Marchet Butler  joined the board in 2017 and is a Certified Professional Photographer specializing in fine art wall portraits for families and seniors in the Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, and North Fulton areas of Atlanta.

Originally trained as a professional educator, Marchet turned to photography after learning the basics when she was her school's yearbook advisor. Marchet joined PPA and GPPA to further her knowledge in the field and learn from the experts. It's a decision that's paid off both professionally and financially.

Today, Marchet is a full-time photographer and writer. She has had her photography published on the cover of several magazines including "Atlanta Parent."

When not photographing clients or running her business, Marchet enjoys spending time with her son and their dog and supporting local charities. 

Javon Longieliere, Cr. Photog.,CPP, GSD, GFD  started on the board as an area director in 2015 and is currently the Vice President. Javon has earned the Certified Professional  Photographer (CPP) designation and the Photographic Craftsman degree from PPA. 

He is an award winning international wedding and portrait photographer with a studio in Valdosta, Georgia. He and his wife Dawn started Javon Longieliere Photography in 2001.  They have traveled all over the world shooting weddings and portraits! His book Destination Weddings: The Photographer's Guide To Shooting In Exotic And Unexpected Locations  was published in June of 2017.

In addition to photography, Javon also plays trombone in The Azalea Winds and is currently working on two novels.

Armetrice joined the board in 2018.   

Armetrice grew up in Flint, Michigan. She was the youngest of the six children. At the age of 14,Armetrice purchased her first camera using money she earned at her first summer job. During her earlyyears, she photographed family and friends in the neighborhood. She had an opportunity to travel the route of the Underground Railroad from Michigan up through Canada and back down through New York and Washington DC. She used her camera to document her trip and cement her love of photography.

Not knowing she could make a career out of photography, Armetrice went to college and earned herbachelors in electrical engineering and her masters in business administration. She worked 32 years as an engineer in the communications industry. Armetrice purchased her first DSLR camera in 2010. Whileworking to improve her photography she discovered GPPA, which introduced her to Professional Photographers of America, PPA. Armetrice decided to pursue her certification with PPA which led to her becoming a professional photographer and starting Armetrice Photography. She received her CPP in the fall of 2018 and retired from corporate America in 2020 to become a full time photographer.

Armetrice is also a member of the Multicultural Association of Professional Photographers, Sistagraphy, Atlanta Photography Group, Cherokee Photography Club, Georgia Nature Photographers Association, Woodstock Business Club, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, and Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves as a councilor for PPA. These volunteers act as a voice for members in their state and help set policy by discussing and voting on changes to PPA by-laws, procedures, and leadership. They are also vital in helping PPA get important messaging out to its more than 31,000 members. 

Armetrice believes in using her gifts to give back in areas that support underserved and disadvantaged youth. She has photographed for Special Olympics, Student’s Without Mothers and Warrick Dunn Charities. She also serves as a mentor to other photographers. She has received the Presidential Service Award for volunteering numerous times. When she is not photographing or volunteering you can find her with her nose in a good book, enjoying local theatre or spending time with friends and family. Armetrice has participated in numerous exhibits and her work has received both local and international awards.

Sally joined the board in 2019 

Tracey Luttgens, CPP, GSD  has been the Executive Director since October 2018. She joined the board at the end of 2016 as an Area Director. 

Tracey studied  Art History, Photography & Graphic Design at College of DuPage outside of Chicago, IL. Her career in professional photography began in 2000. She worked primarily as an infant , child and family portrait photographer from 2001 to 2011. In 2012 she left working for corporate volume studios to pursue her dream of owning her studio. 

To further her understanding of animal behavior and assist in photography of dogs, in 2013 she became a certified dog trainer. In 2015 she opened "Heart Spot Portraits"  which specializes in pet portraiture.    She has won various awards for her pet work, is a contributing photographer for Atlanta Pet Life Magazine, a member of HeArts Speak and donates her time and talent to photograph pets in need for numerous rescues.

She and her husband Jim have been married 26 years, and all 5 of their children have 4 feet and fur!  

Wendy White, GSD joined the Board of Directors in November of 2010 as an area director and after many years in in the final board roll as Chairman.

Wendy started her photography business in 2009 and specialized in infants, children, families, and dance photography.

Wendy married fellow GPPA member and past GPPA president, Jason White in 2017.  They joined their businesses to create Classic City Portraits. Together they work with schools, families, sports, and businesses from Athens to Atlanta. They are the featured photographers for Five Points Living, a Social Publication for the residents of Five Points in Athens, Georgia. 

 In 2020, Wendy began photographing with Sweet Me newborn photography and spends most mornings around the Atlanta area cuddling and photographing babies.  In addition to photography, she is a talented musician and enjoys teaching piano!

Directors

Eric took over the School director position in 2019. Eric has been active in GPPA and has served the Board in many positions, including president, for over 30 years. We are excited to have him take on this new position. 

Michael Boatrights, CPP joined the board in 2019. 

