Everyone loves to be recognized for outstanding work. We do! But this isn't about us; it's about YOU and how you have made impactful on and inspired others. We have established a number of awards to recognize and celebrate organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to this photography association or to the industry as a whole. While our winners don't walk down the red carpet, there is great honor in being presented with a PPA award.
The PPA Humanitarian Award is presented in honor of Buddy M. Stewart. This award recognizes individuals, couples and/or business partners for outstanding humanitarian service while representing our profession. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
The PPA Business Education Award is presented in honor of Charles H. (Bud) Haynes. It is presented in recognition of distinguished service to PPA and its members for encouraging business awareness and practices in the field of professional image-making. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
The Board of Directors may present the Director's Award. The Board, in any one calendar year, can present no more than two Directors Awards. This award is granted by a three -quarters vote of the Board of Directors. This award was established in 1958, and is not necessarily awarded each year.
The PPA Volunteer of the Year Award is presented in honor of Gary Jentoft. It is presented in recognition of distinguished association service and support to PPA, which exemplifies the commitment that PPA member volunteers contribute to the success of PPA. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
George W. Harris Award is presented to individuals for distinguished service to photography. Mr. Harris specified that “the medal be a token of high esteem to an individual who by his ability, ingenuity and gracious sharing of his talents has bequeathed to photography an achievement of service of far reaching value.” Only twenty medals were struck, and the award is not necessarily conferred each year. As of 2004, all 20 medals have been awarded.
Gerhard Bakker Award may be presented annually to an individual, school, company or organization that best epitomizes outstanding service through education in the field of photography and visual communications. The award is not necessarily conferred each year, and a maximum of 25 may be given. As of 2014, all 25 have been awarded.
PPA Jurors Meritorious Service Award is awarded in recognition of outstanding service to the profession and dedication to the improvement of the PPA International Print Competition and Annual International Exhibition of Professional Photography. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
The PPA Vanguard Award is presented in honor of Helen K. Yancy. This Award will be presented to individuals for distinguished service to photography. The Award shall be given to an individual who, by their ability, ingenuity, and selfless sharing of talents, has enriched the profession of photography and provided service of far-reaching value. The award is not necessarily conferred each year
Honorary Master of Photography (abbreviated "Hon.M.Photog.") shall be awarded to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the photographic profession or this Association. Recipients of this degree need not be members of this Association. Upon completion of his or her term of office, the President shall automatically be awarded the degree of Honorary Master of Photography.
The honorary Photographic Craftsman degree is awarded to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the photographic profession or this Association.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual whose life's work has enriched the photographic industry and the profession as a whole. PPA periodically recognizes a photographer for a lifetime of service and innovation to the field of professional photography. When this award is given, a suitable space is to be set aside for a display of his/her work. The first award was presented in 2000.
PPA Charities Legacy Award recognizes outstanding service and commitment to PPA Charities and philanthropic endeavors.
The PPA Technology Impact Award is presented to individuals in recognition of a unique and outstanding technological contribution to the field of photography. The first award was presented in 2010. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
Ross Sanddal International Award is presented to individuals who have made major contributions to promoting and developing professional photography on an international level.
The PPA Education Award is presented in honor of Tom McDonald. This award may be presented to an individual, school, company, or organization or affiliate that best epitomizes outstanding service through education in the field of photography and visual communications. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
The Vendor of the Year Award is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to PPA and the photographic industry. The Board of Directors may choose to honor multiple Vendors in a given year. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
The PPA International Service Award is presented in honor of Warren Motts. This award is presented to individuals who have made major contributions in promoting and developing professional photography on an international level. The award is not necessarily conferred each year.
Professional Photography Leadership Award (United Nations Award) is awarded in recognition of his/her service to the association and the photographic industry as a whole. The nominee shall be the immediate past Chairman of the PPA Board of Directors. This award is given at the discretion of the International Photographic Council.
