An Accredited Professional Photographer is a photographer, who doesn't just claim to be a "professional" but earns that title by successfully completing the rigorous AIPP accreditation process.
Accreditation is designed to give you, the consumer, confidence that your Professional Photographer is a proven, experienced, technically capable, professional practitioner, who complies with all legal business requirements, has appropriate insurance and who is willing to agree to the mandatory Code of Professional Practice and to the requirement to continually improve their photographic skills by committing to continue their professional development.
To become accredited, a Professional Photographer has to:
Demonstrate that they have been practising for a minimum of 2 years.
Demonstrate that they have satisfied clients and suppliers by providing written references.
Demonstrate that they comply with all legal, ethical and moral business requirements to practice as a professional in Australia.
Demonstrate that their photographic skills are of our required "Professional Standard".
Agree to have a portfolio of their work, assessed by a panel of experienced AIPP image assessors.
Achieve the required portfolio assessment standard.
Agree to continue their professional development through the AIPP CPD program, maintaining up to date skills and business practices each year.
The AIPP continually monitors its accreditation requirements to ensure that the standard for accredited membership is appropriate for the profession of photography in 2019 and beyond. Full details of the current accreditation requirements are available HERE.
In this day and age, there are many people who call themselves a "professional". But how can you be sure?
It is an unfortunate fact that in Australia, the imaging industry is not held accountable to the same legal status and regulatory requirements as other Government and state-regulated professions.
In the area of creative services, this can often be seen as a good thing, allowing fresh new people to work in this area without the restrictions and barriers to entry often required by other professions.
But it can also be a problem, allowing anyone to call themselves a professional, without any recourse, any accountability and any attempt to adhere to agreed and appropriate standards.
The AIPP Accreditation Process
The AIPP have addressed this dilemma by encouraging photographers and video producers, to enter the profession by providing a membership pathway ultimately leading to becoming an ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL.
Using an Accredited Professional means that:
You are working with a professional whose status has been formally validated and recognised.
You are working with a professional who you can trust.
You are working with a professional whose creativity is constantly pushed and developed.
You are working with a professional who is a member of the only recognised professional imaging membership body in Australia.
You are working with a professional who adheres to OUR required level of service and quality, a standard we set, regardless of the standards the professional sets for themselves.
You are working with a professional who has been through our accreditation process.
You are working with a professional who is bound by our Code of Professional Practice.
If you want to make sure you choose a Professional Photographer, or Video Producer, make sure you LOOK FOR THE LOGO and choose an ACCREDITED professional.
There is an AIPP Accredited Professional Photographer, or Video Producer in every field of professional image making; you can find your professional with the AIPP SEARCH FOR A PRO.
You can find out more by visiting the AIPP wesbite at