2021 HOT 100 Image Contest Winners!

OMG This year was INSANE. Like seriously who saw this coming? The HOT 100 is always a battle BUT this year was THE hardest fought year for the record books YET! Before we announce all the winners, let’s just take a moment and breathe and say WOW WOW WOW! The images this year made our judges job beyond difficult. Like it took DAYS to get this list narrowed down. But let’s put it into perspective…. there were over 12,900+ images entered. The judges went through an excruciating 7 hour final elimination round. That is a full day of defending choices extended by an additional 2 full weeks of voting and discussion before they even got to the elimination round zoom call to finalize the winners! All to get to this list. THE LIST! This final list of the absolute best of the best images of 2021. Our judges worked very hard. They worked OVERTIME. They deserve some serious love. I personally cannot even imagine the stress they were under to compile this list given the volume and incredible amount of amazing images they had to look at. The three leading legends judges created the ULTIMATE list this year. Let’s all just take a moment to thank Sean Brown, Lacey Carroll and Holly Omlor. Their job was insurmountable and yet they prevailed-maybe a little stressed and exhausted and racing to the local Starbucks for relief. But they finished and this is THE list. Below you will see the names per category and I will be revealing the images that correspond with the names when we release The HOT 100 Issue on January 31st! These images will only be revealed in the magazine and I cannot wait to share these gorgeous images with you! And I look forward to getting to know the talent behind them in the coming year! Yes, each and every one of you on this list, I want to see you on the blog, social media, etc. in 2022! Congratulations on the hardest fought battle of the history of the HOT 100!

This year we added 25 Honorable Mentions Images that the judges picked by category. It was an image that stood out but did not make the final selection. It is one they wanted honored. Congrats to our 25 honorable mentions images.

Please Note: If a photographer’s name has a line through it…their spots went silent to make way for another photographer to win each place their name showed up!

Let’s all take a deep breath before we see who made this year’s list…Ok ready?

BLACK & WHITE

Brock Kreative

Tracy Anderson

Betsy Snyder Simply Time

Mariah Allen

Jeremy Ellsworth

Brock Kreative

Elisabeth Anne Photography

Deb McGwin Photo

DeAnna Arevalo

Annie Marie

West Elm Photograpy (Photography Influencer)

Jennifer Storey Pfeffer (Photography Influencer)

Valerie Shannon Photography (Icon Status)

Unspoken Photo By Laurie Finx (Icon Status)

Jamie Plack Photography (Photography Influencer)

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

SOOC

Adam Thornton Photography

Terri Cage

Alicia Crosson Photography

Josh Barker

Jessica Robertson

Heather Clark Photography

Deanna Webber Photography

DWS Photography

Dan Frievalt

April Kroenke

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

Tara Rudy Photography (Photography Influencer)

Madison Photography (Photography Influencer)

Angie Blackburn (Icon Status)

Tara Rudy Photography (Photography Influencer)

Madison Photography (Photography Influencer)

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

Tara Rudy Photography (Photography Influencer)

Iris Images (Icon Status)

ML Studios Photography (Icon Status)

Jamie Plack (Photography Influencer)

STUDIO

Lucia Kiel Portraits

Carolina Goddess Portrait Studio

Shawnas Seniors

MK Studios

Heather Hammer Photography

Denise Photography

La Bella Vita

Cari Clark Photography

Alex Wolf

Ling Wang (Photography Influencer)

Unspoken Photo By Laurie Finx (Icon Status)

Alicias Photography (Photography Influencer)

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

Pretty Faces By Sasha (Icon Status)

Ling Wang (Photography Influencer)

Jamie Plack Photography (Photography Influencer)

Christopher Durbin Asymmetry Studio (Photography Influencer)

Carissa Davis (Photography Influencer)

Angie Blackburn (Icon Status)

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

Tara Rudy Photography (Photography Influencer)

Ling Wang (Photography Influencer)

Jennifer Storey Pfeffer (Photography Influencer)

Alicias Photography (Photography Influencer)

SPORTS

Over The Fence Photography

Firefly Studio

DeAnna Arevalo

Riggin Stewart Photography

Hosh Posh Photography

KMB Photography

Katy Vetter Photography

Jodi Holbrook Photography

Art Of Aperture

Allison Ragsdale Photography

Tara Rudy Photography (Photography Influencer)

Madison Photography (Photography Influencer)

Tara Rudy Photography (Photography Influencer)

Max Lee (Photography Influencer)

ML Studios Photography (Icon Status)

Christopher Durbin Asymmetry Studio (Photography Influencer)

BACKLIT

Josh Hanna

Courtney Bliss Photography

Betsy Snyder Simply Time Photography

Tammy Zelez

Seless Studio

Stay Wild Photography

Rachel Harder Crossroads Photography

Misty Lane Photography

Studio Z Photography

Alex Wolf

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

Max Lee (Photography Influencer)

ML Studios Photography (Icon Status)

Carissa Davis (Photography Influencer)

Tara Rudy Photography (Photography Influencer)

Madison Photography (Photography Influencer)

Valerie Shannon Photography (Icon Status)

Olivia Renee (Photography Influencer)

Unspoken Photo By Laurie Finx (Photography Influencer)

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

Aubry Ramsey (Icon Status)

