American Photographic Artists National
APA is a non-profit trade organization built by photographers for photographers. Now in our fourth decade, APA exists to provide business tools and creative inspiration which help photographic artists of all levels run a smarter, more creative, and profitable business.
APA offers education, community, inspiration, and opportunities for networking and social engagement through local chapter activities.
In addition, membership in APA helps keep our profession strong. APA amplifies each of our voices on the national stage and advocates on behalf of all members, keeping the industry dynamic, influential and robust.
Our membership structure gives every photographer, and those affiliated with photography an affordable way to belong to a community of like-minded professionals.
For membership questions, please contact: membershiprep@apanational.org
Professesional level is the preferred plan and what is designed for most photographer members of APA.
ProPlus: $500 or $45/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals) Professional : $350 or $32/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals) Emerging: $225 or $21/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals) Supporter: $125 or $12/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals) Contributor: $50
View the membership table with Benefits.
Or, view the Benefits by Member Levels.
If you are on our Annual pay plan and would like to upgrade, you will need to purchase a new membership plan. We will pro-rate: refund the balance of your current membership; refunds take 5 to 10 days to appear in customer accounts.
To upgrade, please email membershiprep@apanational.org
Your Profile will stay intact and you will immediately be able to access your new benefits.
You can self-select the Student category. Schools can contact APA to set up multiple student and educator memberships.
All APA members are part of APA National. Additionally, you are automatically affiliated with an APA chapter based upon your address when you join. This allows you to stay involved at the local level and receive communications and invitations. If you move to a different chapter territory, please log in and update your address, then email membershiprep@apanational.org to request a chapter change.
Anyone can receive Chapter Event Announcements and other Updates from any APA Chapter. Use the sign-up links below:
APA New York APA Los Angeles APA San Francisco APA Chicago APA Atlanta APA San Diego APA Washington DC APA Charlotte NC
APA is designed for professional photographers and image-makers, primarily those working in the advertising, editorial, entertainment and corporate sections. We invite others in the photo community to join.
Ful-time professional photographers are expected to select the Professional level membership.
Sorry, no -- we no longer accept checks for dues. It's simpler, more efficient and cost effective to operate the organization through the e-commerce solution built into our website.
The exception for this is for schools purchasing multiple memberships at one time.
APA can assist international members in documenting their professional status and photographer requirements in their USA Visa application for an Advisory opinion in support of the O-1 petition (letter of no objection). The applicants must be professional photographers with exceptional work.
Follow these procedures:
To do our part in reducing plastic worldwide, APA no longer produces plastic member ID cards.
If you need to show proof of your APA Membership, you can access a virtual APA Member ID Card by logging in and scrolling to the bottom of your MY APA webpage. If you are traveling by air, consider purchasing an APA Member Pro Media Photo Identification Card, available to Associate, Professional, & Leader members, for just $25. There are many advantages to having an APA Professional Media Photo Identification Card:
You will likely receive your APA Pro Media Photo ID Card in under a week. Faster delivery is also available via FedEx. We only ship cards in the U.S.
Upgrade to our Associate member level or above to take advantage of the APA Pro Media Photo ID Card and other valuable APA Photographer Member level benefits by emailing membershiprep@apanational.org.
For your convenience (and, as it states in the required click-through Join page Member terms) APA will continue to auto renew your APA Membership dues subscription until you tell us otherwise.
For your security, we don't have any direct access to your credit card info, so we can't update it for you.
Simply please login, and in the right side vertical navigational menu (the white rectangle with a red stripe on top) click on Update Billing Details. This will take you to the secure area where you can update your billing info. If you also change your address, please email us so we can update your Chapter affiliation.
APA has a dedicated business unit to handle our members' insurance needs. It's business insurance designed by photographers for photographers. As the leading not-for-profit organization serving professional photographers we know the unique demands of this industry. Our insurance agents deal with photographers all day long, have loads of experience and are trained problem solvers. They're not afraid to get in the trenches and hammer our the best insurance plan to fit any business need. Plus, APA Insurance Services (AIS) never charges for COI (proof of insurance certificates), unlike many other companies. Get a free no-obligation quote and compare rates today. More info is here.
Please note: Insurance is not included in membership.
Discounts are based on membership level. Most discounts start for the APA Supporter level memer and above.
Simply login to your MY APA page, and in the right side vertical navigation menu, click on Discount Codes. APA partners either provide a code or the person to contact. Codes change regularly, so please let us know if any are not active and we will update it.
Note, the APA Apple online store is a link. The prices listed in the APA Apple Online Store include the APA member discount but the discount is not clearly indicated. More info is here.
For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org
To rejoin, simply use the Look Up Account feature in the Join section on our site. Assuming you were a member after 2014, your APA Member Profile is intact off-line so you won't have to fill out the entire registration form again. Just login using the same email address, select a member level and payment plan and checkout. All APA Profiles are self-updateable so you can login and make changes anytime. Start here, please: http://apanational.org/account/check-account/
You may cancel your auto renew subscription before it renews ONLY by contacting the APA Membership Representative, at least 2 days prior to your auto renew date, only in writing (by email) to: membershiprep@apanational.org.
An email with the cancellation confirmation will be sent to you.
When you cancel your APA membership, you will be removed from Hire an APA Pro, and will no longer be entitled to receive membership benefits and discounts.
Frequently asked member questions
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