By Bethany Clark

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so before you spend time with the one you love, spend time diving into the industry you love with this week's awesome photography blogs from across the web.

12 Elements of a Merit Image

COMPETITION: PPA's district photographic competitions are well underway, and if you're considering entering (you should!), be sure you understand the 12 elements of a merit image so that your entries score high! 

Instagram Expanding Post Scheduling Abilities

SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram has announced that you can now schedule posts on the social network, provided you are: (1) signed up as a business account, and (2) using an approved, third-party scheduling service (like Hootsuite). As long as you adhere to those two parameters, this new automation option can definitely streamline the Instagram workflow for those who are using the image-sharing app! Read more about it on PetaPixel. 

Animal Photographer Teams Up with Illustrator for Humorous Series  

CREATIVE: Who let the dogs out? Photographer Shaina Fishman and illustrator Walter Glassof, that's who! You definitely want to learn more about their hit collaboration, which pairs quirky pet photography with whimsical cartoon drawings! Professional Photographer magazine has all the details. 

Creating Fine Art Images on a Budget

LOW-BUDGET: Got big, creative ideas, but feel restricted by a small, unyielding budget? Check out this quick video on Fstoppers for some creative ideas on how to get more, well, creative! 

New CPP Recertification Information 

EDUCATION: Accumulating 15 continuing education units (CEUs) can be a bit daunting in the three-year recertification cycle, especially when you are short on time and/or funds. To ease a little bit of that burden, PPA is offering you the option for online continuing education if you need a few more CEUs to reach the 15 required to recertify. Read about it on PPA Today.

How to (Digitally) Paint Your Own Gorgeous Backdrops

TUTORIAL: Want to switch up your backdrop options? Consider making a digital one! If you think your Photoshop skills won't allow you to make one, check out this tutorial on Fstoppers for a step-by-step guide on how to do it. 

9 Tips on the Psychology of Photo Sales

SALES: "Sales is really all about psychology," says Bry Cox, M.Photog.Cr., CPP. "A lot of people want to make it all about tactics, but it's not. It's about understanding people and social dynamics." Dive deep into what that means in this article by Professional Photographer magazine.

Shutterfly to Purchase LifeTouch 

ACQUISITIONS: Shutterfly, an Internet-based image publishing service best known for its flagship photo book line, has announced that it has agreed to acquire Lifetouch, the national leader in school pictures. The purchase price is $825 million in cash. Whew! Get the details in this article from PetaPixel.

Secrets to Successful Landscape Images

INSIDE LOOK: This thoughtful piece from Fstoppers explores the how and why behind the evolution of one photographer who fell in love with landscapes. Rather than a how-to, this article goes a little more into what makes him tick and how he finds the perfect moments.

How to Split Tone Photos in Lightroom

HOW TO: Split toning allows you to create a custom look in your image without manipulating any color channels in the first place. Check out this five-minute tutorial on PetaPixel to learn the benefits of doing it, and how to pull it off.

There you have 'em, our weekly blog post roundup! What photography blogs or podcasts do YOU follow? Post your favorites on theLoop or email them to us at OnlineContentCommittee@PPA.com