2019 Gallerie Magazine Spring Edition - English by Professional Photographers of Canada

SPRING 2019

CANADIAN IMAGING CONFERENCE ISSUE Jerry Ghionis •Maggie Habieda • Liette Chamberland Andre Amyot • Marc Bailey • Jocelyn Hebert

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

contents 4 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 5

SHOOTING FOR THE SOUL

Jerry Ghionis talks portrait photograhy

page 4

12 DON’T SELL ME PHOTOGRAPHS! SELL ME AN EXPERIENCE, A DREAM!

Andre Amyot of Photo Coach speaks on building a relationship with clients

15 2019 CANADIAN IMAGING GUIDE

Find out all about the 2019 Canadian Imaging Conference

20 THE SECRET I’D LIKE TO SHARE Advice from Liette Chamberland

26 THE FINE ART GALLERY STUDIO

page 5

Maggie Habieda shares her experiece

28 MY PPOC page 20

page 12

29 CONCEPT TO COVER

page 26 SPRING 2019 GALLERIE MAGAZINE

message from the chair

Hello fellow photographers! GALLERIE is the premier magazine for professional photographers across Canada. Each issue features award-winning images, editorial information, technical and feature articles, advertising, and member services. All photographers are welcome to view the digital versions on our website.

I can’t tell you how excited I am for Canadian Imaging 2019 in beautiful Montreal. Montreal is truly one of my favourite cities in Canada, full of so much history and culture. There’s a lot more to Montreal than Festivals, Poutine, and Smoked meat (although you MUST experience a sandwich from Schwartz’s Deli)! The Art scene in Montreal is abundant and evident just from walking around downtown and taking in the artsy cafes, galleries and museums. Did you know that Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city next to Paris? My very first PPOC experience was at a Regional Conference in Moncton, NB in 2000. I was very brave and went all by myself! As I navigated my way to line up at the Registration table I was so nervous! Straight away the person in front of me started a conversation and by the end of the weekend, I was on stage singing loud obnoxious Karaoke with newfound friends. Many of whom I am still friends with to this day 19 years later! You just don’t form those kinds of friendships from a Facebook page or through a screen. Real live hugs from people you see year after the year are just the best! I thought it might be handy to share some things I have learned from having attended dozens of conventions. If you are new or a seasoned Canadian Imaging-er I hope you find this helpful. Convention Survival tips… DO • W ear comfortable shoes. There’s typically a lot of walking at conferences! • Dress up! The Award’s Gala night is a formal affair. Time to get all glammed up, dust off that suit, ball gown, or sequinned number that’s been hiding in your closet and celebrate! • Bring your camera! Might sound silly but in this era of phone cameras, we get lazy. Some programs may lend themselves to using real live proper cameras! • Take notes. Then, more importantly, refer to those notes and apply at least one thing you learned a soon as you get back! • SHARE your photos on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter….spread the word of how much fun and educational real inperson events are! • Introduce yourself to new people. Start

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Gallerie is published three times annually; February (on-line issue) June/July (print and on-line) October (on-line issue) SUBSCRIPTION All PPOC members receive the printed issue directly to their doorstep. On-line issues are available to all photographers.

Louise Vessey, MPA, SPA, F/ PPOC Atlantic, PPOC National Chair • • •

• •

a conversation. Make a new friend! Branch out of your usual circle of friends. Sit at a different table and talk to different people! Drink lots of water. Air can be very dry in hotels! Spend lots of time taking in the Trade Expo. Tell our Trades how much we appreciate them and also bring credit cards for purchases. Bring business cards to share and put into the trade show draws. Send a testimonial after the conference to let us know what was great and what could be improved.

