site.btaSofia Hosts European Photography Forum and Exhibition of Certified Photographers

An exhibition featuring a selection of works by certified photographers opened on Sunday at the Astoria Grand Hotel in Sofia as part of the Sofia Photo Talks forum and the European photographic qualifications programme of the Federation of European Professional Photographers (FEP).

Sofia is hosting this year's forum and the FEP European Photographic Qualifications from June 12 to 15. The programme is organized by the Association of Professional Photographers (APP).

The official exhibition presents works by photographers who have obtained European professional qualifications. During the event, Miroslav Fabian, Olivia Blanquet, Nico Trinkhaus, Konrad Paprocki and Aja Skrivanova were awarded the Qualified European Photographer (QEP) distinction, while Valentina Acrement received the Master Qualified European Photographer (MQEP) qualification.

"As you can see in this hall, the standards for European photography are exceptionally high, proving that professional photography continues to thrive even in the age of artificial intelligence," said FEP Executive Director Anna Kaleva-Tsagklas at the exhibition opening.

She expressed hope that the forum would inspire more Bulgarian photographers to apply for European qualifications and to participate in future judging panels. Kaleva-Tsagklas explained that the European Photographer (EP) qualification is assessed online, while QEP and MQEP candidates are evaluated through printed portfolios.

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

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

Speaking to BTA, newly awarded MQEP holder Valentina Acrement said she had worked for three years on the project that earned her the distinction.

"The series explores the digital experiences of teenagers and how difficult it is for young people to grow up in an increasingly digitalized world," Acrement said. "Technology is supposed to help them become more connected, but it often has the opposite effect."

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 organizations from across Europe and maintains a certification system through the EP, QEP and MQEP qualifications. MQEP is the Federation's highest professional distinction and has so far been awarded to around 100 photographers across Europe.