ASMP Marks Its 80th Anniversary With Events & Celebration Across the Country and a Never-Before-Seen Look Into Its Storied Archives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Thomas Maddrey, ASMP CEO
maddrey@asmp.org
Melanie Porter, ASMP COO
mporter@asmp.org
San Francisco, October 10, 2025 — The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) closes out its 80th Year of being the leading advocate for professional photographers, videographers, and visual content creators with eight weeks of celebration and events from coast to coast. This historic collection of activities, retrospectives, and exhibitions, concludes with a day of appreciation and recognition for all imagemakers in New York City on Friday, December 5, 2025.
Founded in December of 1944 in New York City, ASMP has been at the forefront of advocating for photographers in almost every major issue they have faced for the better part of a century. “What ASMP does… what ASMP stands for is the fundamental principle that the world is a more vibrant place when society supports, protects, and encourages the visual and creative communities to do what they do best. Create. It is what we have always focused on and is at the core of our ethos as an association,” ASMP Chief Executive Officer Thomas Maddrey notes.
ASMP National Board Chair Kevin Brusie understands the weight, and the honor, of leading the Board of such a storied institution. “ASMP Archivist Grayson Dantzic summed it up best: ‘ASMP history is photography’s history!’ The industry has benefited greatly in the last 80 years from the dedicated efforts of ASMP’s staff and the thousands of member volunteers. So many significant advances in copyright & business practices can trace a direct line back to ASMP, and every working photographer today is standing on the shoulders of all who came before and supported this organization. ASMP is out there fighting for the rights of all creators, and these fights are not idle activities. The work is as necessary as ever, and we are doing it day in and day out. That is something to be proud of.”
Events & Education
To commemorate this milestone occasion, ASMP will be hosting four in-person and four virtual events throughout the country culminating in a day and evening of festivities in New York City on December 5. The first of these eight planned events occurs Saturday, October 11 in Chicago, IL for an in-person lighting workshop featuring famed photographer Stephen Karlisch followed by an open-to-the-public evening reception.
ASMP Chief Operating Officer Melanie Porter knows how important events like these are not only to the Membership, but to the creative community as a whole. “One of the hallmarks of the work that ASMP has done in the past 80 years has been the community aspect that is part and parcel of each and every event we produce. Since that very first meeting of like-minded photographers in New York in the Fall of 1944, we know that this is a tradition that we are proud to carry forward as ASMP continues to innovate and grow.”
Other 80th Anniversary events scheduled in October include:
- October 15 / Copyright, the U.S. Supreme Court, and AI / with ASMP CEO Thomas Maddrey and Attorney Scott Burroughs
- October 24 / Inside the Room: How Creative Directors Really Decide Who Gets the Job / Moderated by Karen Williams
- October 30 / NANPA Showcase 2026 Livestream & Winner’s Reveal
Remaining events will be announced shortly, and all information can be found at www.ASMP80th.org.
The ASMP Archives Exhibition
One of the centerpieces of the 80th Anniversary celebration is a never-before-seen look into the historic and voluminous ASMP Archives. At each of the in-person events, items from the Archives will be available for viewing from some of the legends of photography (and ASMP Members) like Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Arnold Newman, Bernice Abbott, Richard Avedon, Stanley Kubrick, Edward Weston, and many more. In conjunction with ASMP Archivist Grayson Dantzic, the organization’s history is detailed through the activities of its Members; some of the greatest photographers in the history of the world.
These exhibitions, also accompanied by articles and notes at www.asmp.org, are supported in collaboration with Adobe for the duration of the 80th Anniversary festivities.
“Adobe is proud to support The ASMP Archives Exhibition, celebrating 80 years of legendary photographers and artists whose creativity continues to inspire and shape the art of visual storytelling”, said Stephen Baloglu, Director of Pro Photography Marketing at Adobe. “This exhibition is a great way to reflect on our past to help inform where we are today and imagine an even brighter future. This is a part of how Adobe supports professional creatives in building that future through our products, education, community building and helping develop the next generation of photographers and visual storytellers.”
The ASMP Archives are a unique collection gathered over the 80 years since the inception of the organization. As Maddrey notes: “The ASMP Archives are a singular, unexplored gem in the annals of the history of photography. There are few, if any, collections of photographic memorabilia that even approach the depth and breadth of what ASMP has compiled in the last 80 years. And we cannot wait to share highlights of this collection for the first time with the Membership and the world at large.”
The Title Sponsors & Partners of ASMP’s 80th Anniversary Celebration
The ASMP 80th Anniversary Celebration is supported by the many industry-leading companies who are Corporate Members of ASMP, but these events are possible specifically because of our 80th Anniversary Title Sponsors: Adobe, Fujifilm, MPB, Profoto, Sony, and Westcott. Each of the Title Sponsors will be involved in giveaways, discounts, and more throughout the two-month celebration.
“One of the great legacies of ASMP is how intertwined the organization is with the industry it supports. And our industry partners are able to amplify the message of ASMP and champion the cause of creators. Our Members know that the companies that support ASMP are supporting their dreams and ambitions, and that is worth far more than a simple ‘sponsorship’” Porter says.
80 Years is Just the Beginning
Building for the future is the daily refrain that circulates around the ASMP offices. “ASMP’s legacy is built on supporting working creatives. And that is not a job that ever ends. What we focus on here each and every day is finding ways to make sure that photographers and other creators know that they are supported, their work matters, and the work they have dedicated their lives to is recognized for the important value it brings to the world,” said Porter.
Maddrey understands the role ASMP has played in so many of its Members lives. “I was lucky enough to learn about ASMP and join as a student when I was in 11th grade. ASMP shaped my career both in the visual arts and beyond it. But my story is not unique. In fact, Melanie and I spoke just the other day with a 95-year-old ASMP Member who reached out to us because his Membership Card from the 1960’s was recently lost. We know what ASMP means to those who have been a part, and we take that weighty honor graciously and seriously. But this is just the start… what we will be announcing during this 80th Anniversary Celebration will cement ASMP’s leadership in the world of photography and visual arts. We could not be more excited for the future.”
About ASMP: The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the premier trade association for the most respected photographers, videographers, and new media visual content creators across the worlds of advertising, magazines, photojournalism, portraiture, sports, fashion, entertainment, nature, fine art, video/film, and beyond. ASMP is the leader in providing extensive education and resources to photographers on the best practices to run and grow a business in these fields, promoting the rights of photographers through a robust program of legal and public policy advocacy, connecting member photographers with clients, and producing business publications for photographers that set the industry standards. The organization exists because the work of these visual creators is so important to our economy and our culture. Founded in December of 1944 with a storied history that is an integral and pivotal part of the progression of photography as a profession, industry, and cultural force, ASMP is proud to stand with its more than 7,200 members, across 38 chapters and 71 countries.
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