I just earned another accreditation with the Professional Photographers of Canada. I already have accreditations in:
- Pictoral/Scenic
- Portrait, Couples
- Portrait, Environmental Family
- Travel Illustration
- Wedding, Environmental
- Wedding, Formal
- Wedding Story
- and now my 8th accreditation: Food
Below are the images from my successful food photography submission.
What is accreditation? It is a juried event that happens 4 times a year that photographers can get 10 of their images professionally judged in a category, signifying that their skill is at a professional level. If all 10 pass, they earn an accreditation in that particular genre of photography. If only some of them pass, the photographer can resubmit the number of unsuccessful images in new images and try to pass through resubmissions. Accreditation means that their work has been judged in a particular area of photography by qualified and trained image judges from across Canada and they have passed a certain level of scrutiny with their photographic skill.
My first submission got 5 of the 10 images passed. My second submission, I sent in 5 new images, of those, 3 were passed (so I had passed a total of 8 between the two submissions at that point). I sent in 2 new, remaining images for my third resubmission, and both of them passed, equaling 10 images that were passed and therefore, I had earned a successful accreditation in food. All of my accreditations have been like that. Some I got all 10 passed in the first try, and some I had to resubmit.
I've been practicing with food photography since last Fall, trying to perfect it. I see the process of accreditation as a GREAT learning process for photographers. After I submitted my second round of images before I knew the results, I remember mentioning to someone that I hope it doesn't get passed. Why? Because I've learned a great deal by making and preparing images for a juried event. It's hard to have one's images critiqued and judged, but, frankly, there is incredible value in learning why they didn't pass. I got my wish and had to do one more round of resubmissions before I eventually passed the accreditation category.
I say all of this as one of the PPOC image competition judges that usually judges several times a year across Canada. I know how arduous the judging process can be, and even my own images need a few tries for a successful accreditation. I'm ok with that - that means more learning for me, which is the whole point of the process.
So, when a photographer advertises that they are accredited by the Professional Photographers of Canada, this is the process that they went through. Ask them what they are accredited in! There are a lot of interesting categories and it will tell you what that photographer has expertise in.
My next accreditation goal has been set. I will report when it is successful. I will never stop learning.
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