Validation programme for professional qualification as a professional photographer

A professional photographer:

• prepares the shots to be taken;
• takes photographs or short video recordings in accordance with the quotation;
• edits the photos and recordings according to the intended medium;
• works deontologically, in accordance with the rules of intellectual property law and the client’s requirements;
• develops their own style in order to achieve creative and high-quality images;
• makes use of knowledge of photoshoots, software (image editing) and presentation techniques creatively, with an eye for artistic trends;
• develops commercial acumen and supports profiling via the communication channels available.

A professional photographer operates within fields such as product, fashion, nature, studio, portrait, reportage, architectural photography, ...and is commissioned by a business, another photographer or a client, amongst others.

The validation standard for professional photographers (in Dutch)(PDF file opens in new window) contains detailed information about the validation programme.

If you want to demonstrate your experience as a professional photographer at a validation body, you can do so by means of a practical test and a portfolio, in addition to an interview, a case study and a question and answer session.

The language of the instructions during the tests will be Dutch.

You will be tested on your ability to:

• present a portfolio of self-developed photographic material;
• carry out photography assignments yourself;
• provide input leading to the drawing up of a quotation;
• explain a quotation;
• interpret and recognise images to name and explain certain movements and genres in photography.