President’s Message

Hello, friends! I was introduced as PPO President during our convention last week but since we had a pretty low member turn-out, I thought I would reach out to you digitally! I own Pouka Art & Photography in Grove City, Ohio and I joined PPO in 2017 and became a board member in 2019. I became the Image Comp Chair and was voted in as Board Secretary in 2020.

As many of you are aware, President David Beckham had a stroke earlier this year. I have served as president pro-tempore for the past six months, carrying on David’s vision of fellowship and learning for the organization. I look forward to continuing to serve our community of photographers, in Ohio and elsewhere!

If you’d like updates on how David is doing, information can be found on caringbridge.org.

We lost two board members last year due to personal and business commitments so our board is down to five members and all of us have been here for at least two terms. We would love to have some new ideas and a fresh perspective so if you’re a PPO member and would like to get involved, I’d love to hear from you!

If a board commitment seems a bit scary, dip your toes into one of our committees! We desperately need someone to help welcome new members and provide some thoughts about improving member benefits and experiences. If that sounds interesting, send us an email! How about marketing? Social Media? Graphics? Videos? Crafting emails? Join our communications and marketing team! Just drop us a line at staff@ppofohio.org!

I won’t get into specific financial information in this format but you are always welcome to reach out to us for details. Suffice to say that our events such as Mansfield Mayhem, Mohican Madness, and membership fees pay for our speakers and venue costs at our annual convention, renamed this year to “Summer School” (we’ll go a little crazier with that theme next year!). Due to some good luck, generous sponsors, and reasonable speakers, our loss this year was less than expected and we plan to move some more money into savings. Our annual image competition continues to be a break-even event but hopefully provides our entrants with valuable feedback.

This year we are adding a new fun event at The Wilds near Zanesville on September 23rd. If interest is strong, we will add it to our annual roster! If you’ve ever wanted to go on safari to photograph exotic animals but weren’t keen on travelling far, this event is for you! Long-time PPO member Tom Walsh has agreed to host – we’ll have a morning of learning tips and tricks, a buffet lunch, then a photo shoot from an open-air bus, followed by an informative class on editing the images you just took! This will be a PPA merited class. You can find more information here: https://www.ppofohio.org/upcoming-events/2024/2/14/thewilds

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve got a moment and I hope to see everyone at one (or more!) of our events in the upcoming year!

Thank you for your continued support of the Professional Photographers of Ohio!

Danica Barreau
President

Bruce W. Muncy, Mphotog.,Cr.,A-ASP,AE-ASP,FP (VA) Professional Photographers of Ohio President 1983 and Honorary Member since Feb 21, 2000 Celebrates 50 years as a professional photographer since graduating from the Ohio Institute of Photograph in Dayton Ohio on July 24, 1974 in the first graduating class of 3.

Bruce's first job after graduation was with Monarch Machine Tool Company as Chief Photographer in Sidney Ohio for two years. He then was Director of Photographic Production for Motts Photographic in Columbus, Ohio. Warren Motts was his mentor and friend for 8.5 years. Bruce then worked for Battelle Memorial Foundation as Senior Research Photographer for 1 year before moving to Roanoke, Virginia to start his own business Muncy Fine Photography. Bruce want the Trustees to know that the 10 years he was in Ohio was the most important years in his professional development. He is grateful for all the friends he made in the Mid-East Regional and is still in contact with many of those colleagues.  Listed below are his professional achievements and service to the profession.

• Master of Photography from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

• Photographic Craftsman from the PPA

• EDU 100 from the PPA for teaching excellence of 100 seminars and classes

• Associate of the American Society of Photographers (ASP)

• Associate Educator of ASP

• Fellow of Photography from the Virginia Professional Photographers Association

• Service to Photography from VPPA 

• President of the Southwest Ohio Professional Photographers (PPSO

• Vice President of the Central Ohio Professional Photographers (PPCO)

• President of the Professional Photographers of Ohio (PPO)

• Chairman of the Certified Professional Photographers of Ohio (CPP)

• Lt. Governor of the Blue Ridge District of the VPPA

• Governor of the Blue Ridge District of the VPPA-3 times 

• Part-time instructor at the Ohio Institute of Photography

• Instructor at the Winona School of Professional Photography 3 times

• Instructor at the Georgia School of Professional Photography

• Instructor at the Triangle Institute of Professional Photography

• Commercial Photography Keynote speaker at the PPA national convention twice

• PPA National Judge for 14 years

• Commercial Judge at the Mid-East Regional and Southeastern Regional Conventions

• Speaker and Judge at 14 state conventions

• Photographed and Published 3 editions of "Bed & Breakfast and Unique Inns of Virginia

• Photographed and Published 1 edition of "Bed & Breakfast and Unique Inns of Pennsylvania

• Commissioned a "Kentucky Colonel" by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1982.

