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Survey of international members
Photography is an international language, and from its very beginnings the ASMP has counted internationally based photographers as integral members.
Hector Armando Herrera
Hector Armando Herrera
Web site: www.herreraphoto.com
Country Based/For How Long: Mexico, all my life, 47years.
Nationality: Mexican
Photographic Specialty: Corporate and industrial photography.
For how many years have you worked as a photographer? 25 years.
For how many years have you been an ASMP member? Since 1998.
What do you consider to be the most valuable aspect of your membership in the ASMP?
Being in touch with the photo community in the US and the knowledge and resources available through the association.
What service or information could ASMP provide to you as an international member that would add value to your membership? Would you be willing to pay extra for this service?
Unfortunately the licensing model in Mexico is practically non-existent. As photographers, we can only apply usage on stock photos, but not on commissioned or assignment projects. If the ASMP could somehow adapt part of their philosophy and practices to the particular issues of each country, in this case Mexico, it would be a very welcomed service. Yes, I would be willing to pay for it.
Do you participate in any of the existing ASMP specialty groups or listservs? If so, which ones?
ASMPCorporate and ASMPVideo groups at Yahoo.
Do you belong to other local photographic or professional associations within your local community?
Not within my community -- there are really no professional associations, with the exception of a national portrait one and some minor local groups.
For 5 years, I was president of a group called TRAGALUZ, a small, 25-member group that gathered the most representative commercial photographers in the country. We were able to organize events, exhibits and make joint ventures with important photo corporations such as Kodak, with whom we made two books on Mexican photographers. Those books still remain as a reference and it is something that had never been done before nor has been duplicated again. Part of what we tried to do was to create consciousness about the value of our work and the images we produce, especially with young emerging photographers. This group disintegrated shortly after I stepped down from the presidency some 4 years ago.
I am now a member of ASMP, APA, NAPP and PMA.
What is your primary source of news about the photography industry?
ASMP, APA, NAPP, PDN, photo industry corporations, some weekly web newsletters and a lot of related websites.
In your opinion, what is the most critical issue affecting photographers in your local community today?
Lack of union, unfair practices and uneducated and misinformed clients.
In the interest of building community and forging strategic alliances, would you be willing to share resources and knowledge of your local market with another ASMP member if they were to contact you in advance of a trip to your area?
I have already done it in the past, not only to ASMP members but to anyone requesting help.