As part of our website and branding refresh, we’re updating our online presence and celebrating the diversity of photography within our community. 

Whether it’s commercial work, personal projects, or images from different genres, we’d love to see it.

Following the AGM and recent polls, it is evident that advocacy is a significant priority for our members. The committee has been engaging in discussions with publishers since IMAA’s inception and more recently particularly focusing on important topics such as supplier tagging and the use of our images on third-party websites.

To inform these important discussions and ensure we represent the opinions of the majority of our members we need to gather some important information.

Following the AGM and recent polls, it is evident that advocacy is a significant priority for our members. The committee has been engaging in discussions with publishers since IMAA’s inception and more recently particularly focusing on important topics such as supplier tagging and the use of our images on third-party websites.

To inform these important discussions and ensure we represent the opinions of the majority of our members we need to gather some important information.

Since the close of applications on 31st May, our five mentors have closely reviewed all Mentorship Program applications which consisted of a unique group of talented individuals from our Assistant / Emerging and Student Membership categories.

Congratulations to the successful applicants and of course a huge thanks to the photographers who have put their hand up to support the next generation of talent through mentoring.

A note from our newly appointed president, Sharyn Cairns.

As IMAA looks ahead to 2025, our commitment to advocating for the rights of photographers and ensuring that our community is supported and empowered is very much at the forefront.

The IMAA AGM was held at Craftworks on Friday 6th September with a quorum of Members in attendance. Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend either in person or online, and sent proxies enabling the AGM to be conducted.

To the first cohort of Board Committee Members that were integral in the foundation of IMAA and those that now stand to pave the way for the coming years, we thank you for your diligence, passion, constancy and expertise. 

Thanks to the support of Nikon Australia & Kayell, we are pleased to announce that Illumination and Vision: A Workshop in Fine Art Portraiture will now be available for members to attend online via Zoom.

All existing bookings are considered to be in-person. If you need to change your preference, please notify us ASAP as in-person places are strictly limited.

Join us for an online webinar with Adrian Landers, Commercial Photographer, Film Director and Director of Photography. With over 25-years’ experience working on some of Australia’s best brands, Adrian has become known for his eye for detail, beautiful lighting and composition and a can-do approach. He lives in Melbourne and works throughout Australia and beyond.

-Charging Survey Results
-Affiliation with PCP
-OptiKA 2024 Photographic Award
-Advocacy Update
-Upcoming Webinars & Workshops
-AGM Reminder

Join us at this in person lighting workshop with Forough Yavari. In partnership with Nikon Australia and kindly hosted by Kayell.

Forough Yavari is a visual artist, fine art portrait and fashion photographer, and educator based in Melbourne, Australia. With over 20 years of experience in the art and photography industry and a solid foundation in painting from art university, she has achieved significant growth since starting her photography business in 2013.

-Member Poll
-Member Area Updates
-Awards & Competition Guidelines
-Head On Photo Awards
-New Employment Laws

-Studio Legal Webinar
-Assisting Workshop

-2024 INDE.Awards Winners & Commendations
-Indesign Photographer Profiles

Image Makers Association Australia’s 2024 AGM will be chaired by committee member Brett Boardman in person on Friday 6th September at Craftworks Melbourne and online via zoom.

-1 Shot 24 Exhibition Opening Nights
-Inde Awards Gala
-Head On Photo Awards 2024

-Affiliation with AIPA
-Upcoming AIPA Webinars
-Ideas Summit Photo 2024

A genuine and heartfelt thank you to our amazing ‘1 Shot 24’ Exhibition Committee led by Emma Cross. Individually and collectively, the committee has done a stand out job managing the planning, logistics, promotion and installation of this years ‘1 Shot’ exhibition.

You are invited to join us to celebrate the opening of Image Makers Association Australia’s annual 1 Shot exhibition exploring the theme of Seeing & Knowing. 

Opening nationally on July 10 in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in Stylecraft showrooms.

