Achievements
Carly Sullens, M. Photog., M. Artist, CPP, is an award-winning fine art photographer, digital artist, and educator whose work bridges in-camera artistry and painterly post-processing. With a foundation in painting, art history, and a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy, Carly’s creative practice blends technical mastery with a deep understanding of human expression. Her photographs have been exhibited, published, and collected internationally, and she continues to share her expertise through speaking engagements, workshops, and collaborations, including her ongoing work with Luminar Neo and the International Photography Hall of Fame.
Credentials & Affiliations
Credentials
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION
1996- B.S- Art Therapy- Bowling Green State University, OH
1998- M.A.- Art Therapy- Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL
2022- Certified Professional Photographer - Professional Photographers of America
2023- Master Artist - Professional Photographers of America
2023- Master of Photography - Professional Photographers of America
2025 - PPA Approved Juror
Professional Affiliations
Professional Photographers of America (PPA), since 2019
Missouri Professional Photographers of America (MOPPA), since 2019, Board Member 2020 - 2023, Print Comp co-Chair, Technology Committee
American Society of Photographers (ASP), since 2023
International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, since 2024
Professional Photographers of Ohio, since 2024
Professional Photographer of North East Ohio, since 2024
Awards
-
Jan - American Society of Photographers - Northeast District Award
Jan - Top 16 (Silver) – Commercial – International Photographic Competition - PPA
Jan - Top 16 (Silver) – Wildlife– International Photographic Competition - PPA
Jan - Top 32 (Bronze) – Illustrative/Digital Art– International Photographic Competition - PPA
March - 1st place - Photographic Open - ICON, International Photography Awards - WPPI
July - 3x Gold Award - Fine Art - Master Photographers International - IIC
July - 2x Silver Award - Fine Art - Master Photographers International - IIC
July - CPP State Award, ASP State Award, Top 10 Photographer, 4 for 4 Award, 2x Judges Choice, Professional Photographers of Ohio
July - Photographer of the Year, Professional Photographers of Ohio
July - Highest Scoring Artist Open, Highest Scoring Reportage, Professional Photographers of Ohio
July - George Edmondson Award - Professional Photographers of Ohio, presented to the highest scoring Commercial/Illustrative image.
July - Kubiac Award- Professional Photographers of Ohio, awarded to the maker of the most creative entry, regardless of category. Awarded by the judges.
-
Jan - Top 32 (Bronze) – Boudior – International Photographic Competition - PPA
July - CPP State Award, ASP State Award, Top 10 Photographer, 4 for 4 Award, Professional Photographers of Ohio
July - Pictorial/IMPACT Award - Professional Photographers of Ohio, awarded to the most evocative image that best illustrates a story. Awarded by the judges.
July - George Edmondson Award - Professional Photographers of Ohio, presented to the highest scoring Commercial/Illustrative image.
July - Kubiac Award- Professional Photographers of Ohio, awarded to the maker of the most creative entry, regardless of category. Awarded by the judges.
Aug. - "Quiet Elegance" - International Photography Hall of Fame, Vision & Viewpoint, International Photography online Exhibition
Oct. - “Traces of God” 1st Place in RAW - American Society of Photographers
Oct. - Quiet Elegance" 3rd Place in Illustrative - American Society of Photographers
Oct. - “Being Forgotten” Judges’ Choice - American Society of Photographers
Nov. - “Being Forgotten” ICON Silver Distinction Award & Top 10 Finalist (Open Creative)
Nov. - “Trapped by the Freeze” ICON Silver Award, Finalist (Portrait Creative Group)
Nov. - “Quiet Elegance” - ICON Silver Award, Finalist (Open Creative)
-
Jan - Top 16 (Silver) – Illustrative/Digital Art – International Photographic Competition - PPA
April - "Healed in Gold and Growth" Pro Prints - Invitational II - Top 100
April - "Yearning to Reach You" - International Visionography Awards - Composite Art - Excellence Award, 2nd Place Winner
April - "Healed in Gold and Growth" - International Visionography Awards - Composite Art - Excellence Award, 3rd Place Winner
April - "My Outer Critic" - International Visionography Awards - Composite Art - Accepted in Show
April - "Vulnerable" - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Portrait)
June - "Serenity" Image Excellence - PPA, Merit Image Review (Portrait)
July - "Rooted in Mystery" - International Photography Hall of Fame, Behind the Veil, International Photography Contest
July - "Intertwined" - International Photography Hall of Fame, Behind the Veil, International Photography Contest
July - Top 10 Photographer, 4 for 4 Award, Master Photographer of the Year, CPP State Award, ASP State Award, Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - "Cici and the Circus Dog" -Missouri Professional Photographers Association, Best of Artist, 1st Place Master Artist
July - "Fall Impressions" -Missouri Professional Photographers Association, Best of Illustrative Scenic Landscape, 1st place Illustrative Master, Judges Choice Award, Best of Show Master
July - "Intertwined" -Missouri Professional Photographers Association, Best of Illustrative Still Life, Judges Choice Award
July - "Urban Movements" -Missouri Professional Photographers Association, Best of Illustrative Cityscape
