Hello everyone! It’s me, Jessica. I am so excited to tell you about this great opportunity that I received. During November, I had someone reach out to me about being a part of a video about Certified Professional Photographers (CPP) for the Professional Photographers of America. I, of course, said yes and was so excited to be chosen for this opportunity. The company that was producing this video, Life is Good, came to our studio and we spent a good bit of the day filming. There was an interview, where I got to talk about why I became a certified photographer and how I did it and there were also some clips of me in action. It was all in all a wonderful experience and I am grateful that I was one of the ones chosen to share my story.
What exactly is a Certified Professional Photographer? Well, I’m glad you asked! A certified photographer is described on the PPA website as a professional photographer who has demonstrated technical competence through a written exam and photographic evaluation. While I spent two years in the photography program where I learned a lot of the technical things about photography, I still spent many long days and nights studying to be sure that I knew everything that I needed to know for the exam. There are many technical aspects to photography that not everyone thinks about, such as lighting, set up, camera settings, and so many more.
I chose to obtain my CPP so that I could stand out from other photographers. There are so many people who pick up a camera and classify themselves as a photographer that it has become harder for clients to distinguish the difference in a true professional photographer and someone that is just enjoying their hobby. The Professional Photographers of America currently recognize fewer than 2,500 CPPs, this meaning that I am one of only 3% of photographers who are certified. When I search for Certified photographers in our area, Mike and I are the only two Certified Professional Photographers in Barrow county. I make the 4th photographer that regularly do work for Bentley Photography, doing school and sports photography, that is Certified and 3 of them have also earned their Craftsman Photographers. We take photography very seriously in everything that we do, from our portraits to school and sports photos, and other events.
I am proud to say that I am a Certified Professional Photographer and I am excited to share more of the process and my story with everyone once the video is released. Keep an eye out! We will share it with you as soon as we get it!
With love,
Jessica Ferguson, CPP
.jpg)
Photo by Mike on his iPhone through the window while I was being filmed, I had no idea he was there.
Bentley Photography