-WhatsApp Migration
- Craftworks Exhibition Image Collection
- Change of Office Address

-WhatsApp Update
- Craftworks Exhibition Image Collection
- 1 Shot 22 Book Raffle Winners Announced
- ASMP - An Open Letter to Adobe

- Awards Advocacy Update
- 1 Shot 22 Book Raffle
- Tech Blog
- INDE. Awards
- INDESIGN Photographer Profiles

-IMAA AGM
- Mentorship program 2024 closes 31 May
- Charging Survey closes 31 May
- Copyright Agency Distribution
- Craftworks Exhibition

The Member Forum is an important opportunity for those who make up our organisation to hear what has been going on behind the scenes and what is in store for the future of the organisation. Our Member Forums inform the work we prioritise.

The AGM & Member Forum will take place on Friday 6th September 2024. Registration details will be provided closer to the date.

- Architecture Media Webinar
- Richard I’Anson webinar
- Artificial Intelligence, AI in Focus - CAPIC
- Webinar recordings now available

-AGM + Member Forum
- 1 Shot 24-
Working Together - Assistants & Photographers
- Australian Life Photography Competition
- IMAA Advocacy Workflow
- 1 SHOT 23 exhibition at Craftworks

March 21st - Cost Sharing & Licensing Webinar hosted by Shared Construction

10th April - Superannuation Webinar by GTSC

John Gollings is kindly hosting the first IMAA event for 2023, at his Chapel St Studio where he has worked for more than 25 years. Over these years John has trained and mentored generations of photographers, including several IMAA Members. Now the building has been sold and John will be relocating to Prahran in mid-2024. 

This year’s Member exhibition, 1 Shot 24 – Seeing & Knowing, will be held concurrently across Stylecraft’s Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth showrooms, opening on Wednesday 10/7/24 and running until Friday 30/8/24.

Please join us @ Craftworks to celebrate the launch of a selection of 13 images from 1 SHOT 23 – HOME / AWAY

- INDE.AWARDS DEADLINE
- CHARGING SURVEY DEADLINE EXTENSION
- EOI FOR 1 SHOT 24 EXHIBITION
- EOI FOR 2024 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
- INDESIGN PROFILE REMINDER
- BOOKSHELF
- COPYRIGHT AGENCY
- SUPPORTING MEMBERS

- CRAFTWORKS EXHIBITION OPENING
- INDE AWARDS DEADLINE REMINDER
- CHARGING SURVEY REMINDER
- META DATA DOCUMENT
- JOHN GOLLINGS STUDIO VISIT
- SENSOR CLEANING WORKSHOP
- INDESIGN PROFILE REMINDER
- NIGHTSHADE
- RICHARD I’ANSON TALK

Our first Communications Manager, the fabulous Rhiannon Slatter has been an integral part of the formation of IMAA and is beginning 2024 pursing opportunities outside of photography. We are sad to see Rhiannon go, but excited for her journey ahead.

- 2023 MENTORSHIP NIKON EQUIPMENT AWARD

- 2024 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

- MEET THE IMAGE MAKERS WITH NIKON

- SOCIAL EVENING WITH JOHN GOLLINGS

- MEET THE IMAGE MAKERS WITH NIKON SCHOOL

- FIRST RATES SURVEY

- 1 SHOT 22 BOOK

- REMAINING COPIES DISCOUNTED

- INDE.AWARDS 2024

- AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC DIGITAL IMAGING GUIDELINES

- THANK YOU TO ROSS COULTER

- CAPIC AFFILIATION

- FIRST RATES SURVEY

- 2023-2024 ROADMAP

- 2022-2023 MEMBER SURVEY DATA

- INDE.AWARDS 2024

- NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

- ARCHITECTUREAU EXHIBITION FEATURE

- IMAA WHATSAPP GROUP JOIN REMINDER

The Australian Institute of Architects is an Affiliate of Image Makers Association Australia and through this partnership have endorsed and promoted our ‘Guide to Commissioning and Publishing Architectural Photography. The institute has contacted us with an opportunity to partner with them as the 2024 Architectural Conference Image Partner, including promotion, profiling and acknowledgement.

They have invited our members to submit images of Melbourne Iconic buildings for their 2024 Conference scheduled for 9-11 May in Melbourne. Photographers will of course be attributed and Image Makers Association Australia acknowledged and promoted as part of the event.

