Yogi Patel of Global l Photography has over 27 years of professional photography experience. He holds a BA in photography from the University of Florida, along with a Certified Professional Photographers degree, and a Masters and Craftsmen in Photography from the Professional Photographers of America . Yogi has been passionate in his pursuit of the arts since the earliest days of his childhood. Not only did he receive two silver medals in international art competitions, but Yogi was also the recipient of the highly coveted Jawaharlal Nehru award – India’s highest artistic honor. At the age of 14, Yogi was given his first camera (a Yashika), and his artistic attention was forever turned towards photography. After graduating from college, he worked as a lead photographer in Florida for five years at a large commercial photography studio, before moving to California to found Global Photography. Together with his wife Prem, the Patels have successfully built their business year after year and now operates one of the premier photography studios in Southern California. Some of his images have been selected for national exhibition by the Professional Photographers of America including twice for the prestigious Loan Collection. His work has also been published in National and international magazines. Both well known and highly respected in the industry, Yogi has received numerous awards for his photographic endeavors, including having three times been named a Top Ten California Photographer, the Professional Photographers of California’s Environmental Portrait and Wedding Album Photographer of the Year Awards (2010), the Professional Photographers of California’s Studio Portrait and Commercial Photographer of the Year Awards (2009), the Kodak Gallery Award for Commercial/Industrial /Illustrative Photography (2008), and the Fuji Film USA Masterpiece Award for Commercial Photography (2008), CIPPA- Wedding Photographer of the Year (2008), CIPPA- Environmental Portrait Photographer of the Year (2008), PPA- Photographer of The Year Silver Award Recipient ( 2009), just to name a few. Yogi strongly believes in education, and in keeping up with the latest technological advancements. He constantly attends photography conventions and seminars, and even teaches photography and digital art classes as his busy schedule permits. Recently in February 2010 he was invited to speak at the Western States Photography convention and he was well received with standing room only.