The Outstanding Maternity Award has changed my story.
Today I will tell you how the Outstanding Maternity Award has changed my life.
Hello, my name is Ana Paula Costa, I am a photographer specializing in magical maternity sessions, and together with my husband Leo Costa, we created GRAVIDIVINA in 2015. In 2020, GRAVIDIVINA evolved into SOUDIVINA, a project by Divina Foto that aims to increasingly value the feminine essence during pregnancy. My goal is to make it possible to eternalize our clients’ dreams through photography, touching and marking them through history.
Today I would like to share a bit of my story and how the Outstanding Maternity Award opened doors for me to achieve many of my dreams. The first time I submitted a photograph to the Outstanding Maternity Award, I was very afraid and somewhat unsure if I had a chance of being awarded. I always saw many renowned photographers from around the world being awarded. Would I, Ana Paula, also have my much-dreamed-of “place in the sun”?
The first awarded photograph was in the family category. A photograph chosen with great care to finally participate in that season of the much-dreamed-of Outstanding Maternity Award. This happened in May 2017. Finally, I had an internationally awarded photograph. It was the sign I needed to know that I was on the right path. From there, I really began to have more confidence in my work and to produce increasingly inspiring sessions so that I could participate in more and more seasons.
Since my first award in 2017, there have been more than 20 awards. The butterflies in my stomach are still the same as when I submitted my first photograph.
In the 8th season, I was invited by the Outstanding Maternity Award team to be part of the panel of judges evaluating photographs from photographers worldwide. You can’t imagine the size of my joy and responsibility. It was an honor to be there, playing such an important role in this organization that transformed my professional career.
Being part of a contest like the Outstanding Maternity Award opened many doors. It greatly increased my visibility, and my clients began to value the sessions in the way I always imagined. I was able to generate such a strong desire for my work that my sessions became an internal “competition” among clients. Whenever I set out to create something new and impactful with a client, I hear: “This photo will be awarded.” With increased visibility, invitations to give lectures, TV interviews, magazine features, and a photography exhibition at the art gallery in my city began to arise, greatly valuing my work.
I am eternally grateful to the Outstanding Maternity Award for enabling me to reach greater heights. Today, in addition to photographing my maternity clients, I also train photographers worldwide to develop their creative side, creating and producing their own costumes and accessories through the Artistic Moulage technique. There are already hundreds of students around the world practicing and developing their art, being awarded, and gaining more and more visibility through the Outstanding contest.
Today, even after being multi-awarded, I continue to challenge myself with each new season and encourage my students and photographers to participate in this contest. It is a way to practice and keep my creativity always active. I still want to reach even greater heights.
