PPA, TPPA, or both?

[BEphoto]

I'm planning on getting a tax ID number when I get back in town on Monday (if I can ever figure out what exactly is involved in that) to become completely legal to take money as a photographer.

Along with that, I'd like to join the PPA for all of the benifits they offer. I've also seen TPPA, and was just curious if having a membership in both is redundant. Do they offer anything seperately that the other does not? Or, does the TPPA, since it's a form of the PPA, blanket all of the same benifits? Is there any reason to join both?

I'm in Wisconsin at the moment and only very rarely get an edge connection on my phone to look up stuff, and the Internet computer here is in my sister-in-laws bedroom and I prefer not to spend an extended amount of time in her room.

I'm not currently making any money from clients, but want to be legal and ready when the time comes. Any info you can provide would be much appreciated.

[Teddington]

Brad, I'm surprised there are no responses. I recommend both.

[J Eddington]

Well how about a PPA and a DPPA. Those are the two that i am a member of. Yes you need both. PPA gives you all the big benefits and TPPA, DPPA or the Fort Worth Guild give you local meetings, training etc.

[doctahjones]

good to know. i'm also in the same boat. i'm about to try to figure out how to register a biz and get a tax id. then i was either going to do ppa (mostly for the ins), but i'm also going to contact usaa (my regular ins carrier) to see if they have any options for business liability ins.

[J Eddington]

Originally Posted by doctahjones

good to know. i'm also in the same boat. i'm about to try to figure out how to register a biz and get a tax id. then i was either going to do ppa (mostly for the ins), but i'm also going to contact usaa (my regular ins carrier) to see if they have any options for business liability ins.

PPA is so much more than the insurance. The advice, discounts, access to an attorney who understands photography, it is amazing. Worth every penny. Its like getting connected instantly. But the local guilds for monthly interaction with other photographers and learning. The DallasPPA has had Dave Black, Jerry Ghonis,
and in 2008
Jan 15 Joey Lawrence
Feb 12 Vernon Wentz
Mar 11 Scott Schoeberl
Apr 8 Laura Novak
May 13 Parish Kohanim
June 10 Ken Sklute
July 15 Robert Evans
Aug 12 http://boutwellstudio.com/dougb/
Sept 7 & 8 Bruce Dorn at Little Red School House in Waco
Oct 14 Bob Davis
Nov 11 Boudoir Divas

Fort Worth Guild; http://www.fortworthppa.org/
Dallas Guild; http://www.dallasppa.com/

[ChristineTremoulet]

Insurance discounts are definitely a perk of PPA, but there is really a lot more that they offer too! They've been there to help me out in a pinch before with advice, which definitely made the annual membership worth it for me.

Originally Posted by J Eddington

But the local guilds for monthly interaction with other photographers and learning. The DallasPPA has had Dave Black, Jerry Ghonis, and in 2008 ...

Man, I'm moving to Dallas. Or at least figuring out how to get up there for the Dallas PPA meetings!

[ggeen]

I cannot answer the PPA/TPPA/DPPA question but for getting a TAX id. just visit the Texas Comptroller's web site http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxpermit. It is all laid out there for you and you can do it online now.

If you want to use a name for your business other than you own, I recommend going to the county records office and filing a Doing Business As (DBA). DBAs are valid for /up to/ ten years.

[bondarnes]

I recommend joining PPA first IF you photograph weddings. Their indemnification insurance is a must have for wedding photographers in my opinion.

If not then you will get the most bang for your buck from a local guild. Here is the list of Texas guilds: http://www.tppa.org/local.htm I am a past president of the Dallas and the Ft. Worth guilds and still attend most monthly meetings of both. I have given programs to most of the other ones and all of them are great resources. The local guild is a great place to network with like minded professionals and hear a good program.

The TPPA is also a great resource for learning with a convention in the fall, Summer Seminar at Kerrville in June and the Texas School of Professional Photography in the spring. As a past president of TPPA I can tell you that our main goal is the elevation of professional photography through education. The annual dues are $85.00 or less and that includes FREE convention registration and our award winning bi-monthly magazine.

As a PPA Councilor representing Texas, I have promised to promote membership in PPA. I believe that it is a great organization and I have been a member for thirty years. I also understand that it is a substantial investment and recommend joining PPA when your business reaches a level to justify such an investment. PPA has a yearly convention in January which will be returning to our area in 2011 and 2012. It has online webinars on various subjects and sponsors "Super Monday" one day seminars held in PPA members studios twice a year. And the PPA insurance programs are hard to beat.

I strongly support all of these organizations and can truthfully say that any business success that I may have can be traced to the education I received from these great organizations.

[Teddington]

Originally Posted by ChristineTremoulet

Man, I'm moving to Dallas. Or at least figuring out how to get up there for the Dallas PPA meetings!

It's real easy. Just get on I-20, head north ... allow about 5 hours!!

[J Eddington]

Here is an upcoming reason to join TPPA.
http://tppa.org/kerr.htm