Amy Shertzer Photography | Los Angeles Photographer

I am delighted to share the news that I just earned my Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation!

The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) formed a Certification Commission that developed and monitors the rigorous standards for earning your CPP.  In order become a CPP, you must pass a tough written exam as well as submit images that meet specific professional standards.  The images submitted must show work created for clients that excels in artistic and technical merit.  You can read a little more about what certification means here.

Last year, I set my goal to become a CPP.  So, I declared my candidacy and started on my journey.  Unlike my previous career field (engineering), I did not go to school or earn a degree in photography.  I am entirely self-taught.  That doesn’t mean I haven’t taken numerous classes and workshops or spent countless hours producing, processing, and finishing images in the past 4+ years.  I have a shelf full of books on photography, all dog-eared and highlighted from late night reading and studying!  What it does mean is that unlike the end of my time studying and practicing engineering, that resulted in Bachelor of Science degree, I didn’t have any sort of official paper declaring my competence in photography.  Until now.  Now, I can proudly say that I am certified.  Certified as a professional in my industry.

As one of my clients, you can have confidence and peace of mind that you are working with a professional.  The Certification Commission states that their mission is to validate a consistent standard by which professional photographers can achieve and maintain a recognizable mark of excellence.  You can count on that excellence not only in your beautiful images, but in all aspects of working with me.

Earning my CPP was a personal and professional goal of mine, but it is also a gift to my clients.  A promise that you are working with a true professional.