DON’T • Stay in your room avoiding social events. One of the best parts is meeting, talking, and learning from like-minded people! • Drink too much alcohol the first night! I speak from experience. It’s no fun being exhausted and feeling like c*^*p during the seminars and missing out. Pace yourself :) • Be on your phone during presentations. Turn off your phone and be 100% present and you will absorb more information. • Be afraid to ask questions. Even pros don’t know everything! • Be late. • Be too cool to dress up for Fun Night….. the more people who get into it the merrier! Time to let all the inhibitions go and let loose, dance, laugh, and have a great time! Hope to see you in Montreal! Louise Vessey MPA SPA PPOC Chairperson

To be added to our email mailing list please contact the PPOC office (info@ppoc.ca) indicating your province of residence. Additional printed copies of Gallerie are $6.95, plus postage. Please contact the the PPOC Office. SUBMISSIONS Articles and member stories are welcome, please submit them to the editor for consideration. ADVERTISING One single advertising package will secure your ad space in all three issues for the year. Double Page Spread

$1575/year

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PPOC Trade members receive a 20% discount. To reserve your ad, contact the advertising manager.

EDITOR

Bruce Allen Hendricks, MPA p: 204-227-9447 e: editor@ppoc.ca

DESIGNER Karyn Lee, MPA

ADVERTISING MANAGER Brad Kelly, MPA e: advertising@ppoc.ca

Shooting for the Soul By Jerry Ghionis

lthough I’m widely known as a wedding photographer, I actually think of myself as a photographer of people. After all, a bride without a veil is a portrait or headshot. Wearing less clothing in a sensual environment, it becomes a boudoir shoot. If she gets pregnant, it’s a pregnancy session. When your subject has a baby, we now have a newborn session. Then we photograph children, a family portrait and so on. I sincerely believe that being a wedding photographer

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prepares you for just about every genre of photography that involves people. A couple of years ago, I came to the realization that I was on the brink of burnout. After shooting over 1000 weddings and countless portrait sessions, I decided to set aside two months and give myself a creative break by only photographing for myself. During those two months, we did not book any weddings, events or commissioned portraits. I was just shooting for my soul. I even started to do more work in the studio. It had been a while since I shot in the studio regularly but I found it exhilarating, and I created an entire brand new body of work. That new portfolio then evolved into providing me with regular income as a portrait and fashion photographer in Los Angeles and now in my new hometown of Las Vegas. I have always gravitated towards a fashion/beauty style, but fashion and beauty photography is so much more than merely showing the beauty of your subject and selling clothes. I want to capture the spirit, soul, confidence, culture, and individuality of the people I photograph. I also don’t want to specialize in just one approach to my fashion work and beauty sessions. So, I shoot in full sun, in the studio with strobes, speed lights, window light, constant lights and pretty much anything that illuminates. The look of my subjects including their face, hair, body, the dress and personality of the models will often tell me what to do. The key is that you have to “listen” to what the circumstances are saying to you. Whether it’s a portrait for a domestic client or a commercial client, I always aim to meet their expectations, but I always try to exceed them by taking creative risks that always seem to pay off. I have gathered an extensive collection of clothing and accessories which is essential because more choice allows for greater spontaneity during a shoot. The following images were created in Los Angeles for a fashion client during a session with Nicole Melrose, a model from Melbourne, who was visiting at the

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time. It started with this first image taken in the studio using window light, and it was a different look for me. We quickly changed to a more edgy chain dress. Window light was also used for the following shot including a shallow depth of field at f1.4.

I noticed a beautiful quality of light in a different room of my apartment with sunlight through a window acting as the main light and reflecting off a door to backlight her as well.

The next four looks were all shot with full sun against a white wall on my rooftop studio.

As the sun was getting lower, we quickly changed Nicole into a more glamorous gown and used the sun reflected off a painted wall to illuminate her for this kitsch pin-up look.

As a finale for this shoot, we decided to go for a raw, edgier look with this shoulder accessory but placed it on her head to take advantage of the dramatic shadows.

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Nicole then requested that we go for a “heroin chic” look, so we finished with this:

when I’m there on my own. I’m looking for that next dress, skirt, prop or accessory that will make my models and subjects shine brighter. We’ve all been to that shoot where your clients make terrible clothing choices, or you’re missing that unique accessory at a fashion shoot that could elevate a photograph to a timeless work of art. When it comes to personal shoots that we schedule purely for your soul, one glance at a dress can inspire the entire theme for a shoot. The key is to have plenty of choices available to you. For example, you can buy costume jewelry for just a few dollars. I have a collection of silver and gold rings, bracelets earrings, necklaces, and headpieces. I have hats, scarfs, gloves, skirts, and dresses in various sizes. When my wife, Melissa, is tired of some of her clothing, I add them to my fashion wardrobe for future shoots. I’m gathering quite the collection of fashion and accessories that

