Recommended Professional Associations?

[Tragerman]

I've got my gear ready, my state and federal IDs registered and am working toward getting the rest of my ducks in a row.

How many of you wedding pros belong to professional photographer organizations?
Which ones? What benefits do you gain/ Is it worth it?

Thanks in advance!
-Mickey

[Maui Kim]

PPA..worth if for the malpractice insurance IMO
My local wedding association..they advertise well so I have booked a few weddings from them.:)

[newgenphoto]

Hey Mickey,
We belong to WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International)

As far as benifits check out their site.... www.wppinow.com

[davidgr]

One question to ask yourself might be, will your clients know the difference between PPA and PB&J ? LOL
Or is it strictly for your benefit?

If it's for you, then the PPA or WPPI are highly recommended. Regardless of the organization, you'll need to find one that works for you and gives you what you're looking for.

[R. Lawrence]

Hey Mickey,

Not necessarily a photographer organization, but the NAPP is worth it to me. Congrats on the registered IDs!!!

Bob

[*Mike*]

We've had memberships in the PPA and WPPI. The WPJA is another you might want to look at - if you are shooting a lot of weddings PJ style.

The WPPI has conferences, Rangefinder, and lots of wedding helps.

The PPA has conferences, regional and national, as well as insurance - including the necessary cover-your-butt type, but they also have medical available. A PPA membership will help you out - and lends instant credibility. In a market flooded with hacks, and the general public is ignorant for the most part, orgs help to establish you while you get a firm footing in your community.

The WPJA gets other wedding photos lots of hits/ wedding inquires. We don't have that one b/c our studio has 3 photogs. WPJA states the website can only display 1 persons work. But I've heard great things about them. Hope that helps a little

[tony fanning]

Try out the SWPP. They have a growing reputation.
http://www.swpp.co.uk/

[coreypolis]

KAWPA (http://kawpa.us/)

[Rick Rosen]

PPA because they have a local affiliate group with monthly meetings in your area. You can purchase an affiliate membership without paying for national. This will give you local monthly meetings where you can network with the pros in your area.

You can find a list of the affiliates and contact information here:

http://www.ppa.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=109

WPPI because of their huge national convention, next week. No local affiliates or other contact.

Rick

[newgenphoto]

KAWPA (http://kawpa.us/)

LOL...thats awesome dude!! :)

[mrslevite]

KAWPA (http://kawpa.us/)Are charter memberships still available?:p

[Tragerman]

Hey guys, I really appreciate all the links! And Corey- How can I open a local chapter of KAWPA? Really cool!

-Mickey

[JaertX]

another vote for the PPA...and get started working on your certification!

[sapearl]

KAWPA (http://kawpa.us/)

I should have known better.... couldn't resist and got suckered right in. Nice one. :lol:

[AMeyer]

KAWPA (http://kawpa.us/)

Sign me up! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Yella Fella]

does it usually cost money to join these associations or is it by invite on quality of the photos you have taken/PP'd?

[coreypolis]

does it usually cost money to join these associations or is it by invite on quality of the photos you have taken/PP'd?
they all cost money. Only the WPJA is by portfolio, and their judging is so arbitrary that between it and the fact the owner got hit with the crazy stick, its lost a lot of credibility amongst photographers. However brides to be will never know.

Basically they decide if you're a true PJ or not by physically counting the images that are PJ compared to detail shots, formals, posed etc. Has to be 80% or more PJ shots to be asked to come in, plus a pro looking website and that you showed you are up to par. If you don't qualify you never hear back.

Then if you say anything bad against them, usually about the acceptance policy on other private or public forums, you get kicked out. Doesn't matter if you're Joe schmo or Becker or Jessica Claire, you're gone.

The PPA tries to look like it has credibility, but is a buy in also. Its great in some respects for legal advice, discounted insurance and other things, but often I see people throwing around the initials after their name as if it were a PH.d.


The only organization I've been with is the NPPA (National Press Photographers Association) but I let is lapse. I'll join the WPPI next year just for the conference.

And supposedly the KAWPA is coming in 08 ;)

[Yella Fella]

cheers for clearing that up, seems like WPPI is the only one worth joining

shame about the WPJA one, more my kinda thing :D

[coreypolis]

cheers for clearing that up, seems like WPPI is the only one worth joining

shame about the WPJA one, more my kinda thing :D
yeah, I guess it depends on how you look at it. If you can get in, it can be a great way to get potential brides, it just depends on your area.

It certainly never hurts to throw around those letters while selling yourself either.

[Tragerman]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your info on this. I hope it was helpful to others as well. I had a great interview with a bride and her mother today. I can't say it's in the bag, but I have a good feeling about it and would love to do the wedding. They were blown away by my DVD slideshow!

-Mickey