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The idea of having an association for Singapore-based professional photographers has its origins in a conversation between photographer Sebastian Tan and his equipment supplier Henry Tan.
As their chat centred on a client with a dubious reputation of not paying his photographers, they quickly realised that unity is strength. So, during one evening in 1990, over 20 professional photographers attended a meeting at the Shooting Gallery studio and it ended with the founding of the Professional Photographers Association (Singapore) (PPAS).
Through the years, PPAS has grown to become a viable voice for the professional photography fraternity, addressing their needs and extending a helping hand to their aspirations. For instance, members have been able to harness the economies of scale through the pooling of resources and the collective buying of equipment.
More importantly, PPAS now serves as a platform to protect and advance its members’ interests. Fully aware of the industry’s pressing concern over copyright issues and unethical business practices, the Association drafted and established the Terms of Trade last year, as a standardised guideline for its members.
Despite the fact that its members could be business competitors, camaraderie runs deep within the PPAS. This is most evident in how eight of its members recently joined hands to advertise in the prestigious Archive to reach out to the publication’s worldwide audience. As a result, the PPAS website now enjoys over 230,000 hits a month. Moreover, by advertising on the website, members can leverage on its international visibility and ride on the globalisation wave.
Currently, PPAS has over 60 members and counting. Within this diverse pool are veterans of the trade as well as up-and-coming talents, not to mention a handful that has won international accolades.
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About PPAS