- ADVOCACY UPDATE

- PURCHASE 1 SHOT EXHIBITION BOOKS

- COPYRIGHT AGENCY WEBINAR RECORDING

- 1 SHOT 23 - INDESIGN FEATURE

- INDESIGN MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHER PROFILES

- WHATSAPP GROUP

- NEW TECH BLOGS

- ADOBE MASTERCLASS

A huge thank you to the most amazing team at Stylecraft who we have partnered with for this year’s exhibition 1 SHOT 23 – Home / Away as they host our members’ work across their Melbourne, Sydney and Perth showrooms. They have provided the most wonderful setting for a truly diverse collection of imagery in response to our theme and put on 3 memorable opening nights along the way.

Please express your interest in ordering the ‘1 Shot 23 - Home / Away’ exhibition book. This stunning collection of images responding to the theme ‘Home / Away’ has been beautifully designed by Digital Craftsperson Marcus Piper and the final production by Momento  Pro does real justice to everyone’s work.

Please express your interest in ordering the ‘1 Shot 23 - Home / Away’ exhibition book. If we receive more than 16 orders prior to cut off date (now extended to MONDAY 6TH NOVEMBER), the cost of the book will be $160 + $25 Postage.

This stunning collection of images responding to the theme ‘Home / Away’ has been beautifully designed by Digital Craftsperson Marcus Piper and the final production by Momento Pro does real justice to everyone’s work.

After a 10-year hiatus, Stylecraft have decided to bring Bowling for Cancer back as a celebration of their 70-year heritage and to raise money for Kids Cancer. This year they are aiming for the stars and looking to raise $70,000.

The event will take place in all seven Stylecraft showroom locations, including Singapore, on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 November and they are looking for a photographer in each Australian location (Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) who is willing to photograph the event for a nominal fee or at no cost, to support their chosen charities.

This webinar will provide you with everything you ever needed to know about Copyright Agency membership and payments. Find out more about Copyright Agency, payments for members, and the nuts and bolts of how they operate in this exclusive tailored webinar.

With a combined total of more than 27 years’ service to Copyright Agency, Johanna Roberts and Rosie Daniele are an integral part of the Member Services team and will be the hosting the online talk.

Members can book for free here using the code IMAAtalk.

You are invited to join us to celebrate the opening of Image Makers Association Australia’s annual 1 Shot exhibition and book launch, exploring the theme of Home / Away. Opening nationally on October 25 Sydney, October 26 Melbourne and November 02 Perth in Stylecraft showrooms.

• 1 SHOT 22 BOOK AVAILABLE FOR PRE ORDER

• SPICERS INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIP

• 1 SHOT 23 EXHIBITION & BOOK LAUNCH

• WHATSAPP GROUP

• SHOOT CHECKLIST

Members can book for free using the code found under webinar section of member area or by emailing info@imagemakersassociation.com.au

This talk is also available to non-members for a ticket price of $35 plus booking fee so feel free to spread the word.

Tom will be sharing his journey into text-to-image ai from the beginning and presenting some of his own series created with the technology. Tom will also be sharing an up to the minute tutorial on image making using Mid Journey as well as prompt generation using chat GPT and methods for upsizing images. Tom will also be available for questions and is happy to tackle any topic regarding ai and image generation.

You are invited to join us to celebrate the opening of 1 SHOT 23 – HOME / AWAY, the second exhibition celebrating the work of Image Makers Association Australia members, a group of Australia’s pre-eminent photographers.

 In partnership with Stylecraft, images from members in different states will feature concurrently across its showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, with separate opening nights being held in each space as detailed below. The setting brings the imagery alongside a stunning collection of Australian designed and manufactured and international furniture brands represented by Stylecraft on an exclusive basis.

Image Makers Association Australia has been in touch with Are Media (previously Bauer Media) to communicate concerns around apparent sub-licensing of photographers’ work on their contentshop.com.au platform.

Image Makers Association Australia has also prepared a response to the 'Supporting responsible AI: discussion paper’ for the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Vice President Ben Guthrie attended the Ministerial roundtable discussion on AI advocating for maintaining and strengthening the rights of our members, using data collected from our recent survey on AI.

Tom will be sharing his journey into text-to-image ai from the beginning and presenting some of his own series created with the technology. Tom will also be sharing an up to the minute tutorial on image making using Mid Journey as well as prompt generation using chat GPT and methods for upsizing images. Tom will be available for questions and is happy to tackle any topic regarding ai and image generation.

