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Corey doesn't photograph for trophies, titles, or awards.

 

Recognition matters because it holds him accountable to consistency, craftsmanship, and the responsibility that comes with creating work for someone's family, story, or legacy.

 

These honors are simply a reflection that the work created here meets a high professional standard, again and again, so clients can trust that what they see, feel, and invest in is handled with great care.

What this means for you

• Consistency across every portrait experience, not just one good image
• Artwork that meets internationally recognized standards
• Attention to detail from planning through the final product
• An artist whose work is evaluated by peers, not just algorithms or trends
• Confidence that your portraits are created with longevity in mind

Learn More About Corey →

Committed to Excellence

Over the years, this commitment has been recognized by professional organizations within the photographic and art community.

Man in a cowboy hat with medals around his neck, wearing a brown jacket in front of a dark background.

2026 Team USA, World Photographic Cup Best of Nation, Silver Medalist

Degrees & Designations

These degrees are earned through Professional Photographers of America and the Animal Image Makers.

 

They signify consistency in a standard of excellence and contributions to the photographic industry, including earning merits through image evaluation, teaching, and attending educational courses.

 

 

Awards by Year

All awards listed below were awarded by local, state, national, and international organizations evaluating and judging the imagery submitted.

 

Images are judged against a standard of excellence by a panel or panels of jurors, often in multiple rounds of evaluations.

 

Some standards include, but are not limited to:

• Impact

• Technical Excellence

• Creativity

• Style

• Composition

• Color Harmony

• Center of Interest

• Lighting

• Subject Matter

• Technique

• Storytelling

 

Three people celebrating with a trophy and medals, holding an American flag indoors at an event.

2026

2026 World Photographic Cup

• Team USA

• Top 10 Illustrative Portrait

• Winner: Best of Nation

• Winner: Silver Medalist

 

2026 International Photographic Competition Finalist (United States National Organization, Professional Photographers of America)

• High School Senior Portrait Category, Platinum Medalist

 

 

Fellow of the Texas Professional Photographers Association

 

 

Man in a cowboy hat and blazer stands next to a 2023 Diamond Honoree sign in a carpeted hallway.

2025

2025 West Texas Best High School Senior

2025 West Texas Judge's Choice

2025 West Texas Distinguished Image

2025 American Society of Photographers Southeast District Award

Recipient of the Photographic Artist Award, American Society of Photographers 2025

2025 International Photographic Competition

High School Senior Platinum Medal

Illustrative/Digital Art Silver Medal

Illustrative Portrait Bronze Medal

 

 

West Texas Professional Photographers is the local organization that encompasses all of the western portion of the state of Texas.

The American Society of Photographers, for which I was a member at the time, encompasses both national and some international members. Membership is limited to degree-holders.

The International Photographic Competition is the national competition of the United States, hosted by Professional Photographers of America. International entries are accepted.

Two men posing on a red carpet in front of a green wall with PPA logo. One wears a cowboy hat, the other a tuxedo.

2024

2024 Texas Professional Photographers Association Diamond Medalist

2024 TPPA Best Overall Portrait

2024 TPPA Best Portrait Artistically Enhanced

2024 West Texas Best Portrait Animal

2024 West Texas Judge's Choice - Portrait - Animal

2024 American Society of Photographers 2nd Place Landscape/Nature Round 2

2024 American Society of Photographers 2nd Place Animal Portrait Round 2

2024 American Society of Photographers Judge's Choice - "Spirit" - Round 2

2024 American Society of Photographers 2nd Place High School Senior - Round 1

2024 American Society of Photographers 3rd Place High School Senior - Round 1

2024 ASP 3rd Place Wildlife - Round 1

2024 ASP Judge's Choice - "The Bull" - Round 1

2024 International Photographic Competition Platinum Medalist, High School Senior

2024 International Photographic Competition Gold Medalist, Illustrative/Digital Art

 

 

The Texas Professional Photographers Association is the state organization of professional photographers in the state of Texas, of which I am a member.

