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Information, advocacy, publications, consultations, insurance, advice and more
The benefits of ASMP membership are many and varied. Some are tangible: publications, business information and discounts with key suppliers. Other benefits are intangible, including being part of a vast network of your peers and the camaraderie inherent in a vital association of professional photographers.
The tangible benefits are easy to enumerate (and we do that below). However, one of the most valuable benefits is intangible: the security of having a powerful, respected and knowledgeable trade association in your corner at all times. ASMP members can get in touch with the national office and receive advice on virtually any business or legal situation affecting publication photographers.
ASMP is photographers helping photographers. As an ASMP member, you will always benefit as a result of that long-standing tradition.
Find a Photographer
All General members are given a listing in ASMP’s Find a Photographer database. This portal to buyers brings clients directly to your doorstep. As a General member, you can have a general-purpose portfolio that includes up to seven images, a written description of your business, and links to all your web sites. You can supplement that with specialty portfolios that showcase your strengths in each of your photographic specialties.
FAP is a powerful tool to get the buyer’s attention. Buyers can search for photographers who practice in a certain metropolitan area or who have specialized skills. They can then examine your images, click through to your web site or pick up the phone.
Find a Photo
Do you shoot for stock? ASMP runs a stock image portal that keeps you in control of your images. Licensing and pricing decisions remain in your hands; the cost is low, and you retain most of the revenues. Edit your collection to suit your goals, and target images to the niches you choose!
Resources on ASMP.org
Use and share the extensive business resources available on our web site. The ASMP Copyright Tutorial walks you through the process of registering copyrights and explains why it's worth while to do it early and often. The tutorial on Model and Property Releases explains when you do or don't need releases, explains the legal language, and offers hints on getting signatures. (Members can customize the release language.) And for all your contract documents, we offer a set of recommended Terms and Conditions.
ASMP Bulletin
The Society's magazine, published five times a year, presents news and features, is free to all members and affiliates.
Convinced? Just fill out the application form online. Or download the membership application form, fill it out, and mail it or fax it to the ASMP office.
Not convinced? Here are some further benefits of membership.
ASMP Newslines
Our Newslines page features member activities, competition and exhibition opportunities, updates on the legal and business environment, and more.
The ASMP Business Practices Book
A guide for professional media photographers, this book is packed with the kind of information that the professional publication photographer needs to run a business. It's available to the public from Allworth Press, along with many other photo-biz books. New ASMP members receive a complimentary copy on disk.
Communities of Interest
ASMP Specialty Groups offer a place to connect with photographers of similar specialty, facing the same industry issues, working together to find solutions to common problems. Each Specialty Group has an active listserv providing a place to ask and answer each other’s questions, both business and technical. ASMP currently has Specialty Groups for photographers doing Architectural, Fine Art, Food and Underwater photography.
In addition, there are active online communities that are open to members and non-members alike. Currently, we have one discussion for corporate and annual-report work and one for students and emerging professionals.
Chapters
ASMP Chapters offer a way to connect with fellow photographers building the community we often lack in this very independent business. Our 39 chapters across the country provide valuable programs to grow your business. Get connected — attend meetings!
Professional Education
ASMP fields a series of traveling “It’s Your Business” seminars that teach you how to be more successful. They are generally open to members and non-members, but admission fees for members are much lower. Start on the education programs page for course descriptions, schedules and online registration.
The ASMP Forum
Use our web-based forum for business discussions. This member-only service offers you a safe supportive environment to ask your fellow members about business and technical questions related to our industry. Members are encouraged to share their own experiences and expertise on the forum. We can all grow stronger through the sharing of our collected wisdom.
Insurance
ASMP has a commercial insurance plan, Prosurance, designed specifically for professional photographers and offered exclusively to ASMP members. This white paper explains what's included. For a rate quote, contact Taylor & Taylor at (800) 922-1184, or Tom C. Pickard & Co., Inc. at (310) 379-7788.
ASMP recently arranged for a student-faculty insurance package that covers your photo and computer equipment. To qualify, you must be a member of ASMP and you must be enrolled (or employed) at an accredited photo school. Note that this policy covers only photo and computer gear. It doesn't cover your clothes, books, bikes or personal items. For more information, please view the PDF or contact Taylor & Taylor for details.
Our health insurance options are better than ever. ASMP has Association Health Programs exclusively for our members. As a member, you will receive special premium rates and enhanced insurance coverage for yourself, your family, or your company. These benefits will extend to part-time and full-time employees of companies. (Programs are not available in all states and plans may vary by state. We have consultants listed for all the states not covered on this plan to assist members in finding coverage.)
Discounts on Supplies and Equipment
If you are an ASMP member, you can access these discounts with your password on this page.
Car Rentals
Alamo, Avis and Hertz
Computer Hardware and Software
Apple, Inc. — Macintosh computers and business software
Cradoc fotoSoftware — fotoQuote and fotoBiz software
Digimarc — image identification and tracking
DriveSavers — recover the data from damaged disks
Full Spectrum — business and image-management software
Hindsight Ltd. — office-management and stock-management software
iView — media management, presentation, editing, publishing and cataloging application
PC Connection — online store for computer gear
Goods and Services
Adbase — online custom list service
Agency Access — database of America's creative decision-makers
DigiLabs — photo imaging application and digital printing company
Digital Railroad — photographer-friendly stock photo marketing service
ExpoDisc — filter to get perfect digital white balance
FYRUSKA — digital consulting, retouching, and color correction
My Publisher — custom photo book applications software, manufacturing and fulfillment
NAPP — National Association of Photoshop Professionals
National Credit Systems — collection service
O'Reilly Media — technical books
PDN’s PhotoServe — visual database of photographers
PDN’s Photo Source — professional photography service and supplier directory
PI/E (Pro Invoice Estimate) — studio management database system for photographers
Printroom — online storefronts and back-office solutions for professional photographers
Office Supplies
Office Depot and Pennywise
Payroll Services
Paychex
Shipping
DHL — the major air courier service in Europe (and elsewhere)
FedEx — the premier air courier in North America (and elsewhere)
Subscriptions
Photo District News (PDN)
American PHOTO
Popular Photography & Imaging
Web Services
DogBark — web hosting
dotcomprofiles — web design, hosting and related services
fotoshowpro — internet image library system
Good Offices
ASMP members benefit greatly by having a centralized office with a dedicated staff. Members can receive consultation and advice on business problems and concerns from the expert staff at ASMP’s national office.