Meet Ken

Ken Sklute has been honored as one of Canon’s Explorers of Light, a designation shared by only 48 top photographers worldwide. During his 35 year photographic career, Ken has been named Photographer of the Year a total of 27 times between Arizona, New York, and California. Ken has accomplished his Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from the Professional Photographers of America; Accolade of Photographic Mastery, Accolade of Outstanding Photographic Achievement, Accolade of Exceptional Photographic Achievement, Accolade of Highest Photographic Achievement, and the Accolade of Lifetime Photographic Excellence. In 2009, Ken was awarded the Photographer of the Year from the Professional Photographers of California, as well as Illustrative Photographer of the Year. 2009 saw Ken receive his 15th Kodak Gallery Award. Recent years have Ken awarded Best in Show at the Western States Regional Print Competition, Photographer of the Year-Western States Regional Print Competition; Photographer of the Year-Silver Level from the Professional Photographers of America; The Year 2005 saw Ken receive the Drag Racing Photographer of the Year from CompetitionPlus.com., Wedding Photographer of the Year and Photojournalist of the Year from the Professional Photographers of California, as well as receiving the Heidi Mauracher Starlite award for Best Wedding Photograph. Ken as accomplished 14 Kodak Gallery awards and 15 Fuji Masterpiece Awards. Ken spends much of his time teaching and lecturing both Nationally and Internationally. My first passion, drag racing gave way to the birth of my photographic career. I sold images from the first roll of film, 126 instamatic Ektachrome slides. Soon after I became a wedding & portrait photographer and have been in love with photography ever since. Seeing and finding light seemed to come natural for me. I learned early in my career the important role “light” played in a good photograph. I clearly recall walking through a park on a foggy night with one of my mentors. I saw light pouring through the fog creating rays and commented how much I loved light. I was playfully smacked by my mentor. He then said “that’s why you are a photographer”. I began to enter local, state and national PP of A print competitions. This ignited my quest to improve my photography. Entering 6 images per month for 11 months a year helped me grow rather quickly. With 30+ years of competing I’ve earned more than 27 Photographer of the Year awards. I remain involved so I can continue to hone my craft. The best part of growing is that I impose a “style make over” every season so I can stay fresh and excited about creating powerful, new imagery, and continue to grow personally and professionally. This continued growth is also a catalyst to keep me on top of my game in order to be able to teach and motivate my students to be the best that they can be. I hope to teach fundamental ways you can consistently create great images by sharing what I’ve learned in my 35+ years of experience in photography.

Ken's Facebook

Ken’s Website