Why would I do this?
The benefits of PPA merits & degrees

Any of the PPA degrees can benefit your career in several ways:

• Help justify and explain your prices. If customers ask why your prices are high, you can back yourself up with the PPA degree. Often, if customers see an additional achievement in your background (recognition from your profession on top of your photography skills and service), they might accept the prices more easily.
• Be recognized for your accomplishments by photographers, industry members, and potential clients. Reaching a certain status point in your industry may increase the trust that others put in your ability…including clients. Increase this recognition by explaining how you earn the degree.
• Push yourself to continue learning and achieving. Photography is not a static industry; new techniques and technologies always appear. The actions you take to earn your merits and degrees will help keep you abreast of the changes, and prove that knowledge to others.

In addition to the general benefits, each specific degree can help you in a different way. Of course, for this to work you will have to explain what goes into earning each degree. That can help prove the standard that the degree represents. Consider the following degree types:

Photographic Craftsman
Awarded for your service as an orator, author, or mentor, this degree can help position yourself as an authority in photography. You may get even more speaking gigs or publications. And clients may be wowed, too! A potential pitch might include explaining that you received one of the highest recognitions for speaking, writing, or mentoring on photography. It stands to reason that your photography skills must be something special, since so many want to learn from you…and clients can usually make that deduction.

Master of Photography
As this degree celebrates superior photographic competence through a variety of channels, it is a perfect addition to your marketing. Clients may appreciate the fact that your photography has been recognized so highly from such an organization as PPA…if you explain it to them.

Master Artist
This degree also recognizes your photographic competence, with an emphasis on your print enhancements. If you are trying to promote your special products or retouching, explaining this degree can help. Customers tend to recognize what a degree stands for.

Master of Electronic Imaging
Recognizing your photographic competence and emphasizing your electronic images (computer graphics, enhancements, etc.), this degree can help you promote those products/services in your business.

How can I use this?
Degree marketing

• Add the degree after your name wherever it is: on your Web site bio, on your company marketing materials (brochures, postcards, etc.), on your studio door, etc.
• Link to the pages that describe the degrees and how you earn them (on www.ppa.com). This will help you explain to customers why the degrees are important.
• Provide a brief explanation of the degree and what it entails when you speak to new customers. This could be when explaining your prices, providing your background, or discussing special products and services.
• Use the degree (and a brief explanation) in specialized promotions to broaden your name recognition.
• Send a postcard or e-mail announcing the new degree to your existing customers. It provides a nice way to stay in touch and remind them of upcoming portrait dates, etc.
• Send a press release to local publications when you receive your degree…you might receive free publicity.

Charge to New Degree Holders

Click here to read the charge to new degree holders.