have been used numerous times. I also have several pairs of nude and black color shoes in a variety of sizes. With experience, you quickly learn the disposable essentials that you need to have available, including silicon strapless bras and pasties. I remember asking my mom for a fur coat that she hadn’t worn for decades for a future prop. It’s the same coat that is featured in image #11 along with a pearl necklace (also costume jewelry) that I bought for under $10. For image #12, I used that same necklace, and the shoes belonged to the model. I bought the tiger pattern robe you see in image#13 from a former Cirque De Soleil performer here in Las Vegas who now designs clothing. I had no immediate need or purpose for it, but it ended up being featured in one of my shoots. The model was getting very hot in the summer heat, so I encouraged her to take a dip in our pool before she left.

The moral of this story is to not be so predictable with your shoots. If you shoot fashion and/or beauty, don’t just be satisfied with the mere exterior beauty of your subjects. Strive for something greater. Don’t always believe a fashion client or domestic client knows what they want. Most clients don’t know what they want until it’s presented to them. Meeting your client’s expectations is doing what you have to do. Exceeding their expectations is usually doing what you want to do. If you know me personally, you may know that I’m obsessed with fashion. Over the years, I would wander the shops at a mall looking for the elusive cool jacket or shirt that I could buy. For the last few years, I’ve actually spent more time at female clothing stores, sometimes receiving odd looks from customers and salespeople SPRING 2019 GALLERIE MAGAZINE

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I ended the shoot with photographing her on a 4’ x 8’ whiteboard in full sun, using leaves from our garden to create the dramatic shadows you see on her body in images #14 and #15. Everything that exists starts with an idea. An idea can start with finding a piece of clothing or accessory that inspires a whole shoot. A waitress you meet at a restaurant could be your next model. An idea is meaningless unless it turns into action. I encourage you to do at least one shoot a month that is purely for you. Put it into your calendar as if it’s for a paying client. Look forward to it, plan it and play with the same enthusiasm as if it was your first shoot. It will not only feed your soul but be a perfect practice session to add that extra flavor and energy for your next session. Widely regarded as one of the best wedding/portrait photographers and educators in the world, Jerry Ghionis is a USA Nikon Ambassador and has won more awards than any other photographer at WPPI where he became the first Grand Master. To learn more about and from Jerry Ghionis, visit www.jerryghionis.com

Widely regarded as one of the best wedding and portrait photographers in the world, Jerry and his wife Melissa are based in Las Vegas, the USA, and Melbourne, Australia and travel frequently on international photography and speaking assignments. Jerry is the most awarded photographer of the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International organization (WPPI) and became their first Grand Master. He was also included in their list of top five wedding photographers in the world. Jerry was also named by American Photo Magazine in their first list of top ten best wedding photographers in the world and was also given a United Nations Leadership Award

by the International Photographic Council. A Nikon Ambassador, Jerry was named the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) Fashion Photographer of the Year and represented the wedding and fashion industries in the landmark Nikon D850 camera campaign. Named by PDN magazine as one of the top photography workshop instructors in the world, Jerry is also the inventor of the revolutionary Ice Light (a portable handheld LED light) and the world’s first 15-in-1 reflector, the Omega Reflector. The Jerry Ghionis brand has become synonymous with excellence, mastery, and innovation in the photography industry.

SPRING 2019 GALLERIE MAGAZINE

DON’T SELL ME PHOTOGRAPHS!

SELL ME AN EXPERIENCE, A DREAM!

By Andre Amyot HE LAST TIME you saw a TV ad, were you touched emotionally? Or was it simply an ad that: • Showed you how the thing worked? • What it was made of?

