PPA Imaging Excellence Award 2026

04 Wednesday Feb 2026

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Professional Photographers of America’s Imaging Excellence Award is something I have strived to achieve since my first image competition, and I was thrilled to finally reach that goal in 2025. PPA celebrates award winners and presents them on stage once a year at Imaging USA, and this is one of my proudest moments. This award represents years of hard work and growth in creating my art. 🎉🎉🎉

The Imaging Excellence Award is awarded to members who hold a Master of Photography or Master Artist or Master of Wedding Photography degree and who have 13 images selected into the Imaging Excellence Collection.

ASP Booth Speaker 2026

03 Tuesday Feb 2026

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I got out of my comfort zone and gave a presentation about my work in the ASP booth in the trade show at Imaging USA. Thank you to all the people who came to see me and for being a warm and gracious audience. My first talk about photography to photographers was a success. 🤗

(Forgive the images on the screen … they appeared much brighter than they really are.)

ASP Best of the Best 2026

02 Monday Feb 2026

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Each year, the American Society of Photographers produces the BEST OF THE BEST collection featuring members’ images from the Images of Distinction Competition. I am honored to be included in the 2026 collection with “Keeping Him Safe from Harm”.

The video was revealed at Imaging USA 2026, and the collection was also released in a book. Congratulations, everyone! 😍

ASP Photographic Artistry Award 2026

30 Friday Jan 2026

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I was honored to receive the Photographic Artistry Award from the American Society of Photographers at the ASP Gala at Imaging USA. 😃🎉🥂

The ASP Photographic Artistry Award recognizes and celebrates the remarkable imagery created by members of the American Society of Photographers. This distinction is awarded to those who demonstrate consistent excellence and creative achievement through a range of ASP image competitions.

Imaging USA 2026

29 Thursday Jan 2026

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Imaging USA in Nashville was fantastic! I am so excited to have reached three big goals (PPA Imaging Excellence Award, ASP Photographic Artistry Award, and AIM Master of Animal Imagery) that were the culmination of years of creating images that are important to me. But the best part of the conference is the people. Friends that cheer for each other every day and celebrate together. I look forward to seeing some of you soon, some of you at Texas School, and, hopefully, all of you again next year in Charlotte! 🤗

Peaceful Paradise

27 Saturday Dec 2025

Posted by in Around the World, Trips

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A quiet day on the beach. The sound of the ocean waves. The warm breeze in your hair. A good book in your hands. A cold drink on the table beside you. And a calmness in your soul as the beach feeds a deep-seeded need inside you for this place and this moment. There is nothing better. Beautiful Mayakoba near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, provides all this and more. ❣️

International Society of Animal Photographers 2025

22 Monday Dec 2025

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The International Society of Animal Photographers hosted their second image competition in 2025. Five of my images received “Meritorious Image” status, and one of them finished in the Top 10 in the Wildlife-Illustrative category! 😲

These are “Spa Day”, “Redheads Have the Most Fun!”, “Carnival King”, “Family Bonding”, and “Pretty Mischievous”.

What a Year!

18 Thursday Dec 2025

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This is my November/December President’s Message published in “The Photographer” magazine.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a year! Time flies when you are having fun! And when you are busy making yourself better! I truly hope you are better now than you were at the beginning of the year … better in whatever way you set out to be.

We have been through quite a ride. I have enjoyed writing to you this year, and I hope you came along with me and accepted all (or at least some of) the challenges I presented. I hope you achieved your personal and professional goals, and I hope you have congratulated yourself on a job well done. I challenged myself this year and accomplished my goals, too.

I am honored to have served as President of TPPA, and I hope I have made this organization better than it was when I joined the board. I have been privileged to serve with wonderful people who have only the best in mind for the future of the organization, and I feel confident we are in good hands going forward.

  • Thank you to the 2025 TPPA Board for your support and all the work you put in to make this year remarkable.
  • Thank you to Steve Kozak for keeping TPPA running smoothly and planning the details of our events.
  • Thank you to Don Dickson for an amazing 50th Texas School!
  • Good luck to Cris Duncan as he leads Texas School into the future. The 2026 instructor line-up is terrific! (Mark your calendars for registration on January 3 at 11 p.m.!)
  • Thank you to Bill Hedrick for creating this beautiful magazine year after year.
  • Thank you to my husband, Josh, for always being my rock and biggest supporter.

One final thought: What challenges will you set for yourself next year?

Take the Challenge: Challenge Yourself

I cannot wait to see what you accomplish! Share with me at Shawna.Hinkel@gmail.com.

Shawna Hinkel, M.Photog., CPP
TPPA President