After winning a National Scholastics, photographic "Gold Key" award in 1971, Gary Mester started his professional career in wedding photography while working in a film-processing laboratory.   Gary explored artistic manipulations available in the darkroom. It was there he discovered fulfillment making fine art style images.

In 1983 Mester was awarded the  "Best of Show" award at the Midwest Museum of American Arts.  Currently the largest awards show in the Midwest, serving 21 counties in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan.  That was the first of 2 works made by Mester, now in the museum's permanent collection.

As the commercial photography instructor at an Indiana Vocational School, Mester’s students earned more than $40,000.00 in scholarships and prizes, including 1st place in the National Vocational Skill Olympics 2 consecutive years.

He has been awarded the "Master of Photography" degree from the " Professional Photographers of America ". (PPA)

Gary Mester is a past president of the "Michiana Professional Photographers. Inc."  (MPPI).

Many photography awards have been presented to Gary including three  1st place state awards and three "Court of Gold" awards from MPPI.  

Gary has earned the title of  “Wedding Photographer of the Year” from MPPI.

The Indianapolis Professional Photographers Guild (IPPG) has presented Gary with the  “Court of Gold Award” for the highest scoring wedding album in their annual professional competition. 

One of Mester’s 2 awards from Kodak is for Excellence in black and white photography.  The other Kodak award is for a photograph of a wedding at Notre Dame's Basilica.  It was displayed at Disney World's Epcot Center.