Professional Affiliations

[Tedi17]

What Professional Afflications you're associated to?

Example:

NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals)

PPA (Professional Photographers of America)

WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International)

[CaptainTom]

Ppa
Tppa
Fwppa
Usps
Nra
Tpf

[park]

ASMP - American Society of Media Photographers - http://asmp.org/

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Usps

You's a mail man aint you....

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

You's a mail man aint you....

United States Power Squadrons

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

United States Power Squadrons

DUH! Captain.... boats..... you'd think I'dda got it huh?

[HotHolly]

PPA
WPPI
PPGA (local guild)

[pbyd]

Professional Photographer of America
Southwest Professional Photographers Association
Texas Professional Photographers Association
Professional Photographers Guild of Houston
Association of Bridal Consultants
Better Business Bureau
Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce
and I will be joining NACE this year

I think that is all,
My studio pays approx. $2000.00 in Professional dues a year and it does pay off. The BBB and your local Chamber can do wonders for your business. If you are a wedding photographer I do recommend joining some type of wedding planers origination, like the ABC Association of Bridal Consultants or NACE National Association of Catering Executives. Being a member of ACE or NACE will give you the chance to meet Professional Wedding Planners. We book approx. 60% of our Weddings (and most of our high end brides) by Wedding Planners bringing us brides.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by pbyd

The BBB and your local Chamber can do wonders for your business.

ymmv by region, city, population on those 2. Both of those were a huge waste of money for us in smallsville over here.

[CaroleHayes]

So far we've joined PPA, WPPI, and PPI. We've applied for the BBB, and are discussing the Chamber of Commerce. (I want to do it now, my husband isn't sure if we should do it now or later.) Thanks for the tip on ABC—I'm definitely doing that one! : )

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

ymmv by region, city, population on those 2. Both of those were a huge waste of money for us in smallsville over here.

Sorry to hear that Holly, but I don’t think I could make it in business in a small town at all. I really admire people that can make a photography business work in small town America. The chamber works for me because it keeps my business in front of over 100 different area business people, and that is just in the Heights area Chamber. With so many photographers in Houston, the BBB gives clients the knowledge that they are getting a photographer that is not going to leave them holding the bag after paying good money. There are “very popular photographers” in the Houston area that have 10 to 15 or more complaints listed on the BBB web site. I do appreciate when we get informed clients, it gives us a little of a head start in getting their business.

Wayne

[Dokk]

Used to be, local Lion's Club and/or Rotary was damn near required by anyone doing business.

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by Dokk

Used to be, local Lion's Club and/or Rotary was damn near required by anyone doing business.

Yes, in the late 70's to the mid 80's I was in the Rotary Club, it is a really great group, I just can't make the required meeting every week.

[na4m]

PPA
TPPA
Austin PPA

We joined our local Chamber of Commerce for a year - went to meetings, did auctions, etc. Maybe booked one client as a result. The local chamber seemed to be mostly bankers, real estate sales and mortgage types.

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by na4m

PPA
TPPA
Austin PPA

We joined our local Chamber of Commerce for a year - went to meetings, did auctions, etc. Maybe booked one client as a result. The local chamber seemed to be mostly bankers, real estate sales and mortgage types.

Sorry it did not work for you but I found these are the business people that use head shots and architectural images ect. I also did little my first year or so, but after staying active the chamber did start to pay off. As I had said earlier, it worked for me and may not in every chamber, they are as different as the people that belong to them. I guess we just have to keep trying until we find what works for our individual studios.