The School Photographers Association of California began in 1955 with a group of school photographers from California that would meet annually in Las Vegas to socialize and share business information. This group of SPAC pioneers was like “The Rat Pack” of School Photographers in keeping with the era.

In 1961 the School Photographers Association of California Inc. was incorporated with Louis “Bart” Bartolo as President. “Bart” was a transplant from Kansas City, MO with a gift for systems and sales. Virginia Ferguson served as Secretary in those formative years. The annual “meetings” continued until the late 70’s when the members added education as a defined component. (They needed a legitimate excuse to get together)

In the mid 1980’s, Gary Kranz developed the trade-show component and Calvin Harrell, Jr developed a newsletter to reach a broader audience of school photographers. In the early 90’s the word started to get around via the vendors and attendees. As a result, SPAC continued a slow growth pattern each year, and photographers from throughout the U.S.A. began attending for the social and educational programing, and to get one-on-one time with vendors and photo labs. It became the “in” place to get the inside secrets of the volume industry.

During the early 2000’s, SPAC leadership shifted to employees and vendors with poor results. By the end of the decade, attendance declined, and SPAC was at a tipping point…in the wrong direction. In 2010 Gary Kranz loaned SPAC money to get out of debt and “twisted the arms” of Calvin Harrell, Jr. to rejoin, and Marty Brown to join the board and put the organization in the control working school photography business owners. Marty Brown as the Treasurer was instrumental in putting SPAC on a more solid fiscal foundation during  the turbulence of technological advancements and consolidations. New independent photographers began engaging this market segment, and SPAC began to grow more rapidly.

With the help and support of our attendees and the photographers who generously give their time and talent, SPAC has become the leading independent association of volume photographers worldwide. Sustainability has been a hallmark of the board. To that end, the board determined that, given the projected growth and complexities of conference management, SPAC would need an Executive Assistant, and Calvin Harrell, Jr, recommended Coree Cooper (SPACGal).

During the past decade, SPAC attendance has continued to grow. Our Vendor Sponsors continue to increase every year. SPAC continues to evolve to support our attendees and has added SPAC University to help new and experienced photographers learn the basic through advanced operational skills required to excel in the world of volume photography.

SPAC now presents the largest independent school and sport photography conference and trade show in the world. With photographers attending from 43 states and 7 different countries, “The Party”, the annual SPAC Conference, is like a family that continues to grow, and new international affiliates are using the SPAC name as they build their SPAC families.