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Education is the key to PPW!  

We have several events yearly that offer incredible speakers on various topics to help the professional photographer.


 The Spring Educational Conference is around April and provides the association's members an event to come together to enjoy old and new friends. The day before this event our Annual Image Competition takes place. Hired judges are brought in to judge and critique our images with the 12 Elements of Merited Print as a guide. 


We hold a Fall Event around October to give a stimulating break from the photographer's busy season of High School seniors and families, for example. 


During the year, each PPW District holds meetings four times a year in the their area. To learn about these events besides here on our website, The Washington Photographer Journal comes out four times a year. Within the pages of the journal, you will also learn about the workings of PPW and informational articles about our industry. 

Involvement improves your business. Here are a few ways to do this:   


Coming Events

Upcoming events

  • Pre-Con PPA/Edu - Vision to Reality: Layers of Creativity

    • 04 Apr 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA 98027
    Register


    Pre-Con PPA/Edu - Vision to Reality: Layers of Creativity with Shannon Squires, CPP, M.Artist, M.Photog.Cr 

    Friday, April 4, 2025 - 9am - 5pm

    PPW/PPA Members $139

    Non-Members $169

    Join Shannon for an inspiring journey into the art of composite editing!

    In this course, you'll explore the foundational techniques that make composite images look seamless and believable. Shannon's approach emphasizes unlocking your creative potential through mastery of Photoshop tools, rather than following a rigid step-by-step process. By focusing on versatile techniques, this class empowers you to apply your new skills to your unique artistic vision.

    Let your imagination soar as you gain the confidence to bring your creative ideas to life.

    Sponsored by Millers Lab


    A little bit about Shannon:

    Shannon grew up in a small town in Nevada. From a young age art was always something she enjoyed. She would spend hours drawing or creating art of some form every day.

    When Shannon was 16, she was accepted into a program in her hometown that taught local youth, black and white film photography, as well as audio story telling through recorded interviews. From the moment her instructor Bruce Hucko showed her the dark room Shannon was fascinated.

    As her love for photography grew, so did her portfolio, which earned here a scholarship to The Art Institute of Seattle. Art school wasn’t always fun or easy, and Shannon quickly learned the types of photography that she liked and did not like.

    After 2.5 years in Seattle, she graduated with an Associate Degree in Commercial Photography. After graduation Shannon took a 6-year break from photography to be a makeup artist only to return to her original passion of photography thanks an inspiring trip to Europe.

    Once she found a PPA affiliate Shannon started to compete in image competitions, and on her second year of entering at the national level Shannon won the 1st place Grand Imaging Award in the Children photography category for the Professional Photographers of America in 2019. Shannon won once again in 2021 taking 1st place in the Children category, 3rd place in Photographic open, and the overall Grand Imaging Award.

    Shannon loves to teach and share her long journey with her peers and can be found teaching both online and in person around the country through various forums.


    Show details

  • 2025 INNOVATE - Washington's Photo Conference

    • 05 Apr 2025
    • 8:30 AM
    • 06 Apr 2025
    • 11:00 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn in Issaquah, WA
    Register


    The Washington Photography Conference – INNOVATE – is set for April 5-6, 2025 in Issaquah, WA.

    We are busy making preparations for some amazing classes and can't wait to see you at  INNOVATE 2025!  

    Our 2 day packed event promises to be filled with education, fun and fellowship as we spend time learning from the top photography instructors and artists across the country. 

    We have so much to share that we are offering 2 additional separate full day sessions. The hands-on Pre-Con event with Shannon Squires will take a deeper dive with the creative processes creating seamless, believable composited images. PPW will host the Post-Con Business Institute which will cover Operations and Marketing or our brand new PPW Fellow of Business Degree - Don't miss these amazing opportunities! (separate Registration to attend)

    More details visit ppw.org/2025-INNOVATE

    Registration Fees:

    PPW/PPA Member - Early Bird (12-1-2024 - 1-31-2025) $249.00    
    PPW/PPA Member - Regular Price (02-1-2025 - 2-28-2025) $299.00    
    PPW/PPA Member - Late fee (03-1-2025 - 04-5-2025) $329.00    
    Non-Member (12-1-2024 - 04-5-2025) $349.00
    New Member (w/ $200 membership dues pd) $249    



    Hotel info:

    Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA 98027

    To make reservations - $139/ 1 King suite or $139/ 2 Queen suite 
    This deal expires Friday March 21 at Midnight

    INNOVATE is sponsored by the Professional Photographers of Washington, an affiliate of PPA.

    Program Refund/Cancellation Policies: Withdrawal from attending may be made by written request no later than 30 calendar days prior to the event and is subject to a $50 administration fee. Withdrawal fewer than 30 calendar days prior to the event is non-refundable. PPW reserves the right to cancel courses or refuse admission to any attendee. In case of a cancellation by PPW, the attendee will receive a full refund. Returned checks incur a $25 service fee. 

    Show details

  • Spring Board Meeting

    • 07 Apr 2025
    • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
    • Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA 98027
    Register


    We will be meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA 98027 at 8am on  Monday April 7.

    Reports and motions are due : Mar 28th. 

    Board meetings are open to all members. Board members, please, register so we know you are attending.

    Show details

  • Post-Con PPAEdu Class: The Business Institute

    • 07 Apr 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA 98027
    Register


    The Business Institute

    Monday, April 7, 2025 - 9am - 5:00pm

    PPW/PPA members $159
    Non-Members $199

    Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA 98027

    Are you ready to take your business to the next level? 

