site.btaExhibition of Leading European Photographers Opens in Sofia

An exhibition featuring a selection of certified photographs opened on Sunday at the Astoria Grand Hotel in Sofia, the organisers from the Association of Professional Photographers (APP) said.

The event is part of the European photographic qualifications of the Federation of European Professional Photographers (FEP) and the Sofia Photo Talks forum, taking place from June 12 to 15.

As part of the four-day forum in Sofia, assessments are being held for the European professional qualifications QEP (Qualified European Photographer) and MQEP (Master Qualified European Photographer), which are among the highest distinctions in professional photography on the continent.

The event brings together leading European photographers and members of the FEP international jury in the Bulgarian capital. Among them are Federation President Barrie Spence, Qualifications Commission Chair Jim Lowe, as well as holders of the highest MQEP distinction from the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Czechia, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden.

The organisers noted that Bulgarian photography has achieved significant success at the European level in recent years. Bulgaria currently has around ten photographers holding the European Photographer (EP) qualification, as well as two photographers with the QEP qualification. Among the country's most notable international achievements is the success of Bulgarian photographer Yuliy Vasilev, who won two first prizes in the Food and Advertising and Commercial Photography categories at the FEP Awards 2025 competition in Copenhagen.

The forum will conclude on June 15 with public lectures by FEP President Barrie Spence and Italian photographer Eugenio Li Volsi.

The Federation of European Professional Photographers brings together national professional organisations from across Europe and maintains a photographer certification system through the EP, QEP and MQEP qualifications. The latter is the highest professional distinction within the Federation and has so far been awarded to around 100 photographers across Europe.