The AOP is a not-for-profit trade association for professionals. That means all the revenues we earn go back into providing the best possible support for photographers, through the work we do.
About the AOP
About the AOP
Our purpose
The Association's aims are to protect, promote and inspire the worth and standing of its members within the commercial photographic industry
Our mission is to be the guiding force for professional photographers, and image-makers, on matters relating to business practice in still and moving images, whether from a practical, educational or legal basis. The Association brings professionals together and provides a sense of community that is simply unavailable anywhere else. We promote the highest levels of achievement, and we campaign for our members' interests at all levels.
As a trade association, we
As a trade association, we
Champion the rights of all photographers, especially those working in a professional capacity
Campaign tirelessly on issues of copyright, best practice, and professionalism
Provide a community hub for photographers and image-makers
Promote our members professional creative works through our various channels, including our Awards and events
Educate our members on a wide range of industry-related issues, covering the interests and rights of photographers
The AOP membership has always been formed of some of the most influential, trailblazing photographers in the history of the art form. Past and present members include the likes of Terence Donovan, Rankin, Tim Flach, Nadav Kander, Tessa Traeger, David Bailey, Julia Fullerton-Batten and Jillian Edelstein. For over 50 years, members’ work has appeared in global advertising campaigns, books, newspapers, magazines, exhibitions and cultural events the world over.
Our members
Membership is open to:
Professional and Assisting Photographers working in the creative sector, Agents, any Individuals working in the photographic industry, those starting out in the profession, those in education and anyone with an interest in professional photography.
Our members' clients include:
Advertising agencies, brands, design groups, corporate sector companies, publishing houses, production companies, broadcasters and music publishers.
Our members' work is:
Published worldwide in magazines, newspapers, books, TV and advertising campaigns, both online and in print. The type of work produced can be either photographic stills or short form film. Many members also produce work as fine art, sold and collected through traditional galleries and online.
The AOP has dedicated staff to help solve members' problems and offer guidance on a myriad of topics affecting your business as a photographer in a commercial environment. They can be consulted by either email or telephone and their expertise comes from years in the industry. Whilst they are not lawyers, they can often give enough information and guidance to defuse situations and prevent costly legal cases.
We help AOP members with:
negotiations for the re-usage of your work
contracts from clients, agents and libraries to identify the good, the bad and the ugly clauses and help you negotiate a good deal
advice on small claims and county court procedures, providing expert witnesses and even attending court with you
arranging arbitration by fellow members and staff for problems that won't go away
We provide help, guidance and up-to-date legal and business information. We inform members of their rights and the rights of others who they may come into contact with during the course of undertaking commissioned work.
We provide paperwork, template letters and forms and guidance. Members can get advice on issues with contracts, non-payment of invoices, copyright, licensing and usage and, if required, be put in contact with our retained specialist IP lawyers at a subsidised rate.
We publish the widely-acclaimed and well-respected book, Beyond The Lens, which is included in the syllabus of all our affiliated college/university courses (BTEC or Degree). We also run workshops, seminars and portfolio criques for students, assistants, photographers, and others in the in the indystry.
We have a series of dedicated links, industry insights and downloads that are accessble to our Student Members. We also work closely with the lecturers that run the courses that are affiliated to the AOP as well as produce the AOP Student Awards.
Since our inception in 1968, we have worked hard to protect photographers' rights. We campaign and influence and are regularly asked by legislators, both within UK Government (the IPO) and the EU, to inform them of photographers' concerns and requirements and contribute to shaping legislation. We take an active role on the British Copyright Council (BCC) in providing views and opinion from our sector.
Successes include the implementation of the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act itself in 1988, which we were active, along with others, in helping to secure; working with the photographic community to secure the exclusion of Clause 43 from the Digital Economy Act and we are currently working on solutions to the problem of Orphan Works as well as consulting on a whole raft of EU legislation concerned with copyright.
Protect. Promote. Inspire.
Join our community of creative image-makers and get the best in support and inspiration.