Hello Everyone and Happy Birthday 70^th PPW!

We just finished a fantastic PPW print competition and Spring Conference in Spokane. It was great having an in-person event and it was great seeing everyone again. We seem to be at our best when we’re face-to-face and learning new things. A special Thank You to Rachel and Chris Wooley, Faye Johnson, and Jeff Schindler for organizing and hosting the event. A big Thank You to all the volunteers who gave their time to make it happen, and another big Thank You to the Marketing team. Everyone has been working hard over the last few months and it showed!!

The celebration continues as we enjoy our 70^th year as the Professional Photographers of Washington. We not only celebrate our past, but also our present and our future. We have successfully navigated the ups and downs through seven decades while making friends and having fun along the way. We are the premier place to be for Professional and Semi-Professional photographers, and we are the place to be for those entering the field and looking for pathways to success. 

Friendships and camaraderie are at the top of the list for reasons to be with PPW. However, benefits, merits and building confidence are at the core of what we do. PPW benefits are opportunities to learn, grow and participate within the industry and merits are recognitions of the hard work that goes into them. Attending classes, speaking, writing articles, print competitions, volunteering for events and being a Board member are all opportunities to earn merits. 

Merits reflect a photographer’s journey through PPW. In the beginning, merits represent the completion of individual events. However, over time, they accumulate and grow to become something quite powerful. They build to show the skill sets of a professional photographer. They establish members as a recognized experts within the industry, and they show our members actively giving back to the photographic community.

PPW awards degrees to members who have earn enough merits. These degrees are respected throughout the industry and they reflect respect and the knowledge of those who have them.  

It should be noted that most events that generate merits are highly marketable on social media and other promotional platforms. Again, they demonstrate excellence photography, they share expertise when writing articles or speaking, and they show industry participation through volunteering. Every merit earned is a learning opportunity that elevates a member above the crowd. We all bring something to the table, even if you are new to photography. Your life experiences help others to know they aren’t alone in this learning process.

The Marketing Team is starting a merit campaign to educate new members and to remind our seasoned members of the benefits we have. It is also a call to all members to reengage with PPW and to engage with potential new members. We elevate photographers and we have a proven merit system of success. We need the knowledge of life members and we want to see the successes of new members.

PPA's District Image Competition will have come and gone by the time this is published. So, good luck and I hope everyone did well!!