cpp exam sample questions

[BenE]

Originally Posted by pbyd

My only problem with PPA titles is what happens if you stop paying dues to the PPA. I know three more successful photographers that stopped their PPA membership and were contacted by the legal department of the PPA and told they could not use any PPA titles in their studio promotions. ===========

all three were told by the PPA that the titles were only for PPA members and because they dropped the PPA they were not allowed to use any PPA titles.

==============
Wayne

If I understand correctly (I was given this information by several PP a photographers), you are required to stop using the PPA logo and the references to PPA;, such as PPA Master of Photography.

I know one photographer personally who was a member for about 35 years, and had been a degree holder for most of that time, that went head to head with them about it, after he left.

He still uses the phrase "Master Photographic Craftsman", but of course no logo or no wording about the organization.

I have been thinking about using the phrase "Master Portrait Artist".

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by BenE

If I understand correctly (I was given this information by several PP a photographers), you are required to stop using the PPA logo and the references to PPA;, such as PPA Master of Photography.

I know one photographer personally who was a member for about 35 years, and had been a degree holder for most of that time, that went head to head with them about it, after he left.

He still uses the phrase "Master Photographic Craftsman", but of course no logo or no wording about the organization.

I have been thinking about using the phrase "Master Portrait Artist".

Everyone talks about the credibility of the titles, I did a Bachelors of Fine Art with a Photography major (BFA) and a Masters of Fine Art in Photography (MFA) spent a total of about 6 years in Universities and have never found one client in all these years that really care, so I do not use either title. If you want to impress your photography friends make up cool sounding titles and get all of the PPA titles and some really big lenses, but if you want to make money then start emulating successful studios that have been 15, 20, 25 and more years in business (not the ones that say so on their web sites but ones that really have).
Just my opinion and nothing more,
Wayne
Photography by Design

[BenE]

Originally Posted by pbyd

==========If you want to impress your photography friends make up cool sounding titles and get all of the PPA titles and some really big lenses, but if you want to make money then start emulating successful studios that have been 15, 20, 25 and more years in business (not the ones that say so on their web sites but ones that really have).
==========

I am not sure if you are giving me that advice, if so, you are, as the saying goes, "preaching to the choir". Even when I was a member, I never signed my name:

BenE
PPA Master of Photography,
PPA Photographic Craftsman,
PPA Affiliated Juror

I have a few other "titles" I never mention also.

By the way,, as far as emulating photographers who have been in business for as long as 25 and more years... ... I started my 41st year three months ago. But I do not believe that qualifies me as being smarter or better than those who might have been in business for a lesser time.

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by BenE

By the way,, as far as emulating photographers who have been in business for as long as 25 and more years... ... I started my 41st year three months ago. But I do not believe that qualifies me as being smarter or better than those who might have been in business for a lesser time.

BenE,
Hey, welcome it is good to know I am not the only "OLD" photographer here. I just hit 41 years in this business on Jan 15 2011, and believe me, I am not bragging, I can tell you a lot of jobs with less hours and more money, but, I do love what I do. As far as being smarter, or better we have been around long enough to know better. There will always be someone better and wiser than I (or me). I like the song line "it ain't that I'm wiser, it's just that I've spent more time with my back to the wall".
Wayne
Photography by Design

[BenE]

Originally Posted by pbyd

BenE,
. I just hit 41 years in this business on Jan 15 2011

We do have a lot in common. For me it was Jan 1, 1970, that I went into business, so I am just about 2 weeks "older" than you.

Ok.. no hijack intended.

I shot my first wedding that day with a Yashica D twin lens reflex, using 120 film (12 frames per roll), and... would you believe... a bag full of flashbulbs!

To segue this.. hehehehehe

If it comes up on the CPPA exam. the Yashica was 6x6 format, as was the Rolleiflex, but you had to be rich to afford one of those.

[pbyd]

I really don't mean to hijack but,
BenE,
I went big time C330 with the latest Honeywell 880 flash and 120 CPS (color) film.
If you are ever in Houston, give me a call.
Wayne
Photography by Design

[STP Images]

Originally Posted by BenE

What I do dislike is that the requirements for membership in the organization are now zero. That has nothing to do with the membership in general, it has to do with the direction that has been taken in order to gain money through opening the membership up to anyone no matter what, no questions, no requirements.

Membership in the PPA requires nothing more than a pulse and a credit card - this is correct. If this is indeed a sore spot for you, then the CPP should be something you would value for the separation it creates between general membership and those that have pursued the certification. It requires 20 separate paying client images over 24 months to submit for certification and it requires the passing of a written exam. That is why I made the comparison between ASE, CPA and CPP. These are all certifications that require testing, experience and approval from a certifying body.

Originally Posted by BenE

So back to my problem with the organization (not the members). They require none of that documentation. I asked about it once, and was given two reasons (not by the same person)

1)It would be too cumbersome, meaning someone would actually have to look at a stinking piece of paper from the state, and keep it on file... or
2) It would stop a lot of people from becoming a member who did not have the documents.

What? The organization does not want to know if members are following the legal procedures for being a business?