Learn More About Corey →
Man in cowboy hat smiling, holding a medal and award in a banquet setting.

2023

2023 American Society of Photographers Southeast District Award

8th Annual MPI International Digital Art Photographer of the Year

2023 Diamond Photographer of the Year

2023 Grand Imaging Award Finalist | 2023 Imaging Excellence Award Recipient

2023 Texas Professional Photographers Association Best Portrait Artistically Enhanced

2023 Texas Professional Photographers Association Diamond Medalist | 2023 Texas Professional Photographers Association 4x Silver Star

2023 Animal Image Makers 3rd Place Master Artist | 2023 Animal Image Makers Top 10 Wildlife | 2023 Animal Image Makers Top 10 Equine

2023 American Society of Photographers Images of Distinction 1st Place High School Senior

2023 American Society of Photographers Images of Distinction 3rd Place Overall

2023 American Society of Photographers Images of Distinction Judge’s Choice

2023 West Texas Professional Photographers Best High School Senior

2023 West Texas Professional Photographers Best Overall Portrait

2023 West Texas Professional Photographers Best Wildlife

2023 West Texas Professional Photographers Best Artist

2023 West Texas Professional Photographers 3x Judge’s Choice

 

 

The Master Photographers International was an international image competition that hosted photographers from around the world.

The International Photographic Competition, in its previous format, awarded photographers who achieved Imaging Excellence 4/4 total in each of the main competitions: Photographic Open, Artist, and Wedding.

Bronze = 4/4 Merits

Silver = 4/4 Merits + 1 Imaging Excellence

Gold = 4/4 Merits + 2 Imaging Excellence

Platinum = 4/4 Merits + 3 Imaging Excellence

Diamond = 4/4 Imaging Excellence

Two men in suits stand on stage, one placing a medal over the other's head, with a red and white backdrop.

2020, 2021, and 2022

2022 TPPA Platinum Photographer | 2022 TPPA 2x Distinguished Image

2022 AIM Top 10 Wildlife | 2022 AIM Judge’s Choice

2022 ASP Images of Distinction Judge’s Choice

2x Senior and Youth National Conference Photographer of the Year (2021-2022)

SYNC 2022

1st Place Theme, Sport, Hobby | 1st Place Composite | Best of Show

SYNC 2021

1st Place Theme, Sprot, Hobby | 3rd Place Theme, Sport, Hobby | 3rd Place Composite

2nd Place Portrait | 2x Judge’s Choice

SYNC 2020

1st Place Theme, Sport, Hobby | 3rd Place Theme, Sport, Hobby | 1st Place Portrait

1st Place Composite

71x Award of Excellence

 

 

 

The Senior and Youth National Conference is an amazing conference for high school senior photographers and schools and sports photographers to learn, grow, and educate others.

Shelf displaying various crystal awards and plaques, a wooden key, a pin, and a decorative wand. Trophies, awards, and coins displayed on shelves, showcasing achievements in photography from 2019 to 2023. A shelf displaying multiple engraved acrylic and wooden awards from SYNC, including 1st Place and Photographer of the Year. Various awards and certificates displayed in a row against a dark background. Shelves displaying award ribbons, medals, two books labeled PPA Loan Collection, and an open book detailing a waterfall. A framed certificate for Corey McDonald, awarded as an Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery by AIM. Various plaques and certificates displayed on a shelf, with a business card in front. Two wooden plaques on a wall, one for Master of Photography and the other for Master Artist in recognition of professional achievements.

The most meaningful part of any recognition isn't the title, it's the knowing that the same level of care shown in competition work is carried into every client experience.

 

Whether your portrait hangs in a gallery or in your home, it deserves the same respect.

Learn More About Corey →

If you're looking for more than a quick photo, something intentional, lasting, and handled with care, this is where that process begins.

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