• How many awards it has received? How come we are moved by a creative ad and when it comes time for us to advertise our services, we always refer to how passionate, how good we are as photographers, etc. We fall short with our creativity. We seem to forget the basic elements that influence people into making a purchase decision. Needs, wishes and emotions. Yes, a photo assignment needs to be done by a technically competent person, by someone who understands the needs of the client and can deliver a proper image. But there is a lot more to this. The reality and what makes the real difference is, how this client will feel before, during and after the assignment. How this person will know that you took steps to go beyond her basic needs and you have addressed her wishes in a creative way that appealed to her. And those wishes created emotions that will, in turn, increase the value of your images. Throughout my career, I have met thousands of photographers and had the privilege of being photographed by a few. My friend Romain comes to mind as being one that totally made my wife and I truly understand the immense

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value of being photographed by someone who went a few steps further. Romain visited us at our country home a few years back. Unknown to us, he had a concept in mind and he researched how we met each other, was there a song that influenced us, what brought us together for all those years. The visual story was simple, in fact, we were not asked to do anything special, no fancy clothing, no makeup, just us as most people saw us when we are home. A short walk outside next to our river and Romain started by asking us questions to remind us of the first time we met, the circumstances; were we alone, was there a group of people around? Was there music and if so, which song. Then, on a click on his keyboard, the first song we danced to, played. As I write this article, years after, emotions still come right up. The album subsequently created has become one of our prized possessions. You see, as clients, people want to know how you will transform their wishes into reality through memorable images. They want to see how your creativity will help them achieve their dreams. There are no mundane stories. Each client has her own story, and this is where we should all come in. Our images need to tell stories. Our ability to draw the story out of a person starts with one simple question: Why did you come to us today? That’s when you shut up and listen. I suggest you take notes as well because these words will be part of your exchange

when the time comes to close the sale. This process of letting the prospect open up on her story is your way to qualify this person. From her response, you’ll know pretty quickly if you have a hot prospect or someone who is just interested in a bargain price or a deal. This only takes a few minutes. From there, you build a relationship that will help you develop a customized concept for this client. Sounds simple! It is if you are interested in knowing more about your clients and answering their specific needs. The story is what produces the value. You specialize in B2B photography. No problem! Moving a B2B client emotionally often will relate to solving a problem and guaranteeing results over and above their expectations.

I’d like to take you back to film days when we were shooting transparency film for publications. When to get extra originals, you had to shoot more film. Nothing like digital today. Here’s how I landed my biggest client ever. One that gave our studio millions of dollars over the years. Same question: Why did you call on me today? Do you have a problem that needs solving? My prospect was quick to point out some technical issues with his current supplier, namely colour harmony on photographs and tight deadlines not being met. Without going into boosting our quality or service, I gave him what was to me, the most logical solution to his immediate problem. He said: “that’s the same solution given by two other photographers who I met earlier.” Then he asked: “How many originals can I get?” How many do you want, I answered? SPRING 2019 GALLERIE MAGAZINE

“Two, he said.” “Two, you get!” Want to know the reason why I got the job! The tipping point for me was the way I responded to his request: The other photographer argued he would only give him one original and that’s it. We went on to serve this client and still do for 38 years. What made the difference? I listened to his story and answered a specific need. First, there is the need and sometimes we must create it, then we must dig for the inner wishes of the client and finally, your creativity will generate emotions. In this case, my client’s emotions were tied to efficiency, quality, and speed of delivery. “In photography, there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” — Alfred Stieglitz

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THE SECRET I’D SHARE By Liette Chamberland

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D LIKE TO

hen we started our photography businesses, we all had questions to answer. Things like: How much should I charge? (or my favourite, How much do YOU charge?), How can I reach my targeted clientele? What can I offer potential customers? And so many more… SPRING 2019 GALLERIE MAGAZINE

For some questions, we had answers and answered fully. For others, well, half answers were all we could muster, and for a few, we may still be looking for one. Did we write the questions down? For most of us, no. Did we write the answers down? Again, most of us did not. We knew what we wanted to do and we set

out to do it.

with the immortality of photography.

Some of us reached success with just this little baggage and a lot of hard work. I was not part of that group. Not at all.

As life wanted it, I had to quit this job to move to the United States for a couple of years. While there, I worked in a photo shop and learned about printing. I came back to Canada in 1985, worked for a brokerage company and went to night school at College de Photographie Marsan.

