Great, Big, Exciting News!

     Picture it, Toney, AL – 2007 – I was about to graduate Athens State University – I was on top of the world! My daughter was a teenager so she was on her way to becoming independent; I had my photography education behind me and felt ready to open my own studio. Part of my senior art class was to create a 5 year plan… I had big dreams – and one of those dreams was to get PPA (Professional Photographers of America) certified. I had researched what all I needed to do – made out my timeline plan of what to do when, I was ready! Now, picture this – right after graduating ASU I find out I’m pregnant. I was thrilled to be a mommy again, but it put a halt to my "plan" (but isn't God's plan always greater?!)

     2017 – My son is now 10 years old and my photography business is going well, but there’s always that “unfinished business” in the back of my mind on my 5 year goal I had made in college. I take the plunge – I declare my candidacy for my CPP (Certified Professional Photographer). The requirements have changed since I first researched it 10 years earlier so I create a new timeline on what needs to be done. Then… my dad gets sick – really sick. All of my time is being focused on him. Not only do I not have the time to do the things needed to be done to pass my CPP, but I don’t have the mind or the energy either. With the CPP you have a time limit to complete it. My time ran out.

     2019 – my dad passes away. My heart is broke. He was always my biggest encourager in photography (and life in general!). I knew I had to pick up the process again and complete it this time, no excuses!

     May 6, 2020 – “Congratulations! Your evaluation passed all of the image requirements to become Certified!” Even though it came at a totally “crazy” time (I won’t get to walk to receive my certificate and pin, they are going to ship it, but the shipment is going to be delayed because of COVID-19) – it is SO worth it! Being a Certified Professional Photographer won’t mean much to anybody but me (and other professional photographers who know what you have to go through to receive it!) – but it does mean the world to me! It means I care enough about myself and my business to continue my education and always try to be learning and growing and it means when I set my mind to do something, I do it! It may take me 13 years, but eventually, I get it done, ha!

     Just a little about the CPP, you start out by taking a test - it's one of those tests that always made me sweat as a kid - the fill in the circle with your number 2 pencil test (eeeek!). Did I fill the circle in completely? Did my pencil get out of line? Is this really a number 2? What difference does it make if it's a number 1 or 3 pencil instead? Did I erase that answer well enough or are they going to count it as two answers and mark it wrong? Why did the person beside me finish so much quicker than I did? It's because they're smarter, isn't it? Why did I finish my test so fast? It's because I got them all wrong isn't it? - OBVIOUSLY taking tests is not my greatest strong suit! After you pass the test, you move on to your image evaluation. Photographers have come to name this little wooden man "Sherman" (I'm not sure why?) - you look at this picture and think "easy - some crayons and a stick man - anybody can take a picture of that" BUT you have to submit three pictures of this gentleman and they all have different guidelines to them. You have to submit in RAW format (which means no photoshopping anything in or out), you have to know how to entirely set your camera up manually (it tells you what to set some things on then you have to figure out what to set the other on for a correct exposure). There was way more measuring and math than my brain wants or needs, ha! 

     Be on the look out for more information to be shared on this new journey that I have started - and see what's next!