Categories and Fees

Eligibility: Open to commercial photographers with at least 3 years of professional experience.
Application Process: Applicants must submit a portfolio with images from commercial projects.
Rights and Privileges: Voting rights and access to all benefits and privileges.

Eligibility: Open to individuals who have worked as professional commercial photographers, full-time or part-time, for less than 3 years.
Duration and Transition: Available for a maximum of 3 years
Application Process: Applicants must provide a portfolio of work with their application.
Expectations: Must join at least one subcommittee or help organise an AIPA event or activity during their membership.
Fees: The annual fee is 70% of the Full Membership fee, can be granted only once, and applies to a continuous membership period of up to 3 years.
Rights and Privileges: Emerging Members have the same rights and benefits as Full Members, including voting rights and access to Society benefits.

Eligibility: Open to individuals who earn most of their income by assisting commercial photographers.
Duration and Transition: Limited to 4 years, provided assisting remains their primary source of income. Members may transition to other membership categories after this period.
Expectations: Must contribute to at least one AIPA event or activity during their Membership.
Fees: The annual fee is 40% of the Full Membership fee.
Rights and Privileges: Voting rights but can only act as proxies for other Assistant Members.

Eligibility: Open to photography students enrolled full-time at a recognised tertiary institution.
Duration and Transition: Limited to a maximum of 4 years
Application Process: Applicants may be asked to submit proof of enrolment as a student.
Fees: The annual fee is 20% of the Full Membership fee.
Rights and Privileges: Student Members can access available resources and attend meetings for learning purposes.

Eligibility: Available at the Committee’s discretion to professionals in fields closely related to commercial photography, excluding professional photographers, assistants, and student photographers.
Application Process: Applicants must complete the official application form.
Fees: The annual fee is 70% of the Full Membership fee.
Rights and Privileges: No voting rights, but may receive benefits if their contributions align with the Society’s goals and support its membership.

Eligibility: Available at the Committee’s discretion to education professionals teaching subjects related to commercial photography.
Application Process: Applicants must complete the official application form.
Fees: The annual fee is 40% of the Full Membership fee.
Rights and Privileges: No voting rights but may receive benefits if their contributions align with the Society’s goals and support its membership.

Eligibility: Open to individuals outside New Zealand who have worked as a professional commercial photographer for at least 3 years and will continue to do so.
Application Process: Applicants must submit a portfolio with images from commercial assignments.
Fees: The annual fee is 80% of the Full Membership fee.
Rights and Privileges: International Members can access all Society benefits, but do not have voting rights or the ability to hold elected positions.

A life member is a person honoured for highly valued services to the Society, elected as a Life Member by resolution of a General Meeting passed by a simple majority of those Members present and voting. A Life Member has all the rights and privileges of a Member and is subject to all the same duties as a Member except for paying subscriptions and levies.

An Honorary Member is a person honoured for services to the Society or in an associated field, elected as an Honorary Member by resolution of a General Meeting passed by a simple majority of those present and voting. An Honorary Member has no membership rights, privileges or duties.