Formal Recognition by PPA: Certification

It is now official… As the next milestone in my photography career, I earned my certification from Professional Photographers of America (PPA), becoming Certified Professional Photographer, CPP. What I thought would take a couple of years to achieve, happened sooner.

As the leading certifying agency for imaging professionals, the Professional Photographic Certification program is recognized throughout the industry. When you see a photographer displaying Certified Professional Photographer seal, you can be sure that he or she is among the less than 3% of all imaging professionals who have successfully completed and maintained our requirements.

Those who have earned the Professional Photographic Certification have passed a comprehensive written exam measuring their technical expertise, and have successfully submitted their work to a panel of judges for review and approval.

Professional Photographic Certification Commission
http://www.certifiedphotographer.com

Here are some details. When I joined PPA last year, a decision to work on certification was a no-brainier to me. I loved the challenge and I respected PPA’s authority behind the credentials. I read a lot about the steps involved, some candidates expressing how daunting the process may get, especially after multiple attempts… It consists of two parts, written exam and image submission for approval.

The written exam is conducted across the country on certain dates but there was nothing local that would work with my schedule. Then I learned that the test would be offered during the PPA convention in January 2009 in Phoenix, AZ, where I planned to go. Deciding to take it there, I put aside the textbooks. Things got hectic in the fall and around Christmas. Days before my trip to Phoenix, I remembered about the test… Recalling the learning experience of other candidates, I scratched my head and decided to jump in the cold water. Not being even registered yet, I walked into the exam room, trying to gather all the theory of photography that I learned long time ago. To me, not holding a textbook for quite some time, it was somewhat depressing to see other photographers leaning over the books and discussing Sunny 16 rule, reciprocity, complimentary colors, crop factor, zone system, etc… To cut the story short, I passed the 200-question exam rather well, finding the questions pretty easy for a practitioner.

Image submission seemed as easy. I put together a collection of 20 images, each featuring a unique individual and representing my overall business structure — a combination of wedding, portraiture, and commercial work. Today I was informed of passing the image review as well. A bit of paperwork is left and then…

Certified Professional Photographer is at your service. 🙂