The Professional Photographer Association of Northern Illinois  was established in 1954 as an Affiliate Chapter of the Professional Photographers of America.

PPANI, or Northern as it is better known, has a membership of more than 225 professional photographers, and studio staff members in a variety of expertise, including portrait; wedding; commercial; sports; special events and electronic imaging. Our members come from all over Northern Illinois, from as far South as Bloomington, IL,  to as far North as southern Wisconsin. Also a number of Sustaining members representing many professional photo labs, including other photographic services and products in the Midwest.

Currently more than 100 Northern members hold PPA Degrees, PPA Certification status and Northern Degrees. Northern offers a wealth of professional experience, which you can tap into to assist in expanding your photographic ability. 

Why is membership in PPANI so valuable to your professional growth...?

•  Tap into the solid knowledge base of your fellow members and colleagues who are always willing to help.

•  Informative speakers - See list of programs for 2007 - Click here to see our list of programs!

•  PPA Continuing Education Merit Programs.

•  Northern Degree program  - See below for more information.

•  PPANI Print Competition and a wide variety of image awards.

•  Print Competition stepping-stone to PPA Illinois Regional (APPI) Print Competition and PPA International Exposition.

•  Meet monthly with vendors and suppliers to the professional photographic  market.

•  Northern Scholarship program for Active Voting Members  (AVM).

•  Northern Raffle -Vendors donate great items to raffle off each month.

•  Northern Hi-Lites - a PPA Award winning, educational and informative news magazine - Available monthly to all members in the “Members Only Area” on the Northern website.

•  Northern Garage Sale - Member to member time to purchase some great used equipment and materials.

•  Dedicated Board members who make Northern a great PPA affiliate for its members.

•  An enriching environment where your professional growth and development are our only concern. 

 
Monthly Program Meetings

Northern membership gathers monthly (except in December and January) for a daytime seminar that includes lunch.  Nationally recognized program speakers are brought in for their ability as creative image makers and instructors.

Meeting registration begins at 9:00 AM; programs begin at 10:00 AM, with lunch about noon. The program continues generally until 4:00 PM.  PPA Continuing Education programs, where by PPA members earn one merit for attending, begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 5:00 PM.

There are many opportunities on meeting days in to meet and exchange ideas with other Northern members.

Northern Hi-Lites Magazine

The Northern Hi-Lites, an award winning monthly electronic publication, provides information about upcoming programs; member news; business; marketing and technical tips. Each monthly issue is available in the Members Only Area on the PPANI website.  A meeting reservation form is included with each months Hi-Lites giving information as to location and directions to the event. Registration for each months meeting can also be made via the Northern website.

Image Judging and Competitions

An All-Day Image Competition is held each February. It is a great learning experience for all members, even those who may not be entering images for judging.  Six PPA Masters of Photography, from outside the Northern Affiliate, are brought in to judge images and albums.

    •  For all image judgings Northern adheres to PPA Image Competition Standards and Rules used in preparation for the PPA Illinois Regional and PPA International Print Exhibitions.

    •  Three additional image competitions are held each year. Image awards are presented to top winners of All-Day Image Competition in a variety of categories, which includes a Best of Show.

    •  Additional ribbon awards for top scoring images are also awarded at the three additional image competitions during the year.

    •  Special End-of-Year Awards are presented at the November meeting. 

A copy of the Northern Image Competition Rules and entry forms are available to members in the Members Only Area.


Northern Degree Program

The NORTHERN Degree Program has been established as a means of recognizing outstanding individual PPANI members:             

    • Who give freely of their time and talents in service to the association and its members.

    • Who continue to share their knowledge of photography with other members of the association and the profession by giving seminar programs and writing educational articles for the Northern Hi-Lites.

    • Who exhibit professional and technical proficiency through continued education, photographic competitions at the association, state and national levels and in receiving PPA Degrees.

The NORTHERN Degree Program confers degrees on three (3) different levels.

FELLOWSHIP DEGREE (gold)
 
Awarded to any AVM member who accumulates 75 points from any of the point categories as prescribed by the Degree Program. A minimum of 30 points must be for "hanging" prints in competition.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE (silver)

Awarded to any member who accumulates 50 points from any of the point categories as prescribed by the Degree Program.

SERVICE DEGREE (bronze) 

Awarded to the spouse of an active member, or any non-photographer employees of an AVM member, and to Sustaining Members providing the individual accumulates 35 points from specific point categories, as prescribed by the Degree Program.

Northern Degree Program +50 Bars

After earning one of the above degrees, degree holders may earn additional points toward "Plus 50" bars, showing continued service to the association and the profession. One gold bar is awarded for each additional 50 points earned.

A Northern Degree booklet is available to those members seeking this honor.

Code of Ethics of the
Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois, Inc.

As an applicant for membership into the Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois, Inc., I agree do abide by the following code of ethics set forth by the Professional Photographers of America, Inc., of which this association is a Local Affiliate Chapter; and this organization. Upon approval of membership into the Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois, Inc., I hereby subscribe, without reservation, to this code of ethics and do solemnly agree that I will:

a)  Endeavor to enhance and ennoble the status of the photographic profession by maintaining a dignity or manner in my behavior, in the presentation of my photography and accompanying services, in the appearance of my place of business, and in all other forms of public contact.

b)  Observe the highest standard of honesty in all my transactions, avoiding the use of false titles, confusing or inaccurate terms or descriptions, and misleading terms and claims.

c)  At all times endeavor to produce only those types of photography and services that will enhance the prestige of the profession, to apply only my best efforts on behalf of the public, and to play my part in raising the standard of  photographic craftsmanship.

d)   Show a friendly spirit of co-operation with my fellow photographers and assist them, when possible, should they be in trouble or difficulty.

e)  At all times avoid the use of unfair competitive practices as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Federal anti-trust laws, and related statutes.

f)   Assist and give my knowledge to fellow members and encourage them individually and collectively to help raise the standards of photography.

g)  Recognize the authority of the Professional Photographers of America, Inc., the parent organization, in all matters pertaining to the interpretation of this code, in accordance with the statutes of the United States and the various states and the decisions of the courts and governmental agencies of competent jurisdiction.

It is understood that the applicant warrants that the information given on this application is true in all respects. The applicant further recognizes the power of the Board of Directors to withdraw membership without prejudice or liability if any of the above information is found to be a misrepresentation.

PPANI Membership Application

A Northern Membership Application listing the various types of Northern membership available for downloading from this website. (NOTE- You will need the Adobe Reader program to view this document. It is available for downloading at www.adobe.com)

PPANI Membership Application
(in Adobe PDF format)

As the studio owner, manager, or corporate officer, you are applying as an Active Voting Member (AVM). The Application Fee is $134.00, which includes dues for your first year of membership that expires on December 31. Membership dues renewal invoices are mailed to all current members in early November of each year.

If you are now a PPA member, please include your PPA Membership Number in the space indicated on the application. 

For each additional Active Voting Member from your studio the annual fee is $99.00.  Additional Active Voting Members are additional PPA members from your studio.

Associates (non-PPA members) from your studio are $49.00 each per year. Active Voting Members and Associates can be added to your Northern membership at anytime by paying the Annual Fee for each.
 
If you are currently not a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), we encourage you to join. Though membership in PPA is not a mandatory requirement to become a member of Northern.

PPANI is member organized, member owned, and member run for the profit and benefit of members.



PPANI is member organized, member owned, and member run for the profit and benefit of members.

 

Copyright ©2008