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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

  • Business Advisory Board Meeting

    • 08 Apr 2024
    • 10 Mar 2025
    • 12 sessions
    • via Zoom
    Join waitlist

    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

  • ONLINE (zoom) The Latest and Greatest in Photoshop w/Michael Collins

    • 06 Mar 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • via Zoom
    Register


    The Latest and Greatest in Photoshop w/ Michael Collins

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

    Professional Photographers need to have a good grasp on making their images pop to compete in today’s everchanging world. Being “Good Enough” is not enough to survive. 

    With a large number of programs out there for editing photos, Adobe Photoshop is still the Gold Standard for professional photographers. Michael uses his humor to impart the information so you can learn the basics of this program and make your images come alive. 

    K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid is his philosophy in making Photoshop work for you and not you working for Photoshop. 

    Questions: Contact Chris Wooley

    Register for Zoom Link
    Show details

  • PPW State Image Competition

    • 15 Mar 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • via Zoom


    Our 2025 State Image Competition is set for Saturday, March 15th

    Registration is open from January 1st and closes March 1, 2025 11:59pm PST.


    Submit 1-4 images for $90

    Critiques $40 (4 entries) or $12/image (can be ordered until March 15th)


    The 2025 Jurors are Audrey Wancket, Kira Derryberry, Joe Campanellie, Mark Sweeny, Timothy Meyer and lead by Tim Walden.


    New to print competition? A seasoned competitor? Check out our resources, competition details, explanation videos and all the rules for all categories (There are new rules and categories for 2025!) on our website by going to 2025 Competition Info. Still have questions - ask your district rep for more details.

    Remember - registration is open through March 1, 2025 11:59pm PST. Plan to be a part of it!

    Submit Images Here!

    Show details

  • East District: Image Comp Watch Party

    • 15 Mar 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Olsen Projects - 203 E Sprague Spokane WA 99202
    Register


    East District: Image Comp Watch Party

    Saturday, March 15th  - 9:00am - 3:00PM
    Olsen Projects - 203 E Sprague, Spokane WA 99202

    We are going to have a Image Competition Watch Party on March 15th 9am-3pm (or whenever the event is over ) This will also be down at Olsen Projects at 203 E Spraque. Please bring a snack to share and whatever you would like to drink. This is a great time to hang out and cheer on our favorite images! I hope to see you all there. Please let me know if you are planning to attend and what you are planning to bring.

    Please RSVP by registering here

    Contact: Chris Wood, E Dist Rep

    Show details

  • 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


    EXTENDED REGISTRATION DEADLINE TO March 9th TO SAVE $50!

    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:

    Regular Rate of $299 - February 1st to February 28th EXTENDED DATE TO March 9th!!!

    Late Fee Rate of $349 - March 1st to April 4th

    Hotel info:

    Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA 98027
    Room Rates - $139/ 1 King suite or $139/ 2 Queen suite 

    Click here to get PPW Room Rate Limited rooms - Deadline March 4


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

    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 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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 The Professional Photographers of Washington, Inc.     •     27088 Ohio Ave NE    •    Kingston, WA 98346    •    (360) 818-4348    •   Contact Us 

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