This program deals with the professional and personal journey we all face, and the consequences of the decisions we make. After nearly 40 years in this business (my 2nd “career”), I can now look back with more clarity on those times when a critical decision was necessary and where it led me.

You’ll not only see how those decisions evolved and shaped my work, but also led me from Mill Worker to Photographer, from Photographer to Artist from Artist to Leader (hopefully), back around to Volunteer, and how I knew each step was the right one. Many times we find ourselves at odds with the two sides of our own brain – struggling between what one side tells us we should do and what the other side tells us feels right.

We need to balance those two thoughts if we are going to be successful at creating work that feeds our souls and inspires others and yet still pays the bills! We are creatives and as such feel both a desire and a need to create. But are you creating the right stuff or is it time to re-invent yourself? If you feel a little burn out you may already be there.

This brief synopsis of life will hopefully help YOU to become more introspective of your own life and help you answer the question “Am I where I’m supposed to be?” You may be surprised at the answer. If you’ve ever felt trapped by circumstances don’t miss this! As my favorite Led Zeppelin song says – “there’s still time to change the road you’re on” – no matter how old you are.

Bio

Mark Campbell, M. Photog., Cr., CPP, API has been a studio owner since 1989. A Past president of both the Triangle Photographers Association and the Professional Photographers of West Virginia, he also served on the PPA Council for 9 years and has either chaired or served on several PPA committees, including (most recently) chairman of the By-Laws, Rules & Ethics Committee. Mark is also a PPA Approved Photographic Instructor and is currently PPA’s Vice-President.

He teaches a variety of topics, including advanced photoshop as well as an inspirational program titled “Inspire Yourself” which is also the title of his Amherst Media book (published in 2018). It chronicles the evolution of his career from “documenter” to “creator” after a painful personal upheaval caused a massive change in his work – work that now has much more substance and meaning and includes his unique underwater work among other things.

He has presented programs for numerous professional photography groups throughout the US as well as Fine Arts Centers and school systems and has represented Epson in several capacities. He was the number one photographer in West Virginia’s 2002 print competition and his very first entry into PPA National  competition, “Fisherman’s Wharf” appeared on the 2002 Loan Book cover. Since then he has won many competition awards including several Kodak Gallery and Fuji Masterpiece Awards. In 2005 Mark was presented with The National Award – PPA’s highest service award. He was also named WV artist of the year by the Professional Photographers of West Virginia for 2015.

Among the PPA affiliates he has taught at are: Triangle Institute, GLIP, PPSNY, The Florida School, Heart of America, Professional Photographers of West Virginia, Professional Photographers Association of Pennsylvania, Professional Photographers of Ohio, the Virginia Professional Photographers Association, the Maryland Professional Photograpers Association, The Delaware Professional Photographers, the MARS school and the Professional Photographers Guild of Delaware Valley in Philadelphia.

In addition, he has been invited to many local and regional organizations as well as private studios covering the entire eastern US and Bermuda. Perhaps the most telling statistic is that he has been asked back to speak at each of these organizations numerous times. In 2013 he founded “Mentor Island Workshops,” a destination learning experience which has been called the “next generation of photographic education.”