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What's P.P.O.C?

Thursday, February 25, 2021 | By: Louise Vessey MPA SPA

20 years as a member of The Professional Photographers of Canada!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PPOC WEBSITE

PPOC is such a huge part of my life and success that I wanted to share with you all.

20 years ago as a young mum and entrepreneur, I was ready to take my business to the next level! I hopped into my 1985 Mazda RX7 and drove to Moncton to attend my first ever convention in 2000 held at Crystal Palace. I was so nervous! I did not know anybody! It was not long before I was welcomed in with open arms and immediately felt a part of something wonderful! I officially joined in 2001.

I do have a formal education in photography with a diploma from Holland College, but back then there was little emphasis on running a business. Being a professional photographer is much more than taking quality images. I still had so much to learn so I decided to join a professional organization to further my career and keep my skills up to date over time.

The PPOC, or Professional Photographers of Canada is a diversified group of creative artists dedicated to the highest standards in professional imaging. They welcome photographers of all genres to join their community of dedicated professionals. 

The first step once joining is to become Accredited. Accreditation is a process where a set of 10 images in a chosen category are judged to see if they meet the high standard of professional work. It is not uncommon to have to try 2 or more times to be successful. There are now approximately 75 different classes of genres of photography. I now have 6 Accreditations, Environmental Wedding, Child Portrait, Commercial, Performance Artist, Feline Portrait, and Family Portrait. I recently submitted for a Food Photography Accreditation. Once you are successfully Accredited you become a full Accredited member and can promote yourself as such. 

Through educational workshops, seminars, volunteering on boards and projects, and being active within the Association you earn 'Merits'. Once you earn enough Print and/ or Service Merits you earn prestigious designations. I received my Craftsman of Photographic Arts, CPA in 2007, my Master of Photographic Arts, MPA which replaces the CPA in 2009, and then the Service of Photographic Arts, SPA in 2016.

I was on the Atlantic board of directors for 16 years, 5 of which I was also on the National board of directors with 3 of them being the National Chair! That was a BIG job and I put my heart and soul into it. I never imagined that scared little photographer back in 2000 would have the very top position in the organization one day!

I could write a total novel about all my adventures, new friends, achievements and accolades since I joined PPOC but for sure it was the best decision of my career. Although now we can learn a lot online, nothing beats being a part of a group of like minded professionals who all have each others backs. My very best friends in the world are PPOC members.

A year ago we were planning for our big 50th Anniversary celebration of PPOC in Saskatchewan at the annual Canadian Imaging Conference and Expo Of course that had to be cancelled. I was Chair at the time the pandemic joined our lives so that was a very stressful time having to make important decisions and respond to all that was happening.

We really hope to be together again spring of 2022 in Saskatoon to celebrate and learn in person.

There have been countless photos taken over the years since I joined. I'll share just a handful. I'm so proud to be a part of this incredible group of people. Some photos are by my good friend Sebastien Lavallee from Montreal.

 

CHAIR photo

As the PPOC Chair my portrait was in monthly newsletters and such so I tried to mix it up with new ones over the years. I'm reading the PPOC Gallerie magazine in this one. Photo by ME.

2018 Board of Directors

Judges 2020

Esteemed group of Judges in Woodstock, On. Little did we know that we would not be judging in person in 2021.

Judging 2020

At our Exec Director's home socializing with everyone. It was so wonderful. Right before COVID hit. I asked Sebastien to take a photo of me with my friends all having fun in the background for a Chair portrait.

Board of Directors 2019

PPOC National Board of Directors 2019. Photo by Claude Brazeau

PPOC Group 2019

Group photo at the 2019 Canadian Imaging Conference in Montreal

Newborn workshop

one of the many educational workshops

Niagara Falls 2015

My PPOC friend Jillian Chateneuff from the other coast!

2018 fellow directors

Richmond BC. Good times with great friends!

Atlantic Friends

Fellow Atlantic PPOC member Jamie Bard Dube. She is a wonderful photographer.

Strategic Planning 2018

One of the first things I did was hold a strategic planning meeting a few days prior to the conference. Richmond BC

Awards 2019

One of my favourite people who is the best Treasurer in the world! Charmaine Toews

2019 awards

Feeling mighty small next to these amazing ladies from Sask and Ontario. Miss them!

Quebec Friends

I have had SO many laughs with these two amazing women.

Chair stuff

Me presenting awards in Montreal in 2019.

Friends

with my friends Jamie and Sebastien 2019 Montreal

Honorary life member

Charles receiving his honorary lifetime membership HLM with Tina, both members of the NEC, National Exhibition Committee

Masters Bar

After you earn your MPA you earn gold 'bars to attach to the purple ribbon.

Commercial POY

My friend Louise Gingras winning the coveted PPOC Commercial Photographer of the Year in 2019 in Montreal. The french members are the best partiers! SO fun!

Atlantic Friends

My amazing Atlantic member friends while we were in Montreal in 2019

PPOC group photo

2018 in Richmond BC

Mon ami!

Photographer extraordinaire and partner in silliness, Sebastien Lavallee. So many good times...and a lot of work on the Board together.

PPOC Group photo 2017

2017 in Calgary. Just before I became the Chair of the organization.

AGM 2018

The scariest part of being the Chair. Chairing the AGM with a group of members staring at me and demanding answers! :)

Seminar

One of the many educational seminars

Lastly this image. It needs it's own glory and explanation. When the Chair steps down a gift is given. I am known to many as the crazy cat lady so they had an artist create this for me! I love it! It shows the friendship, humour, and hard work over the years. I always despised the term 'CHAIR' so came up with many different silly over the top names like 'Supreme Leader' and such, thus I am pictured as a Royal! Perhaps you 'had to be there' but this makes me smile with fond memories every time I look at it.

Currently I am still involved as Past Chair who attends all board meetings as an advisor and Communications Chair. I sure have learned a lot over the years in all these different positions, not to mention have become a better photographer and business woman.

Thank you for reading this long blog. I will post again soon talking about Image Competition!

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