becoming a PPA member ?

MissB

I have never had any formal training... but I have self taught my @$$ off. I would like to take my business a step further and join an association. I am looking into PPA... perhaps for the referrals and insurance more than anything. Also looking into applying and testing for a certification. I would love any feedback you can offer about joining an association... and getting a certification. Any expierence or recomendations?

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ian408

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Cygnus Studios

There are several organizations dedicated to professional photographers and all have the good points. Local chapters usually provide more resources to the individual.

Most people who are a part of the organization swear by them. The cheaper insurance rates, the educational programs, the help with marketing, the opportunity of hanging out with other photographers.

You will get out of it, what you put into it. The certification will mean something to other photographers, but the majority of people outside of the field have never heard of these organizations. Being a member doesn't guarantee that you are a better photographer or a better business person. No different than a degree from a school. It is possible that a membership may get you some more work.

If you really took advantage of a good amount of the tools and resources that they offer, you could easily justify the membership.

MissB

thank you for the insight...very helpful!

Photog4Christ

PPA is worth joining just for the protections they afford. If you are shooting professionally, you should join.

A few years ago, a web site was listing professional photographers on their site (it was meant to be a directory of wedding/portrait photographers). They listed me (and several other togs) without our permission and they had images (stock images) to illustrate the site, but the way they had them posted, it lead the viewer to believe that the images belonged to the tog (which, they did not).

I called up the PPA lawyers (a free benefit when you're a member) and the lawyers wrote several (legal sounding) letters to the owner of the site. I didn't have to pay a lawyer out of pocket to do this. The PPA did it for me.
(the outcome of the above case isn't really relative to this discussion, I just listed it as an example of what the PPA does for it's members).

Also, you get discounts on equipment, office equipment, merchant services, UPS shipping, etc....

MissB

Photog4Christ wrote:

PPA is worth joining just for the protections they afford. If you are shooting professionally, you should join.

A few years ago, a web site was listing professional photographers on their site (it was meant to be a directory of wedding/portrait photographers). They listed me (and several other togs) without our permission and they had images (stock images) to illustrate the site, but the way they had them posted, it lead the viewer to believe that the images belonged to the tog (which, they did not).

I called up the PPA lawyers (a free benefit when you're a member) and the lawyers wrote several (legal sounding) letters to the owner of the site. I didn't have to pay a lawyer out of pocket to do this. The PPA did it for me.
(the outcome of the above case isn't really relative to this discussion, I just listed it as an example of what the PPA does for it's members).

Also, you get discounts on equipment, office equipment, merchant services, UPS shipping, etc....

wow thats great!! I will definatly have to look more into this... expecially now that im doing weddings!