July - "Rooted in Mystery" -Missouri Professional Photographers Association, 1st Place Portrait Master, Judges Choice Award
July - "Serenity" - Missouri Professional Photographers Association, 2nd Place Portrait Master, Judges Choice Award
July - "Turning Circles" - Missouri Professional Photographers Association, 3rd Place Portrait Masters
July - "Street Sweeper" - Missouri Professional Photographers Association, 2nd Place Reportage Master
July - "Sidelined" - Missouri Professional Photographers Association, Best of Reportage Sports, 1st Place Master Reportage
July - Top 10 Photographer, 4 for 4 Award, Professional Photographers of Ohio
July - "Intertwined" - Professional Photographers of Ohio, 1st place Photographic Open Landscape/Nature
July - "Just Below the Surface" - Professional Photographers of Ohio, Kubiac Award, Judge's Choice Award
July - "Sidelined" - Professional Photographers of Ohio, 1st place Photographic Open Reportage
July - "Urban Movements" - Professional Photographers of Ohio, George Edmonson Award Illustrative/Commercial
-
Feb - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Portrait)
Feb - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Artist)
Feb - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Portrait)
Feb - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Reportage)
March - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Reportage)
March - Image Excellence - PPA, Merit Image Review (Artist)
March - Image Excellence - PPA, Merit Image Review (Artist)
April - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Artist)
April - Merit - PPA, Merit Image Review (Artist)
May - Image Excellence - PPA, Merit Image Review (Illustrative)
June - Image Excellence - PPA, Merit Image Review (Portrait)
July – Missouri Photography of the Year (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Best in Show (Master) - Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – Top 10 Photographer – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - 4/4 – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Certified Professional Photography Award
July – Judges Choice Award – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
Judge - Mandy Corbell
Judge - Angela Hughes
Judge - Jayme Benabides
July – Best of Woman – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Best of Artist – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Best of Cityscape – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Best of Reportage – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - First Place Artist (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - First Place Reportage (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Second Place Portrait (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Second Place Illustrative (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Second Place Artist (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Third Place Illustrative (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July - Third Place Artist (Master) – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
August - Image Excellence - PPA, Merit Image Review (Illustrative)
August - Image Excellence - PPA, Merit Image Review (Illustrative)November - Top 32 Finalist, PPA, International Print Competition
December - Silver, WPE - International Photographers Awards (Landscape)
-
Jan – Light, Juried Exhibit – Art Saint Louis
June – 3rd Place Photographer – Manchester Arts, FOCUS Photography
June – North Central Districts Top 10, Artist – International Print Competition
June – North Central Districts Top 10, General Portrait – International Print Competition
July – Missouri Photography of the Year – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – Top 10 Photographer – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – Best Creative Artist – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – Best Wedding – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – First Place, Creative Artist – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – First Place, Wedding – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – Second Place, Portrait – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – Four for Four – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – Judges Choice Award – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
Sept - International Photographic Competition – Gold, Artist (PPA)
Sep – Imaging Excellence – Artist Open (2) – International Photographic Competition – PPA
Sep – Imaging Excellence – Photographic Open (2) – International Photographic Competition – PPA
Sep – Merit – Artist Open (4) – International Photographic Competition - PPA
Sep – Merit – Portrait (3) – International Photographic Competition - PPA -
Feb – Hope, Juried Exhibit - Art Saint Louis
July – Top Ten Photographer – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
July – First Place – Creative Open – Missouri Professional Photographers Association (Non-Master)
July – First Place – Straight Out of Camera – Missouri Professional Photographers Association (Non-Master)
July – Third Place – Creative Open – Missouri Professional Photographers Association (Non-Master)
July – Judges Choice – Missouri Professional Photographers Association
Aug – Top Ten Photographer – PhotoPro Network, Kentucky
Aug – Merit - Photopro Network, Kentucky
Aug – Merit - Photopro Network, Kentucky
Aug – Merit - Photopro Network, Kentucky
Sep – Imaging Excellence – Artist Open – International Photographic Competition – PPA
Sep – Merit – Portrait – International Photographic Competition - PPA
