Swpp

[BarryM]

Hi folks, not sure if this is of use to anyone.

I recently took advantage of a 3 month free trial with swpp, thinking id not hear much from them, Oh how can i be so wrong.

As of the email confirming, i was given access to a wedding forum, which is very helpful, and i just received their membership welcome pack throough the door, with an excellent magazine, cd and other stuff.

So maybe worth a visit to those considering joining.

[Alan Schofield]

Yep I have been a member for over a year

and would advise any one who is serious about photography to join
the magazine is always worth a read

I used to belong to that forum & some people thought they were bigger than they are ( which is what happens to a lot of forums), but the SWWP is worth joining

XXXPenguinXXX XXXPenguinXXX XXXPenguinXXX

Alan

[Melvyn]

I too can recommend membership of the SWPP.... I joined them in 2003 and have found them to be so helpful and they really seem to want to promote the cause of professional photographers and to help us all to progress and enable us to reach higher standards of photography professionalism, which can only help our businesses grow.
I attended there convention last January and was well impressed with the educational lectures and demonstrations provided.
There latest edition of the magazine professional image maker arrived on my door this morning, and there is even more helpful info in there.

So Barry join up when the trial runs out ..... and no I am not on commission !!!

[BarryM]

Thanks for that, i most definetly will be subscribing proper, just readingn through the magazine today, and the other bits and bobs that came with it, excellent reading.

There is also a seminar just along the road from me, so will probably sign up with that too.


And i want my membership certificate in a frame NOW. :Dm

[tonymidd]

Yes the SWPP and it's more commercial offshoot the BPPA are well worth joining, I've been a member for 4/5 years. Worth it for the Public Liablity and Proffesional Indemdity insurance.
The mag is excelent if a bit too technical at times.

[Wineman]

I have been a member since Focus and am attending a small seminar on the 16thi n Windsor - anyone else going?

I had no idea you got Public Liability etc - I have it anyway through my insurance but still nice to know!

Was not aware of their forum - shall have a peak.

[Stemmy]

Was not aware of their forum - shall have a peak.

PARDON !!!!:punish2:

[Jimothy]

Yeah I'm a member too and also a Licenciate to boot.

The insurance they promote isn't as good as the company I'm with, so shop around if you;re looking for insurance.

The SWPP/BPPA seems like a pretty good outifit to be a member of to me.

[tonymidd]

I had no idea you got Public Liability etc - I have it anyway through my insurance but still nice to know!

Was not aware of their forum - shall have a peak.

You don't get the insurance in your membership, they offer a good basic cover for a reasonable cost thru a broker. The Professional indementy is more than enough as hopefully as a pro you should not need to claim on it, the Public liability is very good and needs to be as the general public are just plain daft.

It's not their forum but one they've a trial period with, not got the details to hand they are in the letter with the current mag.

The distinctions, they are not qualifications as they claim, are OK if you feel letters after your name helps get work. I got the LBPPA and have never been asked by a client what they stand for. I have always felt that the people who need and put great store on these appendages use them as a prop to boost their own confidence.

[David Worthington]

The distinctions, they are not qualifications as they claim, are OK if you feel letters after your name helps get work. I got the LBPPA and have never been asked by a client what they stand for. I have always felt that the people who need and put great store on these appendages use them as a prop to boost their own confidence.

Perfectly true Tony they are not Quals... the only ones that are, are awarded by the MPA or BIPP( and i am not 100%sure on the BIPP ones !)


having had lmpa for a load of years i think i have been asked once for my status !!! but its conditions of membership with the MPA that you qualify... Phil Jones is a pesonal friend and I am a LSWPP too but i can say that it is a blooming good £89/years worth of anyones money.

[Stemmy]

Yes I agree. When I started out I thought that letters after my name would make all the difference.

I am LRPS and LMPA. Maybee once I have been asked about my qualifications !!!

Experience is what counts.

I got my "letters" after completing two weddings - so I had no experience at all.

Ive been in the MPA for 8 years. Its ok but I dont know if I get my moneys worth.