THE DOOR THAT CLOSED BEFORE ANOTHER OPENED In 1981, I landed my first full-time job at The Bay Photo Studio. Starting at the bottom of the ladder, I worked my way up and fell in love

I opened a home studio, answered a few questions in my head, and went to it. It really wasn’t long before I realized that I knew nothing about the business side of photography. I kept changing my prices, I kept changing my targeted clientele because I couldn’t reach the original one, I didn’t know how to promote my work, I didn’t know so many things. So what should have happened, happened. I failed, miserably. I came to the conclusion that I had to find a better job (read: a job that pays). I decided to go back to school and get a law degree. After the bar, I worked for 4 years as a Crown Prosecutor for the Quebec Government, and from 1999 to 2014 as a Judicial Counsel for a construction company and sat on many boards of directors. One thing was certain, now I knew what my mistakes have been. And like any good love story would dictate, in 2014 I resigned as a lawyer and went back to my first love. WHAT CHANGED This time, I would do things differently. I would not only ask questions in my head and partly answer. I would not pretend I knew, I would go and get the answer. Write it down. Make it sink in. I would take the time to write a business plan, a marketing plan, and a strategic plan. I would be prepared, and I would stay that way. To this day, I revise and update my business plans, marketing/strategic plans every year, for both my businesses. Is it time-consuming? Of course, it is, especially the first year. But it is an invaluable tool that keeps us on track of our goals.

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A business plan is the first tool we should master, after our craft, evidently. There are many reasons we should all have a business plan. A business plan is an essential tool if we need to raise money. No banks will loan us money without a proper business plan. But what if we don’t need money? Do we still need a business plan? To that, the answer is… most definitely. WHY YOU SHOULD BANDWAGON

JOIN

THE

Our business plan is key for us to make sound decisions. It helps us define our goals and focus on our strategies. It is a great tool that will indicate how much we can spend when we can spend it and where to spend it. As well as financial matters, a business plan can help with setting our best practices for customer service, and even with human resources if we need. There are many ways to write a business plan. And I won’t pretend that my way is the best way. But my way is better than no way, and it offers you a good place to start. Plus, it’s a secret I’m willing to share.

takes a lot of energy to do the introspect and research. And it will often change from year to year, as our weaknesses fade out and we acquire new strength. It is a great way to see how far we’ve come along or to understand why we are stagnating. I do not do portraits, weddings, new-born, commercial….

HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN A business plan is a living document that we can adjust as we go, every month if needed. We are free to include our marketing plan and/or strategic plan in it. I personally separate them: business plans and marketing/action plans. It forces me to ask some of the same questions twice or thrice and helps me focus on making decisions that are consistent and making better choices. One thing of great importance is to know your competition. A great amount of time should be dedicated to finding out your competition. What is your market share? Then, do a SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is probably one of the most time-consuming section as it

I do Encaustic Fine Art Photography, and Fine Art merchandising. I do not set my prices like you. I do not have session fees, nor sell

albums. I do not have the same target clientele. Yet, a business plan is as invaluable to me as it is to you. Give yourself a chance, even if you are successful. What if your success could be easier, bigger, better? What if you could have more time? More money? More recognition? More employees? More whatever you are looking for and is important to you? Don’t leave the future of your career to chance, own it… with a business plan. Liette Chamberland is an Encaustic Fine Art Photographer in Hudson, Quebec. She studied photography at College de Photographie Marsan. Her artwork can be found in private collections in Canada and the United Kingdom. A permanent exhibition of her UK collections can be viewed at Clarence & Cripps in Hudson, and her merchandising can be found in her boutique and in Stirling, Scotland. She has also produced book covers for Morning Rain Publishing.

