All about: Professional photographers of America

No photographic organisation in the world compares itself in size to the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), a not-for-profit international association. With close to 20,000 members, PPA is helping photographers around the world to improve their marketing skills, expand their creativity and access key resources to accomplish their professional goals. This article provides you with an overview of the Professional photographers of America.

Professional Photographers of America: First steps

The PPA can trace its roots as far back as 1868. It was not until 1880, however, that the future PPA took shape as the Photographic Association of America (PAA) in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Development In a few years, the association began to grow in size and reputation. In fact, it was during the association’s 1888 convention that George Eastman revealed publicly its Kodak camera and film procession service for the first time. Membership
By 1916, the PAA had grown a membership of 2,272 photographers. Five years later, the association founded what would become the Winona International School of Professional Photography, housed inside a building donated by the Daguerre Club of Indiana in Winona Lake, Indiana. The organisation then changed to its current name of Professional Photographers of America in 1958. In a short decade afterwards, the organisation seemed to have established itself with more than 12,000 members.

Helping new and experienced photographers worldwide

Ever since, the PPA has grown in size worldwide and expanded its services and programs. Today, the Professional Photographers of America offers many benefits to its members worldwide including digital data recovery, business marketing help, educational programs, business, financial and copyright counseling, advocacy, legal resources, special discount on new equipment and software, malpractice and insurance coverage.

Growing a photography business with PPA

Currently, business counseling constitutes one of the central programs of the association. The PPA offers a special program called the Studio Management Services (SMS) where commercial, photography and accountant experts join PPA members' studios for business support and direction through focused workshops and classes. Thus, members can work around financial plans, product development and quarterly business reviews to help them grow and evaluate their business’ strategies, marketing knowledge and bottom line. Publication In addition, the association publishes the Professional Photographer magazine to keep its members and non-members up-to-date on trends, products, skills and techniques of photography around the world. Back in 1997, the Professional Photographer Association held it first annual International Digital Imaging and Video Conference, now known as Imaging USA. In 2008, according to Professional Photographers of America, this international conference broke record with more than 8,000 participants in Tampa, Florida.