Imaging USA 2017 | Awards and Degrees

Imaging USA 2017
January 8-10, 2017 in San Antonio, TX

As some of you may know, I LOVE to compete in the annual print competition held by PPA. This year was an extraordinary year for me. I was so glad that my friends and family were there to celebrate with me! 

My amazing group of friends surprised me with a pair of diamond earrings right before the award ceremony so I could always remember this wonderful accomplishment.

• I received Double Diamond Photographer of the Year. This means that during IPC, all 8 of my images were worthy of a merit and that all 8 of them were accepted into PPA's Loan collection. I'm the first female to ever accomplish this and also 1 of only 5 other photographers to ever receive this distinction. 
• I earned my Master Artist degree from PPA. This is third degree I've earned through PPA. This is awarded for superior photographic skills—demonstrated through the Artist Exhibition category of the PPA International Photographic Competition (with images evaluated for computer-applied techniques and proficiency), advanced education and service to the industry.
• I received my Imaging Excellence award as well. I was one of only 20 recipients this year to receive this award. This award provides recognition for those rare photographers who have earned their PPA master’s degrees in the field of imaging and have continued to submit images worthy of acceptance into the PPA General and Loan Collections—the best images of PPA’s annual International Photographic Competition.
  
  “To receive the Imaging Excellence Award says two things about the photographer,” explains Randy McNeilly, Chairman of PPA’s Photographic Exhibitions Committee.
  “First, they know how to create beautiful images. Many people wait years to get one image in PPA's Loan Collection, but the Imaging Excellence Award requires 13 of those Loan images! “Second, it shows dedication to a goal. You don't earn this in one competition year and some wait their entire life to receive this award. This is one of PPA's hardest awards to earn, and those who have should be proud of the accomplishment.”  

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2017 Grand Imaging Awards

This year I was astonished to have 4 of my images (pictured below) selected to be in the running for this year's Grand Imaging Awards. The GIAs are awarded yearly at Imaging USA based on the results of the International Photographic Competition. The top 10 images in six categories as selected by International Photographic Competition jurors  and are announced at the GIAs along with the top 3 winners from each category. This is kinda like the Super Bowl for photographers!

I'm so happy to announce that I placed 1st in the High School Senior category and 2nd in the General Portraits category. Just to be nominated for the GIAs is a HUGE honor! The competition is definitely some of the best photographic work in the country.

You can watch the entire awards ceremony (below) to see the other nominees and the winners of the GIAs and the medalist for this year's International Print Competition!

Pointe of Grace

GIA - 1st Place Winner in the High School Portrait Category

Autumn Arrival

GIA - 2nd Place Winner in the General Portrait Category

The Hunters

GIA - One of the top 10 images nominated in the Master Artist Category

Welcome to the Big Top

GIA - One of the top 10 images nominated in the Master Artist Category

Double Diamond Photographer of the Year | Silver Image Photography | The Woodlands, TX

Double Diamond Photographer of the Year
Silver Image Photography
The Woodlands, TX

I am very excited share my 2016 competition images with all my family, friends and clients. A few weeks ago the 2016 Professional Photographers of America International Photographic Competition took place in Atlanta, Georgia. For those of you that are not photographers...this is like the Super Bowl for photographers. Each year, thousands of professional photographers enter thousands of images for a chance to be featured in the exclusive PPA Loan Book, which includes some of the best of the best images in the industry, and earn merits toward one of two photographic degrees - Master of Photography and Master Artist. You can enter up to 8 images a year to be judge. This year there were around 5700 entries and 2428 of those images were excepted as merits into the general collection and 1007 of those entries were accepted into the prestigious Loan Collection and will be published into a book at the end of this year.

I’m super excited that ALL 8 of my images were accepted as merits and ALL 8 were accepted into the Loan Collection, giving me the title of 2016 PPA Double Diamond Photographer of the year. This is not an everyday occurrence...I’m the first female to have achieved this honor and 1 of only 5 people to have ever earned this title. Very, very proud of that! I'm still shocked, surprised, thrilled, humbled, ecstatic, and still in disbelief that I made Double Diamond this year. I’ve dreamed and hoped for this (like every photographer), but I never thought it would come true. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to be a part of this industry and to compete with some of the best photographers. It’s truly an honor. Now to start on next years images!

 I'm also eligible for the following honors, which will be presented at ceremonies during the Imaging USA PPA National Convention in San Antonio, Texas in January 2017:

* Diamond Photographic Artist of the Year: 
Awarded for superior photographic in computer-applied techniques and proficiency. All four of my images were awarded a merit and accepted into the prestigious PPA Loan Collection.

* Diamond Photographer of the Year:
Awarded for photographic excellence. All four of my images were awarded a merit and all four entries were accepted into the prestigious PPA Loan Collection.

* Master Artist Degree:
Awarded for superior photographic skills, which are demonstrated through years of advanced education, service to the industry, and 13 merits earned at PPA International Photographic Competitions.

* Imaging Excellence Award:
PPA's Imaging Excellence Award recognizes those individuals who continue to excel in their profession and succeed in PPA's International Print Competition. To be eligible for this honor, an entrant must hold a Master of Photography or Master Artist degree from PPA and have a minimum of 13 images accepted into the PPA Loan Collection.

TPPA Print Awards | Houston, TX Photographer

This past week I attended the TPPA annual state convention at the La Torretta Resort in Conroe, TX. I'm so happy to show off my print awards! Each year you are allowed to enter 4 prints to be judged in print competition. I was very excited that all 4 of my images received a merit. I received the 'Top 10 in Texas' award for having one of the top 10 highest print case scores, the TPPA 4 for 4 pin for having all 4 of my images merit, and two distinguished image ribbons. The images entered will go on to other competitions so they can't be shared yet!

I've also been a member of TPPA for many years now and I finally earned my full fellowship degree with TPPA. The Full Fellowship Degree requires a total of 100 points.  At least 10 of these must be received from having prints score 80 or above at the Summer Seminar print competition. The other points are for participation in volunteering and attending educational programs.