Maryland Photographer of the Year

Recently the Maryland Professional Photographers Association (MDPPA) had their annual convention and award ceremony. It is something I look forward to because we have great speakers and the opportunity to fine tune our skills, but I also enjoy print competition.

Print competition helps photographers increase their skills as images are judged on things like technical skill, composition, color harmony, lighting, etc. I was thankful that some photographer friends encouraged me to start competing a few years back because I learned so much through competition.

At first it was really frustrating. I would have an image that I and the client loved, but it was not good enough to receive merit from the judges. but before long I started getting those merits and my skills grew.

The last two years I have medaled at the International Print Competition, and last year I received the artist of the year award from MDPPA, and I set a goal for myself to win the Photographer of the Year award this year, but I wasn’t sure that was possible because there are some really great award winning photographers in our group.

The Photographer of the Year award is given to the photographer that has multiple meriting images in at least three categories of those we can enter (portrait, illustrative, artist, commercial, and wedding). My entries were in the first three listed.

I also became a Fellow of Photography with MDPPA this year. This comes from winning a number of print merits as well as serving and participating in the continuing education opportunities offered. I will continue to word to improve my craft as a photographer as well as learning how to best serve my clients and give them products they will love.

Interested in knowing more about MDPPA? Here is a link: https://www.marylandppa.com