What an awesome week it has been!

I found out that Rick and Morty will be coming back for a 3rd season, I finally figure out a way to start playing Overwatch, AND... The winners for the "Senior Style Guide: Hot 100" list for 2016 were announced.

What is the "Senior Style Guide: Hot 100" list? It's a contest run every year by Senior Style Guide. Senior Style Guide is both a website and magazine that showcases senior portrait photographers and their seniors from all over the globe. Every year they run the Hot 100 contest, where they take submissions for various categories, have guest photographers judge the submitted images, and compile a list of the top 100 senior portrait photographers.

This year, I decided to enter for the first time. I actually debated quite a lot about whether or not to enter. A colleague of mine strongly encouraged me to do so, but the cynic in me thought, "What's the point? I won't win anyway." So I chatted with a close friend of mine in order to try and gain perspective. I THOUGHT that he'd agree with me and say, "What's the point? Don't waste your time"... but he didn't. He actually did the exact opposite and told me that I should go for it.

With that encouragement, I decided to enter. And yesterday they announced the winners.

There were 7,012 images entered this year, a record breaking number for SSG. Of those 7,012 images, I entered 13.

Today I am proud to announce, that I am one of the winners of the Senior Style Guide: Hot 100!

There were 10 categories possible to submit to, which were: Backlit, Urban, Off Camera Flash, Studio, Editorial, Black and White, Straight Out Of Camera, Organic, Styled Concept Shoots, and Photographer’s Choice.

I won in the category of "Studio". I honestly don't know *which* image won yet, as I submitted several to that category, but the winning images will be revealed when the SSG magazine is release on November 15th. I will be purchasing a copy for not only myself, but also for the senior of the winning image!

But until then, I'd love to share with you the images I *did* submit... the finalists, if you will. :)

Backlit:

Editorial:

Studio:

Urban:

Now for the part where I get sappy:

I want to say a HUGE thank you to ALL my seniors for trusting me with such a precious time in your life. I've enjoyed hanging out and getting to know every single one of you. I am super blessed to have such amazing clients. I quite literally couldn't do any of this without every single one of you, so THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU once again. <3

I also want to take this moment to say thank you to Vickie Black, who runs Senior Style Guide, and to this years judges, Terri Fode, Dan Brouillette, and Tara Rochelle for choosing me to be among the honored other 99 to be on the Hot 100 list!

And last but CERTAINLY not least... not by a long shot... Super big thanks goes out to my team, who helped me create these images. Katie Vellman, Katrina Brooks, Kenzie Leath, and Ashely Stevens were the ladies who had a hand in the hair and makeup portion of at least one of the photos I entered, if not several. Hair and makeup artists are the unsung heroes of the photo industry. Even on something like a Senior Portrait session, having a skilled hair and makeup artist present can make or break a shoot. They are the first step on my way to making stunning images for my clients.

And of course, I can't say thank you to everyone above, without saying thank you to Matthew Simmons, who keeps me sane on set, and drives me crazy off it. Who makes sure my lighting is always on point, keeps track of time for me, makes sure I stay caffeinated, lifts and moves heavy things around set so I don't have to, keeps me thoroughly entertained on set, and fully distracted with the computer games I play when I should be editing at home, haha. He is a huge reason I was even considered for a win in the first place. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have learned and grown as much as I have in the past 3.5 years of living in Nashville, and I probably wouldn't have as much motivation to keep doing the things I do.

AND OF COURSE... I have to say thank you to my husband Keith McGonigle, who supports my business endeavors, believes in my abilities as an artist, and deals with a cluttered house during editing marathons in the months of September and October, especially. I also appreciate the OCCASIONAL... (I said occasional...) distraction to taste whatever his newest coffee concoction is. (He knows how much I love my caffeine.) And for bringing home random candy. (He also knows how much I love to munch on candy while I work. HAHA.) And for celebratory tacos. And Just because tacos. (We like tacos).

But okay... enough of the sappy stuff. Once I know which image won, I will be sure to post!

Until next time!

--

Emily McGonigle Photography is a Franklin and Nashville Portrait Photographer, and can be contacted for booking inquiries here.

Senior Style Guide: Hot 100 Recipient | Emily McGonigle Photography

Backlit:

Editorial:

Studio:

Urban: