PPA Membership

[zagiace]

I have read through the forums and haven't really made up my mind. I joined today after many years of thinking it was a good idea. However, I found that many of the benefits I wanted are add on's.
How many PPA members are here and note what benefits you use to justify membership.

[RDKirk]

Yes, I'm a PPA member (as a portrait photographer).

The primary benefit to me is the ability to meet and network with other professionals. The PPA is about successfully running a photography business more than anything else, and membership gets me close access to how many successful professionals do it. We can meet, share details, even visit each others' studios. Of course, that can happen otherwise, but not with as many people as quickly and as confidentially as meeting groups of professionals both online and face-to-face.

There are also many more formal learning opportunities that PPA membership brings at lower cost than otherwise.

Of course, there are other organizations that provide this as well.

A secondary benefit that is greater for wedding photographers is the membership indemnity coverage--essentially "malpractice" insurance if something goes wrong in a wedding. I don't think any other organization is providing malpractice insurance. As well, PPA lawyers will provide a modest amount of legal advice and assistance, such as writing letters in your behalf.

It should also be noted that the PPA lobbies Congress in behalf of professional photographer's interest and just recently had a private audience with President Obama.

[slava-slavik]

Malpractice insurence might be the only essential benefit of being a PPA member. When you became a member expect your mailbox full of offers from companies catering to pro photographers.

Wedding Photographers can get much better education for their bucks at Digital Wedding Forum.