Aubrey Hord, MCRP ’96 becomes the first and only female in Hawaii to earn the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the largest non-profit association of professional photographers.
Only 2,500 photographers in the world have earned a CPP designation, with ten being in Hawaii, including Hord.
As a seasoned photographer of 30 years with seven years as a professional, earning the CPP designation was not necessary for Hord’s career, but she still pursued it to maintain high standards for herself, her clients, the industry and women who aspire to be respected in a traditionally male-dominated profession.
“These days, it’s easy to buy a high-tech camera and call yourself a photographer, but true professional photography requires a blend of high-level technical expertise and artistic ability. Additionally, I want to show that women are equally talented and encourage photographers to earn a degree or a certification,” Hord said.
Hord’s enviable list of clients is a testament to her expertise. She was commissioned to photograph what would end up being the last formal portrait of the late United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye and a roster of celebrities including Elton John, Santana, Bob Dylan, Aerosmith, John Legend, Bruno Mars and more.
She has been one of the principal photographers for the Maui Arts and Cultural Center since 2009 and a teaching artist at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center since 2011. Hord’s images are also featured in the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, “Faces of Hawaii” and “Absolute Maui” books.
“I love what I do and feel blessed to work across so many aspects of photography. I treasure the trust and emotional connection that is given to me when I photograph people, culture and nature. To be formally recognized for it is humbling and empowering, the hard work was well worth it,” Hord said.
Earning the designation requires an intensive program that measured Hord’s artistic and technical competence. Hord passed a grueling 100-question photography examination about composition, design, lighting, digital production, exposures, meters, image capture and output. Once she passed the technical knowledge examination, she illustrated her expertise by executing 15 perfect images evaluated by a national panel of judges consisting of certification committee members, most holding at least one if not multiple PPA degrees.
Hord, a portrait, wedding and lifestyle photographer is also the only female in Hawaii to be accepted as a member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), the premier trade association for the world’s most respected imaging professionals.
She began her photography career managing her high school darkroom. Since her first international trip at age 14, she has explored, studied or worked in 14 countries on 5 continents. She is known for her mastery of light, vivid colors, and designs.
For more information on Aubrey Hord and to see her portfolio, visit www.aubreyhord.com.