1880 John F. Ryder, Cleveland, Ohio
1881 John Carbutt, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1882 Joshua Smith, South Haven, Michigan
1883 J.E. Beebe, Denver, Colorado
1884 J.H. Kent, Rochester, New York
1885 James Landy, Cincinnati, Ohio
1886 W.H. Potter, Indianapolis, Indiana
1887 Gustave Cramer, St. Louis, Missouri
1888 E. Decker, Cleveland, Ohio
1889 M. MacMichael, New York, New York
1890 J.M. Appleton, Dayton, Ohio
1891 George H. Hastings, Haverill, Massachusetts
1892 W.G. Entrekin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1893 Francis A. Place, Boston, Massachusetts
1894 Adam Hemiberger, New Albany, Indiana
1895 John S. Schneider, Columbus, Ohio
1896 R.P. Bellsmith, Cincinnati, Ohio
1897 Charles M. Hayes, Detroit, Michican
1898 J. Will Kellmer, Hazelton, Pennsylvania
1899 Fitz W. Guerin, St. Louis, Missouri
1900 Simon L. Stein, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1901 E. B. Core, New York, New York
1902 George M. Edmonson, Cleveland, Ohio
1903 J. George Nussbaumer, Buffalo, New York
1904 Cicero R. Reeves, Anderson, Indiana
1905 George G. Holloway, Terre Haute, Indiana
1906 Charles W. Hearn, Boston, Massachusetts
1907 C.J. Van Deventer, Decatur, Illinois
1908 Frank W. Medlar, Spencer, Iowa
1909 Frank R. Barrows, Boston, Massachusetts
1910 A.T. Proctor, Huntington, West Virginia
1911 George W. Harris, Washington, D.C.
1912 Ben Larrimer, Marion, Indiana
1913 Chas. F. Townsend, Des Moines, Iowa
1914 Manly W. Tyree, Raleigh, North Carolina
1915 Will H. Towles, Bethesda, Maryland
1916 L.A. Dozer, Bucyrus, Ohio
1917 Ryland W. Phillips, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1918 Ryland W. Phillips, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1919 Ryland W. Phillips, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1920 Charles L. Lewis, Toledo, Ohio
1921 Howard D. Beach, Buffalo, New York
1922 G.L. Hostetler, Los Angeles, California
1923 A.H. Diehl, Sewickley, Pennsylvania
1924 Clarence Stearns, Zumbrota, Minnesota
1925 Wm. H. Manaham, Jr., Hillsboro, North Dakota
1926 James H. Brakebill, Knoxville, Tennessee
1927 Alva C. Townsend, Lincoln, Nebraska
1928 Alva C. Townsend, Lincoln, Nebraska
1929 John R. Snow, Mankato, Minnesota
1930 Charles Aylett, Toronto, Ontario
1931 D.D. Spellman, Detroit, Michigan
1932 George D. Stafford, Chicago, Illinois
1933 J.W. Scott, Baltimore, Maryland
1934 J.W. Scott, Baltimore, Maryland
1935 J.W. Scott, Baltimore, Maryland
1936 George D. Stafford, Chicago, Illinois
1937 James M. Caulfield, Louisville, Kentucky
1938 Fred R. Bill, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
1939 George F. Grignon, Pearlblossom, California
1940 A.R. Buehman, Tucson, Arizona
1941 Charles H. Groene, Cincinnati, Ohio
1942 William Gerdes, West Haven, Connecticut
1943 William Gerdes, West Haven, Connecticut
1944 William Gerdes, West Haven, Connecticut
1945 William Gerdes, West Haven, Connecticut
1946 William Gerdes, West Haven, Connecticut
1947 James E. Thompson, Knoxville, Tennessee
1948 J. Anthony Bill, Cincinnati, Ohio
1949 Walton Reeves, Atlanta, Georgia
1950 Willard C. Martin, Terre Haute, Indiana
