PPA Degrees
Earn Your Photography Degree with PPA?
PPA degrees are professional credentials that show your dedication to photography and help build client trust. PPA offers four separate professional degrees for photographers. Each degree is earned by collecting merits—credits you earn by creating strong work, helping others, or instructing your fellow photographers.
Degrees You Can Earn
- Master of Photography: For photographers who demonstrate creativity and technical excellence in their images.
Requires 13 exhibition merits + 12 merits of any type for a total of 25 merits. - Master of Wedding Photography: For wedding photographers who elevate storytelling through expert technique and style.
Requires 13 wedding exhibition merits + 12 merits of any type for a totalof 25 merits. - Master Artist: For creatives who excel in retouching, photo editing, and digital artistry.
Requires 13 artist exhibition merits + 12 merits of any type for a total of 25 merits. - Photographic Craftsman: For speakers, teachers, and mentors who educate and uplift other photographers.
Requires 13 speaker merits + 12 merits of any type for a total of 25 merits.
How Do You Earn Merits?
- Exhibition Merits
These merits are earned by submitting your photos to the Merit Image Review (MIR). Photographers can submit up to four images per degree category each month, February -November.Images are reviewed by trained PPA jurors who offer expert feedback and assessments of your work. Each image is evaluated using the 12 Elements of a Merit Image to help you grow in your image making abilities.If your image meets the standard you’ll earn an exhibition merit!
*There are two exhibition merit subcategories: artist exhibition and wedding exhibition merits.These merit subcategories are counted toward the master artist degree and master of wedding photography degree. - Speaking Merits
These merits are earned by teaching a class or event held by PPA or one of our Community Network partners. - Service Merits
These are earned by volunteering or attending PPA events such as Imaging USA.
*Please note: Service merits can be used toward the 12 additional merit requirement of any degree.
Explore How to Earn Merits
A Look at PPA's Degree Program
A Look at PPA's Degree Program
Why It’s Worth It
Pursuing a PPA degree helps you:
- Get expert feedbackon your work
- Improve your artistry and technical skills in photography
- Build your reputation and business
- Join a community that supports your growth
Once you complete your degree, you’ll be honored on stage at Imaging USA—PPA’s biggest event of the year—alongside fellow photographers and your sponsor.
Ready to Start?
Start working toward your degree today! Submit your images to the Merit Image Review to earn your first exhibition merit. Your degree journey begins with just one photo!
Photographers must earn a combination of 25 merits to qualify for a PPA degree.
See all of PPA's recent degree recipients.
Get a quick look at the degree ribbons, medallions and other regalia presented to degree holders and award winners.
Degree FAQs
Congratulations! You’ve put in the work and earned your Merits. Now you’re ready to receive your PPA Degree!
You will be notified by email when you are eligible to receive your PPA degree. Degrees are awarded monthly. Your degree certificate and medallion are mailed to you when you complete your degree requirements. All degree recipients are invited to take part in the annual Award & Degree Ceremony, at Imaging USA.
Download Degree Logos and Press Releases
Reach Out Directly to Clients with the News!
We all know how important it is to keep up with existing clients. Earning a degree is a perfect opportunity for a non-salesy-yet-high-value-adding touchpoint with existing clients! Send them an email or postcard letting them know about your new degree. The same goes for landing a new customer you’ve been looking to convert, but don’t miss out on this incredible communication and differentiation opportunity! Plus, you’ll receive some heartfelt congratulations and who doesn’t like a little ego boost
To sweeten the pot, consider holding an open house, offering a one-time promotion, or running a celebratory special. You don’t have to break the bank or cut your prices. The point is to use this perfect opportunity to reach out to customers and prospects and let them know that you’re getting even better and more passionate about your craft and that they can be proud to be working with you.
Share Your Professional Development Journey
Whether you’ve been invited to speak at an event, write a blog, or are just chatting up a fellow professional photographer, talk about your experience in earning your photography degree. Tell what the process involved, explain how it has made you better at your craft, speak to the value of what you’ve learned along the way, and share what it means to you and why. Sharing your experience is the best way to get people to buy into your passion, so do it!
Because, believe it or not, as simple as it might seem, in doing so you’ll establish yourself as a photography expert and a leader in your community! The more you put your name and expertise out there, the more potential clients will learn about you– and understand why hiring you is a good decision.
- Issue a press release: Let us help you write a press release to let the world know about your amazing accomplishment!
- Share your experience: Talk yourself up every chance you get! Whether you’re at a speaking engagement, networking with your peers or speaking with aspiring photographers, let everyone know just how important earning your degree was to you and your craft!
Download Degree Logos and Press Releases
After earning all my degrees, then what? Are there any other recognitions for continuing to learn, compete and serve?
Don't stop being active in Merit & Degree program...even if you've earned all your PPA degrees! You never want to stop improving your art or your industry. And PPA recognizes your efforts to go above and beyond via the following bars and awards:
- 25+ Gold Merit Bar – Members can earn one 25+ gold merit bar for every additional 25 merits earned beyond those required for any one degree.
- MIR 50 Bar – The MIR 50 bar is awarded to members who earn a total of 50 Image/Artist Image/Wedding Image merits. Exhibition/Artist Exhibition/Wedding Exhibition merits used toward your Master of Photography/Master Artist/Master of Wedding Photography degree are included in the total count for the MIR 50 bar.
- Imaging Excellence Award – Awarded to members who hold a Master of Photography or Master Artist or Master of Wedding Photography degree and who 13 images selected into the Imaging Excellence Collection.
- Imaging Excellence Bar – Awarded to members who already received the Imaging Excellence Award and go on to earn an additional 13 Imaging Excellence Collection images for a total of 26 Excellence Collection images. Members will continue to earn Imaging Excellence Bars for every additional 13 Excellence Collection images awarded.
You can see images of all the degree medallions, ribbons and other recognitions in the Ribbons & Bars Gallery
You can order new degree regalia or request replacements of your degree ribbon and medallion here:
A bar to be worn on the ribbons shall be awarded for each additional twenty-five (25) Merits earned beyond a degree. A silver star shall be placed midway on the right-hand ribbon as the insignia of a Past President. A national Award pin or other PPA earned award may also be worn on the ribbon. No other insignia shall be worn on or attached to the ribbons.