Competition Prep Night: Image Review & Critique Party
Getting ready for competition? Bring your laptop and your images—yes, even the ones you’re unsure about.
Join us for an interactive image review session where a panel of PPA Master Photographers will help you evaluate, refine, and strengthen your competition entries. Whether you're selecting your final images or deciding which photographs have the most potential, you'll receive valuable feedback and insights from experienced competitors and judges.
Together, we'll explore the key elements that create an award-worthy image, including:
This is a supportive, educational environment designed to help you gain confidence, improve your work, and submit your strongest images possible.
Bring your questions, your creativity, and your best images—we can't wait to see what you've been working on!
Join us for dinner, great conversation, and networking at Mt. Chalet before Tuesday’s class!
Everyone is welcome to join us for this casual pre-class meetup. If you plan to attend the class afterward, be sure to register separately. The class will be held just down the street at Woodward Camera.
Time: 4:30 PM Location: Mt. Chalet Address: 32955 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
Come early, grab some dinner, and connect with fellow photographers before class. We’d love to see you there!
Light to Layer: Foundations of Artistic VisionLearning to Think Like an Artist
Many photographers and digital artists feel intimidated by traditional media, believing drawing belongs in a completely different world. In reality, some of the strongest digital artists are those who understand the physical language of light, form, and texture before ever picking up a stylus.
Here, we will bridge that gap.
We'll step away from the computer and into a relaxed, judgment-free environment where curiosity takes the place of perfection. Bring your favorite beverage, settle in, and prepare to rediscover what it means to truly see.
Beginning with nothing more than a simple circle and a piece of charcoal, we'll study how light, shadow, value, and texture transform flat shapes into convincing forms. Through guided exercises using physical objects, you'll learn to observe how light wraps around surfaces, defines dimension, and creates depth—building an understanding that translates directly into Photoshop through pressure-sensitive brushes, dodging and burning, and intentional retouching. Rather than relying on instinct or presets, you'll develop the ability to recognize the underlying structure of your subjects, giving you greater control over every creative decision. This workshop isn't about becoming a charcoal artist; it's about training your eye to think like an artist instead of simply reacting like a photographer, while building timeless artistic fundamentals that strengthen every facet of your creative outlets.
This special evening program also serves as a preview of Kenzie Hunter’s PPA Merit Class on October 21, offering attendees an opportunity to experience her teaching style and gain valuable insight before the full-day workshop.
Register early—space is limited. Advance registration and payment are required. No refunds or onsite registration will be available.
Entanglement
Soul Powered
Regret
ABOUT KENZIE HUNTER
Kenzie Hunter is a fine art portrait photographer, digital artist, and mixed-media creator whose work is shaped by a diverse background in carpentry, scenic art, theatre, set design, social work, and psychology. She brings these disciplines together to create purpose-driven artwork that explores the human experience and inspires others to think, feel, and connect.
PPA MERIT CLASS Unconventional: Alternative Methods for Visual Creators Learning to Create Like One
10 AM - 1 PM Class 1 PM - 2 PM Break for Lunch 2 PM - 6 PM Class
Most photographers learn to master the camera. Fewer learn how to transform an idea into an image that lingers in someone's mind long after they've looked away. The difference isn't found in Photoshop shortcuts or expensive props—it's found in understanding how story, light, form, and intention work together to create meaningful art.
In this workshop, we'll bridge the gap between artistic vision and practical execution.
Through storytelling, psychology, live demonstrations, and the step-by-step instruction of a fine art composite, you'll discover how to develop ideas with purpose rather than simply collecting beautiful elements. We'll explore how universal human experiences become visual narratives, how composition and perspective guide the viewer's eye, and how light, color, and form create believable worlds that invite emotional connection.
Along the way, you'll learn to photograph and build convincing composite elements, simplify complex scenes using artistic Photoshop techniques, and discover how everyday materials can become extraordinary visual tools. More importantly, you'll learn to embrace experimentation, challenge conventional approaches, and trust curiosity as an essential part of the creative process.
This workshop isn't about creating images that look like mine. It's about learning to think beyond the photograph—to create work that reflects your own experiences, your own perspective, and your own artistic voice.
Barren
Maintaining Balance
Vulnerable
Kenzie Hunter, M.Photog. M.Artist. is a fine art portrait photographer, digital artist, and mixed-media creator whose work is shaped by a diverse background in carpentry, scenic art, theatre, set design, social work, and psychology. She brings these disciplines together to create purpose-driven artwork that explores the human experience and inspires others to think, feel, and connect.
Get those images ready, image competition is coming!! For those who have been waiting to test some images or looking to try image competition for the first time, mark this date down in your calendars, November 17th, 7:00PM.
Information you need to know:
Members (DPPA & PPofM must register as DPPA members)
Non-Members:
We are looking forward to another year of great images! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: mari@photographybymari.com or (248) 666-7995. Now get working on those images!
