Those Helpful Acronyms . . . Alphabet Soup
Advance Notes: Do you ever feel like you are using secret code when talking about professional photography? EP, ASMP, APA, PPA, SAA, ASPP, PACA, CEPIC, NPPA, NANPA The following lists some of the most well-known organizations, along with their websites, their mission statements, and basic services. If you have yet to join one of these organizations and are a working pro, you will find it valuable to peruse their websites and learn about all the assets available to you to help you run your business. These groups also offer networking and educational opportunities, along with pricing guidelines, business practices, help, and workshops. The Editorial Photographers website (www.editorialphotographers.com) offers even a longer list under "Trade Groups." EP - Editorial Photographers: "Editorial Photographers is a non-profit organization dedicated to the business of editorial photography. We maintain an Internet discussion forum, exchanging information on business practices, copyright and contract concerns. There are useful resources such as sample business forms and publisher contract reviews. Our mission is to educate photographers about business issues, and advocate fair contracts from publishers, and to find positive solutions to problems within the industry." www.editorialphoto.com is a source for free resources like price estimators, education, outreach, consulting, production and Stock Photo Basics. ASMP - The American Society of Media Photographers: "ASMP promotes photographers’ rights, educates them in better business practices, produces business publications, and helps buyers find photographers. ASMP promotes high standards and ethics, and is active in copyright, combating work-for-hire, providing legal advocacy and lobbying." www.asmp.org offers industry news, a gallery, education programs, business resources, legal resources, buyer resources, publications and a code of ethics. APA - Advertising Photographers of America: "APA serves to mentor, motivate, educate, and inspire. It offers seminars, and workshops, a newsgroup, business publications, and seminars. It is committed to preserving and enhancing the profession, and works toward resolving issues and problems in the industry." www.apanational.com promotes "advocacy, education and standards." You will find information about the membership, benefits, news and resources on the site. PPA - Professional Photographers of America: "PP of A is a worldwide association that exists to assist its more than 14,000 members in achieving their professional, artistic, and fraternal goals; to promote public awareness of the profession; and to advance the making of images in all of its disciplines as an art, a science and a visual recorder of history." www.ppa.com displays a list of business discounts, copyright advocacy, insurance, malpractice protection, competitions, studio management services, and certification. SAA - StockArtistsAlliance: "Founded in 2001, StockArtistsAlliance is a global not-for-profit trade association of photographers who produce images for Rights Managed licensing." It has many initiatives to improve the business practices for Rights Managed stock photographers. www.stockartistsalliance.org describes the current investigative reporting on royalty payments, a special program fostering better royalties with Workbookstock, and many other efforts. ASPP - American Society of Picture Professionals: "ASPP members are photographers, photo researchers, photo editors, stock agents, museum curators, librarians, historians, archivists, designers and writers. They work for major book publishers, national magazines, photo agencies, associations, government agencies, museums and libraries. They provide information on industry ethics, business practices, and offer networking and a Code of Fair Practice." www.aspp.com offers eNews, job postings, a gallery, a quarterly magazine, book reviews and helpful resources. PACA - The Picture Archive Council of America: "The goal of PACA is to develop uniform business practices within the stock photography industry, based upon ethical standards established by the Council. PACA serves member agencies, their clients and their contributing photographers by promoting communication among photo agencies and other professional groups." www.pacaoffice.org lists places that require special images releases, Copyright Commandments, an agency member listing, industry links and announcements. CEPIC - Coordination of European Picture Agencies Press Stock Heritage: "The aim of CEPIC is to be a united voice of the picture library and agency association of Europe in all matters pertaining to the photographic industry." It addresses copyright protection, trade regulations, exchange of information, ethical standards, and fair business competition. www.cepic.org is the place to find the membership listing, events and industry links. NANPA- the North American Nature Photography Association: The NANPA is the first and only association in North America committed solely to serving the field of nature photography. Its stated mission is to provide education, foster professional and ethical conduct, gather and disseminate information, and develop standards for all persons interested in the field of nature photography. NANPA further seeks to promote nature photography as an art form and a medium of communication for the sciences, nature appreciation, and environmental protection." NPPA- The National Press Photographers Association The NPPA is dedicated to the advancement of photojournalism, its creation, editing and distribution, in all news media. NPPA encourages photojournalists to reflect high standards of quality in their professional performance and in their personal code of ethics. NPPA vigorously promotes freedom of the press in all its forms. To this end, NPPA provides continuing educational programs and fraternalism without bias, as we support and acknowledge the best the profession has to offer." Author, Pat Hunt, is VP of Corporate Relations at Index Stock Imagery, and a writer for various photographic publications. (path@indexstock.com)
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