IPC Hall of Fame & Professional Photographer Awards Luncheon – May 2025
IPC Professional Photographer Achievement Awards Luncheon – May 2026
Event Highlights
OPENING REMARKS
Melissa Fleming
Under Secretary-General for Global Communications at the UN
Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations opened the ceremony by welcoming IPC back and acknowledging the professional photographers in attendance, “It is no exaggeration to say that your work is more important than ever.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Peter Hurley
Renowned photographer and Canon Explorer of Light
Portrait photographer, author, speaker, and coach widely recognized as a leader in headshot photography. He has trained thousands of photographers worldwide through the principles in his best selling book, The Headshot, and through the global Headshot Crew community.
RISING STAR ACHIEVEMENT
Jarrett Esaw
Jarrett Esaw is a photographer, born and raised in New York City. His work is rooted in street photography while naturally extending across a range of photographic genres. Printing is an integral aspect of his practice.
JAMES L. CHUNG MEMORIAL SCHOLARHIP RECIPIENTS
Four photo and imaging students from NYU | Tisch, SVA, RIT and FIT were recipients of the James L. Chung Memorial Scholarship. This special program helps to reinforce IPC’s dedication to fostering the next generation of photographic talent. Pictured (l. to r.) Brody Xavier Carlson RIT, Julia Knoll SVA, Dr. Mark Chung, IPC Vice President Kathy Jello, Julia Smerling NYI | Tisch and Isahel Reynoso FIT.
2026 IPC Professional Photographer Achievement Awards
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Justin Black
Nominated by FUJIFILM
Justin Black is an American photographer, educator, and conservation advocate whose work explores the expressive power of light, atmosphere, and wild landscapes.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Nancy Borowick
Nominated by SONY
Nancy Borowick is an internationally renowned photographer, author, teacher and speaker, bringing her personal stories to universities, hospitals, oncology units and community groups globally.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Jabin Botsford
Nominated by Tiffen
Jabin Botsford is a Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist and visual storyteller documenting power, politics, and the defining moments of contemporary America.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Douglas Dubler III
Nominated by Zeiss
Douglas Dubler III is a fashion and beauty photographer whose early training in Fine and Liberal Arts at Boston University — alongside mentors Ansel Adams and Isamu Noguchi — shaped his articulate sense of form, color, and composition.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ben Shirk
Nominated by Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
Ben Shirk is an internationally award-winning photographer known for his bold, cinematic portraiture and powerful visual storytelling.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Tal Shpantzer
Nominated by American Photographic Artists (APA)
Tal Shpantzer, has been extensively exhibited, collected, and reviewed in her career spanning several decades and continents.