His relationship with photography began at age 12, when his dad, a professional photographer for many years, taught him camera and darkroom techniques. In the early 1990’s, working for IBM, he began experimenting with and developing techniques in digital multimedia storytelling, using emerging A/V hardware and software and Internet technologies. With IBM he led multimedia projects for the 1994 Lillehammer and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Disney’s Epcot Center, the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Masters Tournament and the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since 2000, he has worked on digital media projects for the British Broadcasting Company and AT&T, opening his own photography studio in 2014.

Music, Dance and Theater are his passion. Fine Art Projects include landscape photography on four continents and abstract impressions of real-life subjects. Corporate clients include the J. Walter Thompson Agency, Atlanta Regional Commission, and AT&T Corporation.

Professionally, he is Certified by the Professional Photographers of America and is a past-president and active member of the Southeastern Photographic Society. As a Certified Professional Photographer in the Metro Atlanta Area, he specializes in Film Portraiture, Commercial and Fine Art Photography.

Kelley Channell joined the board in 2022.

 Jennifer Collins, CPP  started on the 2018 board as a director at large. She is the owner and artist of JCollins Photography which has been in business full time for over 18 years. Collins graduated from GCSU with a BBA in IS (Information Systems and Computer Programing), and a minor in Photography. She is a Certified PPA member.

Jennifer's images have been published in "Working with Special Needs Children"book and "Sew News" of San Francisco, Lake Oconee Living and several other local publications.  She has recently judged several local and state photography contests. She is also an active member in her local Pilot Club which is a non profit group who’s mission is to influence positive change in the community. 

  Jennifer has three wonderful children, and is expecting her first grandbaby later this year! She loves to create props out of junk store finds, she considers herself a “workaholic” who gets bored easy. (Which is why you will see things in her outdoor studio move and change often.) Collins also admits that the artistic side of her brain is at constant battle with the math side of her brain ! Jennifer credits the GPPA for helping her learn so much in her beginning years.

Leo Cortjens, CPP, joined the board in 2022.

After a lifelong interest in photography and a career in Sales and Marketing, Leo started his Photography business in 2014. He joined the PPA and GPPA in 2016 and received his CPP certification in 2019.

Cortjens Photography specializes in Family Photography with a focus on creating multi-generational wall portraits. The business also covers Commercial and Real Estate photography.

Leo joined the GPPA board this year and hopes to contribute some of his business expertise to the organization in the coming years.

Stuart joined the board in 2019. He has been a professional photographer since 1987.  He began as a wedding photographer in Santa Barbara, CA while attending Brooks Institute of Photography.  He has pursued many facets of professional photography.  His passions are Black & White Portraiture and running a successful portrait business.  Currently, with his wife Deirdre, his Marietta studio focuses on Family and Maternity portraits.  A member of Professional Photographers of America since 2003, he received his CPP in 2010.  He joined GPPA in 2014 and is proud to serve on the Board of Directors.  He is a member of the Booth Museum Photography Guild and has served the community as a volunteer photographer with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep since 2006.

Richard Hayes joined the board in 2022.

Richard started his career with both an Associates and then a Bachelor’s degree in

photography, before later attaining a Masters of Art degree from Piedmont University.

After college he got his start working for a yearbook company where he photographed high school seniors, sports and events for several years. Later on, he became a photographer and videographer for both Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Lines, where he spent four years traveling the world while honing his skills in event photography, environmental portraits andstudio work.

Richard and his wife, Jessica, are the owners of Voyage Fine Art Photography, specializing in weddings, fine art portraits and cosplay photos. Currently, Richard works at Franklin County High School, where he teaches Audio Video Tech and Film classes, the work from his business is incorporated into his lessons, to give the students that real world experience and examples.

Lisa M. Hill, M.Photog., CPP,  joined the board in 2021. Inspired by her lifelong love of photography and encouraged by her aunt, an accomplished professional photographer, Lisa started her photography business in 2007. Before she started her business, Lisa earned a B.S. in Child Development and an M.S. in Sports Administration, with both degrees leading to many fun adventures. She took all these experiences to her place behind the camera and specializes in high school senior and family photography, with a little sports action on the side.

When the pandemic hit, she switched gears and decided to take advantage of the unexpected time and dove in to several personal projects that were previously on the back burner; including the design of a Fine Art storefront on her website, updating her logo, and working on a number of new photographic art collections.

Lisa is a Certified Professional Photographer and earned her Master of Photography Degree in 2019. She is a member of the Professional Photographer’s Association, Georgia Professional Photographer’s Association, American Society of Photographers, and Atlanta Photography Group. In 2018, Lisa's image “Random Walk” was selected to be part of Team USA in the World Photographic Cup: one of the highlights of her career!

Lisa lives in Atlanta with her husband Todd (celebrating 25 years in December!). They have 2 daughters: Kyla, 21, a junior at Berry College, and Mary Katherine, 19, a sophomore at Oglethorpe University. They also have a big, loving dog named Aine. She’s excited to become more involved in GPPA and make new friends around the state!