1951 Lawrence Inman, Long Beach, California
1952 Clifton L. Voss, Fargo, North Dakota
1953 Kenneth M. Wright, St. Paul, Minnesota
1954 Paul Linwood Gitings, Evergreen, Colorado
1955 James Pickands, II, New Haven, Connecticut
1956 Laurence Blaker, Manhattan, Kansas
1957 R.R. Hutchison, Pullman, Washington
1958 Louis F. Garcia, Eastchester, New York
1959 Madison Geddes, Cleveland, Ohio
1960 Robert L. Ball, Corvallis, Oregon
1961 Lawton E. Osborn, Dickinson, North Dakota
1962 Winton B. Medlar, Spencer, Iowa
1963 James E. Hampson, Shreveport, Louisiana
1964 Wesley Bowman, Ft. Myers, Florida
1965 Harper Leiper, Houston, Texas
1966 Hught W. Tribble, Roselle, New Jersey
1967 Claude F. Palmer, Portland, Oregon
1968 William W. Carrier, Jr., Memphis, Tennessee
1969 Earl G. Stanton, Kenmore, New York
1970 Floyd M. Roberts, Long Beach, California
1971 Rudolph J. Guttosch, Chicago, Illinois
1972 Charles (Bud) H. Haynes, Glen Arbor, Michigan
1973 Jerry A. Smolka, Chicago, Illinois
1974 John E. Smucker, Sun City, Florida
1975 Ryland A. Taylor, West Chicago, Illinois
1976 Ted Sirlin, Sacramenro, California
1977 George S. Heilpern, Boca Raton, Florida
1978 Irving J. Newman, Palm Beach, Florida
1979 Charles L. Geiger, Jr., Manilus, New York
1980 Bill Bell, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1981 Frank W. Warner, Albany, New York
1982 Kermit Buntrock, Storm Lake, Iowa
1983 Robert M. Opfer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1984 Frank Cricchio, Port Arthur, Texas
1985 Ross Sanddal, Houston, Texas
1986 Lawrence E. Anspaugh, Decatur, Indiana
1987 Archie E. McDearmid, Va. Beach, Virginia
1988 Roland Laramie, Willimantic, Connecticut
1989 Morton A. Sobin, Hillsdale, New Jersey
1990 Warren E. Motts, Columbus, Ohio
1991 Gil Ford, Jackson, Mississippi
1992 Evangeline Chase Parker, Columbus, Indiana
1993 Colbert P. Howell, Missoula, Montana
1994 John T. Miele, Jr., Iselin, New Jersey
1995 Marvel Nelson, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1996 William L. Martinelli, San Mateo, California
1997 Helen K. Yancy, Dearborn, Michigan
1998 Bert Behnke, Frankfort, Illinois
1999 Bill L. Bruton, Ooltewah, Tennessee
2000 Donald Mitchell, Shingle Springs, California
2001 Dominic Iodice, Wheeling, Illinois
2002 William F. Stevenson, Naples, Florida
2003 Stephen C. Best, N. Atlanta, Georgia
2004 Robert Lloyd, Girard, Illinois
2005 Ann K. Monteith, Annville, Pennsylvania
2006 Michael G. Taylor, Pasadena, California
2007 Jack Reznicki, New York, New York
2008 Dennis D. Craft, Marshall, Michigan
2009 Ron Nichols, Grand Ledge, Michigan
2010 Louis Tonsmeire, Cartersville, Georgia
2011 Don Dickson, Plainview, Texas
2012 Tim Walden, Lexington, Kentucky
2013 Ralph Romaguera, Metairie, Louisiana
2014 Susan Michal, Jacksonville, Florida
2015 Michael Timmons, Vassar, Michigan
2016 Lori Craft, Marshall, Michigan
2017 Rob Behm, Spokane, Washington
2018 Stephen Thetford, Fort Smith, Arkansas
2019 Audrey Wancket, Spring Grove, Illinois
2020 Gregory Daniel, Titusville, Florida
2021 Mary Fisk-Taylor, Richmond, Virginia
2022 Jeff Dachowski, Bedford, New Hampshire
2023 Kira Derryberry, Tallahassee, Florida