Company Profile
Company Overview
What Is PPA?
More photographers get into the industry every day, but few know how to profitably run a business and many don’t know where to turn for support. That’s why Professional Photographers of America (or PPA) was started back in 1869, and that’s why we exist today.
Created and led by professional photographers, PPA is a non-profit international association that helps those serious about photography live their dreams profitably.
To do that, we -
• Lead the way in educating photographers on business and technical skills to help them grow and succeed beyond what they believed possible.
• Connect photographers with other great minds in the industry—via online and live classes, consultations and conventions—to spread best practices, new ideas and strong networks of support.
• Protect photographers’ livelihoods with benefits, such as copyright advocacy, malpractice protection, and equipment insurance.
PPA has also worked very hard to create an exceptional team of 47 employees with non-traditional benefits. Yes, we offer a competitive salary and excellent employee benefits program; health and dental insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off, etc. We also offer a performance-based annual bonus, year-round casual dress code, gym membership benefits, a fantastic summer hours program, plus, the biggest thing of all: we have a lot of fun.
Over 30,000 pro photographers rely on PPA now, and we are always looking for and investing in new ways to provide the resources and support they need. Sound like a mission you want to be a part of? Then we want to meet you!
Company History
Our mission is simple: PPA was created to fuel a vibrant community of successful professional photographers by providing education, resources and industry standards of excellence. If we help photographers Be More, we fulfill our cause and mission!
From As Early As 1868…
Professional Photographers of America has a long and storied history, dating all the way back to 1868.
With the field of photography still in its infancy, some early trailblazers set out to gather the best minds in this young profession. Their goals were simple; they wanted to promote:
An active exchange of ideas
The sharing of knowledge and experience
The elimination of the prejudiced opinions towards photography as an art and science
The First Photography Convention
These innovators were definitely on to something. The very first convention attracted 237 photographers. This was a huge accomplishment considering the limitations of communication technologies at the time.
But word spread fast, and an invaluable photography association was born!
Professional Photographers of America is Born
By 1880, photography was becoming a real and recognized profession. That's when the PPA as we know it today was officially formed.
Our industry's success was giving birth to new challenges, and PPA began to develop programs to deal with the financial and managerial issues photographers were beginning to face.
As is the case today, PPA was instrumental in helping its first members thrive, even when economic times were difficult. On top of that, it established the tradition of educational opportunities by providing annual forums for noted photographers of the time.
The Modern PPA
PPA has grown a lot in the last 150 years. Today, PPA serves 30,000 photographers, and that number is growing each and every year. For over a century, we have served professional photographers with dedication and care.
Times have changed, and the issues PPA members face have changed alongside them. But there is one thing that will never change – PPA's tireless dedication to helping photographers be more protected, be more profitable, be more creative, be more sustainable, and be more successful.
For more information and to form a fuller understanding of PPA's role, place, and contributions within the photographic industry, check out the video below. It's a 10-minute video documentary retracing PPA's history:
https://youtu.be/7u0LVMs4d7A
Benefits
PPA has also worked very hard to create an exceptional team of 47 employees with non-traditional benefits. Yes, we offer a competitive salary and excellent employee benefits program; health and dental insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off, etc. We also offer a performance-based annual bonus, year-round casual dress code, gym membership benefits, transportation benefits, fantastic summer hours program, plus, the biggest thing of all: we have a lot of fun.