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Paul Korker is devoted to the fine art of his profession. This is evident not just by the distinctive images he creates for
his clientele, but also by the numerous regional and national awards he has received for his professional photography. Known
for his soft, impressionistic images, Paul enjoys the challenge of shooting a variety of photographic assignments. His specialties
include portraits of families, children and high school students; weddings, business portraits, travel photography and fine
art images including black and white archival prints.
A second generation photographer, Paul began his professional photographic career in 1972. He learned his craft as a
young child working after school for his parents, and later from professional photography schools. In 1980, Paul was one
of the first photographers in the state of Connecticut to earn the degree of Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) which
he received from the Professional Photographers of America (PP of A). In 1993, Paul earned one of the highest honors for professional
image makers, the Master of Photography degree . PP of A awards this degree only to photographers whose superior competence
and technique have been recognized by impartial judges in exhibit competitions. In 1999, Paul received the Photographic Craftsman
degree for his contributions to photography including teaching to other professional photographers.
Paul is very active in professional photography organizations and was the president of the Connecticut Professional Photographers
Association from 1996 to 1998. He has been on the board of directors for a sum total of 16 years and has chaired and worked
on many committees. He is currently back on the board for a third time and is serving as the vice president of membership.
Major awards and accomplishments include: a Court of Honor from the Professional Photographers Association of New England
(PPANE); two Court of Honor awards from the Connecticut Professional Photographers Association (CPPA); "Photographer
of the Year" 1982-83 and the Gemini Cup from the CPPA; and the "Outstanding Photographer" award from the Connecticut
Special Olympics. In 1987, Paul participated in the first professional photographer cultural exchange with the People's Republic
of China. One of Paul 's exhibition photographs was accepted into the PP of A's 1993 Loan Collection and the 1993 Epcot Exhibit
at Walt Disney World. Only the top 2 percent of the more than 6,000 entries that year were chosen for this honor. Paul was
once again honored by the CPPA in 2003 with the Gemini Cup for the most creative photograph in the exhibition. He is now one
of just four photographers to win that award twice.
About the Ridgefield Studio
The Ridgefield Studio was originally part of the Ridgefield Photo Shop which was started by photographer Frank Gordon
in 1944. Paul's parents, Korky and Gerry, bought the shop in 1951. Over the years the business grew as a photo shop and photography
studio located on Main Street. Paul bought the photography studio portion of the business in 1983 and moved it to it's present
location on Barry Avenue. Formerly the site of the Kaiser Poultry Farm, the old chicken barn was refurbished into a 3500
square foot photography studio complete with camera bays, photo laboratory, dressing rooms and daylight studio.
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