TNPPA Degrees and Competition Awards

Tennessee State Degrees

Created in 1980, TNPPA offers three degrees to honor exemplary achievement in the areas of service to the organization and excellence in photographic or digital artist skills.

TN Service Degree (TSD) is earned through volunteering time to the organization by serving on committees, assisting with the setup and breakdown of conventions and workshops, by volunteering to chair a committee, writing for the newsletter, or other tasks that contribute positively to TNPPA.

The Tennessee Certified Degree is earned by entering the State Image Competition and receiving exceptional image scoring, thus earning Image Competition Merits or awards. This degree is awarded to those who show exceptional creative works of art in their imagery and are technical experts in their field of photography which is evident through their photographic skills. The individual earning this degree is honored with a gold medallion with a green ribbon. Members are encouraged to keep track of their merits for this Degree in the TNPPA Degree Book which can be acquired online.

The Artisan degree is earned by entering the State Image Competition and receiving exceptional image scores in the Master Artists categories. This degree is awarded to those who show exceptional creative works of art in their imagery and technical expertise. These categories represent a mastery of artistic interpretation and manipulation of photographic elements.

President's Award

The President's Award is bestowed by the current TNPPA President to an individual who has personally assisted the President and contributed in numerous ways to help the President reach their goals and duties during their term.

Lifetime Award

The Lifetime Award is TNPPA's most Prestigious Award and is granted by the Board of Directors to a long-time member who has given "above and beyond" service to TNPPA over many years. This honor is bestowed by the previous year's winner and is presented with a heartfelt speech about examples of how the honoree's commitment and service have supported TNPPA into the organization it is today and its path for future growth!

Mama Moss Award

The "Mama" Moss Award is presented to someone, other than an active member, who has contributed outstanding service to the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association. It is bestowed at the Awards Banquet.

TN Top Ten Award

The Tennessee TOP TEN Award is given to the top ten photographers who have the highest image entry/case average score in the image competition. This is one of TNPPA's most coveted honors.

Hall of Fame Award

Hall of Fame is awarded to one photographer who has shown photographic excellence and who has contributed to photography as an art form. An album of the Hall of Fame recipients work is displayed at the Convention.

National Award

The National Award is the highest honor given at the state level to a photographer who has performed outstanding service to the profession. It is conferred annually by the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association at the Awards Banquet.

Most Improved - D. E. Dickerson Award

The most improved photographer from the previous year based on a cumulative case score.

Stan Baker First Timer Award

This award goes to the highest overall case score of the maker who has before the time of the current TNPPA salon, never submitted to any state, regional, or IPC competition.

Joe Bass Memorial Award

This award is for the highest-scoring image in the Illustrative category.

ASP State Elite Award

This award is for the highest-scoring image by an ASP (American Society of Photographers) member.

People’s Choice Award

This award is chosen by popular vote of the Fall convention attendees

TNPPA Photographer of the Year / W. W. (Bill) Carrier, Jr. Award

This award is given to the photographer with the highest cumulative case score.

Judge’s Choice Award

Each judge will choose one entry from the competition to receive their judge’s ribbon.

Tank Award

This award is for the Tennessee Local Affiliate with the highest cumulative case score for all members.

Aspiring Award

This award is for the highest-scoring image in the competition by an aspiring or student TNPPA member. If there is a tie, judges will decide on the winning entry.

CPP Award

This award is for the highest scoring image by a CPP, Certified Professional Photographer, who is also a TNPPA member.

Each entry is allowed to win only one of the following awards. If your entry fits more than one award category, it will receive the highest award it earned. The lower awards will be opened to other entries. These awards are chosen first by score. In the event of a tie score, the jurors decide which entry will receive the award.

Best of Show

This award goes to the highest-scoring entry in a category with a minimum score of 80 or above.

1st Place

This award goes to the highest-scoring image in a subcategory with a minimum score of 80 or above. (Best of Show entries are not eligible)

Distinguished

This award is for the next two highest scoring entries in a subcategory scoring a minimum of 78. (Best of Show and 1st Place winning entries are not eligible)

Image Competition Awards

To be eligible to receive an award the image-maker must be fully enrolled in a TNPPA membership at the time of competition. Members from any membership level (Student, Aspiring, Senior, Active, Out-of-State, Life) are eligible to receive awards unless noted for a particular award. All awards are distributed at TNPPA's Annual Fall Convention Awards Banquet.

Most Improved - D. E. Dickerson Award – the most improved photographer from the previous year based on a cumulative case score.

Stan Baker First Timer Award – This award is to go to the highest overall case score of the maker who has prior to the time of the current TNPPA salon, never submitted to any state, regional, or IPC competition.

Joe Bass Memorial Award – the highest scoring image in the Illustrative category.

ASP Award – the highest scoring image by an ASP (American Society of Photographers) member.

People’s Choice Award – chosen by popular vote of the convention attendees.

Presidential Award - the highest scoring overall image or album with a minimum score 80 or above.

TNPPA Photographer of the Year - W. W. (Bill) Carrier, Jr. Award awarded for the highest cumulative case score.

Tennessee Top Ten – The ten entrants with the highest cumulative case scores based on the highest 4 entries by an entrant.

Judge’s Choice Award – each judge will choose one entry from the competition to receive their judge’s ribbon.

Tank Award – awarded to the PPA Tennessee Local Affiliate with the highest cumulative case score for all members.

AIM Trophy - awarded to the highest scoring animal image in the competition. If there is a tie, judges will decide on the winning entry. Winning entry must have a score of at least 80 (deserving of a merit) to qualify. The winning image also receives free submission to the Animal Image Makers annual competition.

CPP Award - awarded to the highest scoring image by a CPP, Certified Professional Photographer, who is also a TNPPA member.

Each entry is allowed to win only one of the following awards. If your entry fits more then one award category, it will receive the highest award it earned. The lower awards will be opened to other entries. These awards are chosen first by score. In the event of a tie score, the jurors decide which entry will receive the award.

Best of Show – the highest scoring entry in a category with a minimum score 80 or above.

1st Place – the highest scoring image in a subcategory with a minimum score 80 or above . ( Best of Show entries are not eligible)

Distinguished – the next two highest scoring entries in a subcategory scoring a minimum of a 78. ( Best of Show and 1st Place winning entries are not eligible)

Cumulative score refers to the highest 4 entries by an entrant per case.

"As an almost 14-year member and past president, I know that TNPPA is more than a photography organization. It’s a community of members with warm hearts and exceptional talent. Our twice-a-year seminars and workshops expose me to so many photographic genres and techniques. I am so blessed to have the opportunities that TNPPA gave me and the friendships that developed. "

- Dorma Tabisz, M Photog., TCD, TSD