Sep – Merit – Portrait/Child – International Photographic Competition – PPA
Speaking
-
Jan. - Imaging USA - American Society of Photographers Booth - Northeast District Award
April - Professional Photographers of North East Ohio: - Fine Art Foundations for the Modern Photographer with Kenzie Hunter
June - Professional Photographers of North East Ohio: - Educate and Elevate - Compassionate Image Critique
Sept. - Professional Photographers of Michigan: Fall Retreat: Intent to Image: Learning to Create from Within
Oct. - American Art Therapy Association 57th Annual Conference- Rooted & Rising: Beyond the Snapshot: Exploring Photography as an Expressive Medium in Art Therapy
-
April - International Photography Hall of Fame: Learning from the Masters: Using Historic Photography to Inspire Your Work
May - Professional Photographers of North East Ohio: Competing with Confidence: Perfecting Your Photos for Image Comp
Sept. - Santa Fe Workshops: Intent to Image: Learning to Create from Within
October - Professional Photographers of North East Ohio: Intent to Image: Learning to Create from Within
-
May - International Photography Hall of Fame: Focus and Presence: Developing the Artist's Eye through Photography
-
May - PPA Workshops: The Creative Advantage: Learn to See Things Differently
May - PPA Workshops: Discover Artistic Editing
June - Women In Creative Photography: Turn Your Photos into Art- Learn how to digitally Paint
August - Clickcon: Experimental Expressive Photography, Female in Focus, Discover Artistic Editing
September - Edit Like a Pro: Creative Editing Unleashed with Robert Vanelli and Joe Edelman
September - Power House Summit: The Heroine's Quest: Discovering Provisions Around You
December - Cleveland Photographic Society: The Creative Advantage: Learn to See Things Differently -
Feb – Professional Photographers of Nebraska Annual Conference – Turn Your photos into Art – Learn how to digitally Paint
March – Professional Photographers of Greater Kansas City – Learn how to Digitally Paint in Photoshop
June – Clickcon – Avant-Garde Photography – Explore Your Artistic Side, Photograph to Photo Painting – Learn to Photo Paint from Beginning to End -
Jan – Clickcon – See, Create and Execute Innovative Portraits
July – Missouri Professional Photographers Associations – Turn Your Photos into Art! Learn How to Digitally Paint a Photo with Photoshop
Aug – Clickcon – Turn Your Photos into Art! Learn How to Digitally Paint a Photo with Photoshop
Aug – Clickcon – Avant-Garde Photography – Explore Your Artistic Side, Turn Your Photos into Art! Learn How to Digitally Paint a Photo with Photoshop -
March – Promaster/Provenders (cancelled due to COVID)
Aug – Clickcon (cancelled due to COVID)
Oct – Promaster/Provenders (cancelled due to COVID)
-
Aug – Clickcon – The Art of Editing, Photobashing Techniques, Digitally Paint from a Photograph
Sept – Missouri Professional Photographers Association, Studio Experience
Publications
-
Fall - Magazine - American Society of Photographers, Issue 3
Nov. - Magazine - Professional Photographers of America
-
Summer - Magazine - American Society of Photographers, Issue 2
-
March - Magazine - Professional Photographers of America
PPA’s Imaging Excellence Collection: Volume XXV - 2022, Marathon Press, 2023
September - Magazine - Professional Photographers of America
Winter - Magazine - American Society of Photographers, Issue 4
-
March – Magazine – Senior Muse
March – Magazine – Senior Muse
March - PPA’s Imaging Excellence Collection: Volume XXV - 2022, Marathon Press
-
PPA’s Imaging Excellence Collection: Volume XXIV - 2021, Marathon Press, 2021
-
Sept – Magazine – Rangefinder – Photo of the Day
-
Feb – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine
Feb – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine
March – Magazine Feature- Shutter Magazine
May – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine -
Dec – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine
Judging
-
January - Greater Cleveland Photographic Society
May - Professional Photographers of Sacramento Valley
June - Professional Photographers of Central Florida
June - Professional Photographers of North Carolina
July - Professional Photographers of Oklahoma
Aug - Professional Photographers of Idaho
Aug - American Society of Photographers (committee incoming co-chair)
-
January - Professional Photographers of Dallas
January - St. Louis Camera Club
March - Professional Photographers of Pennsylvania
March - Professional Photographers of Northern Illinois
March - American Society of Photographers, Co-Chairman
August - Professional Photographers of Northern Illinois
September - American Society of Photographers, (committee incoming co-chair)
September - Professional Photographers of Nebraska
September - Professional Photographers Guild of Houston
September - Professional Photographers of Eastern Tennessee
-
September - Professional Photographers Society of Greater Washington, Judge
October - Professional Photographers of North East Ohio, Judge
November - Professional Photographers of Iowa, Judge
November - Algarve Photographers Group, Judge
-
August - Cleveland Photographic Society
Beyond the Curriculum Vitae
Learn about my background, experiences, and the path that has shaped my work as an artist, photographer, and educator.
Gain insight into the heart of my creative vision, where I share the ideas and inspirations that shape my work.
Discover the organizations and communities I am honored to collaborate with, reflecting my commitment to service, education, and the art of photography.