Pro-Imaging

If you were not in at the start of Pro Imaging but would like to know how, why and when PI started, the following may be of interest. 

Back in 2004, Steve Climpson and I, based in the UK, discussed the possibility of starting a very different discussion list.   It was to be different in that only full professional photographers and selected professionals such as web designers, graphic designers etc., from around the world would be able to join. Note: Steve resigned as a Co-listowner at the beginning of 2008 following a serious climbing accident to pursue full time interests outside the realm of image making. His place is now filled by Nick Dunmur a long time member of PI.

This was to be a list where every member was checked for their full time status before being allowed to join. Soon after we also started vetting applicant's competence by requesting to see a portfolio of their work.  The concept being that as professionals we all had valuable experience and know-how to offer, and by every member "pooling" this knowledge we would all be in a stronger position in an increasingly difficult market place. 

We were also very concerned with the way Royalty Free was rapidly undermining the public perception of the value of photographers and their images, and felt it important that we made a positive stand against the RF "cancer".   We therefore determined to include a strictly anti Royalty Free rule for all intending members. 

Some people we talked to about our plans for this radically different discussion list were sceptical of it working and said that it was doomed to failure!   The fact that we also planned on being able to discuss any topic that had something to do with the running of a photographic business, and that we hoped to have a "hands off" approach to list moderation sounded just too far fetched, and we were cautioned that it was likely to quickly end in anarchy and failure! 

Ideas are nothing without a sound framework to make them work.   However Martin Orpen of idea-digital.com, based in the heart of London and with whom I had corresponded over a period of several years, stepped forward with a very generous proposition.   He offered to set everything up for us and to run PI using the server facilities he had at his premises, and also agreed to join us as one of the three Co-listowners.   PI launched towards the end of 2004 and quickly gained a reputation as being a valuable resource and meeting point within the professional photography community, and now has a world wide membership extending to over thirty countries. 

We are all greatly indebted to Martin for all that he puts into PI in keeping the engine running and to our three list mums, Nick Dunmur from the UK and Don Schaefer from the USA and Gordon Harrison from Scotland. Everyone has brought loads of commitment, ideas and enthusiasm to the task of running and the development of PI. 

What started out as a simple discussion list quickly  developed well beyond our original ideas.   This is largely because we found ourselves in situations where we could make a real difference if we got involved.

It's been good for members because we have been able to change attitudes and policies.   It has also resulted in our message being heard far and wide.  Membership of PI now gives each one of us the means to "lean" on bad manufacturers and suppliers where necessary. 

Very early on we started to run campaigns to improve the lot of professional photographers with considerable success.  Recently much effort has been spent in holding off the very damaging Orphan Works bill in the US.    We have also been running the high profile Bill of Rights campaign that targets the organisers of the bad rights grabbing photo competitions which is the latest "cancer" to hit the world of photography. We have been involved in discussions with a number of major players in the industry and have played a major role in educating people to the importance of safeguarding photographer's intelectual property, namely copyright issues.   Indeed our web site now has a wealth of information on this subject available to all visitors.

In early 2010 we were told that the UK government funded agency, The Environment Agency were embarking on a scheme to get much of their photography for no payment but recruting students and "wannabies" and just paying expenses.  We took great exception to this and campaigned vigorously against this no payment policy and got them to drop the idea in a matter of days.  Had the scheme gone ahead it would have set a very damaging precedent, and encouraged other government departments and industry to have tried the same scam!

Back in 2006 following an extensive member survey, we started planning the longer term way forward for PI.   This resulted in the complete redesign of the web site, and facilities, with the emphasis on the active promotion of every member's business.   This was accomplished by the member gallery feature that dominates the home page and the extensive member's gallery section.  The web site attracts a large number of visitors and potential clients.   It is also responsible for attracting new members, which in turn gives us a more powerful voice in the industry and increased financial resources. We are once again (2010) redesigning the web site and this is expected to launch soon with greatly improved member selling features.

Originally we relied on voluntary donations from members to finance PI, but this ran into trouble as many did not actually quite "get around" to contributing. This led to the introduction of a simple and fair fee structure, so that now every member contributes their "bit."   The very modest annual member fees funds the cost of running PI, as well as the member promotional side, the all important campaigns and future developments and the security of a reserve fighting fund.  From the very start we decided that we would not take advertising or sponsorship.   This was so we were able to say exactly what we felt needed saying to the industry movers and shakers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the running of Pro Imaging, and to every member who, through their generosity in sharing knowledge and experience, together with a measure of humour has made PI what it is, a valuable and friendly group of committed professionals that is a real privilege to be part of. 

If you would like to share in the benefits that membership offers and also have a stake in righting the wrongs in our profession, please go to the Join Us tab and complete the registration form after reading what membership means. 

Richard Kenward  (Co-listowner) Pro Imaging