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 05/31/2006 08:29:52 PM · #1
Having professional associations listed on your business card or website impress some clients. That is a given. But are there other reasons to join these associations, or are they nonsense?

On one hand, you can join Professional Photographers of American (PPA) or British Professional Photographers Association (BPPA) or Wedding and Portrait Professionals International or any of a zillion regional and local associations simply for the price of membership. Anyone who completes the application to their satisfaction can join. So they are worthless.

But... on the other hand.... Joining associations with other professionals in your field is an excellent way to learn from those who have already walked along your path. Associations' membership builds a reputation over time and so its newer members are "recognized" by that reputation. Joining PPA or WPPI or most of the regional / local associations allow a budding photographer an opportunity to learn from Masters of Photograhpy, get the knowledge needed to become a Master of Photography and provides a community of like-minded people world-wide. So they have merrit.

I know this only scratches the surface of detail on both parts, but...Debate?

Message edited by author 2006-06-01 00:30:22.
 05/31/2006 08:37:23 PM · #2
No comment, but watching.
 05/31/2006 09:23:30 PM · #3
I joined IPPA here in Utah mainly for the opportunities of mingling with and learning from other photographers. They hold quarterly seminars which so far have been pretty instructive.

But as for joining just to be able to put "Proud Member of you-name-it" on your website or business card ... I dunno that it's really worth all that much. Many photographers I know here in Utah don't even know what or who IPPA is, much less the clients that I am serving.
05/31/2006 09:29:10 PM · #4
I've noticed your membership in PPA, Cindi, and have given a bit of thought to joining as a result of it. Do I recall correctly that one benefit of membership is the availability of insurance? That might clinch it for me if I would just get around to doing it. Just having the link on your profile page (and I'm sure, on your business card) does lend an air of credibility IMO.
 05/31/2006 09:36:22 PM · #5
Being a member of an association doesn't necessarily mean someone is a better photographer though. I think the photos will always speak for themselves and provide more credibility to the photographer's skills than association memberships. Granted, belonging to an active association has its merits in terms of learning from those who walked the path before.
 05/31/2006 09:37:12 PM · #6
Nova - yeah, they do have a hella group liability/property insurance program. I priced all-damage/no-fault coverage for all of my equipment plus liability coverage for my studio with my normal agent (St. Farm), and priced with PPA and PPA wins.... with more coverage cause they know photographers.
06/01/2006 05:41:07 AM · #7
Bump for the daytime crowd
 06/01/2006 05:53:01 AM · #8
-- started on reply, noted clock, have to run :( --- will check in later with cogent/non-cogent thoughts if they weren't already expressed.
 06/01/2006 06:10:54 AM · #9
I'm not a member of a professional photography organization, but I am a member of a couple of professional organizations in my other life as an engineer. Aside from the insurance options such organizations offer, they often have classes/seminars on a variety of germane topics. They also have monthly social events with a guest speaker, drinks and dinner. The networking opportunities are tremendous.
 06/01/2006 07:43:38 AM · #10
Like most organizations, you get back what you put in. You can pay your dues and that's it - or you can participate.

Locally we have the Triangle Photographers Assoc, affiliated with the PPA. They have 2 annual meets with seminars, a week long school and a directory of other local photogs - and if you participate and attend the meetings you meet other local photogs so when you need something (like an answer, a big print, perhaps loan of a lens) you have contacts that will help.

They also have print and album and folio competitions. But you have to participate to get anything out of it.

So yes, these organizations can be worth it - but it's best to find one with an active local chapter and then attend the events.
 06/01/2006 10:22:29 AM · #11
Excellent points made by all. I totally agree with your comments, Chris. I started this post last night after attending one of my local association's seminars - about print competition. I find that not only do I lean so much from these seminars, but I really enjoy the company of other photographers in a casual environment - much like here. :)
 06/02/2006 02:52:03 PM · #12
ASMP is very active here (in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN). They have monthly meetings that have guest speekers and a social hour. They also have a large resource of buisiness practice info. You can take advantage of benifits such as business insurance, and more. As far as clients go, I do not know how many know about different groups or what they stand for.

The networking, monthly meetings and insurance make it well worth it in my mind (and check book).
 06/02/2006 04:56:34 PM · #13
Joining an organization doesn't convey any particular capabilities either in regards to business or photography but with PPA you can begin studying along a previously traveled path to obtain the status of Certified Photographer and eventually Master Craftsman. This provides some measure of peer evaluation since the holder of these certifications not only had to pay and then fill out a form but also had to pass a test and then amass a given number of "merit" points on his/her photography as judged by local, state, regional and even national professional photographers who have achieved the height in peer recognition themselves. After going to a 5 to 6 hour print competition at the local level as a preamble to the state competition I can say that few of the prints scored merit points but all prints received thoughtful critique of several minutes including debate on why each member of a 5-person panel judged the photo in question the way they did.

The photo was turned around to the 5 member panel of judges (all of the Master Craftsmen with professional studioes that had been in business several years). The panel input their scores electronically; the average was announced aloud and then each member had an opportunity to either pronounce why they voted as they did or challenge the average score and request the other four members to raise their score or lower their score accordingly. In soliciting the other four judges the judge who was speaking would first announce his or her score and then say what he/she wanted the others to do (I think the panel should award a single point up or down or maybe two points as I believe this is a merit print because . . . ) and as each of the other four judges responded he/she would always have to start by announcing how they scored the image and then why they either disagreed with the solicitous judge or perhaps they would announce that they hadn't noticed what the first judge had and that upon further review they would be adjusting their score.

This may seem tedious and frankly in some instances it was because deliberation on each photo could take quite a bit of time but everyone in the room was able to hear the judges and sometimes the panel would be asked to stop and explain their use of a term such as "print it up" (meaning to lighten the print) or "print it down" (essentially burning the print or perhaps a particular part of the image). No one knew who's image it was except for the photographer and the registrar who logged each image in for the competition but everyone in attendance gained the benefit of the insight and evaluation of people who have not only business sense but also several years of experience in print photography contests (surprisingly the only 90+ point image was a high-key digital print of a baby on a white surface covered with a white blanket - it was outstanding).

This kind of interaction plus the recent photo safari we went on where one member brought a newlywed couple and 30 of us with local studios all walked around downtown and shot in various locations for about 90 minutes and then we went to a local conference room and used a digital projector to walk through one photographer's workflow and see how he handles his processing and we could all provide comments is an invaluable resource that only became available to me once I joined the PPA and was directed to my local affiliate.

I guess anyone can join and get their PPA card but those who are sincerely involved will begin to stand out as their approach and processes come into contact with more experienced professionals and they take advantage of watching and learning.
06/02/2006 06:45:54 PM · #14
Cindi - that's funny because when I looked at your website several months ago I noticed the PPA logo (although you seem to have replaced it with links now - looks much better by the way) and wondered what value you derived from being a member.

I'd be interested in knowing the cost of various associations and also you mentioned the insurance deal compared to State Farm. I'm looking for insurance, so this could be pretty useful (as well as appreciating the learning environment).
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