It is not the members fault. And for those who wonder if the organization should be more diligent, I ask why not. After all it is a "Professional" organization and two of the items in the code of ethics are:

2. Use the highest levels of honesty, professionalism and integrity.
3. Not use any marketing or competitive practice which violates any Federal Trade Commission, or other Federal or State regulatory agency rule or regulation, or Federal or State statute or any decision of any Federal or State Court.

BenE - These are issues and complaints you have related to general PPA membership, not with the CPP exam. This thread was specifically about the CPP exam, not a wailing wall for those opposed to the PPA. These are horses of a different color.

[FireHeart Photography]

This is an interesting thread and as someone who has spent the last year working toward CPP I can tell you that I am so happy that I did so - for me it's not about making money - although I can tell you have I know for fact that 5 clients so far since January have chose me over a non-CPP that I was up against for weddings - but that is not why I did it - it is however, a benefit from. The reason that I went for CPP was to challenge myself - I picked up my first camera in 1976 - I was a working amature for 6 years - I minored in photography working for the Lab NPL for those old timers for 2 years then left all together to purse a different carreer all together - then 4 years ago came back into the business - with about a gazillion other digital newbies... I wanted to go for CPP to gain the knowedge back that I had when I was in it full time - to distingush myself and to work toward a goal - I am now working on my Master of Photography - it's challenging - the great thing is that I am learning so much more about the craft by doing this - for me it's not just about the money - it's about the love and growth and learning - PPA provides more than a logo and I don't use their logo on anything - I do mention that I am part of this organization in all my marketing but I am also memeber of many others.

Now for the added benefits - when talking to a client - I can now ask if the other photographers they are looking at are CPP? I tell them about the process and what that means to them - and with all the "new" photographers in the business - this is a business strategy that is working better than I thought it would. I just shot a wedding last friday that the bride gave me her cc over the phone because I was CPP - her CPP friend now living in UAE told her that if there was a prefered vendor on the list that was CPP that she should hire me... hmmm CPP reffering CPP - yep -I'm doing it too...

So it is for personal reasons - I love PPA and the process for learning and growing pushing to be better and this gives me a place to do it with my peers - and I'm getting business too...

Now to answer the question - hard easy somewhere inbetween - I passed the images and test first time out - and I thought both were hard - the test much harder than the images - the images time consuming to choose the right images for lighting, posing, cropping, etc - the test well because it was flipping hard - you had to know about everything and be specific - I know many who did not pass - it is not a read a book go take the test test - I studed for 6 months and then took a three day prep class and it was still flippin hard...

[carrbowl]

I have passed the written part, but have not gotten to the print part yet. Must get busy!!!

IMO....this is one of the ways that photographers will be able to seperate themselves from the average photographer. So many complain that that the mother or father with a camera is taking away their business, but then complain and say that having a certification is nothing. Well CPP does take some work. Not just anyone can pass...you must know some stuff...you don't have to be an expert, but you do have to know quite a bit. We have to start somewhere to seperate...

[BenE]

Originally Posted by STP Images

==========

BenE - These are issues and complaints you have related to general PPA membership, not with the CPP exam. This thread was specifically about the CPP exam, not a wailing wall for those opposed to the PPA. These are horses of a different color.

Since the CPP was originally a program that began as one of the PPA "degrees", and remained so for over 20 years, I actually keep forgetting it has recently been changed. In fact for all those years, a person had to be a CPP before they could earn the other two "degrees"; Master of Photography, and Photographic Craftsman.

Only the last few months was I aware the CPP program has taken on a separate identity.

After all these years, it might take some time, for me, separate the two, or at least thinking of them as belonging to the same organization.

I suppose it will take the PPA while also, because they still have links about the program and the Certification forum still has the PPA banner.

...........

OK.. this thread is about the CPP exam, but it seems the PPA is still actually the organization that is running the program.

That said, I will certainly try to keep my comments about the PPA divorced from anything else.

.....edit.... The other item I just remembered is that now to be a CPP you do not have to be a PP A member. This is also somewhat recent, so maybe I can be forgiven for placing the two together.

...edit2............

I looked again at the OP and all the replies, and it seems many did get sidetracked. The original question had nothing to do with anything other than the person wanting someone to give her some of the questions.

[LadyShutterBug]

I want to take the test, I just never seem to be able to figure out where it's offered. I'd love some sort of study guide... I guess I need to utilize my google-fu, huh?

I don't have a fabulously wonderful answer to "why". Because I want to. Because I want to do it for me. Sure I'd like to add it to my list-o-accomplishments, but mostly it's a personal challenge.

p.s. HI RENAE!

[carrbowl]

Ok...hopefully this will be useful information to someone!!! It was something I was looking for when I was trying to pass the PHOTO part of the test...One of the many things they are looking for when examining your photos...they are looking to make sure you know your lighting and not just one style. Can you do different ratios, can you do loop lighting, can you do good outdoor and indoor lighting (if both are in your portfolio) etc etc. etc. I know there are other things, but I just found out about this and thought it was very useful when putting your portfolio together.