Mindy Armstrong, jhP associate photographer, was recently awarded First Place for the Regional non–master group and First Place for the Kansas non–master group at the annual conference for the Heart of America Professional Photographers Association. At the conference, Mindy’s piece was compared against work by photographers from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Her winning image was titled “United We Stand,” and she took the photo in the summer of 2008 for the United Way of Greater Topeka’s 2008 campaign materials.

Mindy was also awarded a Gold ADDY from the American Advertising Federation of Topeka for the same image in February 2009. Mindy joined the jhP team in the fall of 2007. She has been a member of the Heart of America Professional Photographers Association since 2005.

Congratulations Mindy!

All Aboard!!!!! In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, jhP team members competed in the first annual Great Topeka Bed Race, sponsored by Housing & Credit Counseling Inc.

jhP determined early in the planning stages to do what we do best – be creative! Our theme was the Orangeland Express – to highlight our brand and Topeka’s history of being a railroad city. With the entire team on board we quickly created a train out of our bed with a fully functioning smoke stack that blew orange smoke.

A good time was had by all as our locomotive rolled along the parade route in downtown Topeka.

Last weekend the Arab Shrine Circus was in Topeka for five exciting performances. Over the last few years jhP has been part of the act, creating the advertising materials and scheduling media events for the circus. With ticket sales 7-percent higher this year over last year’s event, the big top in the big T was a huge hit.

This year’s promotional artwork was created by our award-winning illustrator, Dan Billen. Dan’s rendition of a smiling clown and tiger graced the collateral materials and TV spot, giving the circus a fresh new look.

“I was thrilled to be asked to create the artwork for the 2009 Annual Arab Shrine Circus,” said Dan. “I’ve always loved the circus and this was the perfect chance for me to create art to promote something I’m really interested in.”

“I enjoy working with collage, so after I drew Wiggles (the clown) and Chompers (the tiger) I started collecting photos to use as the textures behind the original line drawing. I wanted pictures that were relevant to the project, so I found circus-related imagery. For example, Wiggles’ coat is made of tickets and his tie is balloons.”

“My favorite detail is Chompers’ nose made out of pink cotton candy! It was a great experience to go to the circus this year and see my art all over everything. My kids were so proud. It was a rewarding experience I’ll always remember.”