Join her at Canadian Imaging 2019 as she reveals her secrets about writing a successful business plan WINTER 2019 GALLERIE MAGAZINE

THE FINE ART GALLERY STUDIO

ith the proliferation of phone cameras and the ability of everyone to take a selfie anytime and anywhere, professional photographers need to reevaluate the way they conduct their photography business. When I designed my studio eight years ago I wanted it to feel like a high-end art gallery. I only displayed large fine art canvas portraits on the walls with expensive frames. If you just had one portrait that represents you, what would that be? That for us is our 30X40 inch legacy portraits on canvas. They are printed and stretched in house so we have total quality control of the whole creative process. They come with a certificate of authenticity on the back which verifies that I personally created and signed the art. These are portraits of local politicians, celebrities and performers that are my clients, so I am catering to a niche market and laser beaming my promotions and advertising to that end. Also my studio is located in an affluent area of Oakville where my potential clientele are used to luxury items and have the wall space in their homes to display photo décor. This is where a great plan and marketing strategy is essential to success in creating a Fine Art gallery studio. It all begins with a memorable name: Fotografia Boutique and a world class logo. This is followed by my mission statement, “Timeless Art in Photography”. My round business card is a great ice breaker and always draws attention when presented to potential clients and sets me apart. Also, since we are a specialty studio, we only offer two products. We sell fine art canvas prints and offer custom designed art albums from Album Epoca printed in Italy. These albums are created with close consultation with the client with text included with the art work which makes each album a unique one-of-a-kind work of art to be treasured as a family heirloom. Joining your local Chamber of Commerce is a great way to become known in your community. Photographing their events opens up networking opportunities and referrals. Donate gift certificates to local charitable organizations for their silent night auctions, be out there and engaged in as many areas as possible. Don’t forget to follow up with a custom designed Thank You card in the mail to you customers. I would also encourage photographers to attend yearly professional conventions and enter print competitions. This is an opportunity to connect with peers in your industry and share ideas. Your photography

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Maggie Habieda

business cannot exist in a vacuum. Support and encouragement by your photography colleagues is essential. Professional photographers are a community, not competitors, where we share information and ideas to improve the industry which benefits us all. I feel very strongly in social media as a tool for my business marketing strategy. I send out a monthly “Maggiezine” to keep my clients in touch with news and events being planned at the studio. This is an excellent medium to educate our clients to the value of professional photography and expose them to our professional photography industry. To sum up, these are the essentials: Create a brand and image-building that is consistent. Be unique, stand for something special and be proud of your consistent image. Establish long-term relationships/partnerships with a few people/companies. You can’t achieve your goals alone. Grit, hard work, early mornings and weekends. Anything worth achieving takes hard work and is worth working hard for. Portrait photography is an art. It is a craft learned over years often by trial and error. It is not just equipment and mechanics, which we as photographers often get caught up in. If we don’t apply our artistic talent to lighting, posing, composition, Photoshop and gaining the trust of the subject to get the perfect look and pose, you will be replaced by an iPhone.

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“

my ppoc

How a Sick Day Changed my Life and my Business”

joined PPOC in 2007. I was a brand new mother with dreams of following a passion to own and operate a photography business. As the years passed I attended workshops and seasonal conventions held by the Manitoba region. I began making friends with talented photographers whom I admired and hoped one day to become like them. Before long, I was serving on our local PPOC Board. In 2014, we were informed that the National Convention was coming to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Our members were ecstatic! I had been to our Regional conventions, but had never attended a convention at the National level. I did not know what to expect, but as a Board member, I was asked to help out as much as possible while representing our Manitoba family.

associate with the artists whose style and authenticity were true to my own. This became a pivotal moment in my career. I loved being a member of our PPOC-MB region, but I had not pushed myself to explore and meet members from other provinces. As I write this article with tears welling in my eyes, I remember the beautiful people that I have met by being a member of PPOC. I am so grateful for their friendships, wisdom and inspiration. This organization cares about the “Art of Photography” and how to value ourselves as artists. Without our organization and its members, I would never have challenged myself to be the creative individual that I am today.

There were so many events planned that the hotel was buzzing with photographers. I felt very lucky to be a part of something so special.

