Does achieving a qualification really matter? Yes, I think so. Not so much for the award itself, but for the journey in getting there and the recognition of your peers. But let’s be honest, having a panel of international judges all consider that my work is of a high enough standard to achieve qualification does give the ego a bit of a boost. The real benefit is not that I can call myself a Licentiate, it’s that I am continually challenging myself to do better, improving my techniques and learning new skills. All this is passed on to my customers, and they are the most important judges of my work.

I had to provide a panel of 20 images, and knowing that I might want to include the image I was working on pushed me to make the best image possible. A crucial part of the process is seeking out the opinions and guidance of other photographers and I am very grateful for the many people who provided honest, and sometimes brutal, feedback. It all helped me improve. Thank you also to The Societies of Photographers for making me part of an international family of amazing photographers.

And of course a huge thank you to all the bikers who patiently followed my instructions and waited while i moved a light a couple of inches this way or that. To be fair, they’re all really a bunch of posers anyway and I know they were loving it…Lol. They were all awesome and I’m sorry I couldn’t include every shoot in the panel, but they all played a part in creating the final set.

So, qualifications do matter…not for the ego boost or the letters, but to show that we care about our customers and that they can trust us to do a great job for them. A small token of recognition for the time, effort and money invested in providing the best possible images for them. This is the reason I am proud to be a Licentiate with the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers.

Robert Taylor LSWPP