PPA EXAM

[tonyastro]

What is the best study guide to pass the exam. Is there a free study online? Any tips?

 

[KmH]

PPA Education | Professional Photographers of America

 

[tirediron]

Without meaning to derail the thread; the PPA has a written examination requirement for membership?

 

[jamesbjenkins]

I believe he's referring to the Certified Professional Photographer exam recognized by the PPA. Supposedly, it's a booger.

Of the 20 or so PPA members within 50 miles of me, there's only one CPP.

 

[tirediron]

Ahhh, gotcha. Sounds like a cash-grab to me.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Maybe. I wish something like that was mandated industry wide for people to be able to call themselves professional photographers. In the USA at least...

Then it would be really easy to tell the real photographers from the Facebook fauxtographers...

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Maybe. I wish something like that was mandated industry wide for people to be able to call themselves professional photographers. In the USA at least...

Then it would be really easy to tell the real photographers from the Facebook fauxtographers...

And awaaaaaay we go!

 

[orljustin]

How hard could it be?

 

[jamesbjenkins]

And awaaaaaay we go!

I will never understand the pushback on this. Every other professional industry has certifications or licenses to indicate a legitimate professional. You or I couldn't exactly go read a bunch of articles on plumbing, go practice with a wrench and suddenly call ourselves a plumber...

Seems to me the only people who would complain about this are the MWAC, and best buy rockstars who would be out of work.

Whatever. I hope it happens eventually, if for no other reason than to piss off all the idiots out there who have destroyed the industry.

 

[KmH]

Destroyed the industry?

The industry is just fine, though it has changed.

The change has not been because of un-certified photographers. The industry has changed because of digital cameras, the Internet, and the consolidation of the stock image industry.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Perhaps I should have said "the fragmentation of the industry" instead of using the word destroyed.

I agree that the digital revolution has made it easier for rank amateurs to produce incredible images by accident from time to time.

But I digress, there is no logical reason why a legitimate pro shooter should have any problem with an industry-standard certification to be allowed to accept clients. Also, from a governmental perspective, I can't imagine why they don't push for it as well. Do you honestly think the rif-raf are paying taxes on their $50 portrait sessions?

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

And awaaaaaay we go!

I will never understand the pushback on this. Every other professional industry has certifications or licenses to indicate a legitimate professional. You or I couldn't exactly go read a bunch of articles on plumbing, go practice with a wrench and suddenly call ourselves a plumber...

Well, I read books and learned how to re-do all the plumbing in my lower unit (duplex), both copper, and PVC. I wouldn't exactly start marketting myself, but if a friend needed help, I would. Am I a plumber? No. But installing a new toilet, or hot water heater? No problem!

In this argument people say that, like you did, "every other professional industry has certifications or licenses". I think it's actually more of minority that do, rather than majority. But neither you nor I can prove that. First, find a list of every occupation that exists...

 

[KenC]

Well, I read books and learned how to re-do all the plumbing in my lower unit (duplex), both copper, and PVC. I wouldn't exactly start marketting myself, but if a friend needed help, I would. Am I a plumber? No. But installing a new toilet, or hot water heater? No problem!

Are you a bitter plumber?

 

[jwbryson1]

Maybe. I wish something like that was mandated industry wide for people to be able to call themselves professional photographers. In the USA at least...

Then it would be really easy to tell the real photographers from the Facebook fauxtographers...

And awaaaaaay we go!

Dude, you're just fishing for likes now.... (funny!!)

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Well, I read books and learned how to re-do all the plumbing in my lower unit (duplex), both copper, and PVC. I wouldn't exactly start marketting myself, but if a friend needed help, I would. Am I a plumber? No. But installing a new toilet, or hot water heater? No problem!

In this argument people say that, like you did, "every other professional industry has certifications or licenses". I think it's actually more of minority that do, rather than majority. But neither you nor I can prove that. First, find a list of every occupation that exists...

Are you running for President, Bitter? You dodged 3 out of the 4 points I made. Let me make it simple:

Why would a legitimate professional oppose an industry-wide certification like the one the OP is asking about? It makes a very clear distinction between the a$$hat fools that call themselves pros and those of us who actually know what we're doing.

Seems very simple to me.