In their own words, the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the world’s largest nonprofit photography association organized for professional photographers, by professional photographers, with 35,000 creative members in more than 50 countries.

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Professional Photographers of America has a long and storied history, dating all the way back to 1868. With the field of photography still in its infancy, some early trailblazers set out to gather the best minds in this young profession. Their goals were simple; they wanted to promote:

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• An active exchange of ideas

• The sharing of knowledge and experience

• The elimination of the prejudiced opinions towards photography as an art and science

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Sabrina has been a proud member of the PPA since 2019, the year when she also obtained her professional certification with the institution (CPP). Holding a CPP requires a commitment to continuous education and holding yourself to the highest standards of professional and ethical practice in the industry.

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One of Sabrina's favorite events of the year is Imaging USA, organized by PPA, which is one of the largest conventions in the world for professional photographers. Sabrina received her Master of Photography at the Award Ceremony during Imaging USA 2023 in Nashville, TN.

TPPA is a non-profit association serving professional photographers and photographic enthusiasts from across the US and beyond. First organized in 1898, TPPA is a vibrant and active organization offering multiple opportunities to develop skills in various areas within the photography industry, including its TPPA Annual Image Competition.

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They define their purpose as follows: "Our mission is to provide all photographers with an opportunity for success regardless of their professional aspirations, creative desires, or personal interest in the craft of photography. Everything we do is done to provide our members an outstanding experience and to help them become better photographers, better small businesses, and better connected."

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One of Sabrina's favorite events at TPPA is Texas School, which happens once a year in Dallas, Texas, and offers deep dives into technical fields with a full-week immersion in small groups working with top teachers and leading-edge professionals.

Founded in 1950, the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston has grown to become one of the largest guilds in the United States. The Professional Photographers Guild of Houston is an Affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). It is one of the most active guilds in the country.

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PPGH comprises professional portrait photographers, wedding photographers, videographers, and commercial photographers, as well as electronic image makers and photographic artists, students, and individual firms servicing the photographic industry.

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The PPGH offers monthly meetings, providing unique training opportunities and networking, all of which are complemented by additional education opportunities in small-group workshops led by some of its most active members.

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This year, Sabrina has the honor of being one of the selected speakers for the evening program, joining a roster of vetted professionals. Sabrina's class will be on May 21st at the PPGH monthly meeting.

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The PPGH image competition, with its year-long format and monthly presentations, provides a unique opportunity for photographers to test innovative ideas and develop their skills. Beyond talent, the competition requires consistency and endurance to create winning images, a challenge that has attracted photographers since its first edition in 1979.

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Sabrina's hard work, talent, and dedication earned her the very distinguished award of Master Photographer of the Year 2023 on her first participation as a Master.

 

Adding to her achievements, the year 2023 saw Sabrina hit a perfect 100 score merited image, which is such a unique occurrence that the previous one was 13 years before. This outstanding image carried Sabrina to claim the only award cross-categories of the competition, the 2023 Highest Scoring Image by a CPP.

The American Society of Photographers (ASP) was officially founded August 1, 1937. Its beginnings were in the minds of a few dedicated photographers attending PPA conventions who came together for fellowship and the exchange of ideas. Al Buehman, one of the chief organizers, stated later that they sat in the dining room of the Stevens Hotel in Chicago and discussed the possibilities, but were hesitant because they did not want to compete with the mother organization, the Professional Photographers of America. They delayed the decision a year, and when they came together in 1937, he said," We were all supporters of the PPA and we insisted in our original by-laws that anyone taken into membership must first be a member of the International." This rule still applies today.

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The group selected the name "American Society of Photographers", elected officers with D.D. Spellman as the first president, and limited membership to 20, by invitation only. Their purpose as stated in the preamble of their constitution: "...shall forever be to bring into close confederation and co-operation all those leaders in the photographic art and science whose aim is and ever will be, to strive for pre-eminence in artistic perfection and scientific knowledge of the art."