Join us on Friday, July 17, for a visit to Joseph Bellows Gallery, where we’ll tour Surfboard, a new exhibition by Joni Sternbach.
This casual member gathering is a great opportunity to connect with fellow photographers and the local APA community. After the tour, we’ll stay for coffee and conversation—a chance to exchange ideas, learn more about APA, and get to know your local chapter.
To help us plan for the gallery tour, please RSVP by Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Please arrive a few minutes early, and allow extra time for traffic and street parking.
Untitled finalists, Barron Bixler, Nitashia Johnson
The Untitled 2025 exhibition will be on view at The Photographer’s Eye Gallery for the first two weekends in February. Join us for a special artist’s reception on Saturday, February 7th from 5:30 -7:00pm. This is a Free event and open to all so come out to celebrate the artists and see the exhibition.
All entries were curated byAlyssa Ortega Coppelman, independent photo and photo book editor, writer, picture researcher, and consultant based in Austin, Texas and Shana Lopes, PhD, Assistant Curator of Photography at SFMOMA.
When: Saturday February 7th, 2026, 5:30-7:00pm
Where: The Photographer’s Eye Gallery 326 E Grand Avenue Escondido, CA 92025
Join APA | San Diego at WOO Studios for a one-night only exhibition of photographic prints from our Untitled 2025 contest with 10% of the entry proceeds being donated to Outside the Lens.
See all competition entries shown in a rotating slideshow and come out to support the photo community. Winning entries were curated byAlyssa Ortega Coppelman, independent photo and photo book editor, writer, picture researcher, and consultant based in Austin, Texas and Shana Lopes, PhD, Assistant Curator of Photography at SFMOMA.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finalists and the People’s Choice recipient.
When: Saturday January 10, 2026, 5:00-8:00 pm PST
Where: WOO Studios 2212 Main St. San Diego, CA 92113
Do you have a photography project or series you’re passionate about? Curious what your peers and others think of it?
Join APA | SD and our photo community on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00PM for an evening dedicated to sharing creative projects. This is an opportunity for you to share your work and/or to comment on the work of others. 3 photographers will share their projects in an in-person critique setting. Our “Peer to Peer” events are open to everyone, but you must be a current APA member to present your project.
As independent artists, we know it’s not easy to create in a silo. Sharing your work is an invaluable way to help find your voice and leverage the communal nature of creativity. Letting others in on your process can be inspiring and helps lead to self-discovery that can push a project even further.
If you don’t have a project to share, that’s ok. Come out to support the presenters and photo community. Constructive feedback and insight are always welcome.
Send us a link to your project for consideration. Submissions should be ready to share and present to an audience. If you are selected to present, you will be given 15-20 minutes including time for comments and questions.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 | 6 PM
WHERE: Studio on Banks | 5343 Banks St, San Diego, CA 92110
Untitled is an annual juried exhibition designed to showcase the best work – images that show your unique vision, creative passion, and individualistic style, titled or untitled. Each year we invite curators, editors and industry professionals from the international photo community to help curate our annual exhibition and fundraiser. This year we’re honored to welcome our jurors Shana Lopes, Assistant Director from SFMOMA and Alyssa Ortega Coppelman, an independent photo and photobook editor, writer, picture researcher, and consultant based in Austin, Texas.
Our jurors will consider all photographic submissions for an in-person exhibition where 20 images will be displayed, and the top three finalists awarded prizes, one of which will receive the ‘Best of Show’ honors.
Our annual call for entries is open to anyone from students to professional photographers and there are no categories.
APA members receive discounts on all entries. For details and to submit your work click here or visit the Untitledshow.org to view past winner galleries. The deadline to enter is October 13, 2025.
Entry fees help support annual programming and events for APA San Diego and Outside the Lens. 10% of all entry fees will be donated to Outside the Lens in support of their mission and programming.
Join APA | SD for a casual members gathering at Bread & Salt Gallery on Friday, August 15th at 11:30am to tour their new exhibition by Jason Sherry. Meet us for a tour at 11:30 and stay to grab a coffee with us afterwards at Provecho! Coffee Co.
This is a great way to connect with other photographers, artists and members, learn more about APA and ask any questions.
Where: 1955 Julian Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
When: Friday, August 15th at 11:30am
This is a Free event so come out, meet other members and get more involved with your local photo community.
APA San Diego is hosting a midsummer mixer on Wednesday, July 30th at Studio on Banks.
