If you are new to the “association world”, then you may not understand the framework behind the relationship of TPPA with other photographic associations.
I first want you to know that I think the process is brilliant, and it is why folks join a photographic association and tend to stay.
Let’s begin with the Texas Professional Photographers Association (TPPA) since you are now part of us.

What is TPPA?

TPPA is an association with the mission to serve professional photographers and photographic enthusiasts throughout Texas and beyond.

We serve our members by providing education, information, networking and advocacy for photographers who are in business or who have a dedicated interest in being the best photographer they can be.

TPPA is part of the PPA Community Network

Many TPPA Members also happen to be members of The Professional Photographers of America. TPPA has elected to be networked with PPA in order to help our members earn their PPA Certification and to earn various credenitals.
It is important to understand, we are completely separate entities, but we work together to bring a stronger experience for photographers.

TPPA Helps You Get Certified!

Certified Professional Photographer

The CPP designation from PPA is an important step for photographers who want to set themselves apart by earning this important achievement.

The process requires passing a 100 question exam and submitting images for a technical image evaluation.
In short, earning your CPP demonstrates a higher working knowledge of the craft and provides photographers with a strong sense of confidence.
TPPA wants to help all of those who wish to become a CPP by providing a great deal of programming to help our members achieve this important milestone.

TPPA Helps You Earn Merits!

Merits and Degrees

PPA offers its members the opportunity to earn recognition for service, education and success in photographic competition.
The instrument used to keep up with a member’s progress is knows as a “Certificate of Merit”.
Merits are earned for service such as speaking at an event, serving on a committee, attending an educational event and for images that score as “Accepted” in the PPA Merit Image Review.
These merits are used toward earning various PPA Degrees such as the Photographic Craftsman Degree (based on service) or the Master of Photography Degree (based on image competition).
You must be a member of PPA to earn merits.
Because TPPA is networked with PPA, we can provide our members with easier access to opportunities to earn these coveted merits. TPPA awards merits to our members who are also PPA members for attending our events or serving as an instructor at a qualifying TPPA event such as Texas School or the iHeart Photography Conference as well as other TPPA Events.
The bottom line is, you can earn your degrees faster when you are a member of TPPA because you can earn more merits.

Local Associations

The same way that TPPA is Networked with PPA, so too, are local associations. There is usually a PPA Community Network in the state where you live, and your state likely has local netowrks where you can get involved. Here is a list of PPA Community Networks.
Local associations usually meet monthly and offer educational programs, image evaluations and wonderful face to face camaraderie with other like-minded photographers.

That’s it for now. I hope you will look for my final email in this series where I will share with you how to get plugged into TPPA’s Social Media outlets.