What distinguishes a professional photographer from an amateur?

To me, it's all about consistency and industry standards.  

It’s about being able to produce consistent high-quality imagery with different scenarios, subjects, and lighting.

I have achieved two different accreditations this year, which help to further distinguish me as a professional in portrait photography.

First, was achieving Associate Photographer level with The Portrait Masters.

I thought I'd share with you a quick video showing the images that earned me the Associate Photographer designation with The Portrait Masters.

For some background, The Portrait Masters is an international organization that holds an award and accreditation process by which images that meet a professional standard or higher are awarded points towards accreditation. 

One of the things I love is that the focus is completely on portraits.  Every image that earns a point towards the accreditation is based on a special skill - the portrait.  Not product photography or landscapes, just portraits.

It took 50 bronze awards to achieve Associate Photographer with the Portrait Masters. 

Now, you can find my studio in the list of accredited photographers - one of only a few in the province.

The second major accomplishment this year was receiving my accreditation in Glamour Photography with the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC).

The PPOC have designed an accreditation process that tests your proficiency.  For each class or genre of photography, a panel of judges will review 10 images.  

I already hold two accreditations from the PPOC one for Portraiture and one for Pictorial/Scenic.

This time, I wanted to achieve my accreditation in Glamour Photography!

The ten images I submitted were required to be from ten different subjects, ten different photo sessions, and must meet the following criteria:

Glamour photography is a personal portrait commissioned to capture the beauty that lies within all men and

women. 

Your glamour images should create an air of fantasy, sensitivity, and personal expression

to display to these ordinary men and women that they too can resemble the models they see in

today’s modern media. 

Attention should be given to hair, make-up, wardrobe, and sets. 

Head and shoulders, 3/4 and full-length images must be shown. 

Indoor and environmental locations should be shown. 

Must also show a variety in locations and sets. 

No wedding images will be permitted.

Accreditation is the first elevation above the general membership level, and is achieved by submitting samples of the applicant’s photography to a PPOC Board of Review for Accreditation. Accreditation demonstrates that the photographer is capable of delivering above average quality photography in a chosen category. 

In assessing Accreditation Submissions, the judges will consider the following criteria: Impact, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Color Balance, Centre of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Image file quality, Technique and Story Telling. 

Along with other service and print merits, a minimum of one Accreditation is required to qualify for a Craftsman of Photographic Arts and two accreditations are needed for a Master of Photographic Arts.

It's not the gear or equipment that makes the photographer "professional", and it doesn't happen overnight.

It's about making a commitment to learning and improving by letting your work be judged and critiqued by experts.

I'll always aim to be a better photographer tomorrow than I am today, which is why I'll continue to try and achieve more accreditations and awards every year.