This is an opportunity to meet new people, network, discuss collaborations and catch up with old friends. We’ll be inside enjoying some drinks from 5-7PM and hope to see you there.
All are welcome – whether you’re already an APA member or just interested in meeting others in the photo, film and creative community.
When: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 · 5 – 7pm PDT Where: Studio On Banks, 5343 Banks St., San Diego, CA 92110 Get Directions
Join APA | SD for a casual gathering for members at the Photographer’s Eye Gallery on Friday, April 18th from 12pm-1pm to tour their new exhibition, Earth Matters. Meet us for a tour at noon and stay to grab a coffee with us afterwards.
This is a great way to connect with other photographers and members, learn more about APA and ask any questions.
Where: 326 E Grand Ave. Escondido, CA 92025
When: Friday, April 18th at 12pm
Cost: Tour is FREE for members
This is a Free event so come out, meet other members and get more involved with your local photo community.
Photos clockwise from upper left: Stacy Keck, Rich Soublet, Andrew Burns, Rich Soublet, Rich Soublet, Stacy Keck
APA San Diego proudly presents three of its own to demystify the process of creating exceptional portraits. Andrew Burns, Stacy Keck, and Rich Soublet, are coming together to design a workshop on portrait lighting you will not want to miss. Andrew, an established gaffer/photographer will walk us through a wide range of lighting setups in the studio. In addition, we cover how to light an individual within a scene on location. Using strobe, RGB, and constant light, we will take attendees through the process of using these tools to create dynamic portrait lighting, not your typical headshot. We will walk the line between light and shadow and show you what it takes to have control over both.
In addition, as a fun way to show the process of creating trust with the people we photograph, Stacy and Rich will each be tasked with creating a series of portraits of someone preselected whom they have never met. These interactions of meeting someone new, quickly creating rapport, and directing their subject on camera will take place live in front of workshop attendees. This will be a great opportunity for participants to pick up practical tips on how to quickly get people comfortable in front of the camera.
This event will be interactive, providing participants the opportunity to ask questions and gain practical knowledge and confidence with their own creative works. Come join us and see the magic that happens when experienced photographers unite to create together!
What: An in-person lighting and portrait workshop for all levels of photographers
When: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, 9:30AM – 12:00PM
Where:Skylight Studios, 4562 Alvarado Canyon Road, San Diego, CA, 92120
Cost: $25 APA Members $50 Non Members Students FREE with proof of enrollment/Student ID (Tickets must be reserved in advance, space is limited)
Sony will be joining us to share details about their UX Research Program. Sony’s UX research team is looking for more creators to provide feedback for Sony imaging products and concepts. Photographers, videographers, and cinematographers of all backgrounds are welcome to join the Creators’ volunteer list to hear about upcoming opportunities to share your experience and opinions. Gift card incentives are provided as a thank you for your feedback, which is used to improve current and future Sony products.
Thank you to George’s Camera for your ongoing support and helping make our annual programming possible. Visit their North Park or Clairemont locations and see why they are San Diego’s largest full-service camera store.
Skylight Studios for their generosity and hosting the event at their beautiful studio. Skylight Studios is equipped with the most thoughtful amenities of any studio of its kind in San Diego, paired with incredible hospitality and support. For a successful, headache-free production, look no further!
Voice & Video for their gracious donation of lighting and grip for this event. Visit them for your audio, video and production needs!
Join APA | SD for a casual gathering for members at the La Jolla Historical Society on Friday, March 21st from 12pm-1pm PT to tour their new exhibition, La Jolla Surf: Culture, Art, Craft. Meet us for a tour at noon and stay to grab a coffee with us afterwards. La Jolla Surf also invites viewers into the world of surfing through iconic photography by Roy Porello, Jeff Divine, and Ron Church, original artwork by award winning designer, John van Hamersveld, and surf boards from the greatest shapers in the region. Through the extensive, original interview footage with local surfers created by curator John Durant, visitors will hear firsthand accounts of how the surfing community developed, how it has evolved over time, and the powerful connection to, and appreciation of the ocean and nature that surfing engenders.
Where: La Jolla Historical Society, 780 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
When: Friday, March 21st at 12pm
Cost: FREE
This is a great way to connect with other photographers and members, learn more about APA and get more involved with your local chapter. We sincerely hope to see you there.
APA | San Diego 