Professional Photographers of America

[nickn]

Hey all,
I have a question for all of the pro's out there.

Are any of you members of the Profession Photographers of America?
If so have any of the benefits actually helped you?

I am currently looking into taking some of their classes for the Certified Professional Photographer credential.

What are your thoughts?

[Xposurepro]

PPA use to have some value a long time ago but anymore it's nothing to brag about .. Any idiot can call themselves a "Professional Photographer" by whipping out their credit card and becoming an official member. Other benefits like the SMS .. lame .. the insurance deals .. I get a better deal just going through my local agent. So on and so on. If the PPA would target only real professionals ... make it harder to become a member and not just let anyone in then it would be a good association but it' not about that ... it's about getting anyone and everyone with a camera and a credit card to pay up. It would be more appropriate if they dropped the first P and just became Photographers of America. You don't even have to know how to operate your camera to become a President of your local PPA Chapter. The whole system is just lame these days. However, I give them props to the Professional Photographer magazine. I do maintain my subscription to it .. it's the only photography magazine I've been able to actually look at for the last decade that's not a 100% waste of time and money.

[Jim Bryant]

I belong to American Society of Media Photographers. They have numerous programs that teach photographers business sense. One thing I like about it is that you have to submit a portfolio in order to be accepted by the local chapter. Membership is $350 a year, but I've received numerous jobs through their find a photographer program and one assignment normally pays my dues for a couple of years.

[CheaperKings]

I've looked into that PPA thing and thought it was just a scam from the beginning. You could just save your money, copy their logo and post it in your studio - it would mean about the same to me...