I’m now back in the studio after spending 5 days at the Professional Photographers of California’s ProPhoto Expo in Pasadena where I was so honored to receive multiple prestigious awards…All I can really say is WOW! I am still buzzing from the excitement of being so honored with so many awards…a total of FIVE awards!! I am truly delighted!!

*Children’s Photographer of the Year* for the second time…I was so honored to have also received this award 2 years ago in 2007.

This year though, my image was awarded so much more than that. I also received the *President’s Choice Award*. This award is chosen by the Professional Photographers of California’s president, Tim Meyer, who by the way, is the director of the portrait department at Brooks School of Photography in Santa Barbara, so he knows his stuff…anyway, he chooses the one image that he feels demonstrates photographic excellence and I am just so excited that he chose MY image!! It’s such an honor.

I also received a *Kodak Gallery Award*, only 5 images in the entire state are chosen to receive this award and it also qualifies me to compete for a national Kodak Elite award that will be awared at the PPA National Convention in Nashville next year. And its just a really cool glass trophy…it looks cool in my studio!

My image also received a *Judges Choice* award

AND…(insert drum roll here) I am especially honored to have received is the *People’s Choice Award* which is chosen by the attendees of the convention, most of whom are my peers. It’s quite the coveted award and I am just so excited that MY image was chosen out of all the images that were on display (about 275).

I know this is a looong post with lots of blah, blah… but i am just so jazzed that i want to share it all. I was so happy that my family was there to cheer me on…my wonderful niece Emilee was up front with her hand made Ya! Anti sign…the best of all the awards i received that night…

Here’s a few snaps from the awards ceremony Sunday night…

first off we have my winning image with all it’s loot!! told you I cleaned up!

me with Tim Meyer, President of Professional Photographers of California doing the silly handshake pose… (photo by Diane Lundgren)