Texas Professional Photographers Assoc.

[Wes]

Does anyone here belong to TPPA? If so, what benefit have you seen from it and has it been a worthwhile experience? Just curious.

[HotHolly]

I was wondering the same thing...GOOD QUESTION!

[johnastovall]

Oop's, wrong society. It is the Texas Photographic Society which I'm planning to join. Looks more geared to Fine Art work.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by xmenporsche

Does anyone here belong to TPPA? If so, what benefit have you seen from it and has it been a worthwhile experience? Just curious.

I have been a member since 1976 and am currently the vice-president of TPPA. For your $85.00 annual dues you become a member of the largest state photography accociation in the USA with about 1700 members.

You will receive six award winning magazines per year containing articles on Texas photographers and photographic tips and information.

Your dues also include free registration to the annual convention and trade show. In 2007 the dates are March 3-7 and the location is the Arlington Convention Center and the Wyndham Hotel in Arlington. It normally would be the largest photographic trade show in the Southwest, but PPA in San Antonio in January will be a little bit bigger.

As a member you will also have the opportunity to join with almost 1,000 photographers from around the world for a week of intensive instruction by many of the world's greatest photographers. The Texas School of Professional Photography is the largest in the world and it includes a party each evening with a catered meal. The whole week is only $425.00.

The TPPA also hosts a Summer Seminar in Kerrville and a Fall Seminar in San Antonio.

To see other benefits visit www.tppa.org

[Wes]

First of all, Don, thanks for the info.

I would have to go the "Limited Associate" route for $75 since I am not available for assignment 30 hours per week.

If it's just magazines and the ability to go to a convention, I'm not sure that it would be worth it (to me). I get all of the tips and photographic info that I can digest from TPF.

Now, if there were a really cool, super-secret handshake involved....

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by xmenporsche

If it's just magazines and the ability to go to a convention, I'm not sure that it would be worth it (to me). I get all of the tips and photographic info that I can digest from TPF.Now, if there were a really cool, super-secret handshake involved....

I realize that TPPA is not for everyone, however for anyone seriously considering professional photography as a primary or secondary career it is exponentially more valuable than the latest and greatest lens or other gadget. And the convention will feature such speakers as Vicki Taufer www.vgallery.net, Cindy Baxter www.studiocportraits.com, Colleen Gonsar & Darty Hines www.colleenandco.com, and Robert T. Williams www.RobertTWilliams.com.

However if you are only interested in photographing tigers then you should save your money for that latest and greatest lens. But don't take my word for it. Ask Fran Reisner or Mark McCall or any number of other TPF members. And I would tell you about the handshake, but that's a secret for members only.

[CaptainTom]

I see that membership is by calendar year..
So,,, I should wait and join February 1st ?????

[photobykim]

WOW Don, thank you so very much. For months now I have been looking at several different organizations. It's hard to know which one and what is the best choice. i have been thinking a lot of tppa because it is more focused on my location. I will look some more at it and if it's ok i'd like to PM you with any questions I might come up with.

Thank you again

[Bruce M. Morris]

Kim, share your questions! Some others might want to know the same things and Don can answer to all here.

Don, I have been thinking about joining TPPA as well. Is there a requirement to also join PPA at the same time?

[photobykim]

sure Bruce, I dont have any at the moment, but I will once I refresh myself with the website. which I will probably do here in the next couple days. That is a good question though.

[fran reisner]

Sorry to be so late getting to this thread, but really... Don already said it! I've been a member since I moved here in 1997, and have found great benefit in the association. State/regional convention, summer convention in Kerrville, and Texas School! Great learning, great networking, great friendships! I'm also a member of our local guild, the Dallas Professional Photographer's Assoc, and there's no doubt that my involvement in the two... between seminars, print competition, and networking with others... took my art and my business to a new level. Life has changed and I'm traveling a lot more as a speaker now, so I'm not able to attend everything like I used to, but anyone wanting to "step it up" should surely consider joining. Check out our upcoming convention and decide for yourself!

[Wes]

Don - I don't know if you're implying that I'm not serious about my work, but if that's the case I resent it. I am very serious about learning and improving. It's just that, like so many others here, I have VERY limited time and resources which means that I have to be very choosy about where I invest both.

To be honest, Fran spelled out more about the benefits in her last post than I got from the web site. Thanks, Fran.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I see that membership is by calendar year..
So,,, I should wait and join February 1st ?????

Tom that means Jan. 1 thru Dec. 31. Might as well join now and get two weeks for free. If you wait until Feb. you will lose a month. And need to already be a member to get the free convention.

And Kim, I will be happy to answer any questions you have. And even though I think that TPPA is the best there is, I believe you will get the most value from a local guild like Dallas PPA or Metroplex PP or Houston, San Antonio, and Austin Professional Photographers Guild. There are also local guilds in Tyler, Waco, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, and Texarkana.

The next best value would be Texas PPA which automatically make you a member of Southwest PPA. And PPA, the national organization is the last step. Even though it is a great organization, and I am a PPA Councilor I don't recommend photographers just starting out join it unless you are doing quite a few weddings. If you photograph weddings the PPA indemnification insurance program makes the $200.00+ annual dues well worth it.

[photobykim]

So for those of us looking to join someplace start at the more local ones and then move to the bigger ones? that makes sense. That is one reason I haven't joined anything because it is all very overwhelming to me and not knowing what is the best choice.

So joining the Dallas one in your opinion would be better to start with than the Texas one? I have thought about doing one or the other or both. what's the difference really between the two?

[photobykim]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Tom that means Jan. 1 thru Dec. 31. Might as well join now and get two weeks for free. If you wait until Feb. you will lose a month. And need to already be a member to get the free convention.

wouldn't joining now mean having to renew Jan. 1st? I dont think I understand how you get a free 2 weeks