About Kristy
Kristy graduated from Indiana University with a double major in journalism and political science. While in college she took two photojournalism classes and absolutely loved it. Despite her love for photography she pursued her goal of becoming a news reporter and landed a job at a television station in Alabama working as a reporter, editor and videographer. A year later, she was hired to work in Cleveland, Ohio, where she spent the next 24 years as a reporter at WJW-FOX 8. Her achievements include winning four prestigious Emmy Awards for her creative storytelling.
At one point in her career Kristy started thinking if she had an opportunity to live life over again she would have been a still photographer. Eventually, at the urging of a friend, she started shooting weddings on weekends, which she relished with a newfound passion. A few years later she made a life- changing decision: to switch careers. Now, instead of being in front of the camera, she is behind one, sharing people's stories and the special events in their lives, through the lens of her camera.
Kristy has a Master of Photography Degree, a Photographic Craftsman Degree and is a Certified Professional Photographer at the national level.
In 2017 Kristy received her Master of Photography Degree through Professional Photographers of America. She considers it the biggest accomplishment of her life (it's a big deal in the photography world). A Master Photographer is in an elite group of photographers who strive for excellence in their work. It is achieved through education and years of print competition at the international level where photographers' work is judged and deemed among the best in the world.
In 2016 Kristy completed an intensive examination and review process to become a Certified Professional Photographer at the national level.
Established in 1977 by Professional Photographers of America the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) credential serves to identify professional photographers who have demonstrated technical competence through a written examination and photographic image submission. PPA and the Certification Committee follow standards for certification which are established by the national Institute of Credentialing Excellence (ICE).
In 2016, 2017 , 2018 and 2019 Kristy was also honored with being named one of the top 10 professional photographers in the state of Ohio. In 2018 she was the 2018 OHIO PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, placing first overall in state print competition.
In November 2016 Kristy won first place in the state of Ohio for the general portrait category and the children's portrait category during print competition. She also won first place overall for having the highest scores in the state.
Here are some of her award winning images:
1st Place - Professional Photographers of America Northeast District Award 2019 - Children's Portrait Category
Grand Imaging Award Nominee 2019 - PPA International Photographic Competition
"Pumped Up and Pissed Off" - 2019 International Photographic Competition - was accepted into the prestigious Loan Collection through Professional Photographers of America. It was deemed the best of the best at in international print competition
"What These Eyes Have Seen" - 2019 International Photographic Competition Merit - deemed among the best.
"The Last Letter" - 2019 PPA International Photographic Competition Merit - deemed among the best.
"I'm All Ears"- Professional Photographers of Ohio Merit
"Did Someone Say Catnip?" - Professional Photographers of Ohio Merit
In 2016 "Bring It On" was given a merit award through Professional Photographers of Ohio.
In 2016 "A Shocking Discovery" was awarded a merit through Professional Photographers of Ohio.
In 2016 "Duty Before Beauty" was awarded a merit at the International Print Competition through Professional Photographers of America, being deemed one of the best images in the world.
In May 2014 Kristy won the prestigious Kodak Gallery Award, which is given to only one photographer in ten states, for having "the best of the best" work in portrait photography. Only five photographers in the United States are given this award at the district level of competition. That image, titled "Survivor" was also selected for what's called "The Loan Collection", an international award given to photographers for having the best image/imagess in the world.
That same year, Professional Photographers of America awarded Kristy with two more merits for images deemed "the best" in the world.
In 2017 Kristy's image, "The Aviator" was accepted into the prestigious Loan Collection through Professional Photographers of America. It was deemed the best of the best images at in international print competition
"Determined to Dance" won first place for the Children's Print Category at the Ohio print competition. This image also merited at the International Print Competition through Professional Photographers of America.
In 2017 this image, "Eye Spy", was awarded a merit at the International Print Competition, deemed among the best images in the world. It also won first place for the General Portrait Category at the Ohio Print Competition.
In 2017 "Daddy's Little Co-Pilot" was awarded a merit at the International Print Competition through Professional Photographers of America.
In 2016 Kristy's image, "Crunch Time", was accepted into the Loan Collection through Professional Photographers of America, a prestigious award given to a select few who have the best of the best portraits in the world. That same honor was given to another one of Kristy's images, titled "Monster-in-Law".
2016 Professional Photographers of Ohio (PPO) state merit award for "The Traveling Salesman"
2016 PPO state merit award for "The Extra Mile"
2016 PPO state merit award for "Just Another Day At The Office". Photographed in Istanbul, Turkey.
2016 PPO state merit award for "Spike".
2016 PPO state merit award for "Degree of Satisfaction".
2016 PPO state merit award for "Say What?".
In 2014 Kristy won the PPCO award through Professional Photographers of Ohio, for having one of the more outstanding images for a first time entrant in the Professional Photographers of Ohio print competition.
In 2015 another one of Kristy's portraits was chosen for the prestigious Loan Collection through Professional Photographers of America. The image, titled "Still Waiting for Mr. Right", has been honored with being one of the best of the best in the world.
PPA Loan Collection: "Still Waiting for Mr. Right"
In 2015 Kristy also was awarded merits for two more images at the international level of photographic competition, being deemed some of the best portraits in the world.
PPA Merit Collection: "The Wrangler's Daughter"
PPA Merit Collection: "Standing at Attention"
Kristy has also been awarded merits at the state level, through Professinal Photographers of Ohio, including the one below:
2014 PPO Merit: "Little Groucho Marx"
PPA Loan merit award at the 2016 International Print Competition for having one of the best of the best images in the world.
In 2016 Professional Photographers of Ohio honored Kristy with the prestigious "J. Anthony Bill Award" for having the most outstanding portrait in the state of Ohio. The portrait is titled "I Used To Ski But I Got Board".
J. Anthony Bill Award
**Kristy is a member of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Professional Photographers of Ohio (PPO) and Akron Society of Professional Photographers (ASPP).