[BarryM]

I must admit, this isnt a reason im joining, i think it would be years before i considered a licencate, my photography is just nowhere good enough at the moment.

The reasons im joining is that 1. its good to be part of a society/group that does exactly what your doing. 2. After receiving the magazines, the amount of advertising for wedding products of quality is phenominal, half the companies ive only heard about with people in the forums, now there all in one magazine. 3. The mentor me programs look fantastic, there was one today i was hoping to go to, but cant make it.

I agree about lettering after you name meaning nothing really, and having now worked over half my life, i totally understand, agree that experience outweighs any qualification or bit of paper stating the letters after your name.

[tonymidd]

The letters are only as good as the people awarding them. A few years ago I went for an 'A' and was told the images while being imaginative were oversharpened. The cameras (E20's at the time one of the best cameras around and RAW files) I was using were blamed not my PS technique. This sort of statement does make you think! I may go for that 'A' this year just to prove a point to myself that I've improved using PS over the past 5years.

I'd agree it's a good £89 worth which is why I'm still in even tho retired. One fault with the mag they do get carried away with the technicallities which I'll freely admit are way over my head, The RPS mag one the other hand is not technical enough.

[tonymidd]

I must admit, this isnt a reason im joining, i think it would be years before i considered a licencate, my photography is just nowhere good enough at the moment.

The reasons im joining is that 1. its good to be part of a society/group that does exactly what your doing. 2. After receiving the magazines, the amount of advertising for wedding products of quality is phenominal, half the companies ive only heard about with people in the forums, now there all in one magazine. 3. The mentor me programs look fantastic, there was one today i was hoping to go to, but cant make it.

I agree about lettering after you name meaning nothing really, and having now worked over half my life, i totally understand, agree that experience outweighs any qualification or bit of paper stating the letters after your name.

I agree with your reasons for joining to learn but I'd try for an 'L' you may get a surprise as good competent photography is usually all that's required. Even tho we know the letters are not worth the paper they are written on and the puplic may not ask about the qualification it must give some a sense of security when booking you. It can't do any harm.

[BarryM]

Thanks for that Toni, i think id have to feel better and more confident in my photography skills, id only be kidding myself at this stage of the game. But certainly something to work towards for sure.

[Stemmy]

The RPS mag lasts about 5 minutes in my house.

Most of the images I just dont get !!!

Too much history and not enough future for me !!

[stevetog]

The SWPP is a sinch to get a qualification from the BIPP is not.....
steve LBIPP

[artona]

Hi

I have been a pro for 30 years. Last year I decided to join the SWPP. The renewel date of the SWPP coincided with me being away for three months and on my return I found debt collecting letters from them. I called them and discovered that carefully worded in the VERY small print is a clause that basically says you have to give them 3 months notice if you want to leave.

So it is easy to join but very hard to leave. I have spoken to their CEO Phil Jones who was quite obnoxious about the whole thing. I have now seen reference to a number of people who have fallen foul of this over a number of years and Jones is aware of this but although he claims to work in the interests of the members has done nothing to make his website clearer.

Other than a good organisation.


stew

[JohnRunciman]

There is a couple of reasons why I dropped out
1. when I took some photos to focus last year they said send them in and I would get my 1st qualification straight away LSWPP.
They said I had to get them in stages and would have to apply straight away and would then be awarded the ASWPP
Also I showed them a couple of complete albums that were on the "Tony Sarlo" stand (they use my images to promote their company)
And my daughter showed him some of hers that where in the album she shoots them over my shoulder and from the side as a second shooter. They offered her the same first qualification LSWPP
Don't get me wrong the quality is very good and she has an eye for taking a photo BUT!!!

She is just learning how a camera works when to change iso and to change from matrix to spot or any other thing as i was learning her as we go by telling her when to change settings on camera.
There is no way she could do a wedding herself she does not know how to work flash compensation etc etc.
So to me the qualifications are not worth the paper they are written on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The second is its a good mag that you can get for about £30 per year and I cannot see what you get for the other £60!!!!!!!!

