Marina Spironetti: Winning Strategies for Photography Competitions
This episode of the SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast features award-winning photographer Marina Spironetti. Based in Milan, Marina has carved a name for herself by triumphing in some of the industry's most esteemed competitions, including the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year and Travel Photographer of the Year.
Though initially pursuing a career in languages and journalism, a chance encounter with a darkroom led Marina to fall in love with photography. She then enrolled to study photojournalism and has been capturing stunning images across the globe as a freelance photographer ever since.
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In this episode, Marina opens up about how an early setback in a photography contest catalysed her to refine her craft. That tenacity eventually led her to claim titles from renowned competitions. In 2021 she was the winner of the very first Clare Arho Award for Women Photographers in the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year Awards, and in 2022, she won the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year Award in the same awards. She also won the iTravelled category in the 2022 Travel Photographer of the Year Awards.
Marina spills the beans on the dos and don'ts of entering competitions, emphasizing the importance of doing your homework to find the ones that best showcase your particular style.
Earning these accolades didn't just bring Marina fame; they also had a transformative impact on her career. She talks about the game-changing shift from chasing photo editors for gigs to being the one they reach out to for high-profile assignments. These awards swung open doors that significantly expanded her freelance business opportunities.
Among other fascinating topics, Marina discusses her award-winning portrait of Martina Bartolozzi, a female butcher in Panzano, Italy. The image that earned her the inaugural Claire Aho Award.
Tune in to hear Marina's invaluable tips on how smart competition strategies can be a launchpad for budding photographers.
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