A higher standard protects your investment:

In order to be licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Education, we submit every aspect of our operation to scrutiny. And that means you don't just have to take our word for it when we say we're qualified to teach you photography from the Basics all the way to the Professional level.

You've probably heard stories about - or maybe even experienced yourself - photographers who offer classes but then, for whatever reason, are not able to deliver them effectively. Maybe they themselves are skilled with a camera, but don't have the knack for imparting that knowledge to someone else. Or maybe their "lessons" are a series of tips and tricks you could have learned on your own on YouTube, but they don't really get you to the point where you're comfortable with your camera. That won't happen at C1M. Both our course materials and our instructors are examined by the New Hampshire Department of Education to guarantee that the content is valuable and the instructors are capable.

Even before licensing, we were always striving to create a safe and comfortable learning environment for our students. To maintain our licensing, we have prove that we have done so. We need to be bonded and insured, and we must demonstrate that we have adequate facilities for our students. (Of course, we aim for more than adequate.) Some students have told us tales of taking classes elsewhere and having to negotiate unsavory parts of town, or navigate dark parking lots. We feel that if you're uneasy with where you are, it's awfully hard to learn. We always want our students to feel at ease here, and we're glad that's important to the Department of Education, too.

We know that your time and money are valuable and that you want to spend them wisely. We take your trust and our commitment to your learning very seriously. (Although we make the learning fun.) And we hope that knowing we have the approval of the New Hampshire Department of Education makes placing your trust in us that much easier.

Why NH Department of Education licensed is better:

You've heard us say that we're New Hampshire's only fully licensed and bonded school that is 100% dedicated to your photographic education. But what does that really mean? Our mission is, and has always been, to help you become the best photographer that you can be and take the kind of photos you always wanted to take. With patience and kindness. Since 2014, though, we've been licensed to do so by the State of New Hampshire.

For us, that means we're held to a high standard by the Department of Education. For you, it means that when you enroll in our courses, you get something of value in return - and your investment in your education is protected.

Courses and classes that are licensed:

Any class or course licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Education, has to be submitted, inspected, and approved. Once a course is approved, we can issue certificates for students. A certificate from C1M means that you completed a thoughtfully constructed, state approved curriculum, with meaningful measurement of your mastery of the subject. We think that's something to be proud of.

Display your achievements with pride:

You did all the work. You completed all the assignments. You learned all the stuff. And now you can prove it. When you receive your certificate, display it proudly, and let the world know that you earned it. We don't just give these away.

As a state licensed school we have been trusted with the power to issue certificates to students that meet course requirements. Our Certified Professional Photographer course will allow those that pass to carry the title of Certified Professional Photographer title, and all the rights bestowed upon them. One of which is adding the letters CPP to their name. Backed and protected by the State of New Hampshire Department of Education.

Walter Schnecker

Walter teaches classes and courses in our Amherst location.

Meet Walter ...

Don Chick

Don teaches classes and courses in our Portsmouth location.

Meet Don ...

Alyssa Graves

Alyssa teaches courses and classes in our Boston location.

Meet Alyssa ...