Set a Goal: Become Certified

Continuing with today’s theme of professional organizations, I would like to encourage you to set the goal of becoming a Certified Professional Photographer.

Yes, I know this is beginning to sound like I’m a PPA pusher and it’s true. I believe in the PPA system 100%! I would not be where I am right now if it were not for this organization and its affiliates.

In June of 2008, I decided that I would like to pursue studio photography. I had already worked several years as a freelance newspaper photographer and a wedding photographer. I was dealing with my position being eliminated through a downsizing initiative at my full-time job, and at the age of 45, I was scared. This was not the prime time for a career change (my career was so specialized that finding a new position would entail relocating, which was not possible). I decided to go from a part-time to a full-time photographer and make the arrangements to open a studio.

After much research, I set the goal to become a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP).

Why?

Because I did not have any formal photography training whatsoever. I looked around my community and noticed that there was a solid force of new photographers with no training, either and that, as a consumer, it was very hard to figure out who knew what they were doing. I knew that being a 45 year-old woman would not work in my favor. Yes, I had newspaper and wedding experience, but that’s hardly a basis for saying you’ve got the skills to do studio photography, as well.

I needed some kind of formal training or piece of paper that proved I had mad photography skillz.

I already had two degrees and was not willing to go back to school to get another bachelors. The closest college that offered photography classes was 1.5 hours away and only offered a degree in art, not photography.

I discovered that the PPA had a CPP designation. Since then, the administration of the designation has changed and it is now handled by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission (PPCC).

In a nutshell, an applicant must submit 20 images to be reviewed by a judging panel and must take a 2 hour, 100 multiple-choice exam with a passing score of 70% or above.

You do not have to be a PPA member to go through this process, although you will get a HUGE break on the fees if you are.

You must formally declare your candidacy and pay your fee.

Then you have 3 years to pass both of the requirements. You may try as many times as you want until you pass both parts. The image review is only scheduled once a quarter and there is a stipulation that you must wait 30 days before you can take the exam, again, but this still leaves you multiple options to try again in case you’re not successful the first time.

So, back to goal-setting. I set one HUGE goal per year. On January 1, 2009, I set the goal to achieve my CPP designation in 2009.

I passed my exam in April and the image submission in May. I was fortunate enough to pass both on the first try.

If you are serious about going into business, I HIGHLY recommend that you pursue the CPP designation.

If you need another reason to do it, it allows you to stick letters after your name on your business card. I am now:

Christine Walsh-Newton, CPP

See? Doesn’t that look impressive? 🙂

For more information on the CPP program, please see: http://certifiedphotographer.com/