Advertising Photographers of America (APA) Adopts New Name – American Photographic Artists - to Better Serve Photographers, Artists, and Media Professionals

American Photographic Artists (APA), An Alliance of Advertising & Media Professionals

Atlanta, GA June 1, 2010—The Advertising Photographers of America (APA), has today announced its new name, American Photographic Artists (APA) (http://www.apanational.com) to reflect its growing need for a moniker that more accurately represents its current and future membership. APA’s new tagline, “An Alliance of Advertising & Media Professionals” is an embracing definition of its membership that welcomes a wide range of creative photographic professionals.

“The advertising photographer is now someone who might have crossed over from the fine art, editorial, catalog, or music industries,” notes Stephen Best, APA National CEO. “To meet that evolving world, APA felt it needed to broaden its appeal by removing the current hurdles that are traditionally associated with advertising.”... READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

July 2010 - View the latest issue of PLUSnews, an update on the progress of the PLUS Coalition.  The PLUS Registry is to launch this Fall.  With core funding now in place, the PLUS Coalition is fully engaged in developing the PLUS Registry -- a global online resource which connects images, rights holders and rights information.

Read the latest issue of PLUSnews HERE.

July 22, 2010 - PDN's PhotoServe.com is one of the hottest and most respected recources for finding great photography talent, industry information and the newest photo trends from around the world.  This visual, searchable database of more than 21,000 photographers worldwide includes over 1,100 updated portfolios with contact information, bios and client and award lists.  PhotoServe.com is designed for efficiency, with easy contact between creatives and photographers directly, and the handy lightbox feature lets visitors build collections of favorite images that can be e-mailed to prospective clients for fast decision making.

APA members receive a $100 discount on the annual subscription rate of $860.  As a bonus to APA, when PhotoServe.com reaches 20 new APA member subscribers, the annual subscription rate will drop to $580, a discount of $280.  MORE

July 1, 2010 UPDATE - APA members have been clients and friends of Selina Maitreya for nearly 30 years.  Now it's time for ALL APA members to have an opportunity to have Selina inspire and help them Thrive in their business.
 
The View From Here is a self-study course in a 9-hour 12 chapter series of MP3 recordings that brings Selina's years of experience in a format that you can listen to at your convenience and speed.   Learn how to:  Define what success looks like to you, develop your own unique vision, edit and paginate your print books and web sites, combine social networking and traditional marketing tools for success. Selina shares all of her wisdom and knowledge with you as she covers all the steps to take to bring sales back to your business. The View From Here will provide you with hours of instruction; bring you new information and inspiration in order to help you to build a business that will THRIVE!APA and Selina have partnered to bring APA members this valuable tool ($199.00 retail) for ONLY $99.00.  APA is the only photography association able to make this offer.  Another way that APA membership pays For Itself by keeping money in your pocket. More

NEW!  Selina has launched a new 6-month video Challenge for you.  Each month she will post a new video with information taken directly from her MP3 program The View From Here.  Each 5 minute video tutorial ends with an assignment for you, that if accepted will significantly move your business forward.

Selina brings this to you with help from her friends at RETV and APA.

View the video and take the Video Challenge here:

Don't forget, you also may buy The View From Here right here at APA.  Only $99 as an APA Member: Retail is $199.  Not an APA member?  That's OK.  Follow the trail...HERE.

Check back next month for the latest installment of The View From Here Video Challenge!

June 25, 2010- Want to show your work to hundreds of image buyers?  APA and Visual Connections have partnered to offer our members a special opportunity to do just that!  Visual Connection's Image Expos offer a unique opportunity to build stronger relationships with your existing clients and broaden your client base in all market sectors.  The Image Expo admits only professional picture buyers and researchers, ensuring your time and investment is entirely productiove - more so than advertising and a lot more fun! 

The opportunity for APA members to be exhibitors at image expo will be in New York on Oct. 13, 2010 at which we expect to welcome in the region of 1,00 art buyers and researchers.  Take this opportunity to meet them face to face.  Visual Connections also offers a range of marketing opportunities at our events, from advertising in the show guide or on-screen at the event, to distributing literature. 

WHERE: New York City
WHEN: Oct. 13, 2010
EXPO: Noon- 8:00 pm
VENUE: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street. 

APA Members receive a 10% discount on the $650 Photographer's Village exhibitor's registration.  That's only $585.

To get more information about this great opportunity, cost and registration go HERE. 

May 2010 - APA members received a 25% off clickbooq's annual payment plan- a savings of $147.

Clickbooq provides a turnkey solution for professional photographers to create one-of-a-kind websites they can update anytime, without any technical know-how.  Using clickbooq's web-based application, photographers can build a full-featured Flash website quickly and easily.   MORE

April 2010-  APA and ImageRights partner for new opportunities to APA Members.

