SPOA announces finalists for 2022 National School Photographic Competition

School Photographers of America (SPOA) announced the finalists for the inaugural 2022 National School Photographic Competition. The grand champions for each category will be announced June 10 in Houston, Texas at the International Conference on School Photography and Yearbooks held at the Westin Galleria. The contest spotlights the best in school photography, from traditional classroom portraits and graduation photos to dynamic sports photography and creative senior portraits.

“The national competition promotes healthy competition while increasing the level of photographic quality across the country in many of the areas of school photography,” says David Crandall, executive director, SPOA. “From preschool to high school senior portraits, school photography is one of America’s rich traditions. This year, we are excited to announce the finalists for each category.”

School Photographers of America will be honoring the finalists, the schools and the students in each category - as well as grand champion with a prized trophy — at a formal dinner and awards show Friday, June 10, at the Westin Galleria Ballroom. Photographers from all over the United States entered this competition.

The finalists are:

Preschool – Fall Portrait

• Schoolhouse Pictures

• Schoolhouse Pictures

Preschool – Graduation

• Anne Hull - Focused School Photography

• Chastity Mata - Photo Texas Photography

Underclass - Fall Portraits

• Anne Hull - Focused School Photography

• Sarah Ries - Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co.

• Ryan Ponte - Made the Grade Photography (two entries selected)

• Emily Pitsch – GPI - Geskus Photography

Underclass - Spring Portraits

• Jessica Fulgium – Focused School Photography

• Kym James – Focused School Photography

• Chastity Mata - Photo Texas Photography

• Classroom Groups - Traditional

• Jenny Brown – Strawbridge Studios

• Miranda Grubbs – Strawbridge Studios

• Isaac Ulrey – Strawbridge Studios

School Staff Groups

• Peter Kramer – GPI - Geskus Photography

• Robert Settle - Leonard’s

• School Sports - Individual

• Rene Davila – Strawbridge Studios

• Morgan Graham – Strawbridge Studios

• Alissa Harmon – Leonard’s

• Peter Muhly – Leonard’s

• Emily Walsh – GPI - Geskus Photography

School Sports - Team - Traditional

• Jen Adamo – Strawbridge Studios (two entries selected)

• Jefferson Carrol - Photo Texas Photography

• Dylan Robbins – Strawbridge Studios

• Alyssa Tranbarger - Cady Studios

School Sports - Team – Creative

• Korin Janes - Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co.

• Peter Muhly - Leonard’s

• Demarius Pearson - Cady Studios

• Morgan Price - Cady Studios

• Reeyon Rouse – Cady Studios

Large Group Panoramic

• Darrell Thomas - Cady Studios

• Peter Muhly - Leonard’s

Cap & Gown

• Adhamh Black – GPI - Geskus Photography

• Portia Harrelson – Focused School Photography

• Anne Hull - Focused School Photography

• Eric Patrie - Upstate Images

• Sarah Rusnak - Photo Texas Photography

Prom/Dance

• Korin Janes - Inter-State Studios

• Chastity Mata - Photo Texas Photography

Seniors - Formal Portrait

• Kym James - Focused School Photography

• Eric Patrie - Upstate Images

• Tracy Sanders – Strawbridge Studios (two entries selected)

• Jack Upton – Strawbridge Studios

Seniors – Casual

• Corey Cameron - Cady Studios

• Francisco Bililoni – Cady Studios

• Alissa Harmon – Leonard’s

• Tyrone Summers – Strawbridge Studios

• Eric Patrie - Upstate Images

Seniors - Lifestyle/Environmental

• Alissa Harmon – Leonard’s

• Jerry Alexander – Leonard’s

• Peter Muhly – Leonard’s (three entries selected)

Seniors - Creative/Open

• Joy Horton– Cady Studios

• Alissa Harmon – Leonard’s (two entries selected)

• Eric Patrie - Upstate Images

• Victoria Rust - Cady Studios

School Buildings

• Peter Muhly – Leonard’s

• Photographer - Creative/Open

• Robert Consiglio - Leonard’s

• Alissa Harmon – Leonard’s

• Robert Settle – Leonard’s

• Bernirki Stradford – Strawbridge Studios

• Madeline Thornton – Strawbridge Studios

The competition had two rounds of online judging. The final round was represented by a retired school photographer with more than 30 years of judging experience and is a Certified Master Photographer as well as a Sony Artisan photographer, along with a School District and a State Educational leader.