Menu
Log in


Log in

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

    • 24 Mar 2023
    • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn/8401 Paine Field Blvd/Mukilteo, WA 98275
    Register

    Seniors: Epic & High Impact Portraits

    Friday, March 24th, 9am - 5pm

    PPW/PPA Members $99
    Non-Member $149

    Hilton Garden Inn 8401 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo, WA 98275

    Curious to learn how you can up-level your high school senior business and set yourself apart from others in your market?

    Corey McDonald, M.Photog.,M.Artist., CPP, will be demonstrating his creative workflow from start to finish, how he creates high-impact senior portraits that capture the devotion and character of his subjects’ respective sports. 

    He will help you learn the extraction process, the best way to use dodging and burning to exaggerate features, and attendees can watch as he uses his custom-made brushes to create the environments that highlight the high school senior.

    Register Today!

    Corey McDonald is a photographic artist from Alabama, in the small town of Monroeville, the backdrop of To Kill a Mockingbird. Corey has worked as a professional photographer since 2014. In the past few years he’s enjoyed many new titles and has added a tremendous amount of hardware from the Senior and Youth National Conference, including Best of Show, multiple First Place trophies and 2021 Photographer of the Year. He is also a 2022 Diamond Photographer of the Year and 2023 Grand Imaging Award Finalist, High School Senior Portrait Category with PPA.

    Corey’s studio specializes in High School Seniors, Families, Children, Business and Commercial, and has recently begun creating fine art paintings for his clientele. His hobbies include watching the same nine television series over and over, reading and catching up on Marvel Cinematic gossip, and spending time on the farm picking cotton, peanuts, and photographing the rest.

    www.coreymcdonaldphotography.com


    • 25 Mar 2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • 27 Mar 2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn/8401 Paine Field Blvd/Mukilteo, WA 98275
    Register

    The Washington Photography Conference – INNOVATE – is set for March 25-27, 2023 in Mukilteo, WA.

    This year we bring it all to the west side of our state and it will be an informational-packed 3 days delving into multiple aspects of your photography business. We will feature techniques on composites, posing, marketing and creative painting that will inspire your creative mind, then show you how to apply it to your photographic passion and develop a smart business mindset. 

    INNOVATE is our yearly opportunity to gather with like-minded image makers and to learn ways to grow your business, expand your professional relationships and make new friends from across the Northwest. Besides the learning, there is a fun party, networking opportunities, then we cap it off with our awards banquet where we celebrate excellence from our 2023 Image Competition and celebrate all the winners and our members achievements.

    Our four featured speakers come from across the nation to present and inspire for this in-person event – and provide a unique experience with access to information and resource that online cannot compete with.

    Joining us at INNOVATE this year are:

    • Corey McDonald, M.Photog., M.Artist., CPP with Competition Image Storytelling
    • Rachael BoerCr.Photog., CPP shares how to Develop a Consistent Marketing Plan
    • Phil WhiteM.Photog., CPP, FP-ID will share The Nuts and Bolts of Posing
    • Karen McCallM.Photog, M.Artist, CPP will wrap up our conference with Setting up your Wacom Tablet and Painting Tools to be successful in your digital art. 

    We will acknowledge and celebrate the best in our state at our banquet, will have fun with friends old and new at our fun party. 

    We are also excited to share that 2 of our conference speakers are doing standalone, PPW/PPA merited classes before and after the conference. Check those out and go here to learn more.

    Want to see more INNOVATE-ion this Spring! Then plan to join us and register the attend the 2023 PPW State Conference today!

    Check out the details and register to join us this Spring!

    _________________________________________________________

    Hotel Reservations: 

    Hilton Garden Inn Seattle North/Everett, 8401 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo, WA- 98275
    seattlenortheverett.stayhgi.com

    $112/ standard 2 queen or 1 king room plus tax

    Professional Photographers of Washington - Booking Link

    425-423-9000

    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. 

    • 27 Mar 2023
    • 12:00 AM - 6:30 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn/8401 Paine Field Blvd/Mukilteo, WA 98275
    Register

    Intro to Photoshop Painting
    Monday, March 27, 12pm - 6:30pm

    PPW/PPA members $99
    Non-Members $149

    Hilton Garden Inn 8401 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo, WA 98275 

    This class is an introduction to Photoshop Painting, with Karen McCall, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., CPP and will inspire you to get started in the world of digital painting. Karen will demonstrate the tools and techniques that will take your images to the next level. Bring your laptop and tablet for this hands-on program. 

    You'll learn how to smudge your problems away with the smudge tool, add depth and dimension with brush blend modes and how to master the mixer brush for corrective painting. Fix lighting patterns, blemishes, eye glass glare and stray hairs easily.

    Register Today!
    _____________

    Karen lives in Natick, MA with her husband, 2 sons and 1 golden doodle. She started photography many moons ago with film and negatives. 

    Karen earned her Masters Degree in 1999. After taking Photoshop painting classes in 2018 she earned her Master Artist Degree and Image Excellence Degree in 2019 followed by her Craftsman Degree in 2020. Karen earned her Image Excellence Bar this year as well as 8 Image Excellence prints, earning Double Diamond status. 

    She has been awarded the highest print award in Massachusetts and the ASP State award 4 years running as well as many other state awards. She has had 6 GIA nominations in 4 years and is a 4X Diamond Photographer with 26 loan images in the past 4 years. 

    She is a member of Team USA  2023 for the World Photographic Cup, representing the Illustrative category (along with Washington’s own Karissa Blunck, M. Photog.)

    https://karenmccall.com/birthday-bashes/


    • 27 Mar 2023
    • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
    • Hilton Garden Inn at 8401 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo
    Register


    We will be meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn at 8401 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo at 8am on  Monday March 27.

