“Lifestyles”

A day with Bert & Cindy Behnke is never the same as the day before it. They live life by doing what they love, everyday. Their program will motivate, excite, enlighten and probably surprise many of you. Their philosophy is all about creating your lifestyle, then designing your business around it. But whatever you may think now, it will make you question everything. Instead of asking why, you will believe “why not!”

“Lifestyles” is a full day of almost everything today’s photographer needs to run their business and their life. They’ll touch on almost every aspect in this fast-paced program. There will be photographic sessions, marketing ideas, equipment discussions, studio set-up demonstrations, audiovisual shows, production and retouching demos, do-it-yourself projects, money-making ideas and maybe even some dancing!

But mostly, it will be an examination of how living your life the way you want to, can make your personal life and your business the way you want them to be, your “Lifestyle.”

Bert Behnke is a second generation portrait photographer raised in the Southwestern Chicago suburbs. Cindy Behnke is a portrait photographer from southern Illinois, growing up in Carlyle and owning a studio in Centralia, together they own Behnke Fine Portraiture, a studio established in 1956 by Bert’s parents. They have won numerous awards in salon print competitions as well as serving their professional associations. Both are past-presidents of the 500+ member Associated Professional Photographers of Illinois and Bert was the 1997-98 president of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Bert currently serves as President of the World Council of Professional Photography (WCPP) and is a past president of the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce. He also was the founder of PPA Charities and is currently its Development Director. Cindy serves as a PPA Councilor and is a past director of PPA Charities.

Cindy holds the degrees of Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman from the Professional Photographers of America. She has also earned Photographer of the Year awards from both PPA and APP of Illinois. In 2001, she received the prestigious Legacy Award from PPA Charities and has earned the National Award from Illinois. Her photographs have earned numerous Kodak Gallery and Fuji Masterpiece awards.

Bert has been awarded the Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, Certified Professional Photographer and Honorary Master of Photography from PPA as well as the National Award from his state affiliate. In 2000, he was honored as Portrait Photographer of the Year from the International Photographic Council, a non-profit branch of the United Nations. He also serves, since 2003, as the photographic competition chairman for Orvieto Fotografia, the Italian national photographic association.

Together, and individually, they have given programs on portraiture to many state, local, national and international associations. Both are also PPA Affiliated Judges. Bert and Cindy also are Honorary Fellows of APP of Illinois.

Bert and Cindy have two children, Al is a clerk at the Mercantile Exchange in Chicago and a graduate of Stetson University, he and his wife Breanne reside in Chicago . Morgan Wolters is a sophomore at Arizona State University with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies to become an Event/Wedding Planner.