Photography can be a lonely profession! Professional photographers wear many hats and carry a load of responsibility. As a photographer, you are your own marketing team, manage client relations, spend hours editing and in post-production, sell your products, and the list goes on and on. That’s why continuing your photography education and building a strong network is essential to success in the industry.

One way to grow your skills and take better pictures is by earning a PPA degree. Photographers pursue a PPA degree for various reasons: to challenge themselves, enhance their skills, boost their business credibility, contribute to their community, and much more. PPA provides four distinct degree pathways to achieve these goals: Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, Master Artist, and Master of Wedding Photography.

PPA's Degree Program offers a structured way for photographers to learn the basics of photography, refine photography techniques, and gain recognition for their expertise. Additionally, it provides a sense of community in an often solitary profession. Photographers who pursue a degree engage in ongoing photography education, fill in knowledge gaps, and earn merits that celebrate their accomplishments.

Breaking Down the Merit System

To earn a PPA degree, photographers must accumulate 25 merits across three categories: Exhibition Merits, Speaking Merits, and Service Merits. Here’s how each merit type contributes to earning a degree:

Exhibition Merits

To earn exhibition merits, a photographer submits professional pictures—digital files or albums—into the Merit Image Review. A panel of trained jurors evaluates the images based on the 12 Elements of a Merit Image, which focus on artistic skill, technical proficiency, and the ability to create images that meet the highest industry standards.

• For the Master of Photography Degree, photographers need 13 exhibition merits plus an additional 12 exhibition, service, or speaking merits.
• The Master of Wedding Photography Degree requires 13 wedding exhibition merits—images captured solely on the wedding day—plus 12 additional merits.
• The Master Artist Degree focuses on computer-applied techniques and digital artistry. Photographers must submit images demonstrating their editing, manipulation, and rendering skills. This degree requires 13 artist exhibition merits plus 12 additional merits.

Speaking Merits

Speaking merits are earned by sharing knowledge and expertise with others in the industry. Photographers can acquire these merits by hosting a PPA Photo Workshop, speaking at Imaging USA, and teaching at Community Network events.  These merits are essential for the Photographic Craftsman Degree, which requires a combination of 13 speaking merits and 12 exhibition, service, or speaking merits.

Service Merits

Service merits are awarded to photographers who give back to the professional photography community. Whether volunteering at Imaging USA, attending PPA Community Network Events, or participating in PPA initiatives, service merits acknowledge photographers for their contributions to the industry.

Join a Community That Supports Your Growth

Beyond developing skills and starting a photography business, earning a PPA degree connects photographers to a vibrant and collaborative community. At the end of their degree journey, photographers attend Imaging USA to walk the stage and receive their degree at the Award & Degree Ceremony, alongside their sponsor. It’s an opportunity to gain well-earned recognition and celebrate achievements with like-minded professionals.

PPA offers four different degrees to meet the needs of photographers and provides a variety of ways to earn merits. Whether you’re looking to learn the basics of photography, master photography techniques, or enhance your credibility as a professional photographer, the PPA Degree Program is designed to support your journey.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Discover more about PPA Degrees and how they can help you grow by visiting our Degrees Page!