Now I'm a Qualified Photographer: So What?

Does it matter whether a photographer is qualified? Some people seem not to care one way or the other. Some photographers say they can get work without bothering with formal qualifications, based on word of mouth and the quality of what they've done before. Just as some customers have told me that all that matters is personal recommendation, and whether they like the person's previous work.

But coming to it after a career in another profession, where qualifications are absolutely essential, I felt differently. I wanted to demonstrate an assured level of competence, recognised by a respected professional organisation. So I looked into the UK organisations that offer qualifications. The one I chose was the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP). This is solely concerned with maintaining and improving professional standards, developing skills and encouraging continuing professional development, facilitating communication in the photographic industry, and safeguarding the future of the industry. It doesn't function as a commercial trade organisation. It does genuinely seem focused on improving members' skills. It doesn't hard-sell goods and services to its members. It also appears to have the most rigorous and systematic assessment processes.

The entry level qualification is Licentiateship. This represents an established level of skill and competence. It requires you to present a panel of 20 images (preferably mounted prints) that demonstrate: composition, control and lighting of the subject; and sound technical competence. The images have to fall within a specific category of photography: mine were Press & PR. A Working Profile document is also required, which describes your working methods in general as well as specifically in relation to each of the submitted images.

I've been favourably impressed with the processes involved. BIPP offers one-day training courses to candidates at reduced rates. It also offers candidates free mentorship from senior members (BIPP Fellows). Regional meetings provide opportunities to share your work with other members and get useful advice. The judging of submissions is carried out by three Fellows, who examine the images before inviting the candidate in for feedback. I found this very informative, with the strengths and weaknesses of individual images very trenchantly described. I got really useful advice on how to develop my skills and my style of work. It certainly felt rigorous, anything but a walkover. I felt I could easily have failed to pass, had I worked any less hard on the images I submitted.



Here's an image the judges said nice things about. They liked the composition with its use of the windows into the atrium beyond. It shows artist Cynthia Harrison at Bank St Studios in Sheffield and was part of my commission to photograph artists' studios for Open Up Sheffield in May 2008. More of these images are on my website.

So now I'm a qualified photographer. So what? I do feel anyone employing a photographer would be well-advised to choose someone qualified with BIPP. And also that I've been validated, through a process I found well worthy of respect, as having shown myself competent. I'm also encouraged to pursue my development as a photographer, to aim in due course for the next level of qualification, BIPP Associateship.