AIPA NEWS: MARCH 2007
It looks like the advertising industry is experiencing something of a slow start this year. This isn’t all bad as it has given the AIPA executive an opportunity to spend more time on various association projects. As a result in the last month we have seen the implementation of two major AIPA initiatives.
Firstly, the eagerly anticipated AIPA Mentoring Programme is now up and running. An example of the association being driven by and responding to the needs of its membership, the mentoring programme helps any current member to locate and establish a mentoring relationship with a more experienced member who has volunteered to assist. Developing photographers decide what they want to gain from the programme and then work with their mentor to achieve their desired goals. This could be anything; from learning what it takes to work in a target market, to how one goes about approaching a particular subject matter, or how to develop a certain specialty in their chosen photographic field.
Over the years all AIPA members accumulate an enormous wealth of knowledge through practical experience. So it makes sense that we should utilise this valuable resource for the benefit of our newer members – especially those fresh out of tertiary institutions. In return for their time mentors receive an injection of youthful energy and enthusiasm, not to mention generous helpings of admiration and gratitude!
The second project that we have recently launched is a new website entitled ‘Copyright 4 Clients’ – www.copyright4clients.co.nz
As the name suggests this site has been created to help educate buyers of photography about copyright and licensing. Commercial photographers can now direct any clients with questions about copyright to www.copyright4clients.co.nz. This resource will be extremely useful for photographers who may have avoided retaining copyright in the past simply because they did not feel confident explaining issues relating to intellectual property ownership. In addition to addressing copyright issues the ‘Copyright 4 Clients’ site also answers questions like “Why use a professional photographer?” and “How do photographers charge?”
This New Zealand specific website is an adaptation of the original AOP ‘Copyright 4 Clients’ site that has proved incredibly successful in the UK. Our colleagues at the ACMP have also recently created an Australian version which is proving very popular across the Tasman. I have no doubt that our AIPA ‘Copyright 4 Clients’ site will be equally well received here by the industry at large, and become an indispensable resource for commercial photographers throughout New Zealand.
With these two important projects already under our belt the outlook for the rest of 2007 looks extremely promising. We have just begun working on the next AIPA ‘Headspace’ exhibition which will be held in June to coincide with the Auckland Festival of Photography. Unfortunately I have run out of space so you’ll have to wait for a future column to learn more about the ‘Headspace’ project.
Aaron K
AIPA President
