American Society of Media Photographers

The American Society of Media Photographers, commonly known as ASMP, is a United States professional association for photographers and other imaging professionals whose work is created primarily for publications and commercial communication. Its membership has included photojournalists, advertising photographers, architectural and industrial photographers, catalog and food photographers, underwater specialists, filmmakers, videographers, and other creators working across still and moving-image production. Some members also work in wedding, portrait, and related consumer photography, but the organization’s historical identity is rooted in professional commissioned and editorial image-making. ASMP was formed in New York in the autumn of 1944, when approximately two dozen photographers organized as the Society of Magazine Photographers. The group soon adopted the name American Society of Magazine Photographers because the original abbreviation was already in use. Its early objectives reflected practical problems faced by working photographers: missing or inadequate credit lines, unauthorized reproduction, copying of photographs by other creators, and pressure on professional compensation. The organization also became a forum for a long-running debate over whether it should operate as a labor union or as a professional guild. In 1976, the National Labor Relations Board determined that ASMP members were independent contractors and therefore not eligible to be represented by the organization as a conventional union. After that decision, ASMP concentrated on professional-association functions including education, networking, advocacy, and business guidance. The association expanded beyond New York through chapters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other major metropolitan areas. It also broadened its membership and subject coverage during the 1950s and 1960s as commercial photography developed in advertising, architecture, industrial production, catalogs, and other fields. In 1992, the organization changed to its current name to reflect the fact that its work and membership had outgrown the magazine sector. Reference material describes ASMP as having more than 7,000 members and a presence in nearly 70 countries, with a chapter network covering major United States metropolitan areas. Legal and policy advocacy is a central part of ASMP’s role. The association has advocated for copyright protections, creator attribution, appropriate treatment of orphan works, and the rights of photographers in the digital publishing environment. It supported changes associated with the United States Copyright Act of 1976, including automatic copyright protection for the creator of an original work, and later supported the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. ASMP has also submitted testimony, participated in policy discussions, filed or supported amicus briefs, and joined litigation concerning the rights of photographers and other visual artists. Matters cited in reference material include New York Times Co. v. Tasini, Jarvis v. K2, and litigation involving Google’s book-scanning project. ASMP’s educational work includes publications, seminars, conferences, chapter events, technical guidance, and publicly accessible online information. Its Professional Business Practices in Photography, first published in 1973 at the initiative of president Lawrence Fried, developed into a regularly revised reference work covering industry terminology, recommended practices, forms, and contracts. The organization has also provided guidance on copyright registration, model releases, property releases, digital-image handling, and preservation. Through its Find a Photographer and Find an Assistant resources, ASMP connects image users with professional photographers and photographers with qualified production assistants. It was a founding participant in the UPDIG Coalition and sponsored the dpBestflow project, which produced digital-image workflow and preservation guidance with support from the Library of Congress. ASMP therefore functions both as a membership association and as a public-facing source of professional, legal, and technical knowledge for the imaging sector.

ASMP began in New York in 1944, when roughly two dozen photographers created the Society of Magazine Photographers. The organization quickly changed its name to the American Society of Magazine Photographers because the abbreviation SMP was already being used. Its founders sought collective solutions to recurring problems in professional photography, including omitted credit lines, unauthorized use and reproduction, copying by illustrators or other artists, and inadequate compensation. During its first decades, members disagreed about whether the association should become a labor union capable of bargaining over wages and working conditions or remain a professional guild. The disagreement produced repeated schisms and resignations during the 1950s. The issue was effectively settled in 1976, when the National Labor Relations Board concluded that ASMP represented independent contractors and could not function as a union under the relevant labor framework. The organization subsequently emphasized professional-association activities such as networking, education, business support, and advocacy. ASMP expanded geographically through chapters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other metropolitan areas. It also expanded professionally during the 1950s and 1960s to include advertising, catalog, architectural, industrial, and other forms of commissioned imagery. The 1992 change to the name American Society of Media Photographers formally recognized that broader remit. In the digital era, specialist groups used online bulletin boards, mailing lists, and social networks to share information and strengthen connections among members. Copyright and image-rights advocacy became a defining area of the association’s work. ASMP representatives participated in debates over United States copyright legislation, including the revisions that resulted in the Copyright Act of 1976. The organization also supported copyright-term changes associated with the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act and engaged with congressional consideration of orphan-works legislation. It has supported photographers through amicus briefs, litigation assistance, and participation in cases involving the rights of visual creators, including New York Times Co. v. Tasini, Jarvis v. K2, and claims related to Google’s digitization of books and publications. Education has been another long-standing function. In 1973, during Lawrence Fried’s presidency, ASMP published Professional Business Practices in Photography, a compilation of recommended procedures, terminology, forms, and contracts. The work was initially distributed in loose-leaf form and later revised repeatedly; a seventh edition appeared in 2008. ASMP has supplemented the publication with seminars, conferences, chapter lectures, and small-group business discussions sometimes described as Brain Trusts. The association also addressed the technical transition from analog to digital production. It was among the founding members of the UPDIG Coalition, which issued recommendations for accurate digital-image reproduction in 2006 and 2007. Between 2008 and 2011, ASMP sponsored dpBestflow, a project that produced practical tutorials and recommendations for digital-image workflow and long-term preservation, supported financially by the Library of Congress. Public resources have included explanations of copyright registration, model releases, property releases, and other issues relevant to photographers and image users. Referral tools such as Find a Photographer and Find an Assistant extend the association’s role into professional matching. Reference material identifies a membership of more than 7,000 across nearly 70 countries, although the organization remains anchored by its United States chapter structure.

