I am now a Master of Photography and more!

I can finally say I am Master of Photography and more! What does that mean? Read the story below to find out how I came to achieve this childhood dream of mine.

To truly understand the significance of what occurred over this past weekend at Imaging USA 2019, I must take you back a few years to when I was home for nine months on a college break when I was 19 (okay maybe more than a few years LOL). While home I worked at Ritz Camera and became friends with Michelle who worked at Samuel's Studio. I would often visit her at work and while waiting I would look at Ed Matuska's awards and at his plaque showing he was a Master of Photography. I would often wonder to myself could I be a Master of Photography someday, how does one even do such a thing?

So fast forward now to 4 years years ago. I break my camera twice, because I am an idiot, so I decide to join PPA (Professional Photographers of America) because they offer their members free equipment insurance. The next year (2016) I see they have a Print Competition, so I decide to enter because, why not? I submit my four images and paid for critiques. A few months later I learn I received 3 merits (still not sure what those mean at this point). When I get my video critiques I discover I forgot a very important thing: presentation. All four videos, that was all they honed in on and all I could do was grumble at the computer things like "I didn't know... I didn't know!" Which of course, fell on deaf ears because I was talking back to a video.

Fast forward a year, to 2017, and I meet Johnny Sundby (again - whole other story in itself) and after much talking and getting to know each other he asks me if I would be willing to shoot for them from time to time. I of course am honored by this request and say yes... who knew this one chance meeting would lead to where I am today at this exact moment. His mentorship in all things PPA and his valued friendship has helped me as a photographer and as a business person. With his support, and support from the Wyoming PPA Chapter I was able to earn enough merits in the PPA organization to not only earn my Master of Photography by also my Photographic Craftsman in 3 years!! Not an easy feat. A total of 50 merits were needed and I had exactly enough. The best part though was Johnny and I earned many of them them together. Johnny already earned his Master back in 2017, so while I worked towards Master pg Photography, we worked together teaching Super-1 Day classes sponsored by PPA to earn our Photographic Craftsman.

This moment in my life would not be possible without the love and support from my Parents. I was overjoyed that they came to see me get my degrees even though they hate to travel. I owe them SO much. Hopefully this trip gave them in insight into where my life is going and that it will be filled with support from my PPA family as I travel on my photographic journey.

So now we have arrived at the present where this past week we went to Atlanta for the 2019 Imaging USA Conference where we both were each others sponsors. I am truly honored for not only Johnny's help in my journey but my whole PPA family. Not only was I able to share the stage with Johnny but many of my friends were bestowed their degrees too! It was such an amazing convention filled with so many celebratory moments that I was honored to be a part of. My first convention I was too scared and shy to talk to anyone and now only two years later I was voted in as South Dakota's PPA Councilor and sat in a room full of people who are making waves in the photographic field. I only hope I can live up to the high bar these amazing people have set. I have made so many new friends and mentors these past years that have helped me build the confidence I needed to succeed. One such person I met this past year was Stephen Thetford, the 2018 PPA president. Not only was I able to celebrate earning my degrees with him on stage but he challenged the whole PPA Council to succeed with commemorative challenge coins in honor of PPA's 150th birthday this year! I will be on the Council for the next 3 years and look forward to promoting PPA and all that is has done for me. Not only has the National Chapter helped me grow, but my membership in the South Dakota and Wyoming local PPA Chapters have provided me with friends I never knew I needed :-) I can't wait to see what the rest of 2019 will bring

Sincerely, Erica Lane Harvey, M.Photog.Cr., CPP

P.S. those new fancy letters mean that I am a Master of Photography, a Photographic Craftsman and a Certified Professional Photographer.

P.S.S. in layman's terns that means I am dedicated to my craft by always learning, my image quality is some of the highest in my field, I elevate the photographers around me by sharing my knowledge and I have the skills that it takes to get the shot done right the first time!

P.S.S I was also recognized during the Grand Imaging awards for my Platinum Case curing last years International Print Competition. All four of my images merited and 3 of my images were selected for the prestigious Loan Collection. It was my second year in a row earning this metal, amazing what happens when you are missing on of the 12 elements LOL... presentation is important people.

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