Professional Photographers of Canada

To Bottom

Accreditation is the degree of elevation above the general membership level and is achieved by submitting samples of the applicant’s photography in a chosen category.  Accreditation demonstrates that the photographer has proven professional ability to the Board of Examiners of the Professional Photographers of Canada.

In assessing Accreditation submissions, the judges will consider the following criteria:

Impact, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Color Balance, Centre of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Technique and Story Telling.

A minimum of one accreditation is required to qualify for a Craftsman designation and two Accreditations are needed for a Masters designation.  To be accredited is to be recognized as an expert in a given field.

77 Ornithology/Bird Photography:
Produce 10 images of 10 different subjects, from 10 different photo sessions on 10 different occasions,
and have enough variety in the submission to show the photographer’s creative and technical ability.
Images should show at least three of either birds in flight, flocks of migrating birds, at the nest, with their
young, and in the environment they live in, close-ups and could include backyard/garden birds.
These images should be a cut above in their ability to distinguish the features of the birds and their environment.

Accreditation Press Release

33 Fine Art / Photo Decor:
Ten (10) images of ten (10) different subjects taken in ten (10) different situations. Fine art images
may consist of unusual images, individual images or a series of images. The range of styles and
treatments varies greatly, from the classic B/W scenes to more unconventional images. In fact,
conventional beauty, formal design, and familiar subjects are often not components of fine art
images and can include painterly effects, soft-focus, journalistic, bizarre and erotic images and
other unconventional approaches. Fine art images are usually sold to individual collectors,
museums and business clients. Photo Decor is usually the term used to designate a print hung to
decorate a room, whether in a private home, an institution, a corporate boardroom, a gallery, etc.
All images must be a “cut above” in their impact and visual interest.

Accreditation Press Release 

52 Pictorial / Scenic:
Ten (10) images of ten (10) different scenes on ten (10) different occasions that illustrate the
natural and man-made geographical features relating to our environment. Landscapes, seascapes,
mountains, aerials, city skylines are acceptable. Flowers are not accepted in this category. All
images must be above average in their impact and visual interest.

Accreditation Press Release

73 Wildlife:
Ten (10) images of ten (10) different wild animals made in 10 different situations, on
ten (10) different occasions. Wildlife refers to any animal that is free to roam and include mammals,
birds, reptiles and amphibians, rodents, marine, and land animals. Animals photographed in zoos or
fenced in areas do not qualify. Images should include three (3) environmental images where the
animal is shown as part of a landscape and three (3) close-up images where the animal is
captured in either a head and shoulder, 3/4 or full-length pose. The other four (4) images may
include a combination of environmental and portrait images. You may also include a maximum of
two (2) images that show details of the animals (i.e. eyes, spots, stripes, etc.). Motion studies are
also permitted to a maximum of two (2) images.

Accreditation Press Release

04 Animals:
Ten (10) images of ten (10) different types of animals taken on ten (10) different sessions. This
may include animals such as bears, lions, giraffes, birds, horses, elephants, deer, foxes,
chipmunks, tigers, domestic cats, turtles, fish, snails, gorillas, dogs, and any other distinctly different
animals. This is a general animals class and the judges are looking for variety so only include
one of the same type, i.e. one bird, one horse, one bear, etc. May include wild, farm or
domesticated animals, in singles, pairs or groups (3 or more). Only one (1) photograph may be of a
group of animals. Must include six (6) images of the entire animal and two (2) environmental
images in an appropriate setting. The two (2) remaining images may be of either entire animals,
environmental, headshots or abstract images of a body part. May be taken indoors or outdoors.

Accreditation Press Release

To Top

49 Night Photography:
Requires the photographer to have an understanding and knowledge of photography done during
the night. “Night” is defined as a period of darkness or partial darkness that occurs after sunset and
before sunrise. Ten (10) images, of ten different scenes, on ten different occasions that illustrates
an expertise in photographing subjects using extended exposures in low light. The photographer
must demonstrate the ability to balance different sources of man-made and naturally occurring
light sources, in a minimum of two (2) architectural subjects. The photographer should present a
variety of images such as moonscapes, star trails, astrophotography, Aurora Borealis (northern
lights), street scenes, city skylines, fireworks, lightning, and “painting with light” images.

Accreditation Press Release

48 Nature:
Ten (10) images of ten (10) different subjects in ten (10) different situations on ten (10) different
occasions. Nature photography encompasses all that is natural, including plants, animals and
landscapes. It does not, however, include man-made subjects, landscapes that have been modified
by man, domesticated animals or plants, or any situation where the “hand of man” is evident.  All
images must be above average in their impact and visual interest.

Accreditation Press Release