Paul Speaker

I have been interested in photography since childhood growing up in the Portland, Oregon area, when I began with roll film and a box Brownie. After active duty in the US Navy, I attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA, where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Industrial Photography and Color Technology. Shortly thereafter, I was hired by General Dynamics Corp, where I worked as an industrial photographer and color printer for 10 years. When our facility was sold and moved, I switched to Lifetouch, a school photography company, where, for 10 years I photographed classroom groups from 6 to 600 students, dances, seniors, and sports. I had my first Photoshop class in January, 2000, and, by April had hired on as a full-time retoucher for a local full-service portrait studio. Currently, I am semi-retired, accepting assignments if they interest me, but mostly doing Photoshop work for other photographers.

I am a Lifetime member of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), having served on the PPA Council for nine years between about 2005 and 2014. Through PPA, I have been certified as a Certified Professional Photographer. I have also earned the PPA Master of Photography Degree, the Photographic Craftsman Degree, and the Master Artist Degree. At the state level, I have earned recognition as a California Master Photographer. I have been the recipient of two Peoples Choice Awards, a Fuji Masterpiece Award, and two Kodak Gallery Awards at the state level. I am a past president of the Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videographers, based in Riverside, CA, a local affiliate of Professional Photographers of California (PPC).

I served as President of the International Association of Panoramic Photographers (IAPP) during 2013-14 and remained involved as a board member until term limited out in 2019. In June 2024, I was elected to serve as President-elect and Treasurer, slated to return to the Presidential role in 2026.

Within Photographic Society of America (PSA), I am a Past President of the Southern California Council of Camera Clubs (S4C). I am also a member of two S4C affiliated clubs: Photochromers (based in Sierra Madre), and the Riverside Art Museum’s Photo Artist Network (PAN). I received my first Recognition of Photographic Achievement (ROPA) distinction, PPSA, September, 2017. Within the Pictorial Image Division (PID) Digital Study Groups community, I am active in two where I serve as both Commentator and Secretary for DSG 29 Natural Landscape and DSG 52 Competitive. I also serve as the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Pictorial Image Division (PID) of PSA. In October, 2022, I received recognition for my portfolio entry Semi-Arid Beauty which qualified for the Bronze award (BPSA). In May, 2024, my Silver portfolio entry Bombay Beach Art Scene was approved and in the second 2024 round of portfolio assessment, in July, my Gold portfolio entry Bareback Rodeo Action was accepted. I was recognized for my volunteer service to PSA as an Associate of PSA (APSA) at the September 2023 PSA Photo Festival.

Paul Speaker, APSA, PPSA, GPSA
M.Photog., M.Artist, Cr.

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