Dallas PPA upcoming events

M2M Program: BRUSH UP – Customize and Create Your Own Brushes in Photoshop with Terri Butler (ZOOM) (November 04, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Member 2 Member Program

BRUSH UP – Customize and Create Your Own Brushes in Photoshop

with Terri Butler (ZOOM)

Registration Opens October 17, 2026

Photoshop brushes are essential tools for any digital artist, painter or photographer; mastering this tool can significantly elevate your work.
Learn the difference between a static and a dynamic brush.
Understanding brush settings is crucial to modify existing brushes and design new custom brushes.
You'll learn how to use dynamic brush settings to create intricate patterns and textures that bring your work to life

Known creatively as The Pixel Mixer, she specializes in transforming digital photographs into imaginative works of art through Photoshop, photo manipulation, and digital painting.

She purchased her first digital camera, a Nikon D90, in 2009, but her journey with Photoshop began in the early 2000s. Since the Mixer Brush was introduced in Photoshop CS5, she has been exploring its creative possibilities and using it as a key part of her digital painting process.

A lifelong student of Photoshop, she continues to study and teach advanced Photoshop techniques, photo manipulation, and digital painting. She also actively pursues image competitions, photo artistry training, magazine submissions, art contests, and other creative ventures that help her grow as an artist.

She is twice retired, having served 22 years in the U.S. Navy healthcare field and 20 years as an IT consultant. After retirement, she traveled as often as possible, but now spends most of her time in Texas enjoying photography, art, and teaching.

Her recent accomplishments include successes in photography, teaching events, and publications in Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine. She is also a member of both the AWAKE and KAIZEN art groups.

*** This event is Open to All ***

Registration closes on November 4th

REGISTER NOW

Monthly Meeting: Master the Light: Create Consistent Portraits Anywhere with Eli Infante (November 10, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

November Meeting

Master the Light: Create Consistent Portraits Anywhere

with Eli Infante

Creating beautiful portraits shouldn't depend on perfect light or ideal locations. Whether you're photographing a senior at sunset, a portrait session in the studio, or an athlete in a gym, the goal is the same: creating portraits that are consistent, professional, and impactful.

In this lecture, you'll learn a practical lighting system that helps you confidently create professional portraits in any environment. We'll begin by breaking down the fundamentals of outdoor flash, including how to balance ambient light with flash, how to use High-Speed Sync, and how camera settings work together to shape the final image. From there, we'll transition into studio lighting, where you'll learn how to build one-light, two-light, and multi-light setups that are easy to understand and adapt to different clients and creative goals.

We'll also explore modifier selection, classic lighting patterns, creative lighting techniques, and the thought process behind every lighting decision so you understand not just how to light a portrait, but why each choice matters.

You'll leave with a clear, repeatable lighting framework that you can confidently apply to seniors, athletes, branding sessions, and creative portraits, whether you're photographing on location or in the studio.

1. Build a Repeatable Portrait Lighting System

2. Master Outdoor Flash with Confidence

3. Create Professional Studio Lighting Setups

4. Shape Light for Different Styles and Clients

5. Understand the "Why" Behind Every Lighting Decision

Eli Infante is a portrait photographer, educator, and content creator specializing in studio and outdoor lighting. Known for simplifying off-camera flash and studio lighting, Eli teaches photographers how to create clean, professional portraits using practical techniques that are easy to understand and apply. His work ranges from high school seniors and sports portraits to editorial and creative photography, all centered around intentional lighting and efficient workflows. With a background in photography education, Eli is passionate about helping photographers build confidence with lighting through simple, repeatable setups that just work. Through workshops, live demonstrations, and online education, he continues to inspire photographers to create better portraits with confidence and creativity.

Pre-Meeting Event: Image Competition 101: A 1st Year Maker Perspective

Curious about Dallas PPA's Image Competition? Whether you're a first-time entrant or a seasoned competitor, join us for an open and encouraging panel discussion!

Hear firsthand experiences from the perspective of first-year image competition makers as they share their challenges, frustrations, successes, and lessons learned along the way.

Bring your questions, gain valuable insight, and discover how to prepare for next year's competition. Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your competition experience, there's something for everyone!

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 5:30 PM SHARP

Panel Moderator: Tina Caron
Panelists: Kim O'Bryon, Kevin Murphy, and Lindsay Walden

All experience levels are welcome. Come learn, share, and be inspired!

DPPA Workshop: Master the Light: Create Consistent Portraits Anywhere with Eli Infante (November 11, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Dallas PPA Workshop

Master the Light: Create Consistent Portraits Anywhere

with Eli Infante

In this hands-on full-day workshop, photographer and educator Eli Infante will teach you his complete portrait lighting system that works anywhere. Whether you're photographing clients in the studio, outdoors at sunset, or in challenging midday light, you'll learn a practical workflow that removes the guesswork and helps you consistently create polished, professional portraits. Throughout the day, you'll learn how to build lighting setups from the ground up, understand why each light and modifier is used, and confidently adapt to any location or lighting condition. From clean, natural-looking portraits to bold, dramatic images, every technique is designed to be repeatable for portrait sessions. You'll learn how to evaluate available light, balance flash with ambient light, choose the right modifiers, direct your subjects, and develop a lighting style that is both efficient and uniquely yours. Whether you're just beginning with off-camera flash or looking to refine your portrait lighting skills, you'll leave with the confidence and knowledge to create impactful portraits in virtually any environment.

Build a reliable lighting system for both studio and outdoor portraits.
Understand light placement, modifier selection, and camera settings with confidence.
Balance flash and ambient light for natural or dramatic results.
Create professional portraits that can be repeated with any client.
Develop a consistent workflow that saves time while elevating image quality.

What you will need:

Camera Body (Mirrorless or DSLR)
Portrait Lenses
Extra Batteries
Memory Cards
Notebook and pen for taking notes
Water bottle
Comfortable Shoes (we'll be moving around shooting)

The DPPA Connection (ZOOM) (November 11, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The DPPA Connection

Get the best value out of Dallas PPA

Some of the topics we will cover:

Dallas PPA's monthly events
Educational resources
Degrees and certifications paths
Navigating the website
Image competition
PPA Community Network structure - PPA, TPPA, DPPA, etc
Making your voice heard
And any questions you might have.

*Even though this program is scheduled to benefit relatively new members,

all members are welcome to attend.

A Zoom meeting link will be emailed after registration.

Register HERE