Keeping up with Portrait Photography Certification

You've head of CPA's right? Certified accountants. Well I'm a CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) which is similar for Photographers. 

There are not that many Certified Photographers in the area. Click here to check for CPP's in your town. (Make sure you check the box on the website for showing CPP's only). Would you let a Doctor operate on you that was not certified? So why would you allow a photographer take your picture that did not have such a credential?

I tell potential clients shopping to hire a photographer is not like buying ivory soap. As it does not matter what store you go to, as all the ivory is the same--just some is less expensive. Not so with photographers. The photo quality can be very good or very bad! 

The first thing most people grab should a fire occur is their Photographs!

So why would you trust someone who is not certified?  I obtained my certification in 2014 and just got recertified in November. One of the things, being a CPP, is that in order to keep up my certification I'm required to go to training classes every year. They are typically held at Photo Conferences for Professional Photographers.

PhotoPro Expo is held every year in February at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center

I try not to pass up PhotoPro Expo which is held right across the river in Covington Kentucky. Though I don't live in Kentucky, I consider this conference in my own back yard.

Overcast day the the Photopro sign was well lit.

Here is a close up of the sign outside the convention center.

Here is a pic of my in the Trade Show checking out the latest photo albums.

Every year I look at new products that my Professional Photo Lab is making.

Guest Speakers give talks on their products on the half hour inside the trades how, I took the picture in between classes.

Guest Speakers from all over the country attend this conference. Technology keeps changing and one has to keep up with it.

Every three years the PPA requires me to take so many hours of training over that period of time in order to keep my certification. It gets expensive if I have to travel to attend a conference. At this one I only have a 40 minute drive everyday.

As I love learning, attending classes feels more like a vacation than a chore that I have to keep up with every year. Yes, I love the Photography Business. And I'm passionate about making the best quality images for my clients that they will cherish and enjoy for years to come!

Dave Likes