Trade Associations?

[Peter Blake]

are there really any trade associations worth joining?

call me cynical but it has always seemed to me that a lot of them exist to service the fantasy of 'becoming a professional photographer', and reap the handsome benefits (membership fees and fees payable for 'Degrees')

I know that some offer exclusive perks such as a percentage off insurance services, and benefits with appointed sponsors.

Your thoughts please

 

[Nick Lukey]

Nope. Most of them are totally self serving IMHO. I've done the tour of bodies, most of the time it's really all about paying for nice magazine.

 

[Pete Askew]

I agree. A waste of time and money.

 

[Davie Hudson]

I often thought about applying for membership of the Royal Society purely for the use of the badge and the letters adding some sort of gravity etc

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

your work speaks for you better than anything else mate, nothing can change that. just be clever to notify a whole lot of people. Good luch to you.

 

[Paul Lange]

I can't really speak for photography based trade associations but from my experience in other industries I do question their value. Also I am not 100% convinced of bodies like the FSB and IOD either, I found them to be lacklustre in their efforts when there is a real problem, although there may be some benefits.

I think it is a simple equation of financial outlay > financial benefit, if this seems to be the case then don't bother. If there is a tangible benefit then consider joining.

 

[Hamish Gill]

It depends who you are trying to impress. We can all be cynical as we are close to the industry, most of us will have at some point weighed up the benefits and come to @Nick Lukey's conclusion; it's a magasine subscription with the small other benefits.

But, if you are tying to impress potential clients, specifically those within middle management looking for a service provider that isn't going to let them down they can act as a minor mark of credibility ... Especially to the uninformed eye.

I but the bullet once in the very early days of my career and signed up to the swpp... It did nothing for me.

I suspect if you manage to achieve "fellowship" distinction within the RPS it might yield greater respect, but to a greater extent this would only be within your peers.

Affect on ego, seems the greatest benefit to my mind

 

[Peter Blake]

so if someone writes 'are you a member of any trade associations'? I should simply reply, 'I get the BJP' ?

actually if I wrote 'I am a member of the BJP' that would provoke no further comment in most case I imagine?