PPO School 2010

I had a really great week at the Professional Photographers of Oklahoma School. This is a week long school hosted by the Professional Photographers of Oklahoma every summer. They bring in professional photographers from all over the country to help keep us updated and constantly raise our skill level to help the true professionals stand apart from those that just say that they are professional. I learned lots of new stuff that I know will help me become a better photographer and business owner. I'm really looking forward to making a few, much needed changes!

While I was at the PPO School, I entered 2 of my images in the print competition. This is such a great experience because it is a little bit of a trial run before the local competition in Tulsa and the state competition in August, as well as the Regional competition in September. Through print competition, if I score high enough on images I can receive merits that, along with educational & service merits, will accumulate to hopefully one day my Master's degree from the Professional Photographers of America.

One of the requirements for this competition at the school I attended is that each entrant must photograph their image during the week of the school. The last 2 years that I have entered, they have awarded an Honorable Mention, 1st Place and Best of Show. In the past, I have been so close, but only received Honorable Mention. This year I was honored that they chose my image for the Best of Show award!!! I am so thankful for that honor!!! For winning Best of Show, I was awarded a full scholarship ($400 value) for next years PPO School and a professional printing lab gave me a gift certificate for 2 competition prints!!! Woohoo! I can't wait to go back next year!

I have attached the 2 images that I entered in the competition. The one that won best of show was the image titled "You Are My Sunshine." I really appreciate everything the Professional Photographers of Oklahoma organization has done to help me grow as a photographer!

Title: "You Are My Sunshine"

Title: "Cute, But Sassy"