On October 1, 2025, I earned the Photographic Craftsman Degree from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). This degree recognizes photographers who have demonstrated excellence through teaching, writing, and elevating the profession. I’ve always believed that the best way to master a subject is to teach it, and this degree reflects that philosophy.

I’m also a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), originally certified in July 2022 and renewed in July 2025. CPP certification requires passing a comprehensive written exam covering exposure, lighting, composition, camera science, and more—along with a rigorous technical image review. To stay certified, CPPs must complete ongoing education to ensure their skills continue to meet PPA’s professional standards.

Credentials are valuable—but what do they mean for you?

A helpful comparison is cooking. Anyone can make a meal, but not everyone can create a dish worth going somewhere for. A skilled chef brings technique, creativity, and consistency together to create something memorable. Photography is the same. Anyone can snap a picture, but creating an image that expresses emotion, confidence, and connection requires experience, technical control, and an understanding of how people want to be seen.

These qualifications don’t make me “better” than the many talented photographers without degrees or certification—but they do give you an easy way to identify someone who has invested in mastering both the craft and the client experience.