SWPP

mattd85

mattd85

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Matt
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Hi,

I received a magazine and letter a few days back from the SWPP, asking me to join them?

The magazine was full of superb images, far beyond what I could achieve.

Anybody a member? Or know of them?

Matt
 
I write for the magazine. But I'm not a member of the organisation itself. I think you need to look at your aim's within photography and decide if the membership fee is worth it.
 
If you want some letters after your name, it's an easy way to get them. How much value those letters carry is debatable (and due to the family's litigiousness, I'll leave it there.)
 
I have been a member a couple of times. Once early days for about 5 years, and again a couple of years ago, but only for the one single membership year, after which I resigned my membership again. I have been a member of the BIPP as well in the past - and I'm no longer a member of any of them.

Without going into detail about my own personal feelings about the organisation I'd say that if you are at the start of either a planned move into charging for your photography / going semi-pro or even jumping into a FT pro role from a previous job then it is worth joining. The convention is a great way to gather a lot of information, suppliers, and contacts - particularly if you are a wedding or portrait photographer. You still need to work out what is right for you - and dig underneath some of the self-promotion and the targeting of newbie pro/semi-pro photographers by some of the trainers who lurk on the forums/convention - although some of them *are* excellent....

If you are established, skilled, and set up with your suppliers then I can think of other organisations that you might receive more value from (and not only photographic societies).
 
I've had one before, but I have no intention of going pro (at least in the forseeable future). They do lots of courses, and the emails are worth receiving, but I never signed up as I didn't feel it was worth it for me at present. New businesses who have SWPP certificates, in my personal opinion, get viewed in a better light by the general public. There's something about proving qualifications these days that Joe Public finds particularly attractive.
 
MagicMynx said:
New businesses who have SWPP certificates, in my personal opinion, get viewed in a better light by the general public. There's something about proving qualifications these days that Joe Public finds particularly attractive.
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And that's quite an issue, because all the 'qualification' you need to show the logo is to pay the subscription.

I have no idea how you feel about that, but for me, if the general public are attracted to that it's a borderline scam.
 
MagicMynx said:
There's something about proving qualifications these days that Joe Public finds particularly attractive.
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Joe Public maybe - but anyone who cares deeply about the photographs they receive are more likely to place credence on a good portfolio of relevant images on a website, sample albums, and a referral be it explicit - or implicit because of the types of venue worked at (weddings and events) than they are an Lxxxx.

I never went for my "L" when I was at the SWPP, and only considered going for a distinction (they are not qualifications) when I was at the BIPP and that was for personal development rather than public credibility. It never once came up as an objection from a prospective client - and I was charging significantly more than most of the "LSWPP" in my area and many of the "ASWPP".

No issue with them for personal or artistic development - but as a shoe-in to get business - they are almost worthless.

As for the logo - I'd make an unscientific claim that the larger and more prominent the display of that particular logo the less established, and poorer the quality of the photographer.
 
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Phil V said:
And that's quite an issue, because all the 'qualification' you need to show the logo is to pay the subscription..
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And that's my main concern with the way the SWPP logo is often used. It's often trumpeted by new photographers to 'prove' their legitimacy whereas those in the industry know all it proves is they're paying £10 a month to SWPP.

I did some research a while back with some brides and none of them felt a qualification was important. What was most important was image quality, price and customer reviews.

Personally I don't see what they can offer me. I know many disagree.
 
Why not try us out on the 3 month free trial and decide if it's for you?

HTH

Colin :)
 
The SWPP are going to give you a lot of opportunities to learn.... some freebies along the way, but the majority paid.

Watching the membership lists, the turnover is pretty rapid - it seems most join for a couple of years, take what they can and move on to other things, or realise that they can achieve just as much without the SWPP or any of the other organisations.

Do they actually do much for photography in general? In terms of training and development.. probably...although many bad habits and poor practices are proliferated - but that is common with the amount of mediocre training currently around.
In terms of the long term good of the industry? very little. It is a privately owned company under the control of, and mainly staffed by, one family and the motives behind the organisation are fairly well established. There is no democratic input from the membership as with the MPA and the BIPP.

As their man on board here says, give their 3 month freebie a try and see if its for you - but make sure you cancel whatever you need to cancel within the prescribed time limits if you decide against: They are known to be ruthless in application of these conditions.
 
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The 3 month free trial is controlled through PayPal, therefore you have full control over your payments.

Also the membership system changed years ago and what you refer to no longer applies and hasn't done for some time.

Hope this helps

Colin
 
meonshore said:
As for the logo - I'd make an unscientific claim that the larger and more prominent the display of that particular logo the less established, and poorer the quality of the photographer.
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I'd agree with that.

We've had these discussions many time on here over the years, some people have had bad experiences, others good, only you can decide if you need to join this or any other organisation.
 
colintjones said:
The 3 month free trial is controlled through PayPal, therefore you have full control over your payments.
Also the membership system changed years ago and what you refer to no longer applies and hasn't done for some time.
Hope this helps
Colin
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Not sure that's quite accurate Colin - A local associate registered to attend your forthcoming tradeshow and last week received two separate application forms for the 3 month membership trial, both of which ask for payment card details as the primary method of payment with the rider: 'Note - if you cancel your subscription before the end of the free trial period the card will not be charged'

Only one of the leaflets refers to the use of Paypal (and also Direct Debit) as an alternative method of payment which necessitates calling your office.

It was this I was referring to, and not the defeat the SWPP suffered in court over your now deceased, but notorious, membership retention policy which you chose to raise.
 
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I'm an SWPP member, have been for years, and in a wide range of ways I find it well worthwhile to be a member

Of course people will put the logo on their websites, and it does mean something potentially useful to clients - it just isn't a measure of how good you are

The distinctions, any distinctions, are useful for YOU in developing your photography and once achieved they can be useful too in gaining clients

I've also been a member of the Guild (waste of time) and I regularly attend MPA meetings (where one ex Regional Director advised me not to bother joining); I don't know anything about the BIPP other than I did attend a few local meetings years ago, and some of the photography on display was frankly rubbish

As with most organisations there can be a range of benefits and its more about how you use them and apply yourself that matters, but I certainly advocate them to any new potential Pros that attend my courses too as (as has been said above) they are especially good for new Pros/Semi Pros

Dave
 
Bayrunner said:
Not sure that's quite accurate Colin - A local associate registered to attend your forthcoming tradeshow and last week received two separate application forms for the 3 month membership trial, both of which ask for payment card details as the primary method of payment with the rider: 'Note - if you cancel your subscription before the end of the free trial period the card will not be charged'

Only one of the leaflets refers to the use of Paypal (and also Direct Debit) as an alternative method of payment which necessitates calling your office.
Click to expand...

Sorry, you are correct. You can also sign up using credit/debit card or Direct Debit. Most members' have signed up through PayPal online which is why I mentioned this method of payment.
 
Is it just me or is it rather telling that a member of the controlling family (and, I think board?) of the company is either ignorant of their payment policy or lied about it?
 
Take Colin up on the 3 month trial

The Jones' are a nice family BTW.
 
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