Is Photoshop knowledge required for professional photography

Being self taught, via the internet, as I am, is one way...does tend to lead to a lot of fumbling around.
20/20 hindsight dictates that there must be a better way.

Knowledge of post processing software, whether Photoshop or other, is a valuable tool for any photographer. It would be nice if all our photography efforts came out of the camera picture perfect, but that is rarely the case, there is always room for improvement! But Photoshop is an expensive software, well justified for advanced amateurs or professionals, but there are other very capable softwares available that cost much less and some are even free, like "Gimp" or "FastStone". An older version of Photoshop that does not require an internet connection and a monthly access fee is likely more suitable for a beginner. I would in that case, choose Photoshop CS4, CS5 or CS6 and forego the minor improvements available with Photoshop CC.

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Originally Posted by flashback

A very quick search of the internet got me to here which is the page for the Professional Photographers of America. A quick search through this site shows that one can earn a PPA Certification as well as Degrees, the two being independent of each other.

In either case there appears to be a working assumption on the part of PPA that those people desiring of Certification or Degree programs are in fact working photographers. For an applicant to complete the Certification program they need first to take the exam and, completing/passing the exam then need to submit their portfolio which follows certain standards. Interestingly under FAQ's for the portfolio submission is this question: "Can I use "Painter" images in my submission?" Part of the answer to this question is: "The certification program is geared specifically toward showing solid, professional, fundamental photographic skills, not digital manipulation skills." I found neither a total ban on digital manipulation nor did I find any requirement for its use. One could in fact deduce if one is a good enough 'Certified' photographer one needn't be too concerned with fixing any 'mistakes.'

There is a compulsory image component in the portfolio submission requirements and then there are 9 other images that need to be included in the submission. I find this requirement most interesting: "The remaining nine (9) images must be representative of your
purchased work from nine (9) unique photographic assignments in the last 24 months."

So this particular certification route seems to meet the industry standards set forth by a professional association. It seems to me that, unlike taking classes at a local community college, which likely works to broaden one's horizon, the PPA Certified seems more in keeping with an organization of working professionals.

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I think your Resourse very usefull.