Annual Awards Ceremony
Please join us for an evening of fellowship and celebration! Catch up with old friends and meet new members, while looking forward to the upcoming membership year.
6:30 Festivities Begin
7:00 Dinner (cash bar available)
8:00 General Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony
Meet the newly appointed 2025 DPPA executive board and directors.
Show your support for fellow members as they receive service and competition awards, including the 2024 Photographer of the Year!
Everyone must be registered to attend. Registration ends after June 15th. No walk-ins or late registration.
Capturing the Essence of Dance Photography
with Robert Meek
Discover the art of showcasing the talent of your next athlete with incredible imagery.
Robert Meek, a 37-year veteran of dance photography, will guide you through multiple lighting setups, posing techniques, and special effects that will elevate your dance and sports photography. With his expertise, you'll learn how to capture the dynamic movements and intense emotions of dancers, transforming your photos into captivating works of art. Robert will provide you with the skills and insights needed to bring out the best in your subjects, making your work truly stand out.
This event will allow for hands-on participation, so bring your cameras, we will be using Godox Lights so if you have a trigger for your camera, it may be beneficial to bring it.
Register early as space is limited.
Members are free. Guests must register and pay in advance. Register early for a discount. No refunds or onsite registration.
ABOUT ROBERT MEEK
Robert Meek, a distinguished photographer based in metro Detroit, brings 37 years of experience to his craft, specializing in portrait and commercial photography. His passion for photography ignited during his college years, culminating in a certification from Oakland Community College. In the 1990s, he founded Robert Meek Photography, amassing a portfolio of notable commercial credits, including work with Goodwill Industries, McCann Erickson Advertising, Somerset Mall, Michigan Health Care Corporation, and Cattleman’s Beef. His impressive body of work has been featured in numerous publications such as the Troy Portfolio, ATG Integrator Magazine, Detroit Women’s Metropolitan Magazine, and the Detroit Metro Times. He also gained recognition as a listed photographer for Productions Plus and various modeling agencies.
Currently, Robert operates RSM Photographic in Sterling Heights, where he focuses on senior portraits, competitive dancers, family portraits, and professional headshots. His studio has been honored with the ClickOnDetroit Vote 4 The Best "Best Photographer" award and has consistently ranked in the top 5 in subsequent years. Adding to his expertise, Robert holds a commercial certification as a drone pilot from the Federal Aviation Administration, incorporating aerial photography into his offerings.
A committed community member, Robert volunteers annually with Neighbors United, contributing his skills to create a calendar for the #walkfortheRED event, which supports Michigan firefighters and their families battling cancer. In recent years, Robert has embraced a more creative direction, collaborating with young artists to infuse his work with innovative and energetic styles, further enriching his diverse portfolio.
Image Competition: The Who, What, Where, Why, and How - with Kari Doumas
An Online Zoom Class for Photographers of All Levels
Are you curious about image competition or ready to sharpen your skills and take your work to the next level? Whether you're just beginning your journey or you're a seasoned competitor, this class is designed to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to succeed.
In this comprehensive session, we’ll explore the who, what, where, why, and how of image competition. You'll learn how to interpret rules and guidelines, select images with impact, and understand the 12 elements of a merit image—and how they apply in competition.
This class is more than just information; it's about inspiration, growth, and creative challenge. You'll gain practical insights, develop a keener eye, and come away feeling empowered to enter with purpose and clarity.
Join us for an engaging and informative experience that will elevate both your craft and your confidence in the world of image competition.
Bio: Kari Douma, M.Photog., M.Wed.Photog., Cr., CPP
Kari Douma is a Certified Professional Photographer based in West Michigan, renowned for her exceptional wedding and portrait photography. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Kari has earned local, state, and national recognition, including accolades from the Professional Photographers of America and the American Society of Photographers.
Passionate about photography education, Kari has served on the boards of local and state community network partners, as well as the Great Lakes Institute of Photography. She actively shares her expertise by teaching across the United States and contributes to the industry as a PPA Council member, a PPA-approved juror, and a wedding juror for photographic competitions and Merit Image Review. Kari is dedicated to advancing the photography profession and supporting her peers through service and leadership.
DPPA Pre-Competition Image Review and Critique
PPA Master Photographers will be on hand to provide feedback on DPPA member portfolios in preparation for image competition.
We look forward to seeing you and your best images!
Get those images ready, image competition is coming!! For those that 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 19th, 7:00pm
Information you need to know:
Please view rules at www.dppa.net under Photo Competition tab ( https://dppa.net/Photographic-Competition-Rules )
We will be using Printcompetition.com. You will need to sign up on the site if you do not have a membership with Printcompetition.com, there is a fee of $13.. If you are a premium member, you are covered. Follow the instructions on the site for uploading images. Make sure to select DPPA MI, there is a DPPA Texas site also.
Entering opens up November 1st, 2025
No submissions will be accepted after November 17th, 5:00PM, EST, 2025
We will follow PPA guidelines and judged according to The 12 Elements of a PPA Merit Image: Impact, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Center of Interest, Color Balance, Lighting, Subject Matter, Technical Excellence, Technique and Story Telling
Registration Fees: Members (DPPA, MAPP, & PPofM must register as DPPA members)
$10 per image (ten images total) for those registered by November 16, 2025 by 6:00PM. EST
$15 per image (ten images total) for those registered November 16th, 2025 after 6:01PM EST
DPPA members: You can upload a maximum of 10 images for judge critique \ scoring. The top four scores (out of six images - you select) will be considered for DPPA awards.
Non-Members:
$15 per image (ten images total) for those registered by November 16, 2025 by 6:00PM EST
$20 per image (ten images total) for those registered November 16, 2025 after 6:01PM EST
Files must be sized so the longest dimension is 4000 pixels. Each file must contain an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998 and be saved at a JPEG quality setting of 10. In most cases, the total file size should not exceed 3.5 MB. Larger files will be accepted when necessary, so long as they are JPG/10.
Files are to be named by their title. No underscores or special characters. The maker's name may not appear in the title or on the image itself.
This will be a remote event. On November 19th, you will sign into Printcompetition.com, to watch the judging.
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!
On Location: Holly Dickens Festival Photoshoot
With event leader: Russ Follick
Come and join Russ for an afternoon of fun, adventure, and photography! Everyone is invited - this is a free event!
We’ll walk the streets of historic downtown Holly, MI shooting street photography at the annual Dickens Festival. Actors will be in period costume and provide a fun atmosphere - taking us back in time.
BRING YOUR GEAR!!! Everyone will be able to photograph during this program. Russ recommends wide-angle to telephoto lenses.
This will be a fun, interactive afternoon/evening. Come meetup with fellow DPPA members and members of other local camera groups.
Russ Follick - Meet the host. Russ is a long time award winning local photographer who will be there to meet you at 12:00pm and give a brief introduction. Feel free to ask Russ photographic questions, but we will primarily be on our own to wander the streets in search of that perfect shot. This is a great networking event.
Meet at 12:00PM in front of the Historic Holly Hotel
There will be NO CLASSROOM time. This will be a highly interactive mobile workshop.
Parking: Free parking, Village parking lots and side streets.
