Photography is bringing people together in New York City this October — and PPA will be there.

Members of PPA’s board and leadership team are heading to FUJIKINA NYC 2026, Oct. 16–18, for a weekend of photography, education, creativity and community across New York City’s Lower East Side.

Presented by Fujifilm, FUJIKINA is a three-day photography festival celebrating 200 years of photography. The event brings together photographers, artists, educators and creators for exhibitions, talks, workshops, photo walks, portfolio reviews and plenty of opportunities to connect.

And you don’t have to be a Fujifilm photographer to participate. FUJIKINA is designed for photographers and image makers of all experience levels, regardless of what gear they use.

For PPA, that makes it a natural place to be.

Come Find the PPA Team

Throughout the weekend, PPA board and staff members will be exploring the festival, meeting photographers and participating in events across the Lower East Side.

Representing PPA will be Board President Makayla Harris and Board Director Anjana Olson, along with CEO Angela Kurkian, Director of Credentialing Rich Newell, Director of Content Marnie Clagett, Director of Member Value & Experience Gerard Wright-Bullard and Director of Marketing & Media Strategy Kate Oliver.

If you see the team, stop and say hello.

Whether you’re already a PPA member or are simply curious about the organization, the team wants to hear from photographers about what they’re creating, what challenges they’re facing and where they want to grow next.

That kind of connection is at the heart of PPA. Some of the most valuable conversations in photography happen when photographers have a chance to share experiences, exchange ideas and learn from each other in person.

And yes — keep an eye out for some exclusive PPA merchandise making appearances throughout the weekend.

Friday: PPA Joins the Femme Foto Collective

On Friday, Oct. 16, PPA CEO Angela Kurkian will join the Femme Foto Collective for an afternoon of photography and community beginning at the Fujifilm Brand House.

Femme Foto Collective is a New York-based networking, social and educational community that creates opportunities for women, femme-identifying, trans and nonbinary photographers. The collective is also presenting Refractions of Identity, one of the community exhibitions featured during FUJIKINA.

Friday’s activities begin with a Femme Foto meetup at the Fujifilm Brand House at 1 p.m., followed by a 3:15 p.m. roundtable discussion and an Art March from 4:30–7 p.m. through participating galleries.

Look for PPA along the way — there may be a little PPA swag waiting for photographers at select stops.

Saturday: Connect With PPA at The Meeting Place

On Saturday, Oct. 17, several PPA representatives will take part in programming at The Meeting Place by FotoFest at the Manny Cantor Center.

FotoFest’s Meeting Place has a long history of connecting photographers with professionals who can provide feedback, insight and new perspectives on their work. At FUJIKINA, FotoFest is also hosting portfolio reviews designed to help photographers strengthen their work, presentation and professional connections.

PPA Director of Credentialing Rich Newell will present from 2:30–3:15 p.m.

PPA President Makayla Harris will follow from 3:45–4:45 p.m.

PPA Director Anjana Olson will present from 5:15–6:15 p.m.

If you’re attending FUJIKINA on Saturday, make The Meeting Place one of your stops and connect with the PPA team while you’re there.

Explore Photography Across the Lower East Side

One of the things that makes FUJIKINA different from a traditional photography conference is that the experience isn’t contained inside a single convention center.

Instead, FUJIKINA stretches across a walkable collection of galleries, museums, creative spaces and outdoor locations throughout the Lower East Side.

The festival includes programming and exhibitions connected with the International Center of Photography, Magnum Photos, World Press Photo, FotoFest and the Fujifilm Brand House, giving attendees plenty of reasons to explore the neighborhood while discovering new photography.

Featured creators include photographers such as Alec Soth, Janette Beckman, Derek Fahsbender, Irene Yee, Jonas Rask, Alison Conklin and PPA member and educator Gary Hughes, among others.

It’s a weekend designed for discovering work, trying something new and having conversations with people who share a passion for photography.

Photography Is Better With Community

Gear, technique and education are important. But a photography career is also shaped by the people you meet along the way.

A conversation can lead to a new idea. A portfolio review can change the way you see your work. Meeting another photographer can lead to a collaboration, a referral, a mentor or simply someone who understands the challenges of building a creative career.

That’s why PPA is heading to FUJIKINA.

If you’re attending, don’t just move from one session to the next. Introduce yourself. Ask questions. Share what you’re working on. Meet someone new.

And when you spot the PPA team, come say hello.

We’ll see you in New York.