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 10 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.
Fru Jonas
“In your submissions, I’m looking for images that tell a genuine story and capture real emotion. Technical skill is important, but what truly stands out to me is thoughtful composition, connection, and creativity. I want to feel something when I look at your work—whether it’s joy, tenderness, or awe. Show me your unique perspective and the heart behind the moment you’ve captured.“
Hi, I’m Fru – owner of Capture Magic Photography, and a specialist newborn and baby photographer based in Newport, South-East Wales. Since 2015, I’ve had the joy of capturing life’s most precious early moments for families I am an APNPI ambassador and previous competition winner. I’m honoured to be part of this judging panel and excited to bring my creative eye, sensitivity to storytelling, and appreciation for authentic connection to the role.
Trayc Dudgeon
I’m looking for proper exposure, focus, and sharpness. Clean editing with no over-processing or distracting artifacts. Excellent use of lighting (natural or artificial). Good color balance and tonal range Composition and Creativity
I’m the owner and photographer at Blue Rooster Studios. I’ve been passionate about art my whole life and after taking my first photography class in High School I fell in love. I furthered my photography education at Humber Collage and 20 years later I am still just as passionate as the day I began. I’ve since become an award winning Accredited portrait photographer with PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada) specializing in Maternity, Newborn, Children, Family as well as Corporate portraits and Weddings. I am also newborn safety trained and Internationally recognised as a qualified Newborn photographer with the APNPI, an international photography association. I have recieved several accreditations, awards and have become on of their mentoring photographers.