Members Distinctions

Some photographers have an alphabet soup of letters after their name, for example CPAGB, LRPS, EFIAP, PPSA. These represent photographic Distinctions, achieved either through a certain amount of acceptances into Exhibitions (sometimes called Salons) or having been judged by a panel to have reached a certain standard of excellence.

PAGB Distinctions

Awards for Photographic Merit (APM) are available to all members of PAGB affiliated Clubs, so long as applicants meet the criteria for length of membership. Images are submitted for scoring by a panel of six judges from the PAGB Judges List.

For still images there are five awards:

  • Badge (BPAGB) for prints only: standard is “good Club photography”
  • Credit (CPAGB): standard is “good Club photography”
  • Distinction (DPAGB): standard is “Exhibition photography”
  • Excellence (EPAGB) for prints only: standard is “Exhibition photography”
  • Master (MPAGB): standard is “the very best of Amateur photography”

Applications can be either Prints or PDIs (but not a mixture of the two), except if applying for BPAGB or EPAGB which are prints only. There are separate distinctions for AVs.

Adjudications are held over a weekend twice a year in April and November, although additional adjudication sessions may be organised in certain circumstances, such as when the number of applications exceeds that which can be managed in the April and November events. Applications have to be in by January and August respectively at the latest. The location of the APM rotates around the various member Federations of the PAGB.

Applicants’ entries are not judged as a panel but are mixed with other applicants entries and judged as individual photographs.

Initial requests for application should be made via e-mail to the Federation’s PAGB Awards Officer who will supply prospective applicants with the necessary paperwork and guidance. Applications are then made online using the PAGB’s Central Entry System (CES) and you will be sent a link and a password to upload your information.

An Entry Fee is payable but the awards are held for life without further annual payment and the holders are entitled to use the specified letters after their name.

It is strongly advised to request help from fellow club members who already have Distinctions in editing and selecting the images used in your application. The NCPF’s PAGB Awards Officer will also offer support and guidance and, in addition, the PAGB provide a volunteer mentoring scheme. Workshops arranged by the NCPF which allow applicants to receive feedback on their prospective images also take place throughout the year, though slots must be booked in advance (further details available from the Federation’s PAGB Awards Officer).

The APM are open events which anyone can attend and usually contain a packed audience of nervous applicants and their supporters! Tickets are available from the hosting Federation.

BPE Distinctions

If you’re new to salon Distinctions, British Photographic Exhibitions (BPE) are a great place to start. The process may seem confusing initially, but after a few entries it does become easier.

You first need to enter any of the BPE member exhibitions listed on the BPE web site. Choose your Exhibition, then follow the link to the Exhibition’s website making sure you adhere to the entry rules. An entry fee is payable for each Exhibition. You will be informed of your results via email and will need to keep detailed notes of your entries, including your image titles, Exhibition name & year, sections entered and results (including any special awards).

With every photo that you have accepted in an Exhibition you accrue one point.

When you have accrued 25 points you can apply to the BPE Awards Officers for the One Crown Award using the Contact menu option.

Following their verification of the form you will be sent your Certificate & Ribbon & be entitled to use “BPE1” after your name.

You can continue this process until you reach “BPE5” for which you will have to have gained 300 points. You may then apply for ABPE (Associate) and FBPE (Fellow).

FIAP Distinctions

FIAP, the world-wide organisation of affiliated photography clubs, offer Salon based Distinctions which are dependent upon a set number of acceptances into FIAP approved Salons. There are 10 Distinctions available:

  • AFIAP (Artist)
  • EFIAP (Excellence), including 7 differing EFIAP levels
  • MFIAP (Master)

There are separate distinctions for AVs.

Choose your Salon, then follow the link to the Salon’s website making sure you adhere to the entry rules. A fee is payable for each Salon. You will be informed of your results via email and will need to keep detailed notes of your entries, including image titles, Salon name, year, Country & FIAP patronage number, sections entered and results (including any special awards).

Once you have reached the acceptance level for your chosen Distinction applications are made through the PAGB FIAP Liaison Officer. An application fee is payable. Only one distinction submission is permitted in any given year and the closing date for completed applications is 31st March (though you should apply well in advance as the application process can take several weeks).

You must belong to a FIAP affiliated camera club in order to apply for a FIAP distinction. If your application is successful you can use the FIAP letters after your name in perpetuity, whether or not you remain a member of a camera club.

All the information you need is available on the FIAP section of the PAGB website.

PSA Distinctions

The Photographic Society of America is a world-wide organization providing abundant resources for photographers. The PSA offers Exhibition based Distinctions which are dependent upon a set number of acceptances into PSA approved Exhibitions.

There are six levels of distinction awards:

  • Qualified (QPSA)
  • Proficiency (PPSA)
  • Excellence (EPSA)
  • Master (MPSA)
  • Master 2 (MPSA2)
  • Grand Master (GMPSA). In addition, the GMPSA distinction has five sub-levels.

Choose your Exhibition, then follow the link to the Exhibition’s website making sure you adhere to the entry rules. A fee is payable for each Exhibition. You will be informed of your results via email and will need to keep detailed notes of your entries, including image titles, Exhibition name, year, Country & PSA recognition number, divisions entered and results (including any special awards).

Once you have reached the acceptance level for your chosen Distinction applications are made online by filling out the ROPA application. There is an admin fee but applications can be made at any time in the year. You don’t have to be a PSA member to enter PSA Exhibitions but you do need to become a member to apply for a Distinction.

If your applications is successful you can use the specified letters after your name in perpetuity, whether or not you remain a member of the PSA.

All the information you need is available on the PSA website.

RPS Disctinctions

The Royal Photographic Society (RPS) offers qualifications, Distinctions and certificated courses to cater for every level of photographic experience. Their Distinction award system depends on submitting a body of work which is assessed by a panel of Associate or Fellowship members.

There are three levels of Distinctions:

  • LRPS (Licentiate)
  • ARPS (Associate)
  • FRPS (Fellowship)

It is strongly advised to request help from fellow club members who already have RPS Distinctions in editing and selecting the images used in your application. You can also book a One to One advice session to discuss your portfolio on the RPS website and there are a number of Advisory Days held throughout the year around the UK.

Once you’ve decided on which Distinction to apply for, book an Assessment date on the RPS website. An Entry Fee is payable. You will be informed of the outcome of your Assessment by email.

The Assessment Days are open events which applicants can attend either in person or via Zoom.

You must be a member of the RPS in order to apply for a Distinction and in order to use the specified letters after your name you must remain a member, consequently there is an annual membership fee to retain your Distinction.

All the information you need is available on the RPS website.

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