Steve Cooper owns and operates S. M. Cooper Photographic Artist based in Connecticut. Steve accepts location assignments throughout the United States as well as internationally. He is an active member of the Professional Photographers of America, New England and Connecticut, Senior Photographers International as well as Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. Mr. Cooper was the Photography Editor and Contributing Photographer for the national magazine, “World Class Weddings”.
Steve Cooper has been awarded Connecticut Photographer of the Year seven times and is the current Master Photographer of the year. Mr. Cooper has been awarded the titles of Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman by the Professional Photographers of America, the largest international professional association for photographers. Steve is one of fewer than 450 people internationally to hold these degrees. He also holds two Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees. One in Art Education and the other in Photography. At a recent CPPA convention he was awarded 4 trophies for highest scoring prints in the annual competition as well as most creative image in the competition.
Steve is also an affiliate photo competition judge with the Professional Photographers of America. He has received awards for more than 750 prints, including "Awards of Merit", "Courts of Honors", “Best in Shows", the Fuji Masterpiece award, the "Art Leather Wedding Album Award" and the “Kodak Gallery Award”. The International Competition of SPI in FL, recognized Steve’s print folio for its excellence as one of the top three international collections.
Mr. Cooper’s photographs have been consistently displayed in the Annual Professional Photographer's of America International Exhibit since 1982. His images have been published, as well as in traveling displays representing the Professional Photographers of America throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and China. One of his images, "Peanut and Crackerjack" was part of the special International Photographic Exhibit at Disney’s Epcot. His Environmental Portrait of a bride and groom,” Scotch on the Rocks”, a Black and White studio portrait of 2 boys in their soccer uniforms, “Foot Soldiers” and the Environmental portrait “The Last Clip” were part of recent PPA International Photography Exhibitions. Steve has been presented with the Art Leather Award for the best Adult Male portrait folio at the New England Convention and a best in show in both the portrait and Wedding/Social Event categories of the CPPA state competition. He was most recently awarded “Best in Show” plaques in both the wedding/social event and portrait categories by the CPPA.
Among Steve's more notable portrait assignments are those of Arnold Palmer, Tiki Barber, Count Basi, Lionell Hampton, Buddy Rich, Gloria Gaynor, “Bachelor” Bob Guini, Maynard Ferguson, Carrot Top, Harry Chapin, Brian Adams, Senators Chris Dodd and Joseph Leiberman, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Atty. General Richard Blumenthal, and Governors O'Neill, Weiker, Rowland and Rell.
“In order to remain a leader in this creative industry, one must continue
being educated and exposed to new concepts and techniques”. Steve
is a nationally recognized lecturer and author specializing in Family, Children’s
and Executive Portraiture as well as Social Event Photography (Weddings
and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). His limited edition fine art images have been exhibited
in Galleries and homes throughout the U.S. and abroad.