Prepping for IUSA 2016

Are you ready? For some reason, it’s really crept up on me this year, how about you? I finally did the dreaded IUSA gown-shopping trip today and in the midst of all the dress-trying-on frenzy, I wound up getting excited. I don’t know what it is, but this year… maybe it’s because it’s so close …

Mentoring with Kelly – Session #1

A behind-the-scenes look at my online private mentoring… Today I had an appointment with a new mentee, Kelly, from Ohio and she was gracious enough to agree to let me blog about her mentoring progress. I thought it would be nice to use a real-life example of a student’s mentoring session – so mucho big …

See the Difference: From MWAC to M.Photog.

*MWAC = Mom with a camera, M. Photog. = Master Photographer I am impressed by befores and afters. If someone is trying to convince me of the results and effectiveness of their methods or system, I want proof. Just like the diet and exercise infomercials, it’s all just blah blah blah until I see the …

IPC2015: “And… Scene!” | The Aftermath

  #IPC2015 Wow. THE event of the year for some of us. If that  confuses you, go away and come back tomorrow, I’ve got some competition addicts to chat with today. So. How are you all feeling? I’m feeling a little bit weird. As usual. I’m reminded of a time from my past. For a …

IPC 2015: What’s In Your Case?

Because, yes, I certainly needed to waste even more time just days before the deadline by writing a blog post… What’s in your case? Some of you have your cases entered and shipped. Some of you don’t. Some of you are looking at the calendar and counting backwards from Thursday night at midnight.And being a …

Self-Portraits in Competition: Amy Feick’s “Held by Demons” & “Almost Broken”

Second in the self-portrait series is artist Amy Feick from Port Huron, Michigan. Amy is a Master Photographer, Certified Professional Photographer and operates Twin Shutterbug Studios. Amy shared her images with me during her post-processing workflow and I must say how intrigued I am by the influence that songs and lyrics have within her work. …

Competition Self-Portraits: Christie Kline’s “Soul Salvation”

One of the great things about image competition is that you can utilize it to challenge yourself in a variety of ways. When I teach  my print competition classes, I talk about the variety of ways I’ve challenged myself – but one of the challenges that I respect wildly, but have yet to approach myself …

Speaking/Judging at Montana PPA 2015

  I recently returned from Bozeman, Montana, the location of the 2015 Montana PPA convention. Aside from the location, I could swear I’d been in Ohio, except I didn’t know any of the faces or names of those around me. It’s delightful to meet a group of people that are more friends and family than …

3 Print Competition Tips from Jurors-In-Training (& CPPs!)

Jurors-in-training are PPA members and print competitors and who have completed the PPA Judge’s workshop as part of the process in becoming a PPA Affiliated Juror. After the workshop, students who have their Master’s Degree are eligible to begin judging print competitions at a state level. Like anyone else – we have opinions and advice …

About that Certification thing…

Yesterday I got a lovely email from PPA employee & Certification Coordinator, Cassidy Hoffman. Cassidy reminded me that the deadline to apply for a 2015 CPP Liaison position was looming and that they had not received my request to be considered. Of course, it was something I’d put on the back burner to get to …