LET US CREATE BEAUTIFUL IMAGES FOR YOU
Austin, Texas Award-Winning Maternity and Newborn Photographer
Competing in image competition allows us to expand our creativity and grow beyond where we were as artists yesterday. Valerie competes in image competitions that are local through Austin Professional Photographer's Association(APPA), Statewide (Texas Professional Photographer's Association), and Internationally. Most Notably through Professional Photographer's of America and Portrait Masters. Valerie has been recognized in the 10 TEN Portrait Artists through PPA's IPC competition and was nominated for a Grand Imaging Award, and has been ranked in the Top 20 Maternity & Newborn Portrait Artists with Portrait Masters. In 2021 Valerie earned PPA's Master of Photography degree.
Valerie Steinkoenig is a three time winner of the Austin Professional Photographer's Association's coveted Photographer of the Year. She earned the title of Photographer of the Year through image competition and participation in the Austin Professional Photographer's Association. Most recently, Valerie has been recognized as 2023's Professional Photographer of the Year. This was accomplished by creating award-winning, exquisite portraiture for the clients of Valerie Kay Photography, Austin Newborn Photography, and Austin Maternity Photography. In addition to being recognized as Photographer of the Year, Valerie earned top rankings at the Austin Professional Photographer's Association's 2023 Annual Image Competition. Her entries were awarded First Place Portrait: Divine Expectations, 2nd Place Portrait: Little Bears, First Place Album: Whispers of Creation, Best of Show, Highest Print Case, and 2 Judges Choice awards. Valerie excels in creating timeless portraiture worthy of the highest praise from her professional organizations. All award winning images have been created from client work.
International Photographic Competition (IPC)
Portrait Master's
Awards, Exhibitions, and Publication
Valerie Kay Photography | Austin Portrait studio
CPP – Certified Professional Photographer
APNPI – Qualified Newborn Photographer & Newborn Safety Training- January 2018-2020
2017 Annual Photographic Competition – Second place, Portrait
Excellence Award Photography Magazine (October 2017) – Excellence Award in Maternity Photography
Fall 2016 Precision Photographic Excellence Awards – Second Place “Cheerio”
ACC Photo Students Receive Top Honors (2015) – Best Master Artist by a Student: Valerie Steinkoenig “My Sweet Angel”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (September 2016) – 1st Place “Cheerio”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (October 2016) – 2nd Place “Special Delivery”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (January 2017) – 3rd Place “Mournful”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (April 2017) – 2nd Place “Jacqueline Con Leche”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (August 2017) – 3rd Place “Glowing”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (September 2017) – 2nd Place “Mitch and Troy”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (October 2017) – 3rd Place “Asher Snug as a Bug”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (February 2018) – 1st Place “Bear Hug”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (April 2018) – 1st Place “All Snug in His Den”
APPA 2018 Annual Print Competition (May 2018) – 2nd Place Portrait “All Snug in His Den”
APPA 2018 Annual Print Competition (May 2018) – 3rd Place Portrait “Bear Hug”
APPA 2018 Annual Print Competition (May 2018) – 2nd Place Album “Lucas”
APPA 2018 Annual Print Competition (May 2018) – Judges Choice “All Snug in His Den”
APPA 2018 Annual Print Competition (May 2018) – Judges Choice “Embracing the Future”
APPA 2018 Annual Print Competition (May 2018) – Highest Scoring Print Case Trophy
APPA Monthly Print Competition (June 2018) – 3rd Place “Knox the Fox”
TPPA Summerfest Print Competition (June 2018) – Distinguished Print Award “Cheerio”
TPPA Summerfest Print Competition (June 2018) – Judges Choice Portrait “Anticipation”
TPPA Summerfest Print Competition (June 2018) – Platinum Pin (7 images scoring 80 or higher)
“Cheerio” “Edison’s Window” “Anticipation” “Embracing the Future”
“Bear Hug” “Beary Sweet” “Southern Beauty”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (July 2018) – 1st Place & Speaker’s Choice “Snuggle Bunny”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (Sept 2018) – 1st Place “Little Bear Asleep in His Lair”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (Oct 2018) – 1st Place “Comfort in the Familiar”
Austin PPA 2018 Photographer of the Year
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"
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"
2020Texas Professional Photographer's Association Annual Competition
Gold Medalist | 6 Images Selected as Deserving of Merit
Best Portrait of a Child | "Nature's Gift"
2020 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"
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"
Recipient of 2018 Austin PPA’s Glen Eller Scholarship
APPA Monthly Print Competition (Jan 2019) -1st Place and Speaker’s Choice
“For Fox Sake, Don’t Wake the Baby”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (February 2019) -1st Place and Speaker’s Choice
“She’s a Deer”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (April 2019) -3rd Place
“Baby Blue”
APPA Monthly Print Competition (June 2019) 1st Place
“Peachful Slumber”
APPA 2019 Annual Print Competition (June 2019) – Highest Scoring Print Case Trophy
APPA 2019 Annual Print Competition (June 2019) – 1st Place Portrait – “She’s a Deer”
APPA 2019 Annual Print Competition (June 2019) – 2nd Place Portrait – “Little Bear Asleep in His Lair”
APPA 2019 Annual Print Competition (June 2019) – 1st Place Album – “Baby Zane”
SWPPA 2019 District Print Competition – Gold
TPPA Summerfest Print Competition (June 2019) – Distinguished Print Award “Comfort in the Familiar”
TPPA Summerfest Print Competition (June 2019) – Judges Choice Portrait “For Fox Sake Don’t Wake the Baby”
TPPA Summerfest Print Competition (June 2019) – SILVER Pin (5 images scoring 80 or higher)
“For Fox Sake Don’t Wake the Baby” “Peachful Slumber” “She’s a Deer” “Comfort in the Familiar” “Little Bear Asleep in his Lair”
"Bear Hug – February 2018 First Place winner Austin Professional Photographer’s Association Print Competition.
Exhibitions and Publications:
Summer 2013 – Fabio Light and Shadow
Truth and Photography Exhibition Austin, TX
February 2014 – Bird in Tree I
Krappy Kamera 2014 Soho Gallery NYC
Juror Jean Miele
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
January 2022 - Austin Woman Magazine Feature : See Her Work - Valerie Steinkoenig: The Magic of Motherhood