What those letters mean

If you follow photographers for any length of time, you will notice that some of them start to accumulate letters after their name, and you may wonder what that is all about. Basically, it is a way for photographers to distinguish themselves among other photographers.

The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) have a set of degrees that a photographer can earn. In Nashville, I was awarded my Craftsman Photographer degree, entitling me to add Cr. Photog. after my name. The craftsman degree is awarded to photographers who share their knowledge with other photographers to pass on what they have learned from those who came before us as well as what we figured out on our own. Whether it is posing techniques or command of a particular software or whatever, if you pass it onto others you earn speaking merits which you can accumulate to earn a craftsman degree. This is kind of a big deal- you are called up on stage with your sponsor, who puts the ribbon and medallion around your neck, and receive the degree itself from the President of PPA, all the while your image is projected onto a huge screen for the audience to see. It's a big achievement and a big honor, and I am pleased to announce this accomplishment. I chose my wife Betsy for my sponsor, because she more than any other person is responsible for pushing me in this direction, to purse this passion and make it a career.

Mark Levesque, CPP, Cr. Photog., A.C. Ph

CPP: Certified Professional Photographer (written test & image submission)
Cr. Photog.: Craftsman Photographer, bestowed by PPA, explained above
A.C. Ph: Associate Colleague of Photography, bestowed by NHPPA





Images courtesy of Jeff Dachowski