It’s official – Ottawa Photographer Receives Prestigious Craftsman of Photographic Arts Designation

After many years of effort, including volunteering with the Professional Photographers of Canada in my local branch (I am now past-Chair), attending conferences, mentoring students and submitting images for accreditation (I now have 10 under my belts) and having images accepted in the prestigious National Image Competition, I have earned my Craftsman of Photographic Arts – or CPA (not to be confused with Chartered Professional Accountants – please don’t ask me to do your taxes!). This was a long-term personal goal of mine. While you don’t need a special piece of paper or plaque to call yourself a professional photographer these days, I personally feel much more confident knowing that my peers and mentors value my work and work ethic as being on par with those who paved the road before me. It was an honour to walk across the stage at this year’s national conference to officially receive my plaque and proudly wear my medal. It was also a treat to do so along with my good friend and fabulous photographer Nathalie Lamy, owner of liliphoto in Cumberland. We both even wore black sequined tops without consulting each other! 🙂

In other news, I recently re-did my gallery wall in my studio to better reflect not only my current work as well as showcase all my accreditations and awards. I also finally put up a quote I loved:

Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~Vicki Corona

Now to make room for my new plaque! 🙂

As great as this designation is, I’m already working towards my next goal – Master of Photographic Arts (MPA)! It may take a few more years but I truly believe that the process has made me a better photographer and will continue to help me hone my skills. Stay tuned!