Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

Tune in with Jonathan Lee of @jwleemedia for a live Q&A on May 20 at 7 pm ET! He’ll explain what real estate clients notice, what builds trust, and what leads to repeat bookings. Register now with the link in our bio. 🔗 🤝 @giraffe360

Introducing PhotoVision - our brand new learning platform that brings you fresh, inspiring content every week! 📸 PhotoVision gives photographers one central place where they can learn and feel more connected to their community. Subscribe and tap in now with the link in our bio. 🔗

Discover what it takes to become one of the top photographers in the world. 📸 Go behind the scenes of the International Photographic Competition (IPC), and experience the journey of passionate artists competing for the prestigious Grand Imaging Award. This exclusive documentary captures the emotions, critiques, and moments of triumph as photographers from all genres—weddings, wildlife, landscapes, photojournalism, boudoir, and more—enter their best work for expert judging. Watch the full documentary on PPA.com with the link in our bio. 🔗

Our brand new 30 Under 30 Program has arrived - submit your nomination by June 15! Here's what you need to know. ⤵️ ➡️ This program is designed to spotlight emerging leaders under the age of 30—not just behind the camera, but everywhere photography touches business, technology, education, and community. ➡️ Nominees don’t have to be photographers. They can be educators, business owners, tech developers, vendors, or creative professionals—anyone contributing to the photography ecosystem in a meaningful way. ➡️ If they’re under 30 and making an impact, they’re eligible. Self-nominations are allowed. Submit a nomination now with the link in our bio. 🔗 @imagingusa 2027 will be held from January 31 – February 2, 2027 at the Charlotte Convention Center. 📸

Kisha Beek (@photographybykishabeek ) gives us the secret to success for her newborn photography business. 🤐 She credits her success in part to applying her systems and IT expertise to the work of crafting images of angelic newborns and their adoring parents. A tightly curated, ordered process and lots of pre-session planning are the keys to delivering exquisite photos and a fun, relaxing experience, she says. “From the first phone call to final delivery of product, it’s a guided process,” says Beek. “It starts with an initial phone, Zoom, or coffee shop meeting to see if we’re a fit. If so, the next step is a pre-consult where I explain the process and discuss the most important thing: the safety of their babies.” Parents complete a client form that includes details like the baby’s weight, which can shift dramatically by the time they arrive for their session. (No worries, she says, as she keeps outfits in all sizes.) Beek is trained in CPR and has completed newborn safety training. She limits sessions to one per day, which ensures a relaxed vibe and no rushing. Read more with the article "New Life" from the May 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗

@janefultonalt explained how she gardened through her grief with photography. 🌼📸 When she lost her husband, she turned her attention to the garden he’d cultivated in response to his concerns over climate change. She had no experience gardening but found solace in the daily ritual of nurturing plants. The work also inspired a photo series. Her new book, “Still Life: A Photographer’s Journey Through Grief and Gardening,” is a collection of images she captured of the budding flowers, ripe berries, and luscious greenery of the garden that lives on. Read more with the article "Gardening in Grief" from the May 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗

Often photographers work for many years—or even decades—in other careers, photographing as a hobby, before transitioning into the full-time photography work they love. When asked, "What career did you have before you became a professional photographer?" Curtis Sprague, Florian Marschoun and Meaghan Bickel gave their answers! ➡️ "I joined the U.S. Army at 17 years old to pay for an art degree. I’d done very well in the Army and decided that maybe law enforcement would be a suitable career, so I began working as a police officer. Then, I worked with the Federal Air Marshal Service as a federal air marshal." - Curtis Sprague, @curtis_sprague ➡️ "I earned my degree in business administration, and after finishing university, worked in management accounting for a large industrial company for about 15 years." - Florian Marschoun of @aspectsix ➡️ "My first true career was as a mental health counselor at an acute inpatient psychiatric hospital in southeastern Washington. I started in 2012 as a case manager at a government-contracted agency that coordinates care for seniors and people with disabilities." - Meaghan Bickel of @joyphotography_eburg Read more with the article "Career Reframed" from the May 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗

