2024 PPA Merit Image Review

Professional Photographers of America’s 2024 Merit Image Review was a success! “Protecting My Turf” and “Crowned and Fabulous” received the prestigious “Imaging Excellence”, which is considered “The Best of the Best”, and six others were accepted in the Merit Collection. It is truly an honor to have all eight images receive these awards.

*Delayed post because these images just finished their competition journey.*

2026 TPPA Board of Directors

I am honored to serve as Chairman of the Board of the 2026 Board of Directors of the Texas Professional Photographers Association. What a great team! 😃

Front Row Left to Right: Beth Steel, President-Elect; Cornell McGhee, President; Shawna Hinkel, Chairman of the Board

Back Row Left to Right: Tim Babiak, Secretary; Heather Harvey, Director; Joe Perry, Director; Sabrina Casas, Director; Brad Barton, Treasurer

AIM Master of Animal Imagery Degree 2026

I am so excited to be a new Master of Animal Imagery! Lisa Asp from Animal Image Makers presented my degree medallion to me at Imaging USA. I have been working toward this moment for several years, and it feels good to finally achieve it.🎉

P.S. For anyone who is counting, that makes 4 master’s degrees! 😲

AIM’s Animal Imagery Accreditation Program was the first and original credentialing program available specifically for pet and animal photographers and artists. Upon entering this program, participants commit to ongoing education and elevating their craft. By earning points from qualified judges through image competition, participants prove their work is of the highest professional level.

PPA Imaging Excellence Award 2026

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

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

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

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

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! 🤗