Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, ASP, XXV, PPM, MMPPA

Barry Rankin, owner of Dirla Studio is a four time Michigan Professional Photographer of the Year. He also has been awarded Professional Photographers of America International Gold.  Barry has been a working professional for thirty one years and in that time he has photographed weddings in Martha's vineyard, MA, Maui, Hawaii, Gainesville, FL, Memphis, TN, and throughout Michigan including Mackinaw Island, and Greenfield Village.

Barry photographed the wedding of the son of Past President of the Professional Photographers of America Helen Yancy. He has had more photographs accepted into the Professional Photographers of America national print exhibit than any Michigan photographer in the history of PPA. Mr. Rankin had all four of his images accepted for exhibition in South Korea during PPA's first Asian Pacific Region print exhibit, March of 2005. He holds the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from the Professional Photographers of America, and is one of only thirty-four photographers  in PPA to receive the Advanced Imaging Award.

Rankin is one of only sixteen Jury Chairmen and a member of the Photographic Exhibition Committee, which administrates the national exhibition for PPA. He has lectured at seven PPA National conventions, also in thirty-nine states throughout the United States, as well as abroad in England, Ireland, Mexico, and Canada.

Barry was hired by the White House and President George W Bush to be the President's personal photographer for the day. He also photographed Vice President Dick Cheney, and First Lady Laura Bush. President Bush is the seventh President photographed by Mr. Rankin, while in office.

He has illustrated a book titled "The Art of Rock and Roll" featuring such stars as Elvis Presley, Bob Seger, The Beach boys, Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent.

Rankin was the official photographer for the University of Michigan Sports Information Department for 28 years and had his work displayed in hundreds
of Michigan publications. Barry was the only photographer working at the invitation only VIP reception for Michigan football head coach Bo Schembeckler's retirement party in 1990.  Barry has done spot work for Sports Illustrated, Big Ten magazine, and was an official photographer for the Detroit Tigers when they won the World Series in 1984.

His wedding work has been displayed in Kodak's Journey Into Imagination Pavilion at Walt Disney's Epcot Center, one of only ten images from
around the word in 1986. Barry won Wedding Professional Photographers International's Grand Award for the top wedding image in the world in 1985. and had the top wedding image in the 1998 Professional Photographers of America's Masters Loan Collection.