Continuing Education

I have always believed that continuing education is vital to the long-term success of any business. I certainly would not be here eighteen years later after receiving my first camera and photography lessons from my husband, if were not for the classes, seminars, conventions, and competitions offered by Arkansas Professional Photographers Association. 

Tomorrow, I will get to model, along with my dog Zeba for the super talented photographer Jen Hargrove from La Barge Wyoming.  Jen's program "Sit Stay Smile" will be focused on pet photography.  Zeba is super excited since she is pretty much a professional pet model anyway. I, on the other hand, am a little nervous to be in front of the camera instead of behind it!

I will post photos from our session in a later post!

Zeba the Super Model in her younger days!

Capture Photography Education

https://appa13.wildapricot.org/event-2806614

For my photographer friends, are you ready to advance y our education? Do you feel you are in a rut or even isolated?

Then it is time to find some hands-on and in-person quality photography education.

Join me next weekend at Petit Jean State Park and then on Monday in Morrilton to get that excitement back and LEARN at the Arkansas Professional Photographers Association's Capture 2018 event.

National Hugging Day January 21

Every needs hugs!
According to http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-hat-day-january-15/

The purpose for the holiday is to help everyone show more emotion in public. There is only one way you are supposed to celebrate the holiday, offer a hug to anyone and everyone you want. While National Hug Day and the Free Hugs Campaign share many similarities, there is not actual association between the two. Whether you hug a family member or a stranger, the mental and physical health benefits are the same.

OBSERVE

Give someone a big hug and use #NationalHuggingDay to post on social media.

HISTORY

The holiday was founded by Rev. Kevin Zaborney on March 29, 1986 in Caro, Michigan.

Awards from Arkansas Professional Photographer's Association

Last month, I attended the APPA print competition and educational event "Capture '13". The theme this year was "A Celebration of Excellence", and I am so proud to be a part of this organization and this event.

I made a commitment to myself after I became a Certified Professional Photographer, to continue to find ways to push myself to improve and learn my craft. Although becoming a CPP, or participating in print competitions are not required to be a photographer, it is just not enough for me to be stagnant in learning. So... I enter print competitions (sometimes reluctantly, sometimes with doubt, sometimes at the last minute...)
This year it paid off for me. Four of my prints received merits from APPA. Two received ribbons for Judges Favorite, and one won the Ben Red award for Photo Décor.  My favorite image - Sugar Daddy

 
 

- is one that is dear to my heart, so when it received a judges ribbon from a judge that I have a great amount of respect for - I was thrilled. It is pictured below. This was taken in Tanzania last year while we were delivering water purification filters up a mountain. The gentleman was on his way down the mountain to sell his sugar cane. I cannot even imagine climbing up and down that mountain every day.
The a few of the other prints are going to be entered at yet another print competition in November, so I cannot share them with you yet... even though I am dying to show them off.



En el mes pesado, asistí al concurso de fotografía y evento  educativo llamado "Capture '13".  El
tema este año fué " Una Celebración de Excelencia', y estoy tan orgullosa de ser  parte de esta
organización y esta evento.
Después de lograr el estatus de Certificación Profesional en fotografía, me  comprometí a
continuar buscando formas en las cuales seguir  esforzándome, mejorar y aprender mi arte.
Aunque tener el estatus de CPP, o participar en concursos de fotografía no es obligatorio, ser una
fotógrafa para mí no es suficiente, ser inactiva sobre aprender.  Así... participo en concursos de
fotografía ( a veces de mala gana, a veces con dudas, a veces al último minuto...)
Este año valió la pena. Cuatro de mis fotos recibieron méritos de APPA. Dos recibieron cintas de
la concesión por favoritas de los jueces, y uno ganó el premio de Ben Red - Photo Décor.  Mi foto
favorita- Azúcar Papi - es una que está cerca de mi corazón. Cuando recibo  una cinta de una jueza
por la cual tengo mucho respeto, me sentí muy emocionada.  Esta foto fue tomada  en Tanzania,
el año pasado mientras estuvimos entregando filtros de agua purificada sobre una montaña. El
hombre estuvo caminando bajo la montaña, para vender su caña de azúcar. No puedo imaginar
caminar arriba y bajo esa montaña cada día.
Unas pocas de las otras fotos estarán en un otro concurso de fotografía en  noviembre, así no
puedo mostrarlos todavía... aunque estoy muriendo de ganas demostrarlos.

Lydia wins the 2013 Scholarship from Hardgrave Photography

Congratulations Lydia Tucker!!
Education is such an important part of our own success at Hardgrave Photography, we decided to give away a $1000 scholarship again this year to one of our senior clients. Each Senior was entered into a drawing and Lydia's name was drawn.

 

 

 

 

Lydia will be attending Arkansas Tech University in the fall of 2013. Lydia and her parents, Joe and Renee Tucker have been photographed at Hardgrave Photography several times over the years. We have seen Lydia mature into the beautiful young woman she is now. We wish her all the luck in the world, and know that this $1000 scholarship will come in handy for her education expenses.

 

As mentioned before, education is important to us, and every year we invest in our education through professional organizations like Professional Photographers of America, Arkansas PPA, SWPPA, and Delta School of Professional Photography. Becky has been appointed the Director of Delta School of Professional Photography and serves on the Board of Directores for Arkansas Professional Photographers Association.

 

Some images from Lydia's Ultimate Senior Session



Awards from Capture 2012

Each year, the Professional Photographers Association of Arkansas holds a print competition and continued education convention for all it's members. A lot of work goes into organizing, advertising, and just doing what all it takes to make sure it is beneficial to the members, and in the end to the clients that choose APPA members. I have been a part of APPA since before I became a photographer for the public. Mark had joined years before, and the people were so nice and caring, of course it was only natural for me to be a part of it.

Earlier this week, I was honored to have 3 prints deserve a merit. I had the highest individual score ever for me, and also the highest average for me too. I was thrilled with that as my own personal accomplishment, but when my name was announced for "First Place Portrait" in my division, I was shocked and very excited. Most of the work I do is portraits - not candids, weddings, or commercial work - but beautifully lit portraits. It was nice to get a first place and affirmation of skills.

After I sat down and started on my coffee, my name was called again. This one was even more special - the Delores Schrader award for the best Black and White image in competition. This award was set up in memory of Mrs. Delores Schrader by her husband, G.J. "Buddy" Schrader who was an APPA president from 1948-1949. There are so many photographers that have gone before us that were dedicated to education in this industry. Thank You to all of them.

My model for the winning image is Mr. Robert Larsen. I met Robert at church and not by his looks, but my our discussions of life, I knew he would be great for this project I already had in my mind. One of the print judges comment was "You can just see that he is honestly in prayer". The judges discussed and discussed it, gave it a score, and then called it back up to discuss again and raised the score again.  My chest was pounding and I could not stay seated. I thought I was going to have to leave the room. I plan to send this, and the other prints on to national competition, with the hopes of them doing as well there as they did at Capture 2012.