Credentials matter.
- What is a PPA Master Photographer? How does one achieve those credentials?
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The title Master Photographer is bestowed on relatively few people each year by the PPA – The Professional Photographers of America. In fact, of the PPA's 25,000 members, fewer than 4% of photographers working today have achieved Master. Mr. McMullen is a Master Photographer.
Obtaining the title is extremely difficult - requiring years of submitting image samples (only four per year may be submitted) for PPA national judging competitions in order for any image to score high enough to earn a “Merit”. Twenty five print Merits must be earned. No easy feat. But, because Master photographers earn the title by the outstanding creativity and quality exhibited in their images, you can engage a Master with confidence. Look for the designation, “M.Photog.” after a photographer’s name.
- What is a PPA “Certified" Photographer?
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Less difficult to attain than Master, "certification" requires that the applicant submit 15 images for general review (no Merits are awarded) and take a written exam testing technical, theoretical and historical knowledge of photography. If you pass the exam, and if your images meet the minimum creative and quality requirements, you’re “Certified”. Look for “CPP” after a photographer’s name.
Although many are “Certified”, few achieve “Master”.
- What’s the ASP?
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The American Society of Photographers. You must be a Master to be eligible for membership.
- How does one qualify for Membership in the Royal Photographic Society?
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U.S. citizens must first attain Master Photographer status before being nominated for Licentiateship in the R.P.S.