 Bruce is grateful to all the clients, people and agencies that have supported him in his great career.

Long-time PPO member Tom Welsh will be leading a photographic field trip to The Wilds in late September! Tom founded “Tom Welsh Photography” in 2007 in Westerville. While his studio specializes in seniors, headshots, and family portraits, Tom enjoys all types of photography!

Here’s what he said when asked about wildlife photography and his class at The Wilds:

I grew up in SW Pa. and hunting was a big part of growing up back then. I always enjoyed being out in the woods and looking for rabbits, pheasants and deer. There was something innate about those times and I always felt at home and at peace being in nature. Hunting today is with my camera but the memories of days gone by are strong and the feelings of being one with nature bring peace, solitude and creativity. If I’m ever finding that I’m losing my passion for Photography, a trip out on my kayak or a walk in the woods brings it all back! As Albert Einstein said “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better”!

I find that Wildlife and Nature offer a number of benefits that are great for your soul! Amongst the many are: The Act of Creating, Being one with Nature, Learning to see light, Knowledge of wildlife, motivation to get outside, exercise, and solitude! 

This program will demonstrate how I go about shooting wildlife, the equipment that I use, the settings that bring me the best results, where I go, how I taught myself to see, what I’m looking for, Software I use for editing and the workflow I use to go from capture to final image.

Spanning over 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, The Wilds is one of the largest conservation centers in the world.

Threatened and endangered species roam open pastures with endless vistas and provide an ideal setting to study ecological recovery and restoration. Visitors can discover The Wilds with a variety of unforgettable tours, including open-air safaris, zipline tours, horseback tours, and many more. 

For the past three decades, The Wilds has become a global force in the conservation of threatened and endangered animal species as well as protecting local ecology. With close to 100,000 visitors each year, it's also proven to be a year-round travel destination offering sweeping views, jaw-dropping safari tours, and unforgettable memories for anyone who visits. 

Congratulations to Elaine Hugues whose application for life membership to PPO was recently approved by the board. Here is a bit of information about Elaine and examples of her work. Congratulations, Elaine!

BIOGRAPHY
Elaine Hughes has always been intrigued and fascinated by Photography! In the early nineteen nineties she began to intensely develop her love of the imaging process.

 Elaine began her photographic journey by studying with the world’s foremost photographic masters such as; Ronald Turner, Peter Dyer, Monte Zucker, Joyce Wilson and David Peters. Elaine also began to attend major industry conventions, courses, and classes, to hone and update her talents and techniques.

 It was during this period that Elaine’s opinions about style, composition, lighting and technique began to formulate. Although seeking and absorbing advice from the “Masters” was extremely helpful, Elaine has assimilated a unique “Style,” of her own.

 In March of the year 2001, Elaine decided to enter four of her “Photojournalistic” type prints in the annual WPPI International Print Competition in Las Vegas. Elaine did quite well! Elaine’s print case was the third highest scoring in the international competition. Elaine’s image, “They Didn’t Think I Could Make It,” was awarded second place in the “Photojournalistic” category. Not bad for her very first year of entering print competition!

 In 2002 Elaine’s competition success continued. At the Professional Photographers of America annual Mid East States convention, Elaine was awarded two coveted Kodak Gallery Awards. Elaine also won a Fuji Masterpiece award. (The Kodak Gallery and/or Fuji Masterpiece award in Photography is very similar to an “Emmy” and/or “Oscar.”)

 In 2003 while entering the Mid East States annual print competition, Elaine was awarded three “Blue” ribbons. Later that year, the forth entry not only went “Blue” but was selected to appear in the Professional Photographers of America General Collection Book, “The Best of 2003.”

 In February of 2004 in the Awards of Excellence Competition in Las Vegas, one of Elaine’s prints was chosen to receive Second place in the Wedding Details category. 

 In March of 2004 at the Annual Mid East States Professional Photographers print competition, Elaine was selected to receive the Robert Graetz Memorial Award. Elaine was also presented with a coveted Fuji Masterpiece Award. Elaine’s print score total placed her in the “Top Ten of Ohio” Professional Photographers.

