Relief!

... in that I am no longer President of the Tennesse Valley Professional Photographers. I will still be a member, and continue to be a member of the Professional Photographers of Mississippi/Alabama and of course the national Professional Photographers of America. The TVPPA has been important to me in the friendships I have made with other photographers, sharing good ideas and problems, and having people ready to help whenever there was a problem. I have learned a lot over the more than fifteen years I have been a member.

Monica Martin Photographer Monica recently received notice of being again Certified by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission. I was first Certified in 1999. This involves proving competence artisically and technically, continuing education, and stringent ethical business behavior. There are only approximately 2,000 Certified Professional Photographers.

Wedding Coverage Sale

This first week of January 2010, 20% off of 2009 prices if booked this week. Booking requires a signed contract and retainer.
Come see us before 2010 prices kick in!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas time as you enjoy family and faith. Tonight I will go to a Christmas Eve service to sing and sing and sing about the birth of "God With Us" (Emmanuel) our Savior Jesus, the Lord.

Meanwhile, Greetings from Guntersville, Alabama
Here is this year's photo:

Monica Martin, CPP !

Monica Martin has recently been awarded certification as a professional photographer once again. Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) is a designation granted by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission, the world’s leading certification agency for imaging professionals. This is necessary every five years to retain the CPP designation.

As a Certified photographer, I also participate in continuing education programs. This means that
I’m constantly learning new things and renewing my creativity, which directly benefits you
because the constant exposure to new ideas is reflected in my work.
What does “Certified Professional Photographer” mean?
Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) is a designation granted by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission, the world’s leading certification agency for imaging professionals.

To assure you of the photographer’s level of expertise and continuance to develop new skills and techniques, those who have earned the CPP designation:

• Pass a comprehensive written exam measuring their technical expertise
• Successfully submit their work to a panel of judges for review and approval
• Renew credentials every 5 years with continuing education, submitting work for critical evaluation, or retaking the certification exam

Monica Martin is among the less than 8% of all imaging professionals who have successfully completed and maintained the requirements.

Professional Photographers Program

Monday evening I taught the photographers of the Cheaha Professional Photographers organization, meeting in Anniston, about principles of retouching photographs, and a few tips in this digital age. Everyone learned something! What a good group of people!

I have taught all-day seminars on the subject for "Super Mondays" under the auspices of the Professional Photographers of America, and formerly taught the darkroom class at UAH Continuing Education, until they discontinued that program.

I think it is important for professionals to continue learning, sharing with each other, advancing professionalism. So, I am a member of the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Mississippi/Alabama, the Tennessee Valley Professional Photographers, and the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers.

Past Sessions - can you still order from long ago?

I just delivered a baby session order, in his christening gown, from July 2003. Whereas I don't guarantee that I'll still be able to read old files, I don't intentionally throw anything away. So if it didn't fall into the 'bit bucket' and I can still read it, I'll be glad to provide reprints!