Upcoming events

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• Fall Print Competition

  • When
    Monday, October 27, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Details coming soon!

  Enter panels to win Iowa's Child and/or Senior Photographer of the Year Award!

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• Mini Convention featuring Dan McClanahan

  • When
    Monday, November 03, 2025
  •  
    9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    The District Venue 1350 SW Vintage Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023

  Register

  Join PPI for a full day course featuring a few of Iowa's top educators in the photo industry: Jaimy Ellis, Adam Hunter and the legendary Dan McClanahan. 

  PPI President Jaimy Ellis will kick off the event at 9:30am with a demo on the latest in AI workflow and retouching programs: Evoto and Imagen. Get a behind the scenes look at her post production routine and how she's shaved hours off editing and free'd up time to add more services to her business.

  After lunch Dan McClanahan will be giving an updated version of his most recent Imaging USA platform, Shoot With Purpose. It will cover philosophy, creativity, Dan’s digital business model (created after 10 years of IPS), and a ton of image breakdowns with lighting diagrams and BTS. The through-line is defining your unique purpose and using that as a guidepost in all of your decision making and image creation. He hopes to leave you pumped up and motivated to keep pressing forward in your photographic journey! Q&A will be open to anything attendees want to ask Dan about, so bring your questions and share your struggles. The community building this night will be awesome.

  Stick around after Dan's class for networking and the presentation of awards from our fall print competition followed by a demo from Adam Hunter on how he uses a "light painting" technique for commercial and automotive photography. 

  This event is one you WILL NOT want to miss.  Sign up today and get refreshed and recharged by spending some time with like-minded photogs and creatives.

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• Hands-On Workshop with Dan McClanahan

  • When
    Tuesday, November 04, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    McClanahan Studio, 208 5th St Suite 302, Ames, IA 50010
  • Spaces left
    0
  • Registered
    26 registrants

  Join waitlist

  In the morning, Dan will give you a tour of his historic loft studio before guiding you through a hands-on demo of how he constructs his favorite studio lighting formulas. You will get a few brief opportunities to shoot if you want, bring a camera! A mid-range zoom like a 28-70mm will be best lens choice. 


  As the day progresses, we’ll grow in complexity and get into gels / atmosphere / filters. During this day, Dan will be an open book so bring your questions and don’t be afraid to ask them!

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• Competition College 2026

  • When
    Monday, January 05, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Oxford, Iowa + Virtual
  • Registered
    Be the first

  Register

  
  

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• Annual Print Competition

  • When
    Monday, March 09, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Details coming soon!

  Must be a PPI member to be eligible for awards.

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• Focus Forward - Annual Convention

  • Start
    Friday, April 10, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • End
    Monday, April 13, 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Iowa
  • Registered
    23 registrants

  Register

  Professional Photographers of Iowa (PPI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering professional and aspiring photographers and creative entrepreneurs across Iowa and the Midwest. Through hands-on workshops, inspiring events, and a welcoming community, we help photographers grow their skills, build meaningful connections, and thrive in the industry.

  Focus Forward, PPI's Annual Convention | April 10–13, 2026 | Iowa

  Inspiration. Education. Connection.

  Focus Forward is for professional and aspiring photographers, creative entrepreneurs, and small business owners who crave more than just education—they want connection, inspiration, and growth. Whether you're refining your craft, building your business, or simply looking for your people, Focus Forward is your place to learn, recharge, and belong. From seasoned pros to fresh faces, if you believe in the power of photography and community, you’re one of us.

  Join us for a high-energy, hands-on convention designed to elevate your craft and recharge your passion. Over the course of four unforgettable days, you'll experience:

  • Dynamic speakers from both photography and small business industries covering topics like SEO, email marketing, content creation, and motivation.

  • Live demos and hands-on workshops covering everything from lighting and posing to marketing and mindset

  • Meaningful networking with photographers and creative entrepreneurs from across the Midwest

  • An awards brunch to celebrate industry excellence

  • And a themed party (Pajama Jam, anyone?) to cap it all off with connection and fun

  • Vendor Meet and Greet (trade show) to stay up to date on all the current products and tech.

  Why Attend?
  Because you’re not just a photographer—you’re a creative entrepreneur. And this is your space to grow. At Focus Forward, you’ll walk away with:

  ✅ Fresh ideas and skills to implement immediately
  ✅ New friends and mentors who get it
  ✅ A renewed sense of confidence and creative purpose

  Let’s move your business—and your artistry—forward, together.

  A digital print competition will be hosted prior to the convention on March 9th. You must be a PPI member to win awards. Be sure to join or renew your membership!

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