Dallas PPA upcoming events

M2M Program: Shockingly Good Lighting with John Witcraft #3 (June 06, 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Member 2 Member Program

Shockingly Good Lighting with John Witcraft #3

Registration opens on May 14

Glass photography can drive photographers crazy. In this class you’ll learn how to control reflections, light transparent objects, and photograph glowing Edison bulbs while they’re powered on without blowing out highlights or filling the glass with ugly reflections.

Yes, we’ll be mixing glass, liquid, and electricity… safely. What could possibly go wrong?

John Witcraft has been photographing the world for more than 30 years. He is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) and is only a few merits away from achieving his Master of Photography degree through PPA, bringing decades of technical and creative experience to his teaching.

*** This event is for Dallas PPA members ONLY ***

Registration closes on June 5th

REGISTER NOW

Monthly Meeting: Master the Art of Photoshop Painting With Sandra Pearce (June 09, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

June Meeting

Master the Art of Photoshop Painting With Sandra Pearce

Step into the world of digital art with a workshop designed to make the process approachable, inspiring, and immediately useful. Whether you're curious about getting started or looking to strengthen your current skills, this hands-on experience will guide you through the digital workflow in a way that feels natural and creative - not technical and overwhelming.

With over 18 years of experience as a digital artist and a background rooted in professional photography and fine art, Sandra brings a unique perspective that bridges traditional artistry with modern tools. This is not just about learning software -- it's about learning how to see, create and elevate your work in a digital space. You will leave not only with new skills, but with a fresh sense of confidence and direction in your artistic journey.

Sandra is an accomplished digital artist and educator based in Okeechobee, Florida. She has over 18 years of experience in digital art and teaching. She blends artistic vision with technical expertise while teaching how to blend photography into art pieces. As an instructor Sandra is passionate about helping others transition into and grow within the world of digital art. She works with artists of all levels, from beginners to advanced creatives. You will learn the tools In Photoshop that will be used for digital art as well as every day retouching. Sandra holds a Master of Electronic Imaging, Master Photographer, the Image Excellence Degree, and is a Certified Professional Photographer. Sandra has numerous awards: Two World Cups, Numerous Florida Photographer of the Year, Kodak, Canon, ASP Medallion Awards, Numerous Florida Artist of the Year.

Just a little history. I was the original Photoshop Painter that started PS Painting in PPA. I was told you couldn't paint in PS only Corel Painter. Many yeaS later here we are enjoying painting in Photoshop. Determination ---- not giving up in the rough patches !!

Pre-Meeting Event: Round Table, Top 10 Tips To Merit with David Downs: Join David Downs for a countdown of ten often-overlooked editing and presentation details that can affect how competition images are received. From banding and sensor dust to vignettes, mats, and keylines, this roundtable will help you spot small issues before they become big distractions.

Separate registration is NOT required for this pre-meeting event. Anyone registered for the monthly meeting can come in early and take advantage of this learning opportunity.

DPPA Workshop: Master the Art of Photoshop Painting With Sandra Pearce (June 10, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Dallas PPA Workshop

Master the Art of Photoshop Painting With Sandra Pearce

Members should attend because:

It removes the mystery from digital tools and makes them practical and usable
It builds on skills you already have as an artist .
It offers personal guidance in a supportive, group environment .
It provides techniques you can immediately apply to your work

Most importantly, it opens the door to new creative possibilities without replacing your existing style -- it will enhance it.

What you will need:

Computer loaded with Photoshop
Tablet - Wacom , Xenselabs or whatever you are using (have drivers loaded)

(New Member Orientation (ZOOM) (June 10, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Member Orientation Program

Get the best value out of Dallas PPA

Some of the topics we will cover:

Dallas PPA's monthly events
Educational resources
Degrees and certifications paths
Navigating the website
Image competition
PPA Community Network structure - PPA, TPPA, DPPA, etc
Making your voice heard
And any questions you might have.

*Even though this program is scheduled to benefit relatively new members,

all members are welcome to attend.