    Reports and motions were due on Mar 4th. Please submit your report ASAP!

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

    • 28 Mar 2023
    • 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    • on Zoom
    Register


    Click Here to Register 

    for the

    'Coffee, Cameras and Conversation'

    Here in the Southwest District, we believe it is our mission to become better creatives. Join us for a monthly SW PPW (virtual) gathering, ‘Coffee, Cameras and Conversation’ where we can connect and get to know our other PPW members and share on the journey to better. Normally, we meet every fourth Tuesday morning at 9am.

    No pressure to attend, the cost is free – just your time. Plan to join in the fun with Joni Atkinson (simply_statedphotography@wavecable.com) or Johnny Walker (johnny@almostcandid.net) and we will send you the link to join.

    Everything is better fully caffeinated!


    A confirmation email will be sent with the Zoom Link after you register.

    • 29 Apr 2023
    • 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
    • 327 Pacific Ave, Bremerton, WA


    PPA Edu/SW District Event: Capture In Flight, With Lights, In Motion


    Details coming soon...

    • 11 May 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • via Zoom
    Register


    Never Say Die When Photographing the Night Sky w/ Bob Coates

    PPW Education Online - Thursday, May 11th beginning at 6pm

    There are lots of moving parts in play when capturing the night sky. I compare the capture of a solid Milky Way image to a 4D chess game. The sun, moon, and Milky Way are all moving. The Galactic Center is the star of the solid Milky Way photograph. But, where will it be? At what time. How will I know in advance where to set up my camera for the best results? Coates will share ideas and concepts that will remove the some of the mystery of the heavenly bodies shoot.

    While our cameras can pick up lots of detail in the night sky, the images need some massaging to show all the starry treasures in the file. Learn about making selections in Photoshop for specific adjustments. Different areas of the images need different techniques. Many times the foreground needs to be processed separately as well.

    Last of all, know that there will be times when you go out to photograph a specific subject it will not go as planned… That doesn’t mean you can’t come home with a winning image. Keep at it and take what nature gives you. Never say die!




    • 22 Jun 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • via Zoom
    Register


    Learning the Chain Links of Photography Success in 2024 w/ Jeff Lubin

    PPW Education Online - Thursday, June 22nd beginning at 6pm

    This have changed many times since I began my career in 1983. To continue to be successful, I had to evolve with the times to stay relevant.

    We all know that a chain breaks at its weakest link. If you want to be competitive in today’s world of portrait photography, you have all the links of the chain operating seamlessly.
    Although you could break this down in a micro sense, in the macro view of the links are as follows.

    ⦁ Photography
    ⦁ Branding
    ⦁ Website, Facebook and other social media
    ⦁ Your image both personally and your studio
    ⦁ Pricing
    ⦁ Marketing
    ⦁ Sales presentation

    I will go over how each of these links must be learned and incorporated in your studio as a whole to produce the highest level of profits and overall success. You will come away with a clear picture of how these links work together and where you need to concentrate your efforts to shore up your weakest links.

    • 24 Jun 2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • 25 Jun 2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn at 8401 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo
    Register


    We will be meeting in Burien for the Summer board Retreat

    Reports and motions were due on June 4th. 

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

    • 24 Jun 2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • 25 Jun 2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • Hilton Garden Inn at 8401 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo
    Register


    We will be meeting in Ellensburg after the Fall Event.

    Reports and motions were due on Sept 24th. 

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

    • 09 Jul 2023
    • 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    • Studio K - 4438 Fir Tree Rd SE, Olympia WA 98501
    • 20
    Register


    PPA Edu: Modern Family Portraiture with Jessica Vallia 

    Date: Saturday, July 9, 2023 -11am to 7:00pm

    PPW/PPA Member Price $139 (Merited class) (Limited Seating!)

    Non-Member Price $199

    This course will be a deep dive into creating an heirloom portrait session for the modern family. Your instructor, Jessica, works not only at providing clients with posed images, but also pairing that with authentic moments. Her families are well posed and engaged along with laughing and real moments of happiness & closeness to cherish for a lifetime. Moms and dads alike often cry during their reveal watching an emotionally driven video of the in between moments of their video paired with their perfect posed images. These family stories are perfect for selling albums and wall prints which boosts sales for the modern family photographer.

    Her clients have a full experience from style guides for their session (so their images look like they were crafted for their home) to helping choose their location based on their family style. Each family session is truly unique and tells a story of who they are.

    She will dive into what style portraits are best paired with different products as well as easy ways to prep and bond with your clients for a successful portrait session.

    Jessica is known for shooting on location during golden & blue hour with natural light, but this course is about building a successful session for any type of lighting situation. There will be hands on posing tips & an opportunity for hands on portfolio building.

    • 22 Jul 2023
    • 1:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    • On location - Mt St Helens
    • 20
    Register


    PPA Edu: Landscape Photography at Mt St Helens

    Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 -1pm to 9:30pm

    PPW/PPA Member Price $299 (Merited class) (Limited Seating!)

    Non-Member Price $399

    Join us for an intensive landscape photography workshop at Mt St Helens. The workshop includes two 4-hour inside sessions on landscape photography and post-processing, two 4-hour field sessions and an optional third field session. We’ll be based at the Eco Park Resort where the classroom portions of theworkshop will be conducted. The field sessions will be held on the way to and around the JohnstonRidge Observatory on the northwest side of the volcano. It’s be a great photographic adventure. You’ll come back with great images, new friends and enriched skills and knowledge.

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.

Follow PPW on Social Media 


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

©1948-2021 All rights reserved


Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software