Certifications

[E3_Photo_Studio]

Ok....I really really really don't want to start a debate, but I do want honest opinions.

with that being said, do you feel it necessary to have a photography certificate or a masters of photography certificate or some other type of "hey I'm a certified" photographer thing??

I was looking at a bunch of wedding photographers sites from the bridal fair we attended yesterday, and several of them are certified masters of photography......does that really matter??? Should I be looking into that kind of stuff?? I have a Bachellors in Photography, but in my honest opinion.....whoopie freakin' deal, ya know?

Again....I'm not trying to start a debate, but I really want some honest opinions.
Thanks!!

[Village_Idiot]

Ok....I really really really don't want to start a debate, but I do want honest opinions.

with that being said, do you feel it necessary to have a photography certificate or a masters of photography certificate or some other type of "hey I'm a certified" photographer thing??

I was looking at a bunch of wedding photographers sites from the bridal fair we attended yesterday, and several of them are certified masters of photography......does that really matter??? Should I be looking into that kind of stuff?? I have a Bachellors in Photography, but in my honest opinion.....whoopie freakin' deal, ya know?

Again....I'm not trying to start a debate, but I really want some honest opinions.
Thanks!!

In the IT world, certifications mean you're good at taking test.

Just because you have that piece of paper doesn't mean you're good at what it says you are...

[gjl711]

In the IT world, certifications mean you're good at taking test.

Just because you have that piece of paper doesn't mean you're good at what it says you are...
Though you’re right, it is no guarantee, but it is a indicator that you have studied a defined set of materials and that you were able to pass a certification test thus you know the material to some preset level. I am in the software field and I usually jump at the chance of getting certified. While doing the course work I always manage to learn something new. So if you’re serious about making photography your business, I don’t see the down side.

[Gary_Evans]

The majority of photography buyers arent interested, but you having some form of certification will appeal to some buyers - who are often bigger spenders.

One final thought, there are often threads running on this and other forums - "What makes you a professional" etc. For a start someone who has pride in themselves and their work to get some form of qualification. ;)



Discuss ...........................

[chtgrubbs]

If the certification your photographers had is from the Professional Photographers of America (or PPA as it is more commonly referred to) it does mean something. PPA certification comes from having your work judged at PPA print competitions, so it is based on the quality of an accumulated body of work, not just a two hour multiple choice test.

[coreypolis]

If the certification your photographers had is from the Professional Photographers of America (or PPA as it is more commonly referred to) it does mean something. PPA certification comes from having your work judged at PPA print competitions, so it is based on the quality of an accumulated body of work, not just a two hour multiple choice test.
depends on who you ask, its a buy in organization, so that has 0 credability with me.

being certified, part of an organization etc is all fluff. You can gain thigns from them, but as far as actually getting you a client, its all about your approach.

[breal101]

I wonder if PPA publishes any information of income levels between Master Photographers and non certified photographers. That would seem to be the bottom line.

[coreypolis]

The WPJA is teh biggest joke right now, ironically it was one of the better ones. The owner flipped his lid and is kicking members out left and right, including Becker and Jessica Claire, 2 members who would bring credability to any organization. Basically anyone that badmouthed the group at all, usually over the awful registration proccess was booted.

In 08 B is launching the KAWPA (www.kawpa.us) to right the wrongs of the WPJA.

[E3_Photo_Studio]

In the IT world, certifications mean you're good at taking test.

Just because you have that piece of paper doesn't mean you're good at what it says you are...

That's exactly what have been told about my degree. I think the persons exact words to me were (and this was at a job interview right after I graduated college)

"degrees in this field are pointless. It's the experience we want." :rolleyes:

[E3_Photo_Studio]

If the certification your photographers had is from the Professional Photographers of America (or PPA as it is more commonly referred to) it does mean something. PPA certification comes from having your work judged at PPA print competitions, so it is based on the quality of an accumulated body of work, not just a two hour multiple choice test.

I actually had to go and look it up....Here is what the one site says:

"Certified Professional Photographer"

and another says:

"PPA Certified Master of Photography & Photographic Craftsman Degree"

I guess I just worry sometimes that I'm not active in the photography field per se'. Like with the PPA or other organizations.

[rhys]

I took a quickie TEFL teaching course by an examining body I'd never heard of. It was dirt cheap - around $30 for 8 months of 2 hours a day tuition, once a week or around 60ish course hours. The course was worthless, the certificate is IMHO worthless too. The only benefit was that I was able to produce a certificate and claim honestly that I'd done a course. Did the certificate make any difference? Nope - not a jot. TEFL was still a field full of low-payers and non-payers. That's why I did a cheapie course rather than paying through the nose for RSA. The educational content was mildly interesting but nothing I didn't already know. In fact I probably knew more about grammar than the teacher!

Certificates and soon are all well and good but I wouldn't give anybody a job because of one. I recognise degrees and qualifications awarded by universities only. If it's awarded by a jumped up institution calling itself a university then it's just another Bombay degree as far as I'm concerned.

As far as IT is concerned, qualifications gained more than 5 years ago are worthless as technology has moved on greatly in 5 years. Who on Earth would employ an NT certified technician? NT went the way of the Dodo about 5 yeaars ago.

For photography, qualifications are utterly meaningless. It's not an academic field. It's a practical field. You simply cannot grade imagination and give somebody a B or a C for imagination, style or flair. It's not like mathematics with a right or wrong answer.

One of my acquaintances had a splendid way of getting TEFL jobs with dodgy foreign employers. He knew he wouldn't likely get the cost of an HIV clear certificate back and didn't have a TEFL course under his belt. He simply set up a website advertising a TEFL qualification and another advertising HIV tests. He put a photo of Admiralty arch in London as the "office" photo for the TEFL body and of Guy's Hospital with the name pasted out and changed for the HIV "test" centre. Employers fell for it, hook line and sinker. It just cost him a lot less money as he could just forge the certificates and give the employers originals (which he never got back).

[MJPhotos24]

Doesn't hurt, but a necessity? nope - I don't have nothing that says I'm photographer except a lot of companies using my pics :)

[justincase724]

You simply cannot grade imagination and give somebody a B or a C for imagination, style or flair. It's not like mathematics with a right or wrong answer.

I completely agree with this statement, although a lot of schooling and a piece of paper that says you put in your time doesn't hurt. To me, photography is an artistic field. Though it can be taught and learned, there are some people who are just naturally gifted. They may take a few classes or read a few books in order to hone in their skills or learns the terms, but they have something that others may not.

[liza]

The WPJA is teh biggest joke right now, ironically it was one of the better ones. The owner flipped his lid and is kicking members out left and right, including Becker and Jessica Claire, 2 members who would bring credability to any organization. Basically anyone that badmouthed the group at all, usually over the awful registration proccess was booted.


I agree that the owner may have mental health issues. Did you read the membership criteria? It said if certain shots, albeit cliched, were present in the persons submitted portfolio it would be rejected! What a farce!

As for certifications, I think they're meaningless. It's talent that makes people want to book you.

[vwpilot]

From what I have seen, most folks that think they need all those letters after their name, are the only ones that are really impressed by all those letters.

I've seen a few of these certified photographers that think its all about the certs, some with good portfolios and some with so-so portfolios, but all with egos that live up to those letters.

I certainly wouldnt worry about not having them. If you feel that educating yourself is worth it and you get certs to show your education, great, go for it. I for one wont feel bad without them though as no one I have ever spoken to has ever asked anything about it, they just want to see my work.