Awards

2025-2026 Award Recipients

California Hall of Fame

The California Hall of Fame was established in 1980 to honor individuals whose outstanding dedication and contribution to professional photography have been an inspiration to those who follow.

• A maximum of three individuals may be elected and inducted in any calendar year.
• The award need not be presented each year.

Any individual who has made significant contributions to professional photography in California, is 65 years of age or older and has been a PPC member for 10 or more years,  and is living at the time of the nomination, is eligible.

Qualifications include:  Volunteering for committees, board positions, mentoring, donating materials, time or knowledge for the benefit of PPC.  Fostering a positive environment for PPC sponsored events.

The Paul Kennedy Award

The Paul Kennedy Award was established in 1981 to be given for “Outstanding Service to the Profession.” Only twenty-five (25) of these awards were made before the mold was defaced. The medallion is made from silver reclaimed from film and paper chemicals that are used to produce the product of the profession—photographs. The silver used to make the medallions was donated by Visual Productions (now McKenna Color Lab) of San Diego.

The medallion is inscribed with the name of Paul Kennedy, Sr., the first and thirteenth president of the Professional Photographers of California, and each has been numbered.

• The award may be given to an individual or to a family member.
• The individual does not have to be a PPC member.
• This medallion need not be awarded every year.

The Barry Evans-Elmer Kingham Award

When all the Paul Kennedy medallions were awarded the Barry Evans-Elmer Kingham Award was established for the same purpose in 2001. The first one was awarded in 2003.

The medallion is inscribed with the names of both Barry Evans and Elmer Kingham. Only twenty-five (25) of these awards were made before the mold was defaced.

• The award may be given to an individual or to a family member.
• The individual does not have to be a Professional Photographer of California member.
• This medallion need not be awarded every year.

The Harris-Giachetto Award

Established to be awarded for “Outstanding Service to PPC and the Profession of Photography”.  The medallions are made of pure silver and only (10) were struck.  The awards are in honor of Sandra & Dave Harris and Richard & Barbara Giachetto who have given much to the Professional Photographers of California.  When all the Barry Evans-Elmer Kingham medallions were awarded the Harris Giachetto Service Award was established for the same purpose in 2021.  The first one was awarded in 2022.  The medallions is inscribed with the names of both Harris and Giachetto.    

• The award may be given to an individual for “Outstanding Service to PPC and the Profession of Photography.
• The individual does not have to be a PPC member.

*Outstanding service to PPC includes: Volunteering for committees, board positions, mentoring, donating materials, time or knowledge for the benefit of PPC. Fostering a positive environment for PPC sponsored events. 

The Carlos Lozano Mentor Award

This Award is given by the PPC Board.  The Carlos Lozano Mentor award is provided by Professional Photographers of California.  This special honor is in recognition of outstanding service to mentoring members of PPC and its affiliate members.

• Recipient(s) must have previously received the PPC Service Medallion
• The individual must have been a member of PPC for 5 years previously.

Qualifications include:  Volunteering for committees, board positions, mentoring, donating materials, time or knowledge for the benefit of PPC.  Fostering a positive environment for PPC sponsored events.

The PPA National Award

The National Award is a special honor that Community Networks can award to recognize outstanding services in professional photography. It is available to any Community Network which has a minimum of 20 members and is to be awarded to honor an individual for their outstanding services to professional photography in their community. Selected by the respective Community Network, the recipient may be a PPA member or non-member and doesn’t have to be in the field of photography. While the National Award is available annually, it will not be awarded if there is not a suitable candidate.

• Individuals may not receive more than one National Award from the same Community Network during their lifetime.
• Only one National Award may be presented per Community Network, per year.
• The highest-ranking PPA official of the Executive Committee, a current Board member, past PPA President, or a PPA Councilor should make the presentation at a Community Network event.
• The National Award must be ordered and paid for at least 60 days in advance of the event where the award will be presented.

PPC President’s Award

The PPC President’s Award is given each year to outstanding individuals who have contributed unselfishly to the advancement of professional photography and the advancement of the Professional Photographers of California, and who have provided personal help to and support for the PPC president.

This award is given by the current president of the association.

The People’s Choice Award

The People’s Choice Award is presented to the winner of the annual “People’s Choice” image competition and is selected from images that merited (80+) in the annual State Image Competition.