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Membership

ASMP-Norcal, one of 39 ASMP chapters, offers programs and activities for members in the Northern California region. ASMP is the leading trade association for photographers who photograph primarily for publication. ASMP, founded in 1944, has over 7,000 members. The organization offers forums in which members can share ideas, concerns and fellowship. ASMP fosters the belief that photographer’s common interests are best advanced by common action.

Our Purpose:

  • To promote photographer’s rights, professional standards and ethics.
  • To educate photographers in better business practices
  • To produce business publications for photographers
  • To cultivate friendship and mutual understanding among photographers
  • To facilitate locating professional photographers for buyers

Benefits:

  • Programs and Discussions
  • Portfolio for Members on Nor-Cal website for one-time $50 fee
  • Portfolio presence on National ASMP website
  • Publications (including ASMP Bulletin, ASMP Newslines, ASMP Business Practices, White Papers)
  • National Web site
  • Special interest groups
  • Chapter Affiliation
  • Education
  • Insurance; life, comprehensive medical, major medical, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, prosurance ( a liability and camera insurance policy designed for professional photographers and coverage to insure funds for losses incurred through faulty lab processing.
  • Press cards
  • X-ray protection labels,
  • Collection agency program
  • Consultation and advice
  • Search agency for models
  • Discounts on: car rentals, travel, air courier services, overnight delivery services, long distance, cell phones and stationery supplies.

Join

Today your future as a photographer will be shaped by the outcome of current court battles and legislation. Legal action does not come cheaply. Join an organization that is helping to shape your future through advocacy of:

  • appropriate tax legislation and right of privacy laws
  • better conditions for photographers
  • limitations on work-for-hire
  • shaping proposed legislation and legal actions

 

Categories of Membership:

General Member

To be eligible for this category, a photographer must be actively and professionally engaged in publication photography with three or more consecutive years of substantial publication experience from date of first published work. In addition, the photographer's major source (over 50%) of earned income must be from the publication of his or her own images. A review of publication experience is required, and applicants must be sponsored by two General Members of ASMP.

General Members are the only voting members of the Society. General Members are the only members listed in Find a Photographer on asmp.org.

One-time Find a Photographer fee $50.00 / Annual dues $335.00

Join now! Just fill out the application form online.

Associate Member

This category includes all photographers not qualified for General Membership. Associate Members have most of the benefits of General Members, but they are not listed on Find a Photographer and they do not have a vote.

Annual dues: $225.00

Join now! Just fill out the application form online.

Emerging Associate

Sub-category of Associate. This is a one-year-only category serving as a transition for photographers who are starting out or are assistants. After one year, the member's category is automatically changed to Associate; dues (which are payable in January) are pro-rated based on the number of months in each category. Benefits are the same as a full Associate.

Annual dues: $140.00

Join now! Just fill out the application form online.

Student Associate

Sub-category of Associate for students at the college or post-secondary level. Written proof of enrollment from a department head or admissions office, or class schedule on official school letterhead, must accompany application. (Photocopies of student ID cards are not accepted.) An individual can remain a student member for one year after completion of the degree program. Benefits are the same as Associate.

Annual dues: $45.00.

Join now! Just fill out the application form online.

Individual Affiliate

This category is for individuals, whether self-employed or employed by organizations, who are not working photographers but who service, supply, sell or educate photographers. Individual Affiliates are non-voting members, and receive the same benefits as an Associate member.

Annual dues: $225.00

 

There is an monthly auto payment plan option, and you can pay by c.c. too.

Apply: Download an application form here

or use online form links above

For questions about processing of your application,

Sponsorship referrals, or any other questions

please call 510-792-5987 or email: 

membership (at) asmpnorcal (dot) org 

before mailing

Procedural note: Your application is reviewed by staff to verify that it is complete. When all documents have been received, your membership is approved provisionally and you are given access to all member benefits. The next step, which is mandated by the ASMP Constitution, is to publish your name for one month of review by the entire membership. Objections to membership are rare, historically, but they have happened. For this reason, your formal membership date (and the date for prorating your dues) is at least a month later.