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

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), 2023

  • International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, 2024

  • Professional Photographers of Ohio, 2024

  • Professional Photographer of North East Ohio, 2024

  • U.S. Masters Swimming, since 2021

Awards

  • 2025

    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 Contest

  • 2024

    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

  • 2023
    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)

  • 2022
    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

  • 2021
    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

  • 2025

    January - St. Louis Camera Club: From Good to Great: Essential Tips for Better Photography

    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: The Meaning Behind the Making

    October - Professional Photographers of North East Ohio: Expressive Photography: from Vision to Artistic Masterpiece

  • 2024

    May - International Photography Hall of Fame: Focus and Presence: Developing the Artist's Eye through Photography

  • 2023
    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

  • 2022
    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

  • 2021
    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

  • 2020
    March – Promaster/Provenders (cancelled due to COVID)
    Aug – Clickcon (cancelled due to COVID)
    Oct – Promaster/Provenders (cancelled due to COVID)

  • 2019
    Aug – Clickcon – The Art of Editing, Photobashing Techniques, Digitally Paint from a Photograph

    Sept – Missouri Professional Photographers Association, Studio Experience

Publications

  • 2024
    Summer - Magazine - American Society of Photographers, Issue 2

  • 2023
    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

  • 2022
    March – Magazine – Senior Muse
    March – Magazine – Senior Muse
    PPA’s Imaging Excellence Collection: Volume XXV - 2022, Marathon Press, 2023

  • 2021
    PPA’s Imaging Excellence Collection: Volume XXIV - 2021, Marathon Press, 2022

  • 2020
    Sept – Magazine – Rangefinder – Photo of the Day

  • 2019
    Feb – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine
    Feb – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine
    March – Magazine Feature- Shutter Magazine
    May – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine

  • 2018
    Dec – Magazine Feature – Shutter Magazine

Judging

  • 2025

    January - Professional Photographers of Dallas, Judge

    January - St. Louis Camera Club, Judge

    March - Professional Photographers of Pennsylvania, Judge

    March - Professional Photographers of Northern Illinois, Judge

    March - American Society of Photographers, Zoom room Chair

    August - Professional Photographers of Northern Illinois, Judge

    September - Professional Photographers of Eastern Tennessee

  • 2024

    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

  • 2023

    August - Cleveland Photographic Society