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Posts tagged ‘PPA’

Getting a Silver in the International Photographic Competition in 2025

I have entered the IPC (International Photographic Competition) in PPA (Professional Photographers of America) for many years, and merited enough times to earn my Master of Photography and Master Artist degrees, but this is the first time I scored in the round of 32 in the Wildlife category, and then advanced to the sweet 16 round, earning me a Silver medal (actually just a pin). The competition is fierce, these are the best images submitted by professional photographers worldwide (the PPA has international members). I am honored to score high in this competition and be in the company of other wonderful professional photographers.

Silver medal image in 2025 International Photographic Competition
Sea Eagle’s Realm, a silver image in 2025 IPC

Coincidentally, this is the same image I showed in a previous blog announcing that you can purchase some of my images in an online store.

This is an image I captured in 2023 while visiting Hokkaido in Japan. The Steller’s Sea Eagle is native to northeastern Asia, from the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, to Japan and even to China and Taiwan. One of the heaviest eagles, with average wingspan of more than 7 feet, standing around 3 feet tall, and weighing up to 21 lbs for females. They have beautiful white and black feathers, and prehistoric looking large beaks. Although I have never seen them while living in Taiwan. Speaking of Taiwan, there are many amazing birds there and it is a birder’s paradise, but I wasn’t either a birder nor a photographer back then.

For those of us who are more familiar with the Bald Eagles, here is a quick composite I made to compare the two eagles. Although Bald Eagles have wingspan of 6-7 feet, they weigh a lot less than the Steller’s sea eagles, averaging between 9-12 lbs.

Bald eagle vs Steller's sea eagle
Bald Eagle vs Steller’s Sea Eagle

Getting my Master Artist degree

As a member of the Professional Photographers of America, we can advance our education and obtain “letters” after our names. In November 2023, I achieved the next goal, becoming a Master Artist degree recipient, and added M.Artist after my name! This week, in our annual conference, I received the ribbon and medallion to signify my degrees.

The 2024 Imaging USA conference was held in Louisville, KY from January 28-30. As usual I volunteered at the conference and met new friends, reconnected with old friends. I always learn something at the conference, and return more energized.

Family Portrait Month is October

Family Portrait Month this year is October

I thought you would want to know about a very special family portrait promotion we will be participating in with an elite group of photographers around the country. For the month of October we will celebrate Family Portrait Month, a wonderful opportunity for you to update your family portrait (or portraits of your children), and support Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Along with other studio members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), we have pledged to contribute your $98 session fee to PPA Charities, which has chosen Operation Smile as its charitable beneficiary. Every $240 will enable one child to have the needed surgery to have a normal smile that the rest of take for granted.

My studio has helped to create 13 smiles since 2007 and changed the lives of these children forever! Please join us to create more smiles this October. A family portrait is defined as one with more than one member of the family! Baby, mother, dad, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandkids, and even your dogs can quality.

Baby's first photo session.

Read Tips on what to wear for your family portrait on my blog.

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What is your reaction when you see a photo of a child with cleft lips or palate? Do you turn away in horror and avert your eyes like I did years ago? I have now seen the transformation which can take place and the real and happy smiles and lives they and their family can enjoy.  Join me this year to help a few more children through the national fundraising event Family Portrait Month, the month of October this year in my studio.

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Here in USA, children who are born with cleft lips or palete can pretty easily get surgery and live a normal life with a real smile. Katy is a mom and a photographer in Nashville whose son was born with cleft lips, watch her video to see why she supports Operation Smile to help other children.

One of the rewards of being a professional photographer is to help bring families together, to create great memories to cherish forever, and to change lives!

Join me for Family Portrait Month. Email me or call 831-426-1400 to be part of Family Portrait Month this year.

CPP logo

I am now a CPP certified professional photographer

I am now a CPP! But you say “What is a CPP?”

What is CPP? CPP stands for Certified Professional Photographer. I bet you didn’t know professional photographers can be certified? Everybody has heard of CPA but CPP is not so well known.

When I started my studio, I joined the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) to keep up with the latest industry news and knowledge. I took classes to Read more