    You know your business is set up to be profitable (we worked on that last year). Now you need to make sure you have enough clients coming in the door and the right systems and manpower to keep up with the workload. 

    At this year’s Business Institute, we’ll be reviewing & improving your processes for: 

    Marketing planning & Implementation
    Operations systems, Outsourcing, & Management 

    Join us for a full day of business development. This is not a lecture - it's a guided session designed to help you actively work ON your business!

    To learn more about The Business Program.




    Show details

  • PPW Event - Studio Lighting for Beginners

    • 12 Apr 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • 811 W 2nd Ave, Suite 204, Spokane, WA
    • 1
    Register


    Studio Lighting For Beginners

    Saturday, April 12th ~ 10am - 12pm

    811 W 2nd Ave, Suite 204, Spokane, WA

    FREE! Registration Required

    Want to learn to use studio lighting, off-camera flash, and constant light? Join us for a free 2 hour lighting program sponsored by the Professional Photographers of Washington.

    We'll cover the fundamentals of working with external lighting for portrait photography. Come networks, learn, and up your photography game.

    Hosted at the new DreamStudio in downtown Spokane.
    811 W 2nd Ave, Suite 204, Spokane, WA
    https://www.dreamstudionw.com/

    Register Today!
    Seating is limited. Registration required.
    If the class is full, sign up on our waiting list. We will do more events.

    Contact: Chris Wooley


    Show details

  • Business Advisory Board Meeting

    • 14 Apr 2025
    • 09 Mar 2026
    • 12 sessions
    • via Zoom
    Register

    The Advisory Board

    The Advisory Board is PPW’s monthly business mastermind program that meets on Zoom, 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00pm. Exchange ideas and tackle the problems that are holding you back. 

    Content will include business discussion, accountability, problem solving, "hot seat" discussion, feedback, quarterly planning, mentorship, and guest speakers.

    Join us to take your business to new heights! You will earn 1 business merit for every 3 meetings you attend. 

    Register today!

    Show details

  • East District: Image Comp Decompression Party

    • 19 Apr 2025
    • 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    • Olsen Projects - 203 E Sprague Spokane WA 99202
    Register


    Image Comp Decompression Party 

    Saturday April 19th - 3:00pm - 6:00pm
    Olson Projects 203 E Sprague Ave Spokane WA 99202

    Let's get together and talk about it, let's discuss what went right and what went wrong. We will have a special guest joining us from the west side, who has promised to provide some snacks and refreshments! Even if you didn't enter print comp and just want to hang out all are welcome and we would love to see you.  

    Please bring your images to be discussed on a thumb drive.

    More Info, Contact: Misty Olson misty@mistyolsonphotography.com

    Please RSVP by registering here


    Show details

  • ONLINE (zoom) The Six S’s of Business Headshots w/ Mike Price

    • 08 May 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • via Zoom
    Register


    The Six S’s of Business Headshots with MikePrice, M.Photog.Cr.

    PPW Education Online - Thursday, May 8th 2025 @ 6pm on Zoom

    Spend an evening with Mike Price, M.Photog.Cr., as he takes you on a journey through the Six S’s of Business Headshots - Setup, Selling, Shooting, Showing, Styling, and Sending.

    Attendees will see how organizing their headshot business offerings, selecting the right equipment and lighting that fits their style, developing an effective workflow, and pricing for profit that appeals to corporate clients can make or break a business portrait line-of-business. This is a balance of business acumen dealing with corporate clientele coupled with showing an efficient workflow to quickly complete projects resulting in target margin.
    More than just learning how to light pretty pictures, this lecture session is designed to show you tools to be productive and profitable immediately you can practice and apply after the meeting. After all, this IS a business and our goal is run a profitable business that balances our work and our life.

    This is a Zoom lecture/conversational experience so bring plenty of paper for notes.

    Mike has been able to successfully expand headshot clients into architectural work and vice versa. Clients already know how to spend money with us one way, let’s give me more ways to use us for their photography needs.

    Questions: Contact Chris Wooley

    Register for Zoom Link
    Show details

  • ONLINE (zoom) Site Unseen: Planning Nature Photography w/Thea Martin

    • 19 Jun 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • via Zoom
    Register


    Site Unseen: Planning Nature Photography withThea Martin, M.Photog., FP-OR, DFP-OR

    PPW Education Online - Thursday, June 19th 2025 @ 6pm on Zoom

    Looking to photograph a scenic location but have never been? Site Unseen will show you how to use tools that already may be on your computer to find locations to photograph where you can arrive set up and photograph. We will also review apps to help predict weather conditions that are beyond your phone's weather app.

    Join us to learn how to ’see’ nature and find the magic locations to capture the beauty that awaits.

    Register for Zoom Link

    Show details

PPW Annual Educational Conference

Every year PPW hosts an Annual Educational Conference and Image Competition.  In addition to learning from the masters, we provide fun and fellowship with our Fun Party Auction which raises money to allow PPW to give out scholarships every year. To honor those who earned enough merits, we present them with Membership Medallions at our President's Banquet. At this event we also reveal who won trophies from the Image Competition. Good times and definitely something to not miss! Keep checking back to learn about our upcoming Spring Conference.

PPW  Image Competition

If photography is an important part of your life, don't miss the biggest PPW event of the year!

Entering your state competition is one of the best ways to push yourself to be more. You'll learn where you stand—how your photography matches up with your peers. You'll learn about the 12 Elements of a Merit Image, and start incorporating them into your daily photography. You'll learn what it takes to create a merit image and if you stick with it, you may be a Trophy or Award Winner. To see what they are check them out on Trophy & Award Goals.

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