A Zoom meeting link will be emailed after registration.

Register HERE

M2M Program: Mastering Gobos and Gels with Flash with Rich Cirminello #2 (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Member 2 Member Program

Mastering Gobos and Gels with Flash with Rich Cirminello #2

Registration Opens May 14, 2026

Join this hands-on, 3-hour member-to-member workshop where you'll discover how to transform ordinary flash portraits into bold, cinematic, and high-impact images using gobos and gels.

Learn practical techniques to:

Project dramatic patterns, textures, and shadows with gobos for added depth, mood, and visual interest (think windowpane shadows, abstract overlays, or dynamic light shapes).
Apply colored gels creatively to introduce vibrant hues, complementary contrasts, dramatic rim lighting, or atmospheric backgrounds that evoke nightclub vibes, avant-garde energy, or editorial flair.
Combine gobos and gels with flash setups for layered, multi-dimensional portraits that stand out.

Rich Cirminello, CPP, is an award-winning commercial, fashion, boudoir, and portrait photographer based in Downtown Dallas, Texas. With over 20 years of professional experience, his provocative style blends glamour, beauty, fine art, and bold lighting to create magazine-worthy images that elevate brands, products, and individuals for publications, marketing, social media, and beyond.

Rich is also a dedicated educator and mentor. He frequently speaks at events, leads workshops on advanced lighting techniques, and helps photographers level up their craft through hands-on teaching, one-on-one mentoring, and online resources.

*** This event is for Dallas PPA members ONLY ***

Registration closes on June 17th

REGISTER NOW

Photoshop Basics to Brilliance with Unmesh Dinda, PiXimperfect (August 08, 2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Dallas Photography Summit

presents

Photoshop Basics to Brilliance

featuring Unmesh Dinda, PiXimperfect

Take your Photoshop skills from foundational to professional in this immersive two-day workshop led by one of the most trusted educators in the creative world.

This hands-on experience is designed for photographers and visual creators who want to move beyond button pushing and truly understand how Photoshop works. You will learn not just how to achieve specific looks, but why the tools and techniques work, so you can adapt them to your own creative style and real-world workflow.

This isn't just another workshop you watch. Here, you do

Follow along step by step in a classroom setup.
Designed for beginners & intermediates.
Create real projects with a guided class.
Master the concepts, make Photoshop your own.

Whether you are new to Photoshop or self-taught and looking to fill in the gaps, this workshop will help you build confidence, consistency, and creative control in your post-processing.

Come ready to learn, ask questions, and leave with tools and techniques you can use immediately in your own work.

Unmesh Dinda is an internationally recognized Photoshop educator and the founder of PiXimperfect, one of the most respected Photoshop education platforms in the world.

With millions of subscribers and viewers across YouTube and social media, Unmesh is known for his clear teaching style, deep technical knowledge, and ability to make complex Photoshop concepts feel simple and approachable. His philosophy centers on understanding how Photoshop works at a fundamental level, empowering creatives to move beyond step-by-step tutorials and develop true creative problem-solving skills.

Unmesh’s work has inspired photographers, designers, and retouchers around the globe to improve their editing workflows, elevate the quality of their images, and gain confidence in post-production. His tutorials are widely regarded for blending technical precision with practical, real-world application, making them valuable for beginners and seasoned professionals alike.

Through PiXimperfect, Unmesh has built a global community of creatives who share a passion for learning, growth, and mastering the craft of visual storytelling. His mission is simple: to help artists not just use Photoshop but truly understand it.

Member price ~~$499~~ Spring Special $349

Non-member price ~~$499~~ Spring Special $449

REGISTER HERE

Not a Dallas PPA Member?

Join today and save

WHEN

August 8th & 9th, 2026

WHERE

Grapevine Convention Center at

1209 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051

Refund Policy

The event fee is non-refundable after July 8th, 2026.

A refund will be issued in the manner in which the

original payment was made.

The event is brought to you by the Dallas Professional Photographers Association and is open to both members and non-members.