When you join the Association, you are joining a peer group that is recognised throughout the industry; recognition as a member places you amongst your peers. Commissioners and clients alike will be assured that they are working with a photographer who represents quality, professionalism and innovation. As a member you also have access to a group of photographers with shared values, knowledge and experience.

The vast majority of our members are professional photographers who have high profile clients that include advertising agencies, design groups, businesses in the private and public sectors, publishing houses and music publishers. Our members' work is published worldwide in magazines, newspapers and books and used in advertising campaigns. Additionally many of our members sell their images as fine-art through traditional galleries as well as on-line.

Comments about the AOP:

"I consider my membership of the AOP as a standard yearly investment in my business. My main reason for being a member is to promote my work - my online folio with the AOP is a great additional web presence and drives traffic to my website, and I enter the awards in the hope of getting my images in front of more people, both photographers and commissioners.

Membership gives me access to help when I need it, in the form of other photographers via the e-list, legal support from the AOP offices, and generally as a resource of people-who-might-know-the-answer-to-that-really-specific-photography-question. AOP events give us a good reason to get together and talk shop, while drinking beer; as most of us don't meet other photographers during our day to day work it's great to have occasions to catch up" - Lottie Davies

"I'm a big fan of the AOP. When I left college, all the photographers whose work I admired and aspired to were members, so joining was a no-brainer. Since then, I've benefitted in countless ways, from organising exhibitions to complex legal advice. Success in the Awards also provided a significant increase in the number and quality of my commissions. Given all the ongoing changes and developments in photography, having the support of the AOP has never been more essential" - George Logan

"The main reason for me, as an overseas member, to join the AOP was the Awards. I think its still the best Photography Award with the greatest work from the year - Its an honour to be chosen for the book and very exciting every year. Also a great opportunity to get your work seen by so many people" - Christian Schmidt

In summary we can provide you with:

• Recognition as a member of a peer group that represents those at the top of their game.
• Business and Legal support. Referral to specialist lawyers, retained by the Association (first half hour consultation at a discounted member's rate).
• Opportunity to upload 30 images into the Members Folio. Contact details, web & email links can also be uploaded.
• Opportunity to be included in the HTML mailshot for the Members Folio. Created specifically, automatically and randomly then sent regular direct to commissioners of photography.
• Eligibility to enter the Photographers Awards.
• Complimentary copy of the Photographers Awards book.
• Monthly member-only e-newsletter and blog.
• Access to the Association's Applestore where items are discounted (UK residents only).
• A subscription to Image magazine.
• Access to workshops/seminars & portfolio critiques at member prices.
• Access to our e-mail list; a 24/7 community that shares advice and always has an immediate answer to a question.
• Various special discounts and offers from 3rd party companies.
• Discounts on all the Association's publications including the Awards book, Beyond the Lens and any future publications.
• 24/7 free web access to Beyond the Lens (non-members are charged).
• Free buy/sell advertisements on the Association's website.
• Free Job Shop advertisements on the Association's website (not to be used to advertise for freelance assistants).

Download The Full Pamphlet

You can also request a printed copy of the pamphlet by emailing us at membership@aophoto.co.uk

Voting Rights:

Full Photographer members of the Association have voting rights. This entitles you to attend our Annual General Meeting and vote on any motions regarding the Association and/or members of the Association's Board of Directors.

Price:

Full Photographer Membership (Working as a professional photographer for more than 2 years)

• £315 p/a - plus VAT (UK)
• £240 p/a - no VAT (Overseas)

Provisional Photographer Membership -(Professionals with less than two years practice)

• £240 p/a - plus VAT (UK)

(Provisional membership has no voting rights. Your membership will automatically be updated to Full Photographer after 2 years.)

Criteria:

You will have been working as a professional photographer for more than 2 years and your clients will be commercial buyers or professional commissioners of photography. We need to see examples of your work and copies of documentation that support this (less than 2 years for provisional membership).

In addition, we would like you to submit a portfolio of your work, together with documentation to support your choice of 2 of the remaining requirements shown below. All evidence should be submitted by e-mail when you submit the application form to: membership@aophoto.co.uk