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Wendy Newman, M.Photog.Cr., CPP "My clientele are predominately professionals, such as physicians, lawyers, PhDs and pro athletes…all of whom are familiar with what it takes to become a ‘professional.’ In all of those fields, it takes a lot of hard work, practice, dedication and continual testing or trials to validate their abilities. My degrees assure my clients that they are dealing with a qualified photographer who is at the top of her game. Couple that with excellent customer service and unique, quality products, and you have a great reason to charge top dollar for your work." Click to read more (or less). "Before I joined PPA and my state association, I thought I knew it all," admits Gregg Martin, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, of Gregg Martin Photographic Design. This South Carolina photographer learned quickly that it wasn't so, and he has become an avid pursuer of education in all forms. And such education is part of many PPA benefits, especially the Merit & Degree program. Since 1937, PPA has used the Merit & Degree program to encourage photographers' growth and recognize industry achievements. Photographers earn merits (points) for certain actions—competition success, instructing, continuing education, industry service—adding up to a PPA degree. What photographers have found is that this entire process helps them grow in numerous ways. Both Martin and Wendy Newman, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, credit the degree path with improving their photography. It's not just merits you earn by doing well in competition! "My photography has grown a hundredfold by entering photographic competition and listening to the judges," explains Martin. Earning speaking merits for certain degrees can also help refine your photography. "Breaking things down into understandable steps means you have to clearly define everything you do and the reasons for it," says Newman, owner of Wendy Newman Studios in Arizona. And Martin finds that he learns every time he speaks, just from the questions people ask. This program is also beneficial on the business end. Besides certification, Martin calls the Merit & Degree program "the only solidifying way to say you are a professional photographer." He can point to specific accomplishments and provide one more separation from unqualified amateurs. Newman agrees. "Your degrees help elevate you to another level...and if all else is equal, they can give you an edge," she explains. "My clients are predominately professionals, familiar with the hard work, practice, dedication and continual testing needed to validate their professional abilities. My degrees are an added assurance that they are dealing with a qualified photographer at the top of her game." |
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Gregg Martin, M.Photog.Cr., CPP "Besides certification, PPA’s degrees are the only solidifying way to say you are a professional photographer." Click to read more (or less). "Before I joined PPA and my state association, I thought I knew it all," admits Gregg Martin, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, of Gregg Martin Photographic Design. This South Carolina photographer learned quickly that it wasn't so, and he has become an avid pursuer of education in all forms. And such education is part of many PPA benefits, especially the Merit & Degree program. Since 1937, PPA has used the Merit & Degree program to encourage photographers' growth and recognize industry achievements. Photographers earn merits (points) for certain actions—competition success, instructing, continuing education, industry service—adding up to a PPA degree. What photographers have found is that this entire process helps them grow in numerous ways. Both Martin and Wendy Newman, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, credit the degree path with improving their photography. It's not just merits you earn by doing well in competition! "My photography has grown a hundredfold by entering photographic competition and listening to the judges," explains Martin. Earning speaking merits for certain degrees can also help refine your photography. "Breaking things down into understandable steps means you have to clearly define everything you do and the reasons for it," says Newman, owner of Wendy Newman Studios in Arizona. And Martin finds that he learns every time he speaks, just from the questions people ask. This program is also beneficial on the business end. Besides certification, Martin calls the Merit & Degree program "the only solidifying way to say you are a professional photographer." He can point to specific accomplishments and provide one more separation from unqualified amateurs. Newman agrees. "Your degrees help elevate you to another level...and if all else is equal, they can give you an edge," she explains. "My clients are predominately professionals, familiar with the hard work, practice, dedication and continual testing needed to validate their professional abilities. My degrees are an added assurance that they are dealing with a qualified photographer at the top of her game." |
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Michael Barton, M.Photog.MEI.Cr., CPP "If greatness was a destination, we’d still have to travel to get there. Every day we’ve got to do something. There’s no standing still in this industry…you’re either moving forward or backward." |
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Dave Huntsman, M.Photog.Cr. "When I first joined PPA in 1986, I wanted to be one of the "cool kids." I thought that in order to join the "cool" group, I needed to prove my competence as a professional photographer. What I found, instead, was something that vastly improved my own imagery and business." Click to read more (or less). My first goal was reaching Certified Professional Photographer status (I felt it was a good place to start since I had come from another profession). To reach that goal, I started studying, entering print competitions, and attending classes. My journey had begun. It was amazing to me how many of those photographers with degrees were willing to help me. They critiqued my work, answered my questions, and made suggestions to improve my photography and my business skills. I was soon certified! Being a goal-oriented person, I searched for a new carrot to dangle in front of myself. That Master of Photography ribbon seemed like the obvious objective to push towards. It meant putting my work into the big show, the International Photographic Competition. Amazingly, those same photographers were there to lend a hand again. As those helpful photographers went through my stacks of 5x5 proofs and gave critiques and suggestions on what to enter, I started to better understand the elements that make up a great image. I would go home and work on the things that I learned from the critiques"and apply those pointers to my client work, too. My client work started to look better than ever, and my hope of earning a degree was becoming a reality! (My clients also seemed to enjoy the improving qualities of my work.) A few years later, I earned the Master of Photography degree. What a bummer"another goal was done, so now what? Of course, I looked for the next step and started wondering how I could achieve a Master Craftsman ribbon. It was time to start sharing the knowledge I had gathered on my journey to the Master of Photography degree. I started presenting programs on lighting, posing, and marketing. In order to become a better instructor, I really delved into the depths of these subjects. Again, my photography improved from the knowledge gained along the way. When I started, I thought I was trying to reach a final destination with each goal. But each one took me farther on the journey of improving my imagery, meeting new friends, and sharing that knowledge. It's that entire journey that has made me happiest. I'll always need a carrot dangled in front of me to keep me moving forward, but I'll always know it's the process of getting there that keeps me growing. |
