But I guess I felt the same way before I joined ASMP. I thought I was one sharp businessman, and who were these photographers who were going to “educate” me and preach to me about the “right” way to do business? But then I got to know a couple of ASMP members just from seeing them at the lab and in my building where my studio was, and they were really good guys, and very helpful, and I looked at their work and it was outstanding. And they were making a hell of a lot more money than I was, on serious jobs. Oh- and they never “preached” to me at all.
This is not about money. This is not about Price Fixing. This is not about setting rates. Let's get clear about that. This is about education.
I joined ASMP early on in my career, when I was a kid. There was a new chapter forming in my city, and there was one photographer here who put it all together to form the chapter. There was much good feeling. There was much sharing. Hell, there was even a regular Monday night volleyball game.
We are talking "C level" city here. Many small photographers, very few with much business education at all. So many people came together, and learned about copyright, business practices, etc. Much was shared, on the record and off. It builds confidence, even in the older guys. You gain confidence in negotiating, when an agency comes at you and wants Everything and the Kitchen Sink too. You learn to stand your ground. It was good for everyone. All this education does, yes, lead to profit. You learn to not bend over and give the house away, when someone is dangling a nice P.O. in front of your face.
There was also a traveling "road show" with Emily Vickers (of Jay Maisel studio). It toured the country and I attended that with my rep. We learned a massive amount of business information there. All that's brought back and turned into profit.
Photographers aren't licensed, like architects, or engineers, or lawyers, or dentists, (or cosmetologists). In photography, you just flip out your AMEX at B&H, and the next day, you hang out your shingle, and you're a photographer in business. APA, ASMP, EP all provide solid working information in how to deal with magazines, ad agencies, and direct clients. Is it perfect? No. Is any Trade Organization perfect? Probably not. But it's better than learning nothing at all. It gives you information to be able to speak the language.
Now, having said that, the slap in the face that I found, was that only a tiny majority of commercial photographers belonged to APA or ASMP at that time, (or now). So in effect, you're competing with people who'll simply shoot a job and hand over the RAWS now, with no usage parameters whatsoever. You have people who won't even process their own files -- shoot the job, burn the raws, and wave goodbye. NO CRAFT. No professionalism. Just going for the quick profit, and tomorrow is another day. Thank God that bridges don't collapse if a photographer does a half-ass job, or that roofs don't collapse, or that no one is poisoned, or that your teeth don't fall out. After all, "they're just pictures". But that does not invalidate the need to learn about business practices, and how to deal with employees, and insurance, and liability, and location fees, and licensing issues, and usage. ASMP and APA do not serve that need completely, but they do as good a job as any Trade Organization. I'd recommend it to any and all young photographers, (in addition to full-time assisting, so that you get closer to the inner workings of a good studio business).
Just one opinion.
