Meet the Panel

Ed Shapiro

Ed Shapiro is a working professional photographer based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada’s capitol city. His career started in his native New York City in 1959 where he started his apprenticeship in a wedding and portrait studio.  His first solo wedding assignment came when he was 16 years old when a staff photographer became ill and he had to pinch-hit at the last moment- he never looked back.  For nearly 50 years he has been active in portraiture, wedding photography and has a vast commercial and industrial clientèle as well.

Ed has studied at the Rochester Institute of Photography, The Philadelphia School of Artm and the Winona School of Professional Photography.  He also did a 4 year stint in the U.S. Army were he served two tours in Viet Nam as an aerial photography specialist.

Ed has a great deal of experience in technical matters and has become known in some circles as a master problem solver and trouble shooter in both the artistic and scientific aspects of photography and in the field of electronic flash technology.

Ed now holds over 90 awards in print competitions earned over the years, has sat on numerous judging panels and hold the title of Chartered Master Photographer with his home association; The Corporation of Master Photographers of Quebec among other masterships and fellowships in various countries.

At the age of 63, Ed maintains his photographic business, does some teaching and mentoring and has been a popular writer on a number of photo forums. 

He lives in Ottawa with his wife and business partner (of 38 years) Helen.  His son David, a retail manager, and his daughter Susie, an early childhood educator, live nearby with the great spouses and their kids. His hobby, besides playing the keyboards, is spoiling his 4 grandchildren. 

Cindy Crabbis the founder of Visions In White, a contemporary wedding photography business located in Dallas, TX.  Cindy's work has been featured in TheKnot/Collages Ads, and is a contributing photographer for the new book, "Spectacular Weddings" by Signature Press.

Mike Hodgson
Mike has done numerous work in photography and had his own business on Manitoulin Island Ontario before moving to London where he is presently in his last year of a 2 year photography program at Fanshawe College. He also has done photography workshops for an elementary school and a nature park. His 25 year experience in landscape/nature photography has given him interest in commercial fashion photography, a major cross over from what he is used to.