Protect Your Photos Using ImageRights

Are copyright violations eating away at your profits?  Curious about who"s using your images?  ImageRights discovery service works ceaselessly and efficiently to look for your images online, identify who's using them and how.

Using innovative visual search and image recognition technology, ImageRights helps protect your photographs by conducting discovery searches on the Internet, and empowering rights holders to reduce illegal use and ultimately recover fees for the unlicensed use of their works.

APA members receive a 10% discount for ImageRights member subscriptions.  MORE

APA Insurance Services provides insurance protection specifically designed for professional photographers.  We are the official insurance provider of the Advertising Photographers of America (APA).As independent insurance agents, we have established long-term, solid relationships with the top national carriers in the industry.  We have spcialty programs for photographers from the Hartford, CNA and Fireman's Fund.Our experienced staff will be able to provide comprehensive, expert insurance solutions and service.  For you, our client, this provides competitive pricing, coverage options and peace of mind that the company providing your insurance coverage meets our standards.We are Independent Agents, free to choose the best carrier for your insurance needs.  We do not work for an insurance company; we work for you.  We work on your side when you have a loss and follow through to see that you get fair, promt payment and service.  APA Insurance Services represents a carefully selected group of financially strong, reputable insurance companies, therefore, we are able to offer you the best coverage at the most competitive price. 

2009 APA National Photo Competition:
See the Winners and Enter the Winners' Gallery!
CLICK HERE

The Winners' Book was distributed to the top 100 ad agencies in the USA using ADBASE.

CLICK HERE to Purchase Copies of the Winners' Book
Sponsored by Blurb

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

 Adobe is delighted to offer APA members special pricing on Adobe software.  Members can now save 15% on all Adobe products in the North America on-line Adobe Store.As a member of APA you qualify to save 15% off your next Adobe Store order.  Some key benefits of getting your software through this program include:

• All standard commercial Adobe products are eligible for the savings
• The more you get, the more you save, since you receive apercentage discount off your total order
• Save on shipping by ordering the downloadable version, and benefit from instant registrationas well.  MORE

In order for APA members to use the APA discount on both CS5 and Lightroom 3, Adobe is allowing two uses of the 15% association discount until the end of August. APA members: even if you used your association discount in the past 90 days, you can receive a second discount code and use it to purchase a new copy or upgrade of Lightroom 3.

Apple is now rolling out the new iPod nano, iPod shuffle, and a more affordable iPod touch!  All of this product information is available online : http://www.apple.com/hotnews/   

ACTION-BACKGROUND-RESOURCES-CLICK TO BE HEARD

APA's Submission to Vistoria Espinal, U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator and Colleagues, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President.
For the Coordination and Strategic Planning of the Federal Effort Against Intellectual Property Infringement: Request of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator for Public Comments Regarding the Joint Strategic Plan.  (Submitted to the IPEC March 24, 2010)

APA's Position on the Orphan Works Act of 2008
From the onset, APA has been actively engaged in the effort to help solve the orphan works dilemma. We made public our support for the crafting of an amendment that would permit use of verified, i.e. true, orphaned works for certain uses, by way of procedures that are clearly defined in the statute or regulations, while retaining remedies for use by copyright owners in the event of abuse.

APA, in seeking to represent the best interests of its members, takes the position that the legislation offered in both bills -- S.2913 and H.R.5889 -- does not achieve the goal as we believe was originally intended, and instead provides a distinct road map for the infringement of contemporary works by living artists worldwide. If left unchanged, this legislation has the potential to destroy the businesses and livelihoods of thousands of photographers, other visual artists, as well as the collateral small businesses that serve the industry, and are dependent on, creators.APA is asking its members and all concerned individuals to take action by writing your members of Congress to voice your concerns. PLEASE go to this resource page on Orphan Works   for sample letters (scroll down for the photographers letters) and the ability to automatically contact your specific members of Congress. Great thanks to the Illustrators Partnership for making this site available.APA ON ORPHAN WORKS 2008

April 24, 2008 - Orphan Works Bills were introduced in both the House and Senate. May 7, 2008 - House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property mark up of HR5889.  May 15, 2008 - Senate Juduciary Committee mark up of S2913.  

HOUSE VERSION Orphan Works Bill-2008    SENATE VERSION Orphan Works Bill- 2008

APA POSITION PAPER ON ORPHAN WORKS 2006    "The Orphan Works Dilemma: Challenges Recommendations"  (submitted to Congress 2006)

APA develops important California Sales Tax Decision Tree/Flow Chart, which is now available to all photographers. More