EDITORIAL

Maggie Sweets Photography

Keala Jarvis

Callie Beth Photo

Tammy Zelez

Poetic Poppy Photography

Twig Road Photography

Joshua Sharp Imagery

Janice Louise Photography

Debra Lake

Angela Majerus

Max Lee (Photography Influencer)

Jennifer Storey Pfeffer (Photography Influencer)

Ling Wang (Photography Influencer)

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

Christopher Durbin Asymmetry Studio (Photography Influencer)

Madison Photography (Photography Influencer)

Angie Blackburn (Icon Status)

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

Iris Images (Icon Status)

Paige Day Photography (Icon Status)

Max Lee (Photography Influencer)

Jennifer Storey Pfeffer (Photography Influencer)

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CHOICE

Nichole Manner

Leigh Ann Barba

Jennifer Dworek Portraits

Asymmetry Studio

Diana Sell

Color Blind Photography

Tiffany and Makenzie

Twig Road Photography

Emily Rose Photography

Cindy Arthur Photography

Max Lee (Photography Influencer)

Valerie Shannon Photography (Icon Status)

West Elm Photography (Photography Influencer)

Paige Day Photography (Icon Status)

Olivia Renee (Photography Influencer)

Ling Wang (Photography Influencer)

Aubry Ramsey (Icon Status)

SENIOR GUYS

Zach and Sarah Photography

Jenn Lewis

Brock Kreative

Nikki Guest

A Moment In Time Captured By Lindsay

Heather Carey

Seed Photography

Art Of Aperture

Anne Maries Photo

AJ Stegall Photography

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

West Elm Photography (Photography Influencer)

Jennifer Storey Pfeffer (Photography Influencer)

Christopher Durbin Asymmetry Studio (Photography Influencer)

Alicias Photography (Photography Influencer)

Pretty Faces By Sasha (Icon Status)

Ling Wang (Photography Influencer)

Jamie Plack Photography (Photography Influencer)

Ashley Mosier (Icon Status)

Alicias Photography (Photography Influencer)

URBAN

Kelleen Hite Photography

Zach and Sarah Photography

Chele Jones Photo

Cornelius Photography

Jamie Ellis Photog

Ivy Towler

Wonderlily

Dan Frievalt

Christopher Bryan

Ashley Nicolle Photography

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

Paige Day Photography (Icon Status)

Olivia Renee (Photography Influencer)

Jennifer Storey Pfeffer (Photography Influencer)

Carissa Davis (Photography Influencer)

Madison Photography (Photography Influencer)

Slice Of Lime (Photography Influencer)

Pretty Faces By Sasha (Icon Status)

Ling Wang (Photography Influencer)

Carissa Davis (Photography Influencer)

Alicias Photography (Photography Influencer)

ORGANIC

Color Blind Photography

Firefly Studio

Anne Marie Photo

Rayla Kay

Diana Sell

Tracy Anderson Photography

Season Dixon Photography

Nicole Marie Photography

Curtiss Bryant

Cindy Arthur Photography

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

West Elm Photography (Photography Influencer)

Max Lee (Photography Influencer)

Madison Photography (Photography Influencer)

Valerie Shannon Photography (Icon Status)

Susan Gietka (Photography Influencer)

Iris Images (Icon Status)

Paige Day Photography (Icon Status)

Olivia Renee (Photography Influencer)

Jamie Plack Photography (Photography Influencer)

Aubry Ramsey (Icon Status)

Ashley Mosier (Icon Status)

25 Honorable Mention Images

Sean’s Picks…

Senior Guy | Rebekah Gregg

Organic | Merissa D Photo

Black and White | Kristie Bradley

Backlit | Callie Beth Photo

Editorial | DeAnna Arevalo

Sports | K Jay Photos

Editorial | Kassey Weaver Photography

Photographers Choice | Zach and Sarah Photography

Lacey’s Picks…

SOOC | Angelworks Photography

Editorial | Dena Rooney Photography

Editorial | Janice Louise Photography

Black and White | Studio K Portraits

Organic | Keepsake Photography

Urban | Twig Road Photography

Sports | Lucia Kiel Portraits

Urban | Madison Photography

Senior Guys | Pretty Faces By Sasha

Holly’s Picks…

Sports | Alicias Photography

Backlit | Jennifer Maley

Organic | Yellow Hammer Photography

Urban | Joshua Sharp Imagery

SOOC | Studio Panache

Backlit | Tiffany Photography

Black and White | Whitney Vassar

Studio | Erica Renae Portraiture

If your name is on this list…THE LIST, grab one of these buttons to light up social media this week (if you were an icon grab the HOT 100 winner and ICON button, etc.)! Make it your profile photo, share it proudly. Share it everywhere. Tag US @seniorstyleguide so we can share as well. Please Note: I will not be unveiling the winning images until the magazine comes out. All decisions made by the three Leading Legends Judges are final.

This year’s HOT 100 was the biggest in our HOT 100 history! Congratulations to everyone who made the HOT 100 this year and Wow to all the icon status photographers and Congratulations to our 2021 Photography Influencers! I cannot wait to share the images with you in the January 31st. issue of Senior Style Guide. Everyone of you (win or lose) should be proud of the work you submitted!

xoxo,

Vickie