I Was Elected to the PPA Council! (So, What Exactly Does That Mean?)

Well, I've got some exciting news!

I've been elected to serve on the Council for the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), representing photographers here in Tennessee.

I'm one of three councilors representing Tennessee and part of a group of approximately 150 councilors from across the United States and Canada.

And I'm looking forward to being part of the decisions that help shape the future of PPA.

Now, unless you've been involved with PPA for a while, you might be wondering what the Council actually does. Because, let's face it, most of us join professional photography organizations for the education, networking, and other benefits. We don't necessarily spend much time thinking about how those organizations are governed.

So here's a little explanation.

What Is the PPA Council?

PPA has been around since 1868, making it one of the oldest professional photography organizations in the country.

It's a member-owned and member-run association, and the Council plays an important role in how the organization is governed.

Councilors are elected to three-year terms and represent PPA members from their respective states or regions.

Among other responsibilities, the Council votes on changes to the organization's bylaws and elects the PPA Board of Directors.

In other words, there are actual decisions to be made. It's not just another excuse for me to attend a meeting. Although, apparently, I do enjoy those.

Why I Wanted to Serve

I've been involved with professional photography organizations for years, including serving on the boards of the Professional Photographers of East Tennessee (PPETN) and the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association (TNPPA).

I've seen firsthand how much work goes into running these organizations, and I've also seen what can happen when you get a group of people together who genuinely care about making things better for their members.

Photography can be a pretty solitary business. We spend a lot of time working by ourselves, and it's easy to get so wrapped up in our own businesses that we forget there's an entire community of people dealing with many of the same challenges.

Some of the best education I've received has come through photography organizations. And some of the best relationships I've made in this industry started because I showed up at a meeting, attended a workshop, or volunteered to help with something.

Of course, volunteering for one little thing has a funny way of turning into being responsible for six other things. Ask me how I know.

But I keep doing it because I believe these organizations matter.

And having the opportunity to represent Tennessee photographers at the national level is something I take seriously.

Why Photographers Should Pay Attention to Their Professional Organizations

You don't have to serve on a board or committee to benefit from being involved in a photography organization.

There are educational programs, workshops, image competitions, and opportunities to connect with photographers who have experience in areas you might want to learn more about.

But I'd also encourage photographers to pay attention to what's happening behind the scenes.

Who makes decisions about the organization? How are those decisions made? What opportunities do members have to provide input or get involved?

These are member organizations, after all. And the people volunteering their time to run them are photographers just like the rest of us.

If you've ever had an idea about something your local, state, or national organization could do differently, consider getting involved. You might find that there's an opportunity to help make it happen.

And if you're already volunteering, thank you. I know how much time and work goes into making these organizations successful, and a lot of it happens where nobody ever sees it.

Looking Forward to Serving

I'm grateful to the Tennessee photographers who elected me to represent them on the PPA Council.

I'm looking forward to learning more about the work that happens at the national level, participating in the decisions that come before the Council, and doing my part to represent the photographers in our state.

And who knows? Maybe I'll even manage to attend a meeting without volunteering for something else.

But I'm not making any promises.