteria system.
The scoring breakdown is:
- Impact (40%)
- Creativity and Style (30%)
- Technical Merit (30%)
In other words, the image must resonate emotionally, hold together stylistically, and be executed well. It has to make sense quickly, and still reward a longer look.
“Born in Bloom”
“Born in Bloom” is simple on purpose.
A sleeping newborn. Soft light. A restrained floral element that adds a touch of season without becoming the subject.
There are no props fighting for attention. No extra layers added just to prove a point. The goal was for everything in the frame to do one job: keep your eye on the baby.
Here are the images from the setup that earned 2nd place:
The Decisions Behind “Born in Bloom”
When I created this setup, I wasn’t trying to make it “big.” I was aiming for a timeless newborn portrait—where everything supports the baby, and nothing competes.
That matters because NAPCP’s judging is built around three specific criteria: Impact (40%), Creativity and Style (30%), and Technical Merit (30%).
So the choices were simple and deliberate:
- Impact: a calm first impression that feels complete without needing extra elements.
- Creativity and Style: a seasonal floral detail used with restraint; enough to add life, not enough to become the subject.
- Technical Merit: clean light, natural skin tones, and careful presentation.
Newborn photography offers endless ways to add more elements to the shot. But the images that tend to feel timeless are the ones that stay focused on what matters. “Born in Bloom” is built around that idea.
If You’re Planning Newborn Photos
If you’d like to explore newborn session options, you can start here.
Hi, I’m Lana
I have been a Seattle maternity, newborn, and family photographer since 2008. Having photographed thousands of families, I have developed a hassle-free and fun process so families could have an easier time documenting their journey through the years. I invite you to learn more about me, and my unique values and quirks.
