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International Gold Medal For Dallas - Fort Worth Pet Photographer

Friday, December 31, 2021 | By: Tracy Allard

2021 was the year of print competition in pursuit of my Master of Photography degree from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Print competition is not for the faint of heart, but it will absolutely improve your skills, craft and creativity. It was, is, a steep learning curve but I'm quite proud of my accomplishments this year, winning a gold medal in International Photographic Competition (IPC). But I'm getting ahead of myself, let me take you through my journey that led up the gold medal. 

(click on any image to view full screen)

I Renewed As A Certified Professional Photographer

First things first, I renewed as a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP). The CPP certification was an arduous, year-long journey that I completed three years ago so it was time to renew. The CPP process is meant to help you improve as a photographer and it delivers. There's a written portion of the test along with submission of both client images as well as specific lighting patterns. Once received, you must earn a minimum number of continuing education credits (CEUs) through attending classes, workshops and conferences to maintain it. 

I Belong To The Dallas Professional Photographers Of America Guild

Back to print competition, and I promise to make it fast and easy to understand. Founded in 1868, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest and longest-standing nonprofit photography trade association. It currently helps 30,000 professionals elevate their craft and grow their business with resources, protection, and education. The international organization is made up of district, state and local groups, here in Dallas it's the Dallas Professional Photographers of America guild (DPPA) if which I'm a member. 

Local guilds hold monthly print competitions and you can think of think of this sort of like single A baseball. It's where you start to practice, get feedback and improve your skills and images for the more fierce competition to come at higher levels. I believe that DPPA is the largest guild in the country and is arguably one of the most awarded as well so even at the local level, the competition is stiff! 

I threw myself into the process and entered an image in the animal portrait category every month there was a competition, 10 images in all. I'm proud to announce that I won 8 first place ribbons as well as judge's choice and high score one month (from over 20 entries, this was for "Where's My Staff" print, more on that below). Eight blue ribbons won me first place in the animal portrait category at our year end awards this month as well as highest score for a first year competitor. With 9 of my 10 images meriting (meaning they scored at least 80 or higher, the bar at which below, cannot qualify you for any further recognition, or merits toward your Master of Photography degree), I also won the diamond medal. 

On To Texas Professional Photographers Of America

If you're still with me, it's time to move up to AA baseball with state competition at Texas Professional Photographers of America (TPPA), of which I'm also a member. This is an even larger sandbox to enter and refine your work on your way to IPC. The state allows you to enter 8 images to help you identify the strongest candidates to move up to next level - or AAA baseball - which is the Southwest District for me. 

I was thrilled to learn that all eight of my images in the animal portrait category merited with 4 of them going on to receive the "Texellence" recognition earning me the diamond medal along with another judge's choice ribbon for "Where's My Staff?" (only 12 were given from among thousands of entires) and a distinguished image ribbon for "Cheer Up Buttercup". 

It's AAA Ball Now With Southwest District Judging

So now I've got eight strong candidates for district judging, but you can only submit a "case" of four. Time to winnow down to those that I think will perform the best, you can see them pictured, along with the judging results, in the screen shot below.

All four animal portrait images merited again, which when earned at district level, you can elect to let them "go through" (without any changes) to IPC where they will automatically earn a merit and only be judged for the Imaging Excellence category (the best of the best). 

District judging's highest award is nomination into the "Top 10" for each category and I was thrilled to learn that 3 of my 4 images placed in the top 10. All nominees are listed in alphabetical order in the image on the right. 

The Major Leagues, International Photographic Competition

So here we are, playing in the big leagues. All of this work (and it's a LOT of work!) is leading up to the one and only time of the year that you can earn merits toward your Master of Photography degree (25 merits are required made up of a combination of 13 Exhibition merits [aka competition merits] and 12 additional merits via Speaker, Wedding Exhibition, Artist Exhibition and/or Service).

A panel of 36 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from over 5,000 total submitted entries at PPA headquarters in Atlanta. Judged against a standard of excellence, 1,926 images were selected for the Merit Collection and 1,225 (roughly 24 percent) were selected for the esteemed Imaging Excellence Collection—the best of the best. The Imaging Excellence Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated " Excellence Collection" book. 

Because my images were sealed from District competition, I knew I had four in my pocket which was a really nice feeling. I was thrilled to learn that 2 of the 4 images for animal portraiture went on to be judged into the Image Excellence category, earning me another 2 merits and the display of them at PPA photographic exhibitions, conventions, and other photography events. You can see the 4 winning images below with their coveted "gold corners". 

(click on any image to view full screen)

It Takes A Village

You can't succeed in print competition alone. It really does take a village and this is where your local guild comes in. I've made so many friends at DPPA, many of whom who have helped me navigate this journey so I'd be remiss if I did not mention that here and thank them all for their generous support. 

I was told (warned?) that print competition can be a crazy maker, it is quite subjective after all, but I went into it with the mindset of improving my craft and earning a higher degree of competence and that has helped. Images that killed it at state and district, didn't wow as much at IPC, but I learned and improved which benefits my client work. 

All Around The Circle

What a year! It was my busiest ever for client work, so when you add in pursuit of my Master of Photography degree, I was one busy lady. I can't wait to see how my fellow pet photographers are wrapping up 2021 so lets start with Linda Perdue of VPShoots Photography in Tampa, FL reviewing 2021 and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each page for an around the world tour of fun and fabulous pet photography! 

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy was one of just one hundred and three gold medal winners from thousands of entries in PPA's International Photographic Competition. 

Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.

Let's talk about your pet's portrait!
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