Austin Professional Photographers Association upcoming events

May 4, 2026 Onboarding Zoom call (04 May 2026)

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

WHAT BENEFITS ARE OFFERED WITH AUSTIN PPA?

Whether you’re a brand new member or have been with us for a while, we’d love to have you join us!

During this call, we’ll go over what to expect as an Austin PPA member, share available resources, and talk about the support and community we offer. This is also a great time to ask any questions you may have.

We hope you’ll join us for this warm and welcoming session to help you get the most out of your membership! Please designate about an hour for this call and reply to this email if you are planning on joining us.

Hosted by your Welcoming Committee
Tim Babiak and Esmeralda Gonzalez

CLICK HERE FOR ZOOM LINK

Zoom call for Image Competition attendance requirements (06 May 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

You're invited to discuss the topic of attendance requirements for our monthly image competition.

Whether you’re a brand new member or have been with us for a while, we’d love to have you join us. Please highly consider attending if you would like to see a change or keep our current requirement. We will be discussing the following:

Awards:

Members who participate in monthly image competitions are not required to be present to receive scores and critiques. However, members must attend the business portion of the monthly meeting (or the portion of the meeting where the results are presented) to receive ribbons or to receive points toward Photographer of the Year (POTY) awards.

Please designate about an hour for this call

Hosted by your Image Competition Committee
Vicki Leonardo, Roy Nierdieck, Richard Childress and John Oeffinger

CLICK HERE FOR ZOOM LINK

Zoom call for Image Competition attendance

May 6, 2026 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 958 7937 4911

Passcode: 067433

May Membership Meeting - Video that sells with Jackson Tritt (18 May 2026)

Mon, 18 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Video That Sells
Join Jackson Tritt of JTX Media for an insightful presentation on creating video that truly connects and converts, and all from using your own camera! Drawing from his experience as a freelance cinematographer, Jackson will share practical lessons on building trust through video, identifying the types of video products that actually sell, and learning how to do more with less. This session will also cover where to start if you’re looking to incorporate video into your business or elevate what you’re already creating.

Perfect for creatives, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want video to work smarter—not harder.

**MEET and GREET with our PRESIDENT, Esmeralda. She will be at Precision from 5:30-6pm for any of our NEW and CURRENT members that would like to chat about Austin PPA or anything photography.

JUNE WORKSHOP - Creative Conceptualization – Develop Your Creativity with Narrative Storytelling Imagery with Ric Lewis (06 Jun 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Register for this workshop on the Precision Camera website at this link:

Creative Conceptualization Workshop

$199 (members and non-members)

Note: PPA members earn a merit for attending this class.

Unlock your ability to transform an idea into powerful visual stories. In this immersive class, you’ll learn how to develop compelling concepts, build narrative-driven shoots, and infuse emotion and intention into every frame. Learn where to find ideas for inspiration, and how to build upon those ideas. You’ll explore how to shape abstract ideas into concrete imagery, craft mood boards, and create photography that resonates on a deeper, more meaningful level. This class is perfect for photographers looking to elevate their work beyond aesthetics and into true visual storytelling. In the last portion of this class, we will go over editing with an emphasis on “Fine Art” and “Fantasy”.

Topics Covered

- Narrative photography concept development

- Mood board development

- Styling and props

- Lighting and model direction

Audience

This class is targeted for all levels of photographers who want to learn about conceptual narrative photography.

Objective

Students can expect to leave the class with a detailed understanding of the skills, techniques to develop their creative ideas into powerful, emotional, storytelling imagery.

Schedule and Format

This immersive, full day class includes 6-1/2 hours of lecture, instruction and shooting covering the topics listed above. There will also be time for Q&A. Note that there will be a lunch break on your own.

Items to Bring

Students should bring their cameras as they will be shooting. This includes camera body, lens(es), charged batteries and memory card(s). Laptops are not needed for the editing part of this class. The instructor will record the editing portion of this class and provide a link after the class for student review.

About the Instructor

Ric Lewis is an internationally published photographer specializing in fine art portraiture, underwater, fashion, maternity, and boudoir. Of all the genres of photography his two main passions are maternity and underwater portraiture. Ric travels the US with his wife Kayla and teaches workshops as well as speaks or runs photo booths at photography conventions throughout the US. Ric is an ambassador for Baby Dream Backdrops, Cheetah Stand, Sew Trendy, Aftershoot, Embrace Presets, and a Champion Of Light for StellaPro. Ric loves meeting new creatives and has a passion for teaching and helping. The most important thing for Ric as a photographer is that every client, every photographer, and every creative walks away from every interaction with him feeling loved, inspired, and valued.

Lighting provided by

June Membership Meeting - Sitting Down with the Masters (15 Jun 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Sitting Down with the Masters
June Meeting | Austin PPA

What does it really take to become a Master Photographer?

Join us for an inspiring and refreshingly honest evening with the Master Photographers of Austin PPA. In this special panel-style event, our Masters will take you behind the scenes of their journeys—sharing not only their proudest work, but also where they started (yes, even the “not-so-great” early days).

You’ll get a rare look at how their skills, style, and businesses have evolved over time, along with the lessons they learned along the way. This is your opportunity to hear real stories, gain practical insight, and see firsthand what growth in photography truly looks like.

Bring your questions—this is an open conversation designed for YOU. Whether you're just starting out or working toward your own Master’s degree, you’ll leave encouraged, motivated, and equipped with new ideas to elevate your craft.

Come ready to learn, connect, and be inspired.

REGITSRATION WILL OPEN AFTER OUR MAY MEETING.
Please mark your calendar for now.

CPP Exam Prep Class (12 Jul 2026)

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Certified Professional Photographer

Exam Prep Class

Date: JULY 12, 2026

Location: Tim’s Place – 3434 Oxsheer Drive

Time: 9 am – 4:30 p.m.

(See below for lunch break plans)

Cost: $99

The Austin PPA supports the value of the PPA Certified Professional Photographer program. This class helps students prepare for the CPP examination. Topics include:

* Photographic equipment

* Exposure and metering

* Lighting

* Math formulas

* Color theory

* Composition

* Sample test questions

The class runs from 9 am – 4:30 pm with a break from noon – 1 pm for lunch. We will likely order pizza.

If you’d like to use study materials (optional), you can use Steve Kozak’s “CPP Study Guide” available at this link: https://passthecpp.com/membership-account/membership-checkout/.

PPA members who attend this class are eligible to receive one service merit from PPA.

The instructor for this class is Tim Babiak, M.Photog.Cr., CPP. Tim has served as a local CPP Liason as well as on the Austin PPA and Texas PPA Boards of Directors.