Meet the APNPI Judges: Leaders in Maternity, Newborn, and Family Photography!
As the next round of APNPI Accreditation approaches, we’re thrilled to introduce our highly qualified APNPI Judges! These industry leaders have completed APNPI Judges Training and are recognized experts across diverse styles and genres in maternity, newborn, and family photography.
Accreditation Applications Are Now Open!
If you’re a QNP Certified member, this is your chance to take your career to the next level. Apply for accreditation in one of our 12 categories to showcase your expertise and elevate your professional standing.
Looking for Submission Tips and Feedback?
Join our popular Feedback Friday sessions! Held in our membership community on Facebook, these sessions offer personalized critiques of image submissions from our APNPI Judges. This valuable experience helps you refine your submission, ensuring it meets accreditation standards. It’s also a fantastic way to get comfortable with image critiques before the final submission deadline. Stay updated on our Facebook group for session announcements.
Accreditation is a key step toward building your reputation in the photography industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to submit your best work, gain recognition, and receive expert guidance from our prestigious judging panel.
We can’t wait to see your submissions and celebrate your achievements!
Jackie Orlando
“I’m looking for strong technical skills, meaningful emotional impact, and uniqueness. I love images that are free from distracting elements or technical issues that may draw the eye away from the baby.
Most importantly, I want to help support photographers in learning, growing, and gaining confidence, and to be recognized for their hard work.“
Jackie is known for her artistic, minimalist approach to photographing newborns. Her simple, yet impactful images embrace babies’ natural movements and expressions, and incorporate gentle, baby-led posing without props.
This intentional blend of styles results in galleries that highlight love, connection, and authentic moments with an artistic touch.
As an APNPI Ambassador with accreditations in the “Unposed Newborn” and “Sitter” categories, Jackie has earned multiple distinctions and awards in Image Competitions, and is honored to have her photography featured in multiple publications.
Soon to be an APNPI Educator, she is passionate about helping photographers create meaningful art that honors the beauty of real moments while building trust through a calm, baby-first approach.
Jennifer McNeil
“When reviewing submissions, I’m first drawn to images that create an immediate emotional connection or clearly tell a story. I look for intention in posing—work that feels natural, safe, and purposeful rather than forced. Strong, flattering lighting that enhances the subject without distracting from it is essential. Overall, I’m seeking images where technical skill supports the emotion, allowing the photograph to feel both beautiful and meaningful.”
Jennifer McNeil is an award-winning newborn photographer, APNPI Educator, and APNPI Ambassador based in Orange County, California. With experience photographing over 4,000 newborns, her work is deeply rooted in newborn safety, ethical practices, and thoughtful artistry. Jennifer regularly volunteers in the NICU, providing holiday portraits for hospitalized babies and their families—work that reflects her heart for service and advocacy within the newborn community.
As both an educator and working professional, Jennifer brings real-world experience into her teaching, blending technical skill with compassion, intention, and a strong foundation in safety. When she’s not teaching or photographing, she enjoys traveling with her family and getting creative through crafting—always inspired by storytelling, connection, and the fleeting beauty of early life.
Lisa Digeso
“Safety is paramount – Excellence in lighting, posing, consistent skin tones.”
Lisa DiGeso is a Photographer at Milk & Honey Photography in Kamloops BC, and the co-founder of The Milky Way, a photography education platform offering online courses, retreats, and resources for portrait and newborn photographers. She’s well-known in the photography community for her approachable teaching style and her emphasis on balancing business with creativity and personal well-being. Lisa helps photographers improve their technical skills while also focusing on the emotional and business aspects of creative work.
She teaches everything from posing newborns safely to the ins and outs of running a sustainable photography business, with a particular emphasis on mindset and self-care. Lisa also hosts The Art & Soul Show, a podcast where she interviews photographers and entrepreneurs, sharing stories of personal growth, creativity, and business lessons. Her mission is to help photographers build fulfilling careers without sacrificing their well-being.
Lisa’s warm and candid style, along with her experience in both the creative and business sides of photography, has made her a beloved figure among creatives looking to find balance and joy in their work.
Kayleigh Ashworth
Kayleigh Ashworth is an APNPI accredited, multi-award winning artist, recognized as one the best Maternity and Newborn Photographers in the Inland Empire; and operates a successful portrait studio located within the heart of Downtown Murrieta, in Southern California. Established in 2015, Kayleigh Ashworth Photography has helped countless women hone in on their artists skills, foster confidence in working with newborns, emphasizing safety above all, and maximize business goals.
Kayleigh and her work have been featured on the comedy series ‘The Try Guys’, featured on CBS8 San Diego News, and has had a televised interview with Intuit Quickbooks featured as an inspirational story for other businesses. After years of experience serving families from all walks of life, and furthering her education with industry leaders, Kayleigh now offers 1:1 Mentoring, as well as online tutorials and Adobe Photoshop actions for those wanting to expand their knowledge. It is Kayleigh’s mission to raise the standard of Newborn Photography – in safety, quality, and performance – and empower women to thrive within their business by sharing her knowledge and experiences learned throughout her career. www.kayleighashworthphotography.com