I was trawling the web and noticed that the Royal Photographic Society have a Nature Group. Does anybody here belong to the RPS and also their Nature Group?
What do I get for by £88 and then additional £12 pounds per year respectively?
Posted by Rob Ashton on September 10, 2006 at 6:05 PM
The answer depends on how much time you have on your hands Tom.
If you join the RPS and submit work for their distinctions you gain letters after your name that is a benefit when it comes to selling your work to publications and other sources as they take you slightly more seriously.
The groups are good and the nature group has a lot of experienced members and contacts globally if you plan on travelling abroad for photography. Like all groups, they help eachother out whenever possible (like we do here). I am not a member of the nature group but opted for the digital group as my PP work needs improving. They do a lot of seminars and talks/courses throughout the year too.
It can be a benefit if you are willing and able to put in the time.
Rob
Posted by Barrie Harwood on September 11, 2006 at 2:28 AM
Hi Rob
Nothing personal at all but your comment about being taken more seriously if you have letters after your name is (how do I put this politely) a little at variance with actuality.
I have various photo related 'letters' after my name including distinctions from the Royal Photographic Society, the Master Photographers Association, the British Professional Photographers Association and the British Institute (as well as those I am entitled to use if I so wish by dint of my educational qualifications).
As a professional photographer, do you honestly think that clients trawl through a list of photographers and stop at the one with the most letters - I don't think so
I never use the letters EVER - in the field of photography they are complete and utter meaningless twaddle and anyone who does bother is (to my way of thinking) a pretentious 'so and so'.
The only thing that matters is the quality of my work and I have never known any client bother to ask if I have any 'qualifications'. It is my photographic output that gets me taken seriously by clients not the letters!
I belonged to the Nature Group until earlier this year. but declined to rejoin at renewal time. I could not see any benefit from rejoining - the magazine that is produced a few times a year is OK, I never submitted however as the colour reproduction was atrocious.
The articles were interesting but really was not worth the £12 a year.
They organised field trips (most in the South or Midlands of England) and I am sure there are those who gain a lot of benefit from this sort of thing - particularly if you are the sort of photographer who likes doing things in groups (steady on - that's NOT what I meant).
So yes Tom, whilst I will stay with the RPS as I support the aims of the organisation per se but I cannot feel I recommend the Nature Group in particular
Cheers for the openess of the comments (esp about the 'letters game') as they are most appreciated.
I can see some parrellels (within industry) with what Barrie has written, initially (in your younger days ) pieces of paper are a introductary universal bench mark; as you get older it is your experience (usually shown through your work) that is used more as the benchmark - but we stray of the topic.
What specifically do you feel the RPS contributes to you as a photographer that makes it worth £88 a year.
(PS I have now been onto their forum - the wildlife bit - and I am seriously glad I found this forum first, lets just say one blows the other away)
Posted by Rob Ashton on September 11, 2006 at 4:11 AM
I personally agree with everything that Barrie said. This has been one of the bugbears of my life as I opted not to go to University as a foolish youngster. These days I can't even get an interview for the position of Tea Maker without a masters degree. Experience counts for far more than a string of letters (meaningless) after your name. Your work speaks far more clearly about your ability to do the job right.
However, if the audience you are approaching does not know who you are, the letters do help to open a few doors. I have even seen this where some clients would rather go with the images taken by a holder of, say, the ARPS letters rather than a holder with similar pictures of the LRPS letters. From a marketing point of view these distinctions and letters that are dished out with your cornflakes do help in certain situations.
Tom asked what benefits would be gained from spending the £100 odd per year and joining the RPS. There is little benefit really unless you are the kind of person who needs the share and regularly meet with like-minded people who share your interests. The only other benefit are the distinctions that give you some recognition of your level of expertise. That was the only reason I mentioned them at all. Like all these societies they are there to stroke the egos of those who join them.
Discussion
4 repliesI was trawling the web and noticed that the Royal Photographic Society have a Nature Group. Does anybody here belong to the RPS and also their Nature Group?
What do I get for by £88 and then additional £12 pounds per year respectively?
If you join the RPS and submit work for their distinctions you gain letters after your name that is a benefit when it comes to selling your work to publications and other sources as they take you slightly more seriously.
The groups are good and the nature group has a lot of experienced members and contacts globally if you plan on travelling abroad for photography. Like all groups, they help eachother out whenever possible (like we do here). I am not a member of the nature group but opted for the digital group as my PP work needs improving. They do a lot of seminars and talks/courses throughout the year too.
It can be a benefit if you are willing and able to put in the time.
Rob
Nothing personal at all but your comment about being taken more seriously if you have letters after your name is (how do I put this politely) a little at variance with actuality.
I have various photo related 'letters' after my name including distinctions from the Royal Photographic Society, the Master Photographers Association, the British Professional Photographers Association and the British Institute (as well as those I am entitled to use if I so wish by dint of my educational qualifications).
As a professional photographer, do you honestly think that clients trawl through a list of photographers and stop at the one with the most letters - I don't think so
I never use the letters EVER - in the field of photography they are complete and utter meaningless twaddle and anyone who does bother is (to my way of thinking) a pretentious 'so and so'.
The only thing that matters is the quality of my work and I have never known any client bother to ask if I have any 'qualifications'. It is my photographic output that gets me taken seriously by clients not the letters!
I belonged to the Nature Group until earlier this year. but declined to rejoin at renewal time. I could not see any benefit from rejoining - the magazine that is produced a few times a year is OK, I never submitted however as the colour reproduction was atrocious.
The articles were interesting but really was not worth the £12 a year.
They organised field trips (most in the South or Midlands of England) and I am sure there are those who gain a lot of benefit from this sort of thing - particularly if you are the sort of photographer who likes doing things in groups (steady on - that's NOT what I meant).
So yes Tom, whilst I will stay with the RPS as I support the aims of the organisation per se but I cannot feel I recommend the Nature Group in particular
Barrie
I can see some parrellels (within industry) with what Barrie has written, initially (in your younger days
What specifically do you feel the RPS contributes to you as a photographer that makes it worth £88 a year.
(PS I have now been onto their forum - the wildlife bit - and I am seriously glad I found this forum first, lets just say one blows the other away)
However, if the audience you are approaching does not know who you are, the letters do help to open a few doors. I have even seen this where some clients would rather go with the images taken by a holder of, say, the ARPS letters rather than a holder with similar pictures of the LRPS letters. From a marketing point of view these distinctions and letters that are dished out with your cornflakes do help in certain situations.
Tom asked what benefits would be gained from spending the £100 odd per year and joining the RPS. There is little benefit really unless you are the kind of person who needs the share and regularly meet with like-minded people who share your interests. The only other benefit are the distinctions that give you some recognition of your level of expertise. That was the only reason I mentioned them at all. Like all these societies they are there to stroke the egos of those who join them.
Rob