Since the close of applications on 31st July, our five mentors have closely reviewed all 20 Mentorship Program applications which consisted of a unique group of talented individuals from our Assistant / Emerging and Student Membership categories. The mentors (Sharyn Cairns, Tom Blachford, Mark Syke, Nicole England and Dion Robeson) each considered a number of possibilities and took some time refining their shortlist before making the difficult final decision.Thank you to everyone who took the time to apply. If you didn’t make it through this year, please know that there will be an opportunity to apply again in 2024, with a whole different mix of photographers who have put their hand up to be mentors.

JOHN TSIAVIS TALK – WEDNESDAY 30TH AUGUST @ 7PM AEDT

Image Makers Association Australia Member John Tsiavis divides his time between Los Angeles, Mexico and Melbourne. He is a director of brand films, documentaries and television commercials, as well as an entertainment, portrait, and fashion photographer. John will share some of his work as part of this presentation, talk about his unique career journey and answer questions along the way.

Members can book for free HERE using the code found under webinar section of member area. This talk is also available to non-members for a ticket price of $35 plus booking fee so feel free to spread the word.

-JOHN TSIAVIS TALK-

AGM 2023 UPDATE

-MICHAELS CAMERA HIRE

-WEBSITE FAQ

-INDE AWARDS WINNERS

-PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR YES

-MEMBER SUB-COMMITTEES

Image Makers Association Australia’s inaugural AGM will be chaired by Vice President Brett Boardman in person on Saturday August 12 at Epson Sydney or online via zoom.

Following our first full year of operation, we have generated a new version of our Member Survey which we would value you taking the time to fill it out. This survey will help inform our priorities and develop the 2024 Roadmap for the association.

Take 10 minutes to complete our new updated MEMBER SURVEY by TUESDAY 8/8/23 and your name will automatically be entered into a draw, giving you a chance to WIN YOUR 2023 MEMBERSHIP FEE BACK!

The Member Forum is an important opportunity for those who make up our organisation to hear what has been going on behind the scenes and what is in store for the future of the organisation.

The Forum is also a valuable opportunity for you to have your say and make a meaningful contribution to our direction into 2024. There will be scope for you to present any questions you have directly to the Committee too.

Thanks to the important survey information you provided as Members, we were able to make a submission to the Australian Government’s Copyright Enforcement Review. We are thrilled to share with you the significant letter we received from Attorney General Mark Dreyfus this week and so pleased that our work has created opportunities for all Australian photographers. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you to complete our AI Survey which will inform the response we are planning to submit to the Australian Government’s review of Safe and Responsible AI in Australia.

The Australian Federal Government is undertaking a review of Safe and Responsible AI in Australia. Image Makers Association Australia will be making a submission to this review on behalf of our members.

To gain informed insight into the real-world experiences and opinions of our members, we need you to spend a few minutes completing an anonymous survey on issues raised by the government discussion paper. The more responses we receive, the more accurate and useful our submission will be, and the more weight it will carry.

We are also pleased to advise that we have now organised the Professional Member list into states and territories, based on the business address provided on sign up. Founding Members are now acknowledged on an individual basis. As membership numbers are expanding, we felt it was important that the Professional Member list also provided a practical way for potential clients to find a photographer.

The closing date for applications to our Mentorship Program has been extended to 31st July 2023. There are five mentorships available, with one mentee to receive $5000 worth of camera gear of their choice, generously provided by Nikon – read on for more detail.

We are also pleased to announce that Nikon is joining Image Makers Association Australia as a Founding Industry Member and becoming an exclusive sponsor of the Assistant/Emerging category of Membership.

Nikon Australia is a long standing supporter of the imaging community - from working professionals, students, media, and emerging creators.

As a brand that continues to deliver innovative product solutions for creatives, the alignment with Image Makers Association Australia is one that will allow even greater understanding of how to best to support an ever changing industry.

Jan Henderson is an Editor and Program Director of the INDE.Awards at Indesign Media Asia Pacific and Principal of Henderson Media Consultants. She contributes to architecture and design magazines, is a regular speaker at events and juror for industry awards. Previous roles include, Associate Publisher at Architecture Media, Editor and Co-editor of inside and Editor at Architel.tv. 

