Professional Photographers of America Appoints Angela Kurkian as Chief Executive Officer

Kurkian, a Veteran Professional Photographer, Shepherding in Exciting Stage of Growth and Expansion

ATLANTA, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Professional Photographers of America (PPA) ushers in a brand new period with the appointment of Angela Kurkian, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Kurkian has been a member of the PPA group for greater than a decade, having beforehand served because the group’s Director of Education and Deputy CEO alongside David Trust, who’s retiring after 28 years of service to the group.

Kurkian, an expert photographer by commerce, understands the dutiful roles and tasks PPA performs throughout the ever-changing international photographic neighborhood. Kurkian sees a progressive agenda heading into the second half of 2026, from elevated consideration towards skilled requirements, like certification programming, to larger visibility round its secure of pictures specialists who differentiate its schooling and expertise hub from {the marketplace}. As synthetic intelligence permeates all features of inventive industries, together with pictures, Kurkian intends to position larger emphasis on member help tied to enterprise and profession growth. PPA has all the time been wanted for its industry-defining efforts in advocacy and authorized protections, in addition to insurance coverage and threat administration choices, areas Kurkian guarantees to proceed to steer.

“PPA has an incredible legacy, having played a pivotal role in the journeys of many professional photographers for more than 150 years,” says Kurkian. “We were founded to provide photographers with resources and creative protection, which they have come to expect. I want our members to take advantage of the rich community-building available for them to learn, share, and grow, especially as the photography landscape changes in the intelligence age. I am honored and energized as we move into a new era for PPA, PhotoVision, and the critical importance of photography and video storytelling to the human element.”

Kurkian started her profession as an expert photographer in 1994, after discovering her ardour for pictures whereas finding out on the University of Florida. She based Essenza Studio, the place she put collectively a small however mighty group specializing in portrait and marriage ceremony pictures. She joined PPA as a member in 1994, then as Director of Education in 2012, the place she oversaw the manufacturing and deployment of all academic content material and workshops. She has continued to assist lead PPA’s academic initiatives alongside the group’s extremely expert content material group, in addition to making ready for the management transition alongside Trust.

“Angela is a natural leader and educator, not to mention an amazing photographer,” says Trust. “Her skills and leadership abilities will enable PPA to not only continue to flourish, but also take the organization to new heights. While it’s hard to say goodbye after so many years with PPA, I am excited to watch through Angela’s lens as a new generation of photographers from around the world embrace PPA and PhotoVision.”

Trust joined PPA as its first Director of Marketing in 1998 and was named CEO in 1999. Since taking this function, he has led PPA to unprecedented progress whereas enhancing member worth and expertise 12 months over 12 months. He and Kurkian have been instrumental in launching PhotoVision on PPA.com, a first-of-its-kind subscription-based streaming platform devoted to the artwork and enterprise of pictures. While included with PPA membership, PhotoVision is on the market to all photographers for a nominal month-to-month or annual charge, offering them with entry to five,000+ assets to raise their inventive and enterprise pursuits.

For extra details about PPA, go to PPA.com.

About Professional Photographers of America
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the biggest and longest-standing nonprofit pictures commerce affiliation. Founded in 1868, PPA at the moment helps 35,000 professionals elevate their craft and develop their companies with assets and schooling, all beneath PPA’s core tenet of bridging the hole between photographers and shoppers. Visit www.ppa.com.

Media Contact
Hilari Barton, Trevelino/Keller
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