That opportunity allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and connect with photographers from all over Canada. By meeting such extraordinary individuals I was able to

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PPOC offers photographers a way to rise to professional status. Educational opportunities, networking, direct member benefits and the ability to earn awards and designations will assist in your potential for growth and economic improvement. Did you know you can become a member of Canada’s oldest and most recognized professional photography association for as little as $25 monthly (plus tax)? Observer membership will entitle you to discounted pricing on educational events, access to a peer network upon whose knowledge you can draw, preferred rates with many of our industry partners, critiques of your imagery, and will open the door for you to submit for Accreditation in your chosen photographic field(s). You can even sign up for a Mentor to help you get the most out of your PPOC membership! Once you’ve achieved your Accreditation, you’ll be able to upgrade to full ‘PPOC Accredited Photographer’ membership status, and will be listed on our ‘Search for a Photographer’ feature on our website. You can promote yourself using the PPOC Logo and will also be eligible to vie for prestigious awards in National Image Competition, and to work toward earning the designations of Craftsman of Photographic Arts (CPA), Master of Photographic Arts (MPA), and Service of Photographic Arts (SPA).

As the big day approached, I felt very intimidated. The out-of-town speakers and artists came in droves. I had seen their pictures in magazines, read their books on business practices and listened to their webinars. This was very exciting!

Then I received the phone call…..that changed my life and my business! One of the National volunteers had fallen ill and someone was needed immediately to fill in and assist in the judging clinic. I had never been to a judging clinic because I had not yet earned the credentials needed to qualify for registration. My job was to work Lightroom and show images for the novice PPOC judges to critique. I was literally a “fly on the wall.” That room was filled with so much talent and by the end of the day, I had talked to everyone.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA (PPOC) is a diversified group of creative artists dedicated to the highest standards in professional imaging. We welcome photographers of all genres to join our community of dedicated professionals.

Are you ready to take your photographic career to the next level? Become recognized as a member of PPOC, stand out from the crowd, and take advantage of the benefits of membership!

Jocelyne Hebert, CPA My name is Jocelyne Hebert and I am the studio owner of ‘Reflections by Jocelyne’ located in Oakbank, Manitoba. I specialize in Family Portraiture and Oil-Painted Portraits. I have always loved art and after graduating from the photography program at Red River College in 2001 my love for the “art of photography” grew. Over the years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to study with several artists who have inspired me on my artistic journey. I love creating beautiful wall portraits that my clients will cherish for generations as an art piece hanging in their home.

Create an Observer membership profile by following the links to join at www.ppoc.ca, and activate that membership with payment in full online, or by contacting us by phone at (888) 643-PPOC (7762) to set up a convenient monthly payment plan using your VISA or MasterCard. Apply TODAY! Contact 1-888-643-PPOC (7762) Phone: 519-537-2555 Info@ppoc.ca www.ppoc.ca Mailing address: 209 Light St. Woodstock, ON N4S 6H6 Canada

hree years ago, I had the chance to be hired as a stage photographer for a television series called “Mystery Files”. The producer contacted me after discovering my creepy photos on my website. On the set, when the director saw my weird face, he gave me 3 roles in the 3 films of the series, including “The Head of Mary Gallagher”.

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Mary with a grey card that will hide her face during the scene thus simplifying the removal of her face on film.

Group photo of the production team. I am on the bottom left and Mary Gallagher on the right.

Photo 2 : Mary holding her head made by the Hollywood Monster Factory according I removed her head with photoshop.

WINTER 2019 GALLERIE MAGAZINE

I flipped the image to get a normal composition because the photo is open on the left and closed on the right. The viewer normally reads from left to right. This increases the judges’ score. Then I applied some texture overlays.

concept to cover The final image after applying other varied texture overlays and an appropriate border.

Marc Bailey, MPA A member of PPOC for the past 40 years, Marc has received a great deal of recognition for his photographic talents. Awarded Photographer of the Year in Quebec 2007, 2012 and 2013, Marc has also won the title of PPOC Portrait Photographer of the Year in 2007 and 2014, and was most recently awarded PPOC 2018 Photographic Artist of the Year. Again this year, he is among the finalists for the title of PPOC Photographic Artist of the Year.

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In addition to his Photographic Artist of the Year title, Marc was also awarded with PPOC’s Yousuf Karsh Lifetime Achievement Award for his long history of success in photographic competition throughout his career. Marc holds the designations of Master of Photographic Arts and Service of Photographic Arts from the Professional Photographers of Canada, and was awarded his 7th Masters Bar in 2017. He has been a long respected photographic judge at both the provincial and national level.

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