ASSOCIATION NEWS
AUGUST 2010 | by Aaron K, Executive Director
In order to be successful you need to be constantly looking ahead, learning new skills, and preparing for the future through innovation and experimentation. That was one of the re-occurring themes at this year's Image Nation photography conference.
The photographic landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade. Shifting from analogue film to digital capture has revolutionised our industry; but that was just the beginning. There are numerous game-changing technologies on the horizon - CGI, the iPad and 3D for example - and the impact on our profession when they arrive will be unavoidable.
If you're operating a commercial photography business then it's simply a matter of ‘adapt or die'. This is nothing new of course - businesses have always had to keep abreast of the latest social, cultural and technical developments in order to survive and prosper. Nevertheless, the intensity and speed with which our marketplace is now changing is enough to make any professional photographer's head spin. When you're a sole trader it's hard enough juggling the shooting, production, marketing and financial maintenance roles. Preparing for the next ‘big thing' or learning how to effectively utilise new products and software is often overlooked, and as a result many photographers find themselves constantly playing catch-up.
Here at the AIPA we're doing what we can to help photographers stay ahead of the curve. One of the association's main strategies has always been to keep commercial shooters informed about new developments by disseminating relevant and timely information through a variety of channels. For a number of years now both the NZ Photographers forum and the AIPA Members' forum have proven to be effective in this capacity. More recently the AIPA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/aipa.org.nz) and Twitter page (www.twitter.com/aipa_org_nz) were created as a means to share the latest industry info with an even greater cross-section of the photographic community.
However, this approach is somewhat limited as it is entirely passive. So in the not to distant future the AIPA will be looking to provide more practical, hands-on support through the implementation of education initiatives - i.e. regular seminars and night classes. We'll be starting off small and closely monitoring each programme in order to ensure that we're delivering a service that meets the needs of today's pro photographers.
If you'd like to take advantage of these industry specific courses then I would definitely recommend joining the AIPA, as places will be strictly limited and members will have the opportunity to book first at discounted rates.
Photo above © James Madelin
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