[StagePhotography.co.uk]

This is my opinion from a "outsiders" point of view, having never looked into these
groups at all...

I'm afraid I just see these groups as "out of work" or "would be" photographers types
just earning some money on the side thorugh fleecing other photographers...

Some togs websites are "boasting" the fact they belong to these
groups like it's an honour and difficult to get into....

Can anyone show me a Website of a REALLY famous tog
which does the same?

I just think it's a scam (of sorts)... My money would be better placed buying
more flash cards or using it for a day out...

What puts me off even more of course is seeing some site linked
to these groups and the photgraphs are disgusting...

[artona]

Hi

Interesting points and ones I find I agree with.

I have fed and housed my wife and four children solely from the earnings I have made from photography. I joined SWPP to see what I was missing and I have to say I had not been missing much.

One SWPP seminar I went to was in Newcastle. When I worked out the costings it was cheaper to fly from Stansted. Jones thought I was a superstar because I had flown in !!!! I simply thought I had saved myself £100.

I actually think there are many photographers who do not earn a living from photography who are better photographers than those who are but I was amazed at this trade seminar that there were only about three or four of us who were earning a living from it and that the others were simply thinking about it.

Luckily for Jones he has stumbled on a market that I guess he is earning a lot of money from. Listening to him I realised he had failed to earn a living from photography itself.

As mentioned earlier the magazine they produce, out of house is good and I have used one or two techniques to earn quite a bit of money from.

My solicitor is currently picking his contract apart. So far he has pointed out many amateurish mistakes.

stew

[Luke]

I too decided to trial the SWPP for the 3 month free period to see if there were any obvious benefits. As a member your details are listed by region on their website. Not long after joining I received an enquiry from a couple living only a mile or so from my house. After a meeting they booked me and I later photographed their wedding. They had found my details on the SWPP website. This one wedding alone made the annual fee worth while so at the end of the three month period I happily paid the £89.00.

[artona]

HI Luke

Do you realise that you need to give notice in six months time i.e three months prior to the end of your year if you do not want to renew otherwise you have to pay for another year whether you wish to be a member for another year or not

stew

[Luke]

..I think I'll stick with it. I'm not a full time tog and other than my website I don't advertise anywhere (at the moment). If I can get even only one wedding a year from SWPP website then I think it's worth it. If things change then I'll make sure I get my cancellation letter in with plenty of warning!

Cheers,

Luke.

[Mal]

Phew I'm glad that you posted this I too joined at Focus nd was wondering if it was the right thing.

[cstevens]

I too have just fallen foul to their tactics, I did not bother to renew, because to be honest they do not give you anything really worth the £99.

As with all subscriptions, normally when they lapse thats the end of it, however SWPP claim that you have to give 3 months writing to leave.

Unfortunaltely I see nothing in the contract that states that its a rolling contract and its for this reason I have a legal representive looking into the contract also.

I would warn all people to be VERY wary about signing up to the "organisation" at Focus this year!

[kaptain kopter]

I've just joined the SWPP and after a couple of really bad years with the BIPP. As we all know, the BIPP has gone through considerable changes recently and we no longer saw eye to eye.:banghead:

I was an Associate of the BIPP and was pleased to see that the SWPP immediately awarded me with a ABPPA. Okay, it might be snobbery but I know of at least 1 wedding where my ABIPP won the day.

I've noticed loads of good things from joining.

1. It's £50 cheaper than the BIPP
2. You get a nice monopod or trigrip reflector.
3. Access to a forum which you don't get with the BIPP. Obviously this is much better but I thought I'd mention it anyway. :stir:
4. They organise an annual convention for members.
5. Their website is the first listing on Google.

I'm just really glad I joined as it seems excellent value and I'm not being paid to sponsor it.

Mind you, there's a potential earner. mmmmm thinks!!!

Martin

[.Ray]

but the convention is open to the public.

[kaptain kopter]

Yes the convention is open to the great unwashed masses, but at least they do something that is of benefit that other trade assocatons don't.