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I recently received an email from a photographer who was studying for the Certification exam — and it was mentioned to me that I hadn’t written anything about the Image Review portion of the certification process. So I decided to fill that void.
“I should have no problem taking and passing the written portion of the test but submitting photos for review makes me a little nervous. My clients like their finished prints and overall the images are technically “correct” (sharp, proper exposure, good use of the frame, etc) but when viewed under the proverbial microscope, images can be nitpicked to pieces and that worries me a little. With so many shooting styles and photography in general being so subjective, how are they viewing and judging the images? Can you lend any insight to the experience?”
This is an excellent question. As you know, the Certification process requires you to submit twenty images for review (there are quarterly deadlines — posted on CertifiedPhotographer.com). There are a few things to consider here: types of images, quality of images, and display of technique.
Types of Images: the images must have been created within the past two years, and the types of images submitted (e.g. wedding, portrait, commercial) should be in proportion to your studio’s sales. So, let’s say 40% of your revenue comes from weddings, 30% comes from general portraits, and 10% each from commercial, fine art, and pet portraits. That means you would need to submit 8 wedding images, 6 portrait images, 2 commercial, 2 fine art, and 2 pet portraits. Just like in competition, you cannot submit more than one image of the same subject (so if you had a wedding client who was also a portrait client, you would have to pick either their wedding image or their portrait image). The images cannot be from self-assignments, although to my knowledge, pro-bono and other “arrangements” that didn’t involve a monetary payment may still be acceptable. Remember, if you’re in doubt about the suitability of an assignment, it’s probably best to contact the Certification Commission (PPCC).
Quality of Images: It goes without saying that images need to be in focus, crisp, and prepared as though for a client. You’re not supposed to extensively retouch your submissions just for the purpose of passing the CPP requirements — the PPCC wants to review the quality of images you produce on a daily basis.
Display of Technique: As far as shooting styles and such go, I’ve seen both traditional and more contemporary images pass certification. You definitely want to stay true to your style of shooting, but keep in mind that these images are supposed to demonstrate your mastery of photographic techniques. Your images probably will do best if you demonstrate your knowledge of lighting styles, indoors and studio settings, and posing. Because proper posing plays such a big part in what we do as photographers, you’ll want your portfolio to demonstrate that you can position groups properly, and that your subjects look relaxed and natural (rather than stiff/uncomfortable). Lighting, background selection, and outfit choices should all work together to create a cohesive and flattering portrait of the subject. If you select subjects with a variety of body types, make sure that you’ve posed them properly for their figure (e.g. broad lighting on a heavier face is not flattering).
Remember, your images are being judged as a whole body of work. If you have one image that falls a little “below par” compared to the rest of your work, it shouldn’t wreck your chances. But if the majority of your work fails to demonstrate posing capabilities or mastery of lighting conditions, then your images probably will not be accepted. The judges will also put themselves in the client’s shoes and consider the image’s impact on the client (whether the expression fits, for example).
For a more detailed description of what the judges will be looking for, I’d recommend visiting the CPP Image FAQ at CertifiedPhotographer.com. Michael Gan has also written up a detailed post on OurPPA.com, titled What the Judges Look For.
If you have more questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to see some dialogue on this subject. But, if you need specific images reviewed and evaluated, this probably is not the best venue. Your best bet is to consult a Master Photographer in your area. Many professionals in our industry are willing to give back and help our industry grow. There is no better way to improve than to find a mentor. And by talking about your images with your mentor, you will probably begin to see ways in which you can improve your technique.
