Approaches to Photographic Restoration
For this zoom session, we will explore the distinctive purposes and challenges of restoring photographs, considering what sets this discipline apart within the IPC Artist division. We will examine a number of damaged photos to speculate on the challenges and walk through one or two of Chris’s recent restorations in a time-lapse fashion, where participants will see particular techniques that he finds productive and efficient. Our goal is to whet your appetite to step into this valuable realm of artistry that brings smiles to clients’ faces. (We will also address some basic business aspects of pursuing this specialty.)

Chris Paulis, M.Photog.,M.Artist,Cr., CPP, MDPPA-F.Ph.A.Ph

Chris is a Master Photographer, Master Artist, Photographic Craftsman, and Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), as well as an Associate and Photographic Fellow of Maryland Professional Photographers Association (MDPPA). He is a member of PPA, ASP, MDPPA, and PP of PA. He has served as a CPP Liaison since 2013 and served a 4-year term on the MDPPA Board as well as 8 years as Certification chair for MDPPA. He has participated in photographic competition at the state (multiple states!), district, and IPC levels every year since 2013. Chris is a passionate PPA Juror in Training. 

As a career teacher educator, Chris mentors photographers seeking certification and offers workshops on earning the CPP, becoming profitable in product photography, and photographic restoration. During the pandemic he has been asked to do a number of workshops online and hopes to work toward the ASP Educational Associate degree.

2019 proved to be a breakthrough year in photographic competition for Chris. He was named 2018 MDPPA and PP of PA 

Commercial Photographer of the Year in January and March, 2019, respectively. He was also awarded MDPPA Maryland 

Achievement Award for 2018 for developments in his own business and contributions to the growth of others as a Certification Liaison. In the 2019 SE District Photographic Competition, Chris earned first place in both the Artist Open and Artist Restoration categories. Both images were placed in the Loan Collection of the International Photographic Competition and selected as 

Finalists (along with an additional restoration) for the prestigious 2020 Grand Imaging Awards.

In the 2020 IPC, Chris earned a Silver Medal in the Artist competition, with all three of his restoration entries meriting, and one being added to the Loan Collection and named 2021 Grand Imaging Award winner in the Restoration category. He also went 3/4 in the Photographic Open competition.

He is also a grandfather of ten and living proof that one can begin and thrive in a new career after retirement, having begun his journey as a professional photographer after finishing a career in public education, where he taught students and teachers.