Event Highlights
Imaging USA is bigger and better this year: Celebrations, parties and awards! Courses, exhibits and critiques! And some old favorites from gatherings gone by—all designed to inspire, educate, entertain, and help YOU make it big. Click on the links for more info, and check back for updates and additions to these exciting happenings. Click here to download the complete show guide.
- ASP Events
- Award & Degree Ceremony (PPA)
- Certified Professional Photographer Exams
- CPP Class: Social Networking for CPPs
- CPP Class: Market Your Certification to Gain a Competitive Edge
- CPP Information Session
- Grand Imaging Awards
- Imaging USA Parties
- International Photographic Exhibit
- Miller's Internet Cafe
- PPA Charities Celebration
- PPA Photographic Competition Mentor Program – free critiques!
- Student Portfolio Review
- Student Program
ASP Events (American Society of Photographers)
ASP General Membership Meeting
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, Jasperwood, Third Floor
Sunday, January 15, 8:00am - 9:00am
ASP Board of Governors Meeting
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, Jasperwood, Third Floor
Sunday, January 15, 9:00am - 12:00pm
ASP Annual Awards Banquet
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, Versailles Ballroom, Third Floor
Monday, January 16, 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Get details on purchasing banquet tickets here. Pick up your tickets starting Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2:00pm at the ASP Booth (near Imaging USA Registration).
ASP Post-Banquet Reception
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, Jefferson Ballroom, Third Floor
Monday, January 16, 9:30pm - Midnight
Award & Degree Ceremony (PPA)
Convention Center, Second Level, Auditorium
Tuesday, January 17
7:00pm - 8:00pm
It’s a night to honor professional photography and the individuals who set themselves apart in the industry. Held every year, this ceremony celebrates PPA members who’ve earned degrees and awards through their service, competition excellence and instruction. You’ll also hear special addresses from the PPA President and the Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
The Award & Degree Ceremony is a formal event. If you wish, you can rent a tuxedo from Men’s Warehouse via this form and pick it up (and drop it off) at the Imaging USA headquarter hotel in New Orleans.
Certified Professional Photographer Exams
Convention Center, Third Level, Room 356 / 357
Sunday, January 15, 9:00am – 11:00am
Monday, January 16, 9:00am – 11:00am
Tuesday, January 17, 9:00am – 11:00am
Ready to become certified? Candidates must register at least five days prior to an exam to reserve a space. Registrants must check in one hour prior to exam start time and picture identification is required upon arrival at the testing site. Visit CertifiedPhotographer.com to register and for complete information.
Don’t forget, you can cram for the exam with one of our two pre-convention Certification Preparation Classes (January 12-14)!
CPP Class: Social Networking for CPPs
With Lew Everling, Cr.Photog., CPP
Convention Center, Third Level, Room 356 / 357
Sunday, January 15
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Learn the best ways to spread awareness of your certification (and more!) in the social networking realm with this special class just for Certified Professional Photographers. Lew will discuss the latest in Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and blogging. Not only will you learn the basics, you’ll also get a brief overview of how to tie them together and how each one adds to your search engine optimization (SEO).
CPP Class: Market Your Certification to Gain a Competitive Edge
With Teri Quance, M.Photog.Cr., CPP & Audrey Wancket, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
Convention Center, Third Level, Room 356 / 357
Tuesday, January 17
5:00pm – 6:30pm
In this special class just for Certified Professional Photographers, you’ll learn cutting-edge, out-of-the-box ways to market your certification. See what your peers are doing to make a difference for their businesses in their communities, and take home fresh ideas to make certification work for YOU!
CPP Information Session
Convention Center, Third Level, Room 356 / 357
Sunday, January 15
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Open to CPPs, CPP Liaisons and all who are interested in obtaining certification.
Grand Imaging Awards
Convention Center, Second Level, La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom A/B
Monday, January 16
5:30pm – 6:30pm
Celebrate photography with Imaging USA’s Grand Imaging Awards! The 2011 Medalists, Diamond Photographers of the Year, and all the elite Loan Collection artists (from the most recent International Photographic Competition) will be honored tonight. Plus, new winners will be revealed in each of the competition’s image categories!
Stop by for an image show of these top photographers’ work and enjoy more inspiration, more refreshments…and a chance to see whose work earns the Grand Imaging Award.