 In January of 2005 Elaine Hughes was awarded the Profesional Photographers of America “Photographer Of The Year” award.

 In February of 2005 at the Annual Mid East States Professional Photographers print competition, Elaine was presented with the coveted Fuji Masterpiece award for the most outstanding Wedding print. She also placed in the Top Ten Photographers of Ohio list.

In March of 2005 at the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) print competition in Las Vegas, Elaine was awarded first place in the Photojournalism Details category.

 In January of 2006, Professional Photographers of America presented Elaine with her PPA Certification Degree, a Master of Photography Degree and a Professional Photographers of America “Photographer of The Year” award. 

In March of 2006, at the annual Mid East States Professional Photographers print competition Elaine was selected to receive the coveted Kodak Gallery award. Elaine also received the “Dumbald” award for the most creative image in the competition and three “Courts of Honor” awards. Elaine made the Mid-East States and the Ohio list of “Top Ten” Photographers. 

In May of 2006, Elaine was elected to serve a one-year term as President of “The Professional Photographers of Central Ohio.”  

In 2010 Elaine Received a Master of Electronic Imaging Degree. In addition, Elaine was the P.A.S.O. Electronic “Artist of the Year.” 

In 2011 Elaine received the coveted Silver Medallion Award 

In 2013 Elaine was awarded “Ohio Photographer of the Year.” In addition she received Fuji Masterpiece Award, ASP Silver Medallion Award and Diamond Photographer Award – Elaine was 8 for 8 with 7 loan collections images. 

In 2014 Elaine was awarded the Buckeye Pictorial Award. PPA 4 for 4 with 3 loans. 

In 2015 Elaine was “Artist Specialist of the Year.” PPA 4 for 4 with 2 loan collection images. 

In 2016 Elaine was awarded “Master Artist of the Year.” She also won the ASP Northeast District Medallion Award. PPA 4 for 4 with 1 loan. 

In 2017 Elaine went 4 for 4 with 2 loan collection images. 

In 2019 Elaine was  4 for 4 PPA Merit Images 

In 2020 Elaine was 3 for 4 PPA Merit Images. 

In 2022 Elaine was awarded a “Silver Medalist” from PPA. (4 for 4 with 1 loan) 

Elaine also enjoys involving herself in “Fine Art” explorations with her husband Robert. It is clear that Elaine Hughes is a talented, motivated, creative and unique artist. 

Please welcome our new board member, Sarah Henderson! Sarah owns Desired Focus Photography in Zanesville, Ohio, and has been in business for 15 years. She specializes in portraits, family, seniors, and dance. Sarah is recently married and lives in both Norway and the US. She has two adult children, the youngest of whom is 16. She loves sunny days and being outside and dreams of having a home with tons of windows. She believes in making good food and creating beautiful images.

We sat down with Sarah to get to know her better.

Why did you become a board member?
I want to encourage others. Being a photographer can be lonely and I want to help people feel supported, and connected with other photographers and help their businesses thrive.

What is your vision for PPO?
I’d love to see PPO become a place of local community support where photographers can easily share resources, and success stories and help each other serve their clients better and enjoy their work more. I’m sick of lonely photographers barely scraping by. I want to see photographers loving their job and living the life of their dreams.

Why is PPO important?
It’s close to home. We know how the local climate feels and we know what works.

What do you get out of PPO as a member?
I loved the Summer convention. I couldn’t believe we had such talented teachers available for such an affordable price and so close!

What do you hope others get out of PPO as members?
For me, I struggled for years to learn how to run a profitable business. If there are other photographers like me, I would hope they could learn how to market to their dream clients and enjoy working because they have more than enough financially.

Why did you become a photographer?
I didn’t know how to describe the beauty I saw but loved how a picture I took could show someone exactly what I meant. Taking pictures is a form of worship for me. I get to enjoy a moment of beauty and appreciate how wonderful God is to create this gorgeous world. And I love how photography helps me remember all the good things that happen in life.

I started in middle school and took yearbook for the sole purpose of being a photographer. I hated writing stories that were mandatory. But, I did get to go to all the sporting events and parties and take pictures. And the local paper even paid me for my pictures! I wanted to pursue it for the rest of my life!

After High School, I didn’t think it would be practical and didn’t pursue photography until after I had my third child and saw we couldn’t live on my husband’s job, especially when he wouldn’t work for months at a time. I thought if I worked on weekends or when he was home, I’d be able to help the family survive. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to price myself for profit, how to market myself to clients who value photography, how to build a portfolio that would attract my ideal client or know that spending a little money on a retoucher is more valuable than spending months working on one wedding day. I’d rather be sleeping or spending time with my kids or working on another photoshoot!

