austin newborn photography
Award winning imagery
Valerie Steinkoenig is an award-winning photographer. She competes in image competition year-round at the local, state, national, and international level. Image competition is about growth, each image is a learning opportunity. Competition leads the participant to strive to do better each time they enter. This leads to the creation of stronger, more technically sound, creative images.
We believe that participating in competition helps us create beautiful pieces of photographic art for our clients.
Awards and Recognition
Certification, Education, Etc
2016 | Austin Community College | Certified Photographic Artist
2016 | Austin Community College | Certified Digital Assistant
2018 | Professional Photographers Association | Certified Professional Photographer
January 2018-2020 | APNPI | Qualified Newborn Photographer & Newborn Safety Training Certification
Excellence Award Photography Magazine (October 2017) - Excellence Award in Maternity Photography
Fall 2016 | ACC The Department of Professional Photography | Precision Photographic Excellence Awards | Second Place "Cheerio"
ACC Department of Professional Photograpy Students Receive Top Honors (2015) - Best Master Artist (TPPA Annual Competition)by a Student: Valerie Steinkoenig “My Sweet Angel”
2016-2018 Austin PPA Competition
Sept 2016 | 1st Place | "Cheerio"
October 2016 | 2nd Place | "Special Delivery"
January 2017 | 3rd Place | "Mournful"
April 2017 | 2nd Place | "Jacqueline Con Leche"
August 2017 | 3rd Place | "Glowing"
September 2017 | 2nd Place | "Mitch and Troy"
October 2017 | 3rd Place | "Asher Snug as a Bug"
2018 Austin Professional Photographer's Association Photographer of the Year & Recipient of APPA's Glen Eller Scholarship
February 2018 | 1st Place | "Bear Hug"
April 2018 | 1st Place | "All Snug in His Den"
June 2018 | 3rd Place | "Knox the Fox"
September 2018 | 1st Place | "Little Bear Asleep in His Lair"
October 2018 | 1st Place | "Comfort in the Familiar"
2018 Austin Professional Photographer's Association
Annual Competition
2nd Place Portrait | "All Snug in His Den"
3rd Place Portrait | "Bear Hug"
2nd Place Album | "Lucas"
Judges Choice | "All Snug in His Den"
Judges Choice | "Embracing the Future"
Highest Scoring Print Case Trophy
2018 PPA - International Photographic Competition Grand Imaging Awards Finalist | "Anticipation"
2020 Awards
March 2020 | Austin Professional Photographer's Association | 2nd Place | "Nature's Gift"
April 2020 | Austin Professional Photographer's Association |3rd Place | "Bundle of Joy"
June 2020 | Austin Professional Photographer's Association | 2nd Place | "To the Moon and Back"
July 2020 | Austin Professional Photographer's Association | 2nd Place | "Rosie Posie"
Texas Professional Photographer's Association Annual Competition
Gold Medalist | 6 Images Selected as Deserving of Merit
Best Portrait of a Child | "Nature's Gift"
Professional Photographer's of America - International Photographic Competition (IPC)
Bronze Medalist | Four Images Accepted into General Collection | "Nature's Gift", "Peaceful Slumber", "Snow Bears Sleeping Softly", "Peachful Slumber"
2023 Awards
2023 Austin Photographer of the Year - Austin Professional Photographer's Association
November 2023 - APPA ANNUAL COMPETITION:
First Place - Portrait - "Divine Expectations"
Second Place - Portrait - Baby Bears
First Place - Album - "Whispers of Creation"
Best of Show - "Whispers of Creation"
Highest Print Case
Speaker's Choice "Whispers of Creation"
Exhibitions and Publications
Summer 2013 | "Fabio Light and Shadow"
Truth and Photography Exhibition Austin, TX
February 2014 | "Bird in Tree"
Krappy Kamera 2014 Soho Gallery NYC | Juror Jean Miele
March 2014 | "In Jacob’s Mind"
Published in Click Magazine
October 2014 | "Fabio in Silhouette"
Fauna Group Exhibition | Smith Anderson North Gallery | Juror William Wegman
January 2015 | "Birdscapes: Voting Day 2014"
Chronograph Group Exhibition Darkroom Gallery | Juror Johan Hallberg-Campbell
October 2016 | "On a Wire in February"
6th Annual Holga Out of the Box Exhibition TCC Photo Gallery
Dallas, TX | Juror Harvey Stein
2019 Professional Photographer's Association Loan Book | "Anticipation"
2020 Professional Photographer's Association Loan Book | "She's a Deer"
2019 Austin PPA Competition
2019 Photographer of the Year | Austin Professional Photographer's Association
Jan 2019 | 1st Place & Speaker's Choice | "For Fox Sake, Don't Wake the Baby"
February 2019 | 1st Place & Speaker's Choice | "She's a Deer"
April 2019 | 3rd Place | "Baby Blue"
June 2019 | 1st Place | "Peachful Slumber"
July 2019 | 1st & Speaker's Choice | "Beary Best Friends"
August 2019 | 1st | "Little Rainbow Bear"
September 2019 | 2nd & Speaker's Choice | "Sweet Anticipation"
2019 APPA ANNUAL COMPETITION
Highest Scoring Print Case Trophy
1st Place Portrait - "She's a Deer"
2nd Place Portrait - "Little Bear Asleep in His Lair"
1st Place Album - "Baby Zane"
2021 Awards
February 2021 | Austin Professional Photographer's Association | 2nd Place | "Bear Hug"
March 2021 | Austin Professional Photographer's Association | 2nd Place | "Blue Boy"
Texas Professional Photographer's Association Annual Competition
Bronze Medalist | 5 Images Selected as Deserving of Merit
"To the Moon and Back"
"Rosie Posie"
"Bundle of Joy"
"Blue Boy"
"Bear Hug"
IPC 2021:
"Blue Boy" - Merit Collection & Showcase Book
"Bear Hug" - Merit Collection
"My Heart is Full" - Imaging Excellence Collection
Fall 2021 Portrait Masters Awards:
"Bear Hug" - 12th Place in top 20 Gallery and Received a Bronze with Distinction award
Fall 2021 Portrait Masters Awards:
9 images received Bronze Award:
2024 awards
Austin PPA Monthly Image Competition:
January - 1st - "Lilac Lullaby"
January - 2nd Place - "Maternal Embrace"