15/11/2021
Many of you may have noticed that I took down my cover page, which included my AIPP accreditation logo and replaced it with a rather bland, image. This is because as of 5pm yesterday, The Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) shut down. All members were sent a letter only hours before this happened.
The first paragraph reads:
“The National Board regrets to announce the closure of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP). The last two years have presented us all with unimaginable challenges. Unfortunately, many photography businesses and creative arts organisations have been forced to close during this time and our beloved AIPP has not been immune from the financial hardship faced by so many. AIPP, a Public Company Limited by Guarantee, is appointing an Administrator to facilitate the orderly administration and closure of the AIPP in a professional and dignified manner to respect and preserve its history and legacy.”
Obviously COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on professional photographers and the businesses that support them, including the AIPP. But the letter does go on to explain that other financial difficulties have resulted in this sudden closure and placement into receivership.
I am feeling a little numb and actually heartbroken that our professional body has closed. Why you ask? Well to me personally, it was a clear point of difference that I was immensely proud of. It meant I was part of a high standard of art, workmanship and professionalism. It meant that I was contributing to a field which is in danger of having its reputation diminished by photographers who are calling themselves professionals and are not doing right by their clients. It meant my clients understood that if they chose me to take their photos, that behind me stood a rigorous process where my knowledge, skills and understanding of photography, photo processing and editing and the business of photography was high enough to be accepted by this professional association.
Many photographers were not part of the AIPP, because of personal or professional choice or because of the cost of association. Others were not part of it because the quality of their work, photographic knowledge and business practices would not have been up to the standard required.
You see anyone with a camera, can call themselves a photographer. Anyone can ask for money for their service of taking photos. Some, even if they weren’t an AIPP photographer are actually even really good and do produce great work for their clients. But to the client who is relying on somebody for their once in a lifetime event, the event that you only get one ‘shot’ at to capture, without the knowledge that behind them stood a professional body of peers and accreditation, it can be a gamble as there are no ‘do-overs’ for these once in a lifetime moments.
I will continue to take photos. But today I am professionally disappointed and just plain sad.
