Vancouver and area are a fantastic, unique, culturally rich, and beautiful part of the world to travel. This was apparent from the moment I stepped out of the airport and inhaled the fresh blossoms; Alberta sure doesn’t smell like that this time of year… From the fruitful bouquet of Okanagan wine to the fresh plethora of seafood and sushi options available, this part of Canada is a foodies dream come true. If you are feeling lucky, the location of the conference in the River Rock Casino Resort was the place for you. Some fellow photographers flirted with betting on the NHL playoffs, which were a buzz in the Curve lounge. Day one allowed attendees to engage in a Photo Safari with Brian K. Smith, learn posing for newborns with Stephanie Robin, or attend the 2 day Judging Clinic. All choices offered valuable learning experiences. Brian engaged everyone in the sights and sounds of the heart of Van City, which included Lonsdale Quay, Gastown, Granville Bridge & Island. Enjoying the coastal culture, nature, architecture, and sights that only Vancouver can offer is definitely a highlight of attending the conference. Stephanie Robin empowered us to give the
best client experience possible, which adds value to what we do, and pays dividend. Kent Wong ran a fantastic judging clinic that focused on a new criteria for judging. Images will be judged by Vision, Impact, Creativity, and Technical aspects. Three newly minted judges emerged after the 2 days with other veteran judges now updated on the new criteria. The speaker line-up for the 2018 conference was bigger and better than previous conferences! To kick it off on Saturday, Karen Lee, Rebecca Coleman, Melissa Welsh, and Stephanie Robin were among the photographers who provided us with valuable lessons on marketing, pricing, in-person sales, and social media smarts. These women know how to provide high-end photographic experiences to their clients and recognize their value. The information they shared was informative, important, and incredibly valuable to all professional photographers regardless of the genre one practices. The part of photography where we aren’t clicking the shutter is what will make or break a business. This
education and information is what makes the PPOC an imperative membership for any professional photographer in Canada. To help photographers, this information must be shared from a Canadian perspective; this is difficult to get outside from the in-person education and mentorship that this conference provides every year. In particular, Melissa Welsh’s presentation resonated with me; I left her session with a list of tangible and immediate changes I was going to make to my business strategies the second I arrived home. Nikki Harrison’s renowned photographic art has always been one of my personal favorites of Canadian photographic artists. It was amazing to hear her speak in person on branding and marketing strategies, lighting, styling, and how she presents her art. Her images exhibit such beauty in smooth, flowing design – although she is able to create moodier images as well. Her personal story, which is what motivates her to create and engage in her art, is a heartfelt, authentic story of resilience that clearly helps her engage and connect with her clientele. Kaylee Greer of Dog Breath Photography was definitely a highlight of the conference with her endless energy, enthusiasm, fireengine red hair, and clear passion for canine photography. Her unique and identifiable imaging style is recognized the world over, and she was so excited to tell us her story of how she got to where she is today – which includes a television show on Nat Geo Wild called Pupparazzi. She has such a big heart and has helped countless canines and animal rescue organizations with her amazing photographic work. She also engaged those attending the conference at meals and at the tradeshow which was awesome; I love it when those I look up to as photographic celebrities end up being really nice people! 15/10, would bring to Canadian Imaging again (if you are a dog person with social media, you get the reference). Our own PPOC photographers Robert Bray, Sébastien Lavallee, Greg Blue, J. B. Sallenger, and others also presented incredibly informative and inspiring presentations. This is a testament to the depth of
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