The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers was founded in 1988 to serve the needs of full-time and part-time professional wedding and portrait photographers. The British Professional Photographers Associates was founded at much the same time and was working with similar goals but encompassing a broader range of photographers.The merger between these two prominent organizations was announced, under the umbrella of the SWPP, in January 2000. The new society forms one of the strongest photographic organizations in the UK and is committed to improving already high standards for the benefit to all.
The Society offers a referral service for members of the public looking for a photographer, and practical help to photographers who are experiencing difficulties. It also publishes a bi-monthly magazine and runs monthly photographic competitions with cash prizes of up to £10,000 for annual category winners.
Membership benefits include:
- low public liability and all-risks insurance;
- low-priced seminars and workshops led by some of the worlds leading photographers;
- free correspondence courses;
- residential courses;
- a recognized qualifications system;
- low-cost accountancy; and
- discounted Yellow Pages and Thomsons advertising.
Qualifications available for submitted work are:
- LSWPP;
- ASWPP;
- FSWPP;
- LBPPA;
- ABPPA;
- FBPPA; and
- CrSWPP.
Reciprocal qualification arrangements with other organizations such as the RPS, BIPP and MPA are available
The Society's website may be found at http://www.swpp.co.uk/index.htm.