Hur ska jag börja? Denna helg var makalös. Det var dags för SM i porträttfotografi. Jag får nog fortsätta på engelska då jag har så mycket att säga och det kommer ta för lång tid att skriva på svenska! ;D

This weekend started with the train ride to Göteborg. I remember the same trip last year, I was nervous about my leaving my kids for more than a night (they were then almost 2 and 4). I had mixed feelings of guilt and excitement. This year I was going to be away an extra night because I even had a course to go to in connection with this years SFG autumn meeting – conference and SM-competition. But you know what? I couldn’t wait! It’s the highlight of the year for me work-wise! I knew my kids would have a great time this weekend at home with Olof and their grandparents, who came to visit all the way from Skåne to lend a hand. I know, we’re lucky! day 1 was a course about digital printing, paper choices and techniques and was mostly a confirmation of what I’ve taught myself with the help of others over the past 2 years of printing, but a few small tips and tricks I think will make a big difference to my black and white printing! I can’t wait to get started to looking into that in more detail. That evening was the open jury review of the SM entries. It was 5 hours of listening to 3 fabulous judges from Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. They know their stuff. I waiting nervously as they approved or knocked out the entries in each category. 5 of my 6 entries went through to the final round which would occur behind closed doors… I was thrilled! 5 of my 6 entries, all portraits delivered to clients were of significant standard to be considered more closely.  I didn’t sleep so well that night. I had images, critiques and ideas flying though my head. The weekend followed with inspiring seminars and mini-lighting workshops from some of Sweden’s most talented photographers. Sunday evening it was the gala-dinner and the prize presentation…. I was particularly nervous because I had won the silver medal last year in the childrens category and felt like I needed to prove it wasn’t luck!  But this year I felt the standard of entries was much higher than last year. It was tough competition!  Category after category I waited nervously wondering if my name would be called… and it was! BRONZE in the family/group category for my lifestyle portrait of a beautiful family on a beach… I love this image so I feel very proud!

The next day the Norwegian judge Trini Sundli selected a few images to discuss. Portraits that were considered but not given award. I was so very happy to see she had picked 3 of my images! She said how wonderful they were and that with just a few small minor adjustments the scoring would have resulted in award….and you know what? I agreed with her 100%… I’m going to make the changes to the images and then I’ll post before and after here! I’m feeling great that my overall standard of work is so high and I just hope that by this next year I’ve managed to train my own eye to see what’s needed to make each and every one of my portraits the best they can be.