Photographic Craftsman Degree

[MarisaPitts]

What effect has having you Photographic Craftsman degree had on your business and how are you marketing yourself.

[D._Craig_Flory]

For me, I got a lot out of the journey. In the 3 years it took me to get Craftsman I had to teach myself a lot. I chose to teach Adobe Photoshop. Each time I was asked to teach I taught myself a lot of new techniques & features. So, I was teaching but also learning at the same time. I got Craftsman in 2006 and still have a lot of people contact me about the program.

I put the Craftsman logo on everything. My Degree certificate is matted and framed and on the wall behind me when I do consultations.

[Karen_Linsley]

I have 19 service merits and 9 speaker merits. Do I qualify to apply for a Craftsman degree?

[Keith_A_Howe]

Karen, To get the Craftsman degree at least 13 must be speaking merits, so you need 4 more speaking merits to qualify. But then all the leftover service merits can start adding up to your Master's.

[Karen_Linsley]

thanks Keith! Guess I better schedule a couple more Super Mondays!

[Keith_A_Howe]

thanks Keith! Guess I better schedule a couple more Super Mondays!

Good idea! And then we can all clap for you as you walk across the stage at IUSA next January.

[Heather_L._Smith]

Congrats, Liana! Where in Hotlanta are you? I'm up north in Forsyth County

[LianaBanana]

Congrats, Liana! Where in Hotlanta are you? I'm up north in Forsyth County

Thanks Heather! I'm in Cobb County - used to be right in Buckhead but it's nice being out of the traffic a bit now!

[Cindi_K_McDaniel]

I have to admit I'm a tad discouraged lately because although I have enough speaking engagements to earn my merits, I always seem to have a problem actually getting the merits! I always ask for them up front and remind them about my ppa # just prior to the event, but so many of the guilds simply don't request them in time... It's driving me crazy because I've gotten in my car and driven up to 7 hours for one engagement and still haven't gotten that merit! I've actually considered giving up on the whole thing because there's really no recourse to get the merits that I've already worked for or at least it's my understanding that speakers are really at the mercy of the guilds...

[Christine_Walsh-Newton]

Cindi - Thank you for bringing this up. I just did my first speaking engagement last week. My merits for that were showing on my record when I checked 2 days later, which was amazing to me. Since it seems that other groups may not request the merit in such a timely manner - I would like to know how this whole "request a merit" thing works so that I may keep abreast of what should be happening within what timeline.

I have just enough engagements scheduled this year to earn my Craftsman and have it awarded in Jan 2011. I would surely hate for one group to hold that up.

Can you or anyone explain how this process works?

Thank you.