How has photography changed your life?
Photography gave me a voice. When I felt so unsupported and unloved in my marriage, it gave me a way to spend my time so I wasn’t lonely, make a little money to pay overdue bills, and a little break away from being a stay-at-home mom without a car. It gave me friendships with other photographers and financial freedom in the last few years. It gave me hope that I was creating a business that would change my world.

What advice would you give to photographers from the knowledge you have gained?
People want to hire you and they can afford you.

Not everyone though…so the key is to find the ones who value photography and you.

I was shocked because I live in Zanesville and have been very poor while living here, so I just assumed everyone who lived here would want the cheapest photographer. And I even thought I priced myself high.

I was wrong. My highest-paying clients have not lived in the most expensive parts of town. I have been so amazed that people who live here could afford $10K worth of wall art and an album. Most of my over $5K clients have come from this town with one of the highest poverty rates.

Perhaps you don’t think money is important, and when that is true, you see that you don’t do much to make it or keep it. I never valued it because I thought it was a waste of time to focus on it. I thought it was selfish to focus on material possessions and wanted enough to get by and a little to give away. But I had my power cut off a couple of times and couldn’t afford diapers. I was also afraid of rejection and couldn’t handle someone saying it was too expensive. I was afraid of being seen as opportunistic and greedy. And I wanted to help people so I didn’t want to charge when it was something that comes easily to me and people love. I kept thinking, photography isn’t a need like food, so why would anyone spend money on it. I certainly couldn’t afford it.

I had to change the way I valued money, my work, and myself. Now I see it as a tool that will help me be the best mom, enjoy my life, and truly help others. My happiest clients have been the biggest spenders! It was kind of shocking to see my $10K client jumping up and down with delight as she was so grateful to finally have family pictures on her wall. I see that I’m able to give them something they love and they can help me too. It feels like an equal exchange. I don’t have to do charity work to make a difference in someone’s life.

If someone doesn’t hire me, that isn’t a rejection of me. I’m valuable even if no one hires me. My work is worth paying for. If someone can’t afford me, I can be grateful that I’m opening space for someone who can. And just because it isn’t a need like food, it is still valuable to let people know they matter. I love that photography meets real needs that can change the way someone sees themself and remember the best moments in life.

Congratulations to Susan Wiberg who’s application for life membership to PPO was recently approved by the board. We asked Susan to share a little bit about herself and her work and this is what she had to say:

My name is Susan Wiberg.   

I have served the photographic needs of the Central Ohio area since Jim Hanks and I starting A Moment In Time Studio in 1988 in my hometown of Grove City

I have always loved photography, but most of all, I love working with the wonderful people I have met.  For over 30, I had the good fortune of photographing thousands of people and have had a blast doing it.  So much has changed over the years, and I love all the new technology.   I began my career in photography when film was king. Digital technology has taken photography to a level I could not have imagined then!

For the High School Seniors, we had two goals in mind—To have fun and to give you the senior portraits you will love.  The senior year is one of the most special times of in a young person's life.  senior portraits are the way seniors will be remembered by classmates from graduation on.  We always wanted the experience and the portraits to be the very best they could be to make that senior feel confident and Good about themselves.

For children and families, we wanted to stop time and capture those eyes filled with wonder, those tiny fingers and toes in portraits to last a lifetime.  Our name was A Moment In Time because that is what we capture and preserve.  We helped hold on to those precious memories, to allow family to remember those treasured features always.  Is it the dimple like Dad's or the smile like Mom's? Children grow and change before our very eyes.  The infant held in our arms is suddenly the toddler being chased.  Kindergarten, dance lessons, piano, soccer, baseball, basketball, softball, gymnastics.  Schedules to meet, practices and games to attend.  Faster and faster life goes. Don't you sometimes just want to grab hold and hug them tight and keep them from getting any more grown up.  We did that in portraits. 

I have been fortunate enough to be the recipient of numerous image awards over the years at CPI, SPI, PPCO, PPO and PPA competitions.  And I was blessed to have been awarded the Kodak Gallery Elite Award by Eastman Kodak.   I also received the Ohio Certified Professional Photographer title.  

I am thankful and blessed by my association with and membership in PPCO, PPO and PPA and have met some of the finest people in the photography industry.  If you are not a member of these amazing organizations, I encourage you to investigate and join one or all.  Members are willing to share and help fellow photographers and I can honestly say I would not have garnered the success I have had without these organizations.