Imaging USA Parties
Big. Bayou. Bash.
Imaging USA Welcome Party
Hilton Hotel, First Floor, Grand Ballroom
Sunday, January 15
8:00pm – 11:00pm
Sponsored by Canon
Unwind from your first full day of Imaging USA on us! With food, music and your fellow photographers and friends, Canon’s party is a great way to end the first night…and keep the excitement going.
Entertainment will be provided by Fifty Amp Fuse, a tribute band celebrating the greatest American and British pop and rock hits from the 1960's through today. Featuring a nine-piece band, Fifty Amp Fuse will take you on a musical journey through the soundtrack of your life. The show will feature unique arrangements, "mash-ups" and accurate versions of your favorite songs, making Fifty Amp Fuse a great tribute show and a great way to spend the first night of Imaging USA!
Peach Jam—It’s a Party Y’all!
Imaging USA Closing Night Party
Convention Center, Second Level, La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom
Tuesday, January 17
8:00pm – 11:00pm
It’s the perfect way to sum up your Imaging USA experience. Dance, eat and laugh as you celebrate one last time with your fellow photographers (and experience the Southern charm coming your way in Atlanta for Imaging USA 2013)!
International Photographic Exhibit
Convention Center, First Level, Hall F (beside the Imaging EXPO)
Come see the best of the best here! These professional images come from around the world—largely from Professional Photographers of America’s prestigious International Photographic Competition. You’ll see images from the 2011 PPA Loan and General Collections, including images from PPA’s Imaging Excellence Award recipients and Diamond Photographer of the Year winners.
It’s the largest annual photographic exhibition in the world—there’s inspiration to be had by all. Exhibit is open to the public and free of charge.
Exhibition Hours
- Sunday, January 15: 9:00am – 6:00pm
- Monday, January 16: 9:00am – 6:00pm
- Tuesday, January 17: 9:00am – 1:30pm
Miller's Internet Cafe
Sponsored by Miller's Professional Imaging
Location 1: Convention Center, First Level (near Imaging USA Registration)
Location 2: Convention Center, Second Level (near La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom)
Check your flights, catch up on e-mail, and even blog during Imaging USA. We are wired and ready for you!
PPA Charities Celebration
Hilton Hotel, Third Floor, Versailles Ballroom
Sponsored by SuccessWare & White House Custom Colour
Saturday, January 14
8:00pm – 11:00pm
Start your Imaging USA experience in a big way with the PPA Charities Celebration event! Held the Saturday evening before the convention officially begins, the focus of the evening will be PPA Charities and the good deeds that have been (and can be) done. For example, you won’t want to miss the ever-popular auction, where you can get great products and services while helping out PPA Charities. Of course, the check presentation to Operation Smile is the highlight of the celebration, and this time you’ll get to meet Dr. Bill Magee, co-founder of Operation Smile!
Don’t miss this chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones while enjoying the fun, food, and auction.
PPA Photographic Competition Mentor Program
Reserve Your Appointment Now
Take advantage of free consultations with PPA Jurors/Mentors. These personal evaluations by some of the world’s best photographers and most accomplished jurors can help you significantly improve your craft. Ask questions, receive information and tips on creating exhibition-quality images, and get the inside track on how to earn merits toward prestigious PPA Master’s degrees.
Due to the extreme popularity of these mentor sessions, a limited number of appointments will be available and must be scheduled in advance. Contact PEC Juror Sarah Johnston to reserve a time for your review.
Student Portfolio Review
Convention Center, Third Floor, Room 354 / 355
Tuesday, January 17
9:00am – 11:00am
Professional photographers will review and discuss students’ portfolios (10-20 images) in a one-on-one, face-to-face format. (No computers available; if you bring a laptop, please bring a power cord or charged battery.) Open to Student Photographic Society (SPS) members only.
Student Program
Convention Center, Third Floor, Room 339
Sponsored by H & H Color Lab
Instructor: Tim Meyer, M.Photog.Cr.
Monday, January 16
1:00pm – 4:30pm
Open to Student Photographic Society (SPS) members only, this is a special private session with a successful photographer and educator, sharing pertinent information for today’s photography students.