Jan will discuss how photographers can maximise opportunities for publicity and publication of personal or client projects. In essence, Jan will discuss what an editor does and why it is sometimes challenging to get the PR traction desired, providing insight into what editors are looking for in projects. She will delve into what’s involved in developing an effective marketing strategy best suited to the individual and his or her style of work and projects.

After extensive engagement amongst Committee, consultation with Members and finally an exhaustive legal review by law firm Banki Haddock Fiora (experts in the field of IP), we are pleased to announce that our template Usage Licence and Professional Services Agreement are both now finalised and available to Members.

These documents can be downloaded from the Member Collateral, available once you are logged in to the Member Area.

Together they establish the basis for best practice relationships between client and photographer; having a clear set of terms and conditions ensures your rights are protected as copyright owner and means all the important bits and pieces are documented and readily available for future reference if and when required. This ultimately serves to protect your visual assets and therefore the sustainability of your business.

Further to our recent communication about renewal of Founding Memberships, we’ve had a few queries and wanted to clarify that the process below should be followed to ensure you receive the new reduced rate of $500 for your second year of membership.

1. Founding Members need to cancel their Membership by logging into the Image Makers website by clicking on the 'Account' menu item

2. Once logged in the Member Menu will appear. At the very bottom of the menu select the button 'Account'

3. Select 'Subscriptions' then 'Professional Member Area'

4. Make a note of your renewal date, called 'Next Order' date

4. Select 'Cancel Subscription' you will be prompted again 'Cancel Subscription'

5. Wait for the renewal date to pass

6. Join again as a Professional Member via the 'Join' button (you will continue to be recognised as a Founding Member)

As per our recent newsletter, Memberships to Image Makers Association Australia automatically renew 12 months from the date you first joined the association, using the credit card details you supplied when joining. Our first Founding Members joined in May 2022, so renewals will be starting soon.

Unfortunately, Squarespace has no automated individual reminders, so we just want to let everyone know.

It has also come to our attention that the website member integration offered via Squarespace restricts us from reducing the Founding Membership fee to $500 and rolling over at the 12 month mark as planned. We have spent considerable time and effort in conversation with Squarespace and a competing member portal, discovering that this limitation applies to both membership systems.

Jan Henderson is an Editor and Program Director of the INDE.Awards at Indesign Media Asia Pacific and Principal of Henderson Media Consultants. She contributes to architecture and design magazines, is a regular speaker at events and juror for industry awards. Previous roles include, Associate Publisher at Architecture Media, Editor and Co-editor of inside and Editor at Architel.tv.

Jan will discuss how photographers can maximise opportunities for publicity and publication of personal or client projects. In essence, Jan will discuss what an editor does and why it is sometimes challenging to get the PR traction desired, providing insight into what editors are looking for in projects. She will delve into what’s involved in developing an effective marketing strategy best suited to the individual and his or her style of work and projects.

With 11 months under our belt, I'm extraordinarily proud of the foundation we have laid and what we have achieved together as an association. I am grateful for the incredible volunteer effort, counsel and expertise of our committee and the contribution they have made to make Image Makers Association Australia possible.

Memberships to Image Makers Association Australia automatically renew 12 months from the date you first joined the association, using the credit details you supplied when joining. Our first Founding Members joined in May 2022, so renewals will be starting soon.

Chris Shain is a very successful business to business photographer, having worked on location for corporate, industrial and architectural clients for 40 years.

In addition to his own practice, Chris has made an immense contribution to the photographic industry; he was first elected president of ACMP, was awarded life membership of AIPP in 2016 and served as a director of the Australian Copyright Council for 8 years. Chris continues to work with the Government lobbying on behalf of the professional photographic community.re

Our Volunteer Committee has established some priorities for the organisation for 2023 and have developed a Roadmap to illustrate where our energy will be focused. These priorities were created as a result of the Member Survey responded to last year along with those issues we most often hear from Members about. There was a slight rearrangement of time frames as we leant about the Australian government’s copyright enforcement review with submissions due in early March. With that response in place, we can now publish this outline so you, our Members, clearly understand what we are working towards on your behalf.

The Australian Institute of Architects and Image Makers Association Australia are pleased to announce a new partnership to enhance our national built environment. The three-year partnership will formalise collaboration, training and education programs between the two peak bodies, and encourage Image Makers Association members as the preferred photographers for Institute members.

We are pleased to announce that we have now released our Guide to Copyright, Commissioning & