Professional Photographer Magazine Announces 2008 Cover Photo Contest
Photographers who dream of seeing their work on the cover of a national magazine will soon have their chance. Professional Photographer magazine is hosting a Cover Photo Contest (www.ppmag.com) from March 1 to May 31, 2008.

This contest could be the first of its kind in Professional Photographer’s known history, although it is difficult to make that claim when talking about a hundred-year-old publication. Regardless, it opens a plethora of possibilities for image-makers.

On the search for real-world examples of portrait, wedding, commercial, and event photography, the Professional Photographer Cover Photo Contest is open to all photographers. Entries (low-resolution digital image files) will be judged on technical and artistic merit. Judges will include the magazine’s editors and guest judge Helen K. Yancy, M.Photog.M.Artist.MEI.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP, F-ASP, Hon. F-ASP, the chairman of Professional Photographers of America’s Print Exhibition Committee. Along with landing the cover of a 2008 edition of the magazine, the winner will receive a selection of prizes from sponsors Bogen, Canon, Kodak, Microsoft, and Miller’s Professional Imaging. Those sponsors will also award prizes for 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-place winners and up to 25 honorable mentions.

The entries into the Professional Photographer Cover Photo Contest have the chance to make their makers’ dreams come true. Entry is simple even though the reward is great. Go to ppmag.com for submission details and to enter.

ANNOUNCING THE IMAGING EXCELLENCE BAR
To honor a rare accomplishment in PPA competitions, the PPA Board has approved the Imaging Excellence Bar (IE Bar). This bar is only received if an image maker is able to earn an additional 13 Loan Merits from PPA…on top of the first 13 required for the Imaging Excellence Award. The IE Bar will be presented for every 13 additional Loan Merits earned.

The original Imaging Excellence Award was created by the Photographic Exhibitions Committee (PEC), honoring the outstanding image makers who earn 13 Loan Merits and have one or more PPA Master Degrees. This award, presented during the Imaging USA Awards & Degree Ceremony, provides an opportunity for competitors to reach a higher level…beyond their Master Degrees. And now, those who exhibit an even greater skill in photographic competition are recognized with this IE Bar.

The IE Bar has been exquisitely designed by PPA member Kaye Frey, who also designed the Imaging Excellence Award pin. This bar is distinguished by its black lacquer finish, central stone, and gold trim.

The first IE Bar was presented in honor of Buddy Stewart, M.Photog.Cr, CPP, API, F-ASP, who earned the required number of Loan Merits before his passing. It was received by Lola, his wife, at Imaging USA 2009 in Tampa.

Applications for the IE Bar may be sent to Marisa Pitts at PPA (mpitts@ppa.com).

Get the 2008 AN-NE Marketing Award Rules Now!
The AN-NE Awards competition is back in its 13th year as the premier marketing competition for photographers, and continues to be one of the most coveted awards in the industry. Download the rules and submit your entries now. PPA listened to your suggestions and made some changes to the rules this year. Team entries are now allowed, a new Emerging Pro Award has been added, and, to encourage new entrants in 2008, we are giving each entrant free critiques. We have also moved the competition to June—all entries must be postmarked no later than June 27, 2008.

New PPA Webinars
Don’t have the time or money to travel to your education? Let us bring it to you! With PPA’s new webinars, you can learn in the comfort of your home or studio. These online seminars—produced by both PPA and Studio Management Services (SMS)—feature business and photography experts. Watch your inbox for information about the upcoming topics and times.

Super Monday
It’s back in April…the event that makes Monday the treasured day of the week: Super Monday. On (and around) April 7, 2008, photographers around the country will open their intellectual doors to others. See all the courses detailed online at http://events.ppa.com. Pick your favorite and get ready to learn.

Take Advantage of OurPPA.com
Have you taken full advantage of OurPPA.com? Many haven’t…and are missing out. You can create a profile and upload an avatar image, compare ideas, joke around, ask questions, and post your images for comment. It’s a great way to share the knowledge in this wide photographic industry, from lighting issues to what competition print you should send and who has had luck with a certain type of marketing. There’s a vast amount of relevant information in that forum. Go ahead, look around: www.OurPPA.com