Your craft. Your community.
You belong
in the picture.
Join Ireland’s longest-serving professional photography and videography association. Grow your skills, connect with your peers and build a stronger professional future.
Supporting photographers and videographers since 1949.
New app accounts are verified separately from membership approval.
Photography © Lucy Nuzum · IPPVA Awards
Why join the IPPVA?
Independent creatives.
A shared professional home.
Being self-employed doesn’t have to mean working alone. The IPPVA brings photographers and videographers together to share knowledge, champion professional standards and support one another.
Find your people
Build relationships with peers who understand your work, from practical advice to emergency cover and encouragement.
Keep moving forward
Develop your craft and your business through education, training and a community willing to share what it knows.
Stand with your profession
Be part of a collective voice advocating for photographers and videographers, their rights and their livelihoods.
Member benefits
More behind every membership.
Practical support for your business. Opportunities for your work. A professional network that stays with you.
Support & connection
Advice, networking, community activities and a support network of fellow professionals.
Education & development
Training opportunities, workshops and professional development, including our Skillnet partnership.
Recognition for your work
Professional members can enter the IPPVA Awards, assessed by experienced Irish and international judges.
Professional credibility
Assessed expertise, professional standards and recognition that helps clients find the right creative.
Useful business resources
Dedicated member resources, industry guidance and professional support for the day-to-day realities of your business.
A stronger collective voice
Industry advocacy, copyright support and representation on issues affecting professional photography and videography.
What else is included with full membership?
- A profile in the IPPVA professional directory
- An IPPVA Member seal for your website and social media
- Opportunities to be featured on the IPPVA blog
- Access to the private Member Community Group
- A regular members-only newsletter
- Federation of European Photographers membership and European Photographer status
Membership options
Choose your next chapter.
Choose the category that reflects your situation. The association reviews eligibility before confirming membership.
For practising professionals
Full membership
€240per year
For professional photographers and videographers who complete the application and qualification process.
- Professional directory listing
- Professional awards eligibility
- First Licentiateship panel included
- Full member benefits
For the next generation
Student membership
€50per year
For people studying a recognised academic or technical photography or videography course for career purposes.
- Events and education opportunities
- Member discounts
- Support and networking
- Professional awards entry not included
Stay part of your community
Retired membership
€50per year
For previous full members who can demonstrate that they have retired from professional photography.
- Events and education opportunities
- Member discounts
- Support and networking
- Professional awards entry not included
Published IPPVA annual fees. Full membership carries a 12-month commitment. Registration alone does not take payment or confirm approval.
Joining with a studio?
Discounts are available for eligible full members who share a studio company name, address and website.
Ask about studio membershipReturning to the IPPVA?
If you cancelled within the last two years, contact the office to check your previous record and discuss reactivating your membership.
Talk to the membership teamHow to apply
A clear route to full membership.
Start your application, show your professional credentials, then demonstrate your craft. The office guides you through the process.
- 01
Check the requirements
Review the full membership checklist below and choose the right category.
- 02
Send your application
Create your account, complete your details and provide evidence. The published application fee is €50.
- 03
Submit your panel
Once your application is approved, submit your work for the Licentiateship assessment.
- 04
Become a full member
On acceptance, pay the balance of your membership fee and start using your full membership benefits.
Full membership checklist
What you’ll need.
Prepare these items for your full professional membership application. Your documents stay private and are checked by authorised IPPVA reviewers.
Professional practice
Be primarily and professionally engaged in photography or videography, either self-employed or employed.
Professional standards
Operate professionally and fulfil your contractual obligations to clients.
Code of ethics
Commit to the IPPVA code of ethics and uphold the association’s standards.
Read the codeInsurance
Provide certificates for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance at the required industry-standard €6.5 million level.
Tax clearance
Hold valid tax clearance from the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland.
Registered business
Have a photography or videography business or company name registered with the Companies Registration Office.
Professional website
Showcase your photography or videography services on a professional website.
Qualification & fees
Achieve the IPPVA Licentiate qualification and pay the required membership subscription fees.
Qualification panels
Let your work speak.
Licentiateship is the first IPPVA qualification. It demonstrates sound technical ability and professional-quality work, assessed by IPPVA Associates and Fellows.
For photographers20 images. Your strongest work.Read the panel requirements
Submit 20 numbered JPEG images, 4000 pixels on the longest side at 300 DPI, with no photographer or studio identification on the images.
- A mixture of disciplines is allowed, with at least five images per discipline. You can also submit all 20 in one speciality.
- For weddings, commercial work or portrait sittings, include no more than two images from the same event or sitting.
- For commercial photography, no more than 50% may be self-commissioned or personal work.
- Number the JPEGs 1–20 in your intended presentation order.
Assessment: camera work, post-production, composition, use of light and posing where applicable.
For videographers3 videos. A clear creative voice.Read the panel requirements
Submit three representative video samples. A mix of disciplines is allowed, or you can specialise in one genre.
- Each video must be at least one minute long. Ideally keep samples under five minutes; the published guidance allows up to 15 minutes.
- Judges are only required to assess five minutes of each sample.
- Submitted work must contain no names or identifying marks.
- Use the office’s supplied upload link and filename format: FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_01, _02 and _03.
Assessment: visual impact, technical ability, composition and editing, and sound.
Practising photography and videography professionally? You need a Licentiateship panel for each discipline to be listed under both. Seek feedback from someone you value before submitting.
Panel fees & progression
Licentiateship
€50
The first panel is included in your initial full membership fee.
Associateship
€100
Applicants must have held IPPVA Licentiateship for at least two years.
Fellowship
€150
Applicants must have held IPPVA Associateship for at least two years.
Take the next step
Your next chapter starts here.
Start your application today, or talk to the office if you need help choosing a membership.