"dadiOH" <dadiOH@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:_Z7Lj.8821$_I1.2886@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Ken Hart wrote:
>> "dadiOH" <dadiOH@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>> news:qs5Lj.7428$BT1.3829@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> Dudley Hanks wrote:
>>>
>>>> Also, accreditation as a professional photographer is a good idea.
>>>> Many potential customers won't deal with anyone who isn't
>>>> accredited.
>>>
>>> Accredited by whom, pray tell? AFAIK (after 50 years doing it)
>>> there is no such thing other than for members of the press. And
>>> that accreditation has nothing to do with customers, just allows
>>> access.
>> Professional Photographer organizations offer accreditation: testing
>> to show that the individual is knowledgable in the technical aspects
>> of photography, and requirements for a ****tfolio of work. Personally,
>> I don't put much stock in these programs; the ones I've seen were
>> mainly political ("We don't want any more photographers in this town,
>> so we're not going to certify this guy.")
>>
>> A photographer who has earned such accreditation can tell his
>> customers that he has passed the test, just like a doctor or lawyer
>> displays his diploma on the wall.
>
> I don't put much stock in them either. And I was a PPA member for
> decades.
>
> One reason I don't is that there is no testing. None. People earn the
> "degrees" by ac***ulating "merits". Merits can be earned by submitting
up
> to four prints per year to a selection commitee...if the committee likes
> the print it will be displayed at the national convention and earn a
> merit. One for each print that hangs. Well and good except that the
> judging committee members (they do change from time to time) judge the
> submitted prints on what they consider generally accepted
> principals...anybody that makes a decent print following those
principals
> will get the print hung and earn a merit. Originality and creativity
are
> not among the "generally accepted principals" though they do enter into
> the judging at times. And that isn't just sour grapes because I hung
> numerous prints.
>
> Another way to earn merits is via service to the organization. I knew
one
> fellow who got most of his necessary merits by acting as a
representative
> of his state organization at the national convention.
>
> In short, there is no test, no body of knowledge to be learned, no
> experience necessary, no guarantee that a photographer with a PPA
"degree"
> can even make a photo that is in focus. Such a degree is meaningless to
> the public and is mostly a puff thing for the holder photographer vs
> non-holder photographers.
>
> Please understand that I am NOT denigrating photographers who have those
> "degrees" (many are excellent photographers), just the methododology
used
> in obtaining the degrees and the value thereof to the general public.
>
> --
>
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
>
>
>
I couldn't agree with you more. However, from the general public's
point-of-view, which is to say, from the point of view of a potential
customer who knows nothing about the politics of photography associations,
a
guy who just wants to make sure that his fiancee gets the nice wedding
shots
she so desperately wants and deserves, it can be comforting (if not
necessary) to see that little piece of paper hanging on the wall when he
agrees to shell out $3K - $4K to the wedding photographer who just gave
you
his pitch.
It's a marketing tool, and the more you charge, the more useful it can be.
On the flip side, reputation can often substitute for acreditation. But,
it
generally takes longer to build a decent rep than it does to earn / pay
for
the acreditation.
Take Care,
Dudley
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