Oscar-nominated filmmaker and fine art photographer Pen Densham, pendensham, says he doesn’t want to capture nature as it looks. He wants to capture nature as it feels. “I have an enormous body of experimental images on all kinds of nature subjects,” says Densham, who uses a Sony Alpha 7R IV and is publishing a new photo book, “Qualia.” “Every image is a total experiment, but the results can be amazing.” Though his work involves “a massive amount of discards,” he notes, he’s begun to return to them with fresh eyes. “When I tweak an image and it reaches some kind of Zen rightness, I choke up.” Read more with the article "Letting Go of the Rules" from the April 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗

As a licensed educational psychologist, Scott Gutentag, @scottgutentag , has spent decades working with people with intellectual disabilities and physical challenges. Here are some of his tips for photographing subjects with disabilities 👇 ➡️ Prior to the session, learn about the subject’s abilities. What might prevent them from understanding or talking? Are there any accessibility or mobility issues to be addressed? What about interests, aversions, and energy level? These factors can determine session location, structure, and ways to be creative during the photo session. ➡️ Include people during the session who know the subject best. They will let you know if certain visual or auditory stimuli is overwhelming or if certain movements will not be comfortable for the subject. ➡️ Follow the subject’s lead. That includes following their lead on verbal communication, eye gaze, gestures, expressions, and body movements. Read more with the article "Thoughtful Portrait Sessions" from the April 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗

When a client trashed her portrait session on social media, Jennifer Okamoto (@jennifer_okamoto ) at first bristled. But then she shook it off and approached the situation as a learning experience. Here's her advice ⬇️ ➡️ Look inward. If something goes awry, ask yourself, “What did I do wrong?” or “What could I have done better?” Own your missteps. Treat the incident as a learning opportunity rather than something unfair that is happening to you. ➡️ Go deeper. Try to understand the client’s life, stressors, and emotional state. Ask deeper, emotionally focused questions. Explore the context and the relationships involved so you can deliver what truly matters to the client. ➡️ Set clear expectations. Let clients know up front what you will deliver, what the session will cost, and what they will receive. Get them excited but also establish realistic expectations. ➡️ Standardize the experience. Create a repeatable system that is consistent from one client to the next. This will help you set and manage expectations, and also make your business much more efficient. Read more with the article "Owning Up and Moving On" from the April 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗

When the world slowed down, Steve Jessmore (@sjessmo ) found a whole new way to see it. 🦅📸 After going from 100+ photojournalism assignments to nearly zero during COVID, Jessmore didn’t quit - he pivoted. What started as a simple kayaking project turned into a powerful new niche: bird photography with a storytelling twist, now known as “Birds Doing Stuff.” Instead of static shots, he captures real moments - birds hunting, diving, building, living. It’s wildlife photography meets photojournalism, proving that the best images don’t just show a subject…they tell a story. His biggest tool? Not just a camera - but access. A kayak lets him quietly enter nature without disruption, getting closer to authentic, unscripted moments. Add in the right gear, patience, and a sharp editing eye, and the results speak for themselves. If you’re in a creative slump or facing a slow season, take this as your sign: adapt, explore, and try something new. Your next breakthrough might be waiting just outside your comfort zone. Read more with the article "Avian Action" from the April 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗

From submarine technician to award-winning wildlife photographer - Jared Plante (@jjplante12 ) proves that passion and persistence can turn any path into something extraordinary. 🌲📸 Completely self-taught, Plante built his skills through trial, error, and countless hours in the field—capturing the raw beauty of nature across New England. From intricate plant textures to sweeping panoramic landscapes, his work is rooted in patience, observation, and a deep respect for the outdoors. His secret? Awareness. Understanding light, weather, and timing—then waiting for everything to align. Whether it’s a fleeting autumn waterfall, a perfectly lit forest scene, or a quiet wildlife moment, Plante reminds us that the best images aren’t rushed… they’re earned. Blending techniques like focus stacking, panoramic stitching, and natural + artificial lighting, he creates images with depth, clarity, and story. And even while balancing a full-time career, he’s built a thriving photography business on the side. If you love nature photography, this is your reminder: get outside, stay curious, and keep shooting. The magic is already there - you just have to find it. Read more with the article "Into the Great Outdoors" from the April 2026 issue of our magazine, Professional Photographer. Link in our bio. 🔗