I wish you all great success, abundant happiness, and creative fulfillment as you pursue your own photography career.

God bless you all.

 Susan Wiberg

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We had an amazing turn-out at Mansfield Mayhem this year and wanted to celebrate everyone’s work with an image competition! We had three categories - Spooky, Other, and Portrait/Fashion. After a long deliberation, the judges have made their selections! The winners will receive a gift code from McKenna for a 16x20 metal print!

Congratulations Kate Mitchem, Robin Thompson, and Sharon LANGE!

Kate Mitchem - Winner of the Portrait category

Robin Thompson - Winner of the Other category

Sharon Lange - Winner of the Spooky category.

PPA posted the top 10 category winners of this year’s District Competition and PPO members featured prominently on the list! Please congratulate our fellow members the next time you see them on a job well done!

The NE District includes 11 states and 6 Canadian provinces. All the merited images are presented to all the approved jurors. They pick their top 10 images in each category for each District (unless they entered in that category or know any makers in that category). The submissions are tallied, any ties are broken, and now you have your top 10! If there weren't enough merited images in a category, non-merited images were considered for top 10.

Below is the list of PPO members as of July 28th who placed in the top 10:

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Danica Barreau, Measuring Mischief
Danica Barreau, Justified Paranoia
David Beckham, Alta
David Beckham, Hannah
Shari Brownlee, Old Soul Musician
Susan Gertz, Band of Brothers
Susan Gertz, Garden Club Ladies
Debbie Knight, Mountain Muppet
Robert Kunesh, Origins Of Man
Robert Kunesh, Served His Time
Lori McCoy, Biggest Little Miracle
Kristin Merck, Lavender Lullabies
Michael Price, The Chase
Michael Price, Hiding My Fear
Kristy Steeves, Ebeneezer
Kristy Steeves, Alien Invasion

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Many of these images also won awards at PPO’s annual image competition. Merited images will be on display during the Awards Banquet at PPO’s Annual Convention on July 24th!

All District Award winners are listed on the PPA website.

A virtual ceremony celebrating the entrants and winners of the 2022 Image Awards for the Professional Photographers of Ohio.

We had an amazing turn-out at Mansfield Mayhem this year and wanted to celebrate everyone’s work with an image competition! We had three categories - Spooky, Other, and Portrait/Fashion. After a long deliberation, judges Danica Barreau and David Beckham have made their selections! The winners will receive a gift code from McKenna for a 16x20 metal print!

CONGRATULATIONS to Don Ling, Kelly Cook, and Brent Watkins!!

Don Ling - 1st Place - OTHER category

Kelly Cook - 1st Place - PORTRAIT/FASHION category.

Brent Watkins - 1st Place - SPOOKY category

Congratulations to Brent Watkins, Kristy Steeves, Danica Barreau, and MIles Andonov for being elected to represent Ohio’s Professional Photography of America members on the PPA Council! All four are also members of PPO and their contact information is available on the “Affiliates” page if you have any questions about PPA!

You can also reach out to your councilors on theLoop (theloop.ppa.com) on your state community page. Just go to “Communities - My Communities” and you should see in the list below, one for Ohio.

Promo video for Mansfield Mayhem!

The virtual award ceremony for PPO’s 2021 annual image competition.

The winners of PPO’s 2020 Service Awards!

PPO Distinguished Service Award - Kristy Steeves

President’s Award - Danica Barreau

PPO Service Award - Lori McCoy, Sue Voldrich, Jeremy Voldrich

President’s Gavel - Jeff Wallace

Vendor of the Year - ACI

Walter Troup “Above and Beyond” award - Michael Price

Warren Motts Lifetime Achievement Award - Terry Dunlap

PPA National Award - David Beckham

Lifetime Membership for Exemplary Service - Susan Rowe, Walter Rowe

Professional Photographers of Ohio is hosting a business summit on October 7 and 8th. Sacramento, CA based senior photographer Teri Fode will be discussing the importance of personal branding - showing the face behind the business - to create a connection with your client base during the summit and is being interviewed by PPO president David Beckham.

Every month PPO President, David Beckham, will be talking with someone in the photography world, either from the country or right here in Ohio. The first interview will be with Kia from Bondurant Studios in Kansas. She has been a leader and educator in the Senior Photography Industry for over 20 years. They're talking about vibrant colors, cool new haircuts, the dreaded Covid, and staying ahead of all of the changes in our business!