Richmond Hill-based custom photographer Megan Myrick was recently honored by the Professional Photographers of America when four of her images were chosen for the entity’s 2016 International Photographic Competition’s General Collection. Myrick’s work will be on display at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas from Jan. 8-10, 2017. The international exhibition is held in conjunction with Imaging USA, an annual convention and expo for professional photographers.

Myrick’s winning photos – titled “A Mother’s Love,” “Big Boy Indeed,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “Puppy Princess” – are images she chose from various shoots with her local clients.

“The images I chose just spoke to me. Still, I was surprised because this was my first year entering the print competition. It’s matched against a series of 12 criteria, so it’s a very tough process. There were close to 6,000 entries, so to have all four of my submissions picked is an incredible honor,” Myrick said. “These are all actual client images from my day-to-day work. I didn’t set up a model shoot or anything like that specifically for the competition.”

A panel of 46 judges from across the United States select the contest’s top photographs at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia. About 2,000 images were selected for the general collection, and 1,007 were selected for the loan collection. The Professional Photographer’s Association has also bestowed the Bronze Photographer Distinction on Myrick for 2016.

Myrick, who said she plans to travel to San Antonio in January to see her prize-winning work on display, specializes in newborn, maternity, baby, child and family photography around the Coastal Georgia area. She strives to provide her clients with a custom portrait experience resulting in timeless, heirloom-quality art for families to cherish for years to come.

A native of Washington state, Myrick and her family moved to Richmond Hill over three years ago due to her husband’s military service. She brought her photography business with her and built an even bigger client base in Georgia. Myrick moved her operation to a larger studio in Richmond Hill Court in March and celebrated five years in business in July.

The PPA considers 12 separate elements when judging an image – impact, technical excellence, creativity, style, composition, presentation, color balance, center of interest, lighting, subject matter, technique, and storytelling. The nonprofit group is the largest photography association organized for and by professional photographers, with more than 29,000 members in over 50 countries. It was founded in 1869.

For more information on Megan Myrick Photography, please visit www.meganmyrickphotography.com or find @meganmyrickphotography on Facebook.