Our Mission Statement:
To bring outdoor photographers together
to Listen, Learn, See, Feel,
and Communicate more through our art.
At International Landscape Photographers the two of the things that we love about outdoor photography are the inner peace and solitude that we feel when we’re outside shooting. Shooting grounds us and helps to reconnect our souls to the landscape which we are an integral part of, for better or worse!
One of the elusive things that we struggle with when we are out photographing the landscape is the face to face social aspect of life. I think that most of you know what we’re talking about. Over the years of leading workshops, tours and hosting conferences we’ve noticed two things that seem to be missing in the landscape photography community. The First is a collective voice to speak up for us when there is a need. And, the second is the glue to unite our community. Together, we can help each other to grow artistically. Together, we can also speak up for ourselves when needed.
These last two points were the impetus for our first Landscape Photography Conference held in Banff, AB during the winter of 2016. That same spirit of being part of something, a unified group sharing and growing together, has blossomed into something greater. That something is summarized in our mission statement where each part has it’s own significance.
During the 2016 conference we LISTENED to the different presenters talk and the attendees comments. We could SEE the community in the room enjoying the and I asked you questions. And, I received great feedback from the attendees in the exit surveys after the conference. Thank you for your feedback. It was extremely valuable in helping us to choose the direction in which we needed to take. I learned about what you liked about the conference, what you didn’t like, and what you wanted to see in the future. And finally, I learned about the gaps in the industry that you, the conference attendees, told me about.
Listen
It is clear that some outdoor photographers feel the need to be out there photographing the landscape solo, and they hold onto this need dearly. Their solo expression and creative alone time is essential for them to find peace and to bring balance to their lives. We hear you.
Learn
It’s also clear from the feedback that you gave us that you enjoyed learning at the conference, and you didn’t want it to become just another one off event. You told me that you enjoyed being part of “something” and encourage us to do it again.
See
It was said loud and clear that you loved the photography tours and excursions at the Summit. You definitely what that to continue. We agree and will continue to have the excursions at future conferences, and we’ll look for ways to add more events to complement the Summit.
Feel
In the feedback most of you told us that we succeeded in helping you to connect to the landscape at a deeper level. The venue undoubtedly helped us to achieve that. We’ll continue to seek out venues in unique places in the World to help you heighten your connect with the Natural landscape.
Communicate
You told us that the presenters at the Summit communicated their emotional connection to the landscape well through their photographs. This sounds like an obvious thing for them to do, but it takes an experienced outdoor photographer to understand the language of emotional communicate enough to efficiently share how they feel for the Nature World through their art.
We’ll strive to continue developing partnerships with the best photographers in the World. And, we’ll continue to introduce you to them at future Summits, and to their own outdoor photography events. This is what you asked us to do, and this will remain a core element of what we’ll continue to do moving forward.
Enter ILP
The International Landscape Photographers, or ILP, is a business owned by landscape photographers wanting to learn from others, share with each other, and we’re a group wanting to grow together moving forward.
We’re also a group that regulators can come too when they’re want the opinions from photographers, who are often hard to organize together. It is possible to reach out and message the 50000+ photographers in the community through the extended ILP network. ILP can speak and consult with regulators on what our community wants when our opinion is needed. If there is a photography related issue where you live and you need an industry voice to speak on behave of the landscape photography community, then let us know about it. We’ll get the board to take a look at it and we can work together to voice the opinions of both the local and international photography community.
To help accomplish these goals we hold an annual meeting, a conference, photo competitions, advise regulators on behalf of our membership as needed, and finally, we help you to connect with each other during the numerous social and learning opportunities through the tours and workshops offered by our professional members. Simply put, we strive to help everybody to grow.
If this sounds like something you would like to explore and be a part of, then join ILP!
Let’s get social
There are a number of ways we can communicate and socialize with each other. You can:
1/ join the public facebook group to post, share with, and to learn about ILPA and all upcoming events and association announcements. You don’t have to be a member of ILPA to join this facebook group.
2/ You can join one of the Canadian regional landscape and wildlife photography groups administered by our president. These free regional facebook groups have a sum 50000+ members in them. This is a FREE and amazing networking tool brought to you by your ILP. Follow this link to see the full list of the free Canadian Regional FB groups and to join all the groups that you’re interested in.
3/ You can post your photos in one of the regional groups to share with the other members
4/ You can also speak to the board directly. Just send us a message via the contact form and we’ll get back to you in a timely manner.
5/ You can browse all the workshops and tours offered by our professional and industry members on the ILPA special events page. Your ILPA membership also gives you a discount on the events that professional photographers and industry members offer through the ILPA website.
6/ You can show your work on your personal ILPA webpage and link back to your own website. We’ll build the page for you with the content you provide us and link it back to your website. Or, if you don’t have a website then this can be your web presence for your photography gallery. Your ILPA webpage can be your internet business card.
The possibilities are endless. And, you will receive many more benefits outlined on our ILP membership description and registration pages.
Our Board of Advisors are very experienced but we are a young organization. Stay tuned and watch us continue to grow. One of the first things that you’ll see in the coming months is the membership directory grow and the business pages being to added to the website as we receive content from professional photographers and photography businesses.
You’ll also see an announcement coming for the 3rd ILP Landscape Photography Summit.