• 2008

  Seventh edition of Professional Business Practices is released

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  The association publishes a substantially revised seventh edition of its long-running professional business reference.

• 2008

  dpBestflow project begins

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  ASMP sponsors a digital workflow and preservation initiative that later provides tutorials and best-practice guidance with Library of Congress support.

• 2006

  UPDIG recommendations are developed

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  ASMP participates as a founding member of the UPDIG Coalition, which publishes recommendations for accurate digital-image reproduction.

• 1992

  The association becomes ASMP

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopts its current name to reflect a remit extending well beyond magazine photography.

• 1976

  Union classification dispute is resolved

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  The National Labor Relations Board rules that ASMP members are independent contractors and therefore not eligible for representation by ASMP as a labor union.

• 1973

  Professional Business Practices in Photography is published

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  ASMP issues its first major business-practices reference, covering recommended procedures, terminology, forms, and contracts for professional photographers.

• 1967

  Copyright testimony is submitted to the United States Senate

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  Edward Steichen and David Linton, associated with ASMP’s copyright work, submit views supporting stronger recognition of photography within copyright revision discussions.

• 1945

  The organization adopts its first expanded name

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  The group becomes the American Society of Magazine Photographers after discovering that its original abbreviation was already in use.

• 1944

  Society of Magazine Photographers is formed

  [1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  Approximately two dozen New York photographers establish the organization to address credit, unauthorized use, copying, and compensation issues.

A professional trade association and advocacy organization for commercial, editorial, and other media-image creators, combining member networking with legal-rights representation, business education, technical standards, and public information.

• Professional education and publishing · 1973

  Professional Business Practices in Photography

  ASMP’s long-running business reference for professional photographers. It covers recommended procedures, industry terminology, standard forms, and contract practices. First published in 1973, it was repeatedly revised as photographic production and business relationships changed; the seventh edition was released in 2008.

• Professional referral service

  Find a Photographer

  A directory-style resource intended to help clients and other users of images identify qualified professional photographers for assignments. It supports ASMP’s role as a connection point between image commissioners and working imaging professionals.

• Production staffing referral service

  Find an Assistant

  A resource designed to help photographers locate qualified assistants for shoots and related production work. It complements the association’s professional networking and member-support activities.

• Legal and business guidance

  Public rights and releases guidance

  ASMP provides freely accessible educational material on topics such as copyright registration, model releases, and property releases. The resources are aimed at photographers as well as people commissioning, licensing, or using images.

• Digital imaging technical guidance · 2008

  dpBestflow

  A project sponsored by ASMP to develop practical recommendations and tutorials for digital-image workflow, management, and preservation. The initiative operated from 2008 to 2011 with financial support from the Library of Congress.

• 2008

  Sponsor digital-image workflow and preservation guidanceOther

  Background

  The shift to digital production created new needs for consistent image handling, file management, and long-term preservation.

  Action taken

  ASMP sponsored the dpBestflow project, which developed best practices and tutorials with support from the Library of Congress.

  Aftermath

  The project added a technical and preservation dimension to ASMP’s educational offerings for imaging professionals.

  Source

• 1992

  Rename the organization to reflect a broader professional scopeStrategy

  Background

  The association had expanded from its original magazine-photography base into advertising, architectural, industrial, catalog, and other imaging fields.

  Action taken

  It changed its name from the American Society of Magazine Photographers to the American Society of Media Photographers.

  Aftermath

  The new name positioned the organization as a broader association for media and imaging professionals rather than a magazine-only group.

  Source

• 2008

  ASMP participates in digital-image workflow and preservation initiatives[1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  ASMP sponsored the dpBestflow project, which developed guidance for digital-image management and preservation with financial support from the Library of Congress.

• 1992

  ASMP changes its name to reflect expansion beyond magazine photography[1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Society adopted the name American Society of Media Photographers as its membership and professional scope extended beyond the magazine sector.

• 1976

  ASMP supports copyright reform and creator protections[1]American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The association advocated for provisions of the United States Copyright Act that recognized copyright ownership by the creator of an original work without requiring prior registration.

1. 1American Society of Media Photographersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Society of Media Photographers official websiteasmp.org