Is it worth it to be a member of both WPPI and PPA? I'm currently only a member of my state PPA chapter.

WPPI IMO is worth it just for the publication Rangefinder and the discount for Vegas. Their newsletters are great, too.
And PPA has sooo many benefits. one of which I am expierencing right now dealing with someone using my photos without permission. I think they are both completely valuable.

+1 if money is an issue (as is often is) i would wait a bit. However, PPA has a great magazine and I think the benefit of both memberships can be best appreciated if you can actaully afford to take advantage of WPPI in Vegas and the various seminars that PPA offers. If not, keep shooting build up you client list and focus on the absolute essentials.

I am a member of both and really like both of them. I look forward to the monthly magazines from each of them. PPA has been great for me in understanding the legal aspects and such. WPPI has a great wedding focus as well. Stuff I know you have heard all before, but thought I would throw that out there.

I'm seriously considering finding the cash to go to Vegas next year. It's not so much finding the money to join, but finding the time to take advantage of what both organizations have to offer. I do have studio insurance, but it's through a local agency so definitely not as targeted to my needs as what PPA has to offer. Lately I'm like a sponge so maybe the reading material alone is worth it!

I always felt like joining one of these was like conforming what everyone else was doing. However in my old age now we are considering both as well. We are NOT however considering WPJA. I have alot of issues with the politics and rules that I read about here.

You don't need to join WPPI to get RANGEFINDER magazine. It's free just by going to http://www.rangefindermag.com/subscribe/

That's great! I just subscribed. I've also not heard good things about WPJA in opensource and elsewhere so that's not even on my radar.

I am a member of both and have been for several years now, both are needed both are wonderful but remember:

WPPI is a FOR PROFIT BUSINESS set up to make money for just a few people.

PPA is a NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION which assists photographers in all aspects of their business including legal fees, lawyers, copyright issues and many other areas.


AS A GENERAL RULE:
WPPI photographers are less concerned with lighting and posing and more thinking outside the box, which is cool and exciting, especially for the newer photographer. PPA photographers are more concerned with light and posing and are overall more traditional, which is more exciting for the more standard older photographer who already has a style set for their clients.

HOWEVER the lines are being blended together slowly but surely which is A WONDERFUL THING. Many of the standard WPPI speakers spoke at Imaging this year for the first time and many of the standard PPA speakers spoke at WPPI for the first time this year. Photographers are finally getting high merits on images in both platforms which fall outside the normal box of things as well as the traditional lighting and posing of things.


Again it is like Canon and Nikon both companies are needed to keep the other one growing and on the cutting edge of things. Without each company the one left laying around would have no reason to keep reaching out and finding new and exciting people, methods and aspects of this amazing art form.

For me if I had to join just one I would join the PPA - simply due to the aspects it helps in my business. The lawyers and legal aspect fees are well worth the price alone and have already paid for themselves in our business. WPPI is wonderful, I LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF THE CONVENTION, but I can go to the convention and get the magazine without being a member.

very interesting
I felt the same way

What is the price for PPA? I couldn't find that anywhere on their site. And also WPPI price?

Price is here

It is a pdf...

Mike Fulton +1000

PPA membership has one really big benefit. It's automatically more expensive (not by a lot) for portrait and wedding members vs. commercial, etc. members - because it automatically includes the indemnification trust. It's technically not insurance, as far as I understand, but it works like malpractice. If you get sued for a malpractice reason (this doesn't include liability - as in, your flash shorted out, and you burned down your client's house - that's separate) - as in, all of your memory cards simultaneously spontaneously combusted before you downloaded them, and you lost an entire wedding - the PPA will work with you to resolve the situation. If the case goes to trial, they will hire lawyers for you. You pay something like a $100 deductible.

That's worth it to me.

Oh! I almost forgot. You can also call to get legal and copyright advice. Basically like having a lawyer on call who doesn't charge for the call.



PPA membership app with pricing (available to the public off their website, btw.)

Both! They are both worth it.

If you just want the magazines, you can get Rangefinder for free and the Professional Magazine cost $19.95 a year. They are both great magazines.

If you go to WPPI 2009 and are not a member, when you pay for it you automatically become a member.

PPA gives you a lot of business benefits. Plus they have the certification process.

WPPI has the print and album competition. And the trade show is awesome.

I'm a member of both, now. I just joined WPPI. However, I really don't see any value in it.*

I can see two things you get with it: you get a discount into WPPI in Las Vegas, but the non-discounted rate is just the year-long membership fee plus the "discount" rate -- and you are then a member for a year. So there really isn't a discount -- you're just paying your annual dues at the same time. The other thing is print competitions. If you're really into them, I suppose it could make sense to join. You can get the magazine for free, if you want (same with the PPA mag). I know of a lot of members who have never been to the Las Vegas show.

So, with all that said, I really don't see the value except for being able to say you're a member, which does have some merit. I must be missing something. But that "something" isn't communicated very well -- at least not well enough for me to notice.

*OK, so you might ask why I just became a member of WPPI. It's a fair question but it's also one I'm going to dodge. I don't want to discuss it online. If you've seen my responses to most threads you know I'm not usually one to "hide" information. This is an exception.

I'm guessing you're hosting the awards night banquet, but they wanted you to be a member first! Either that, or they've been taken over by the mob, and they made you an offer you couldn't refuse.

I also haven't seen what the value of membership is beyond print and album competition. I'm not ready for that yet, so I haven't joined. I'd love to make it to the convention next year, though.

the PPA discount that i receive on my insurance pays for my membership.
the PPA legal department has clarified issus for me a number of times.

if i had to choose one or the other, PPA.

Right. I forgot to say that PPA membership is very much worth it. The legal services are good. We've only had to call them once but it was nice knowing it was there. The indemnification trust is also good "insurance" for other things like what were mentioned above.They have lots of discounts on insurance and other business expenses, too.


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Nothing like that, really.

PPA it is then. The membership for the first two years is pretty reasonable too.

excellent choice. i've got a situation right now that I'm dealing with and getting a lot of info from a PPA contracted attorney... doesn't cost me a dime over my membership price... legal assistance is totally taken care of through the indemnification trust. if this client matter that i'm dealing with should escalate further and i'm taken to court, PPA will cover all of the associated fees once it's said and done.

why are rules such a bad thing? or politics for that matter? you do have to believe in something, right?

I know I'm tired of seeing really non-photojournalistic photography listed as such on google and everywhere else. At least someone is trying to qualify the term.