Sunday, May 8, 2011

The 3 Step Process To Becoming A Certified Photographer

By Charlie Armstrong


Many people wonder if they need a formal degree in order to become a certified professional photographer. The good news is that you do not need a formal degree but you do need photography training and knowledge about the photography industry in order to obtain the title of Certified Professional Photographer. Currently, there are only 1,725 certified professional photographers, which is only 8% of professional photographers in the United States.

In an effort to acquire your Certified Professional Photographer certification, you have to participate in a 3 step process. Initially, you need to express your candidacy with the PPCC (Professional Photographic Commission Committee). 2nd, you need to pass the CPP exam. Lastly, you must pass the image submission review.

Step one is expressing your candidacy. Unlike other professional accreditations that require numerous years of work in the industry, this accreditation does not need a lot of field time. It does expect you to pay $100 to declare your candidacy and display client work you have accomplished in the past two years. You then have three years to pass the CPP examination and image submission evaluation. Should you not pass after 36 months then your candidacy is voided and you've got to start the process over.

Once you've proclaimed your candidacy then you need to start out researching for the CPP exam. There are several varieties of this tests: Commercial, Portrait and Athletics. Whenever you sign up for the actual time and location for that exam, you will then identify that version on the examination you would like to take. You'll be able to go ahead and take exam multiple times if needed. It will be a one hundred multiple choice question test which includes a two hr time frame . You will need seventy correct answers to pass and it's also a Scantron test.

The next step is passing the Image Submission Review. Some people pass this first before the CPP exam. It is your choice as to which step you would like to take first. You submit 20 images to the PPCC. All submissions are required to submit 6 compulsory images along with 14 images from client work in the past 24 months.

The first six images must be the compulsory images. The mandatory images comprise of three compulsory and three elective photos. The 3 compulsory photos must separately exhibit Short Lighting 3:1 ratio, Broad Lighting 3:1 ratio and Selective focus with minimal depth of field in your specialty (note: senior photographers cannot send landscape photography).

Photos 4, 5 and 6 most choose from the following list to show: High Key Image, Low Key Image, Rule of Thirds, Use of Shape, Form, and Texture, Balance (symmetrical or asymmetrical), color harmony, "s" curve line, assertive, angular, or masculine line, or architectural techniques.

If your 1st 6 compulsory pictures aren't satisfactory then the whole portfolio will be denied. You will receive a letter in the mail 1-2 weeks after presenting your images to inform you of the passing or failing of your photos. After completing and passing this three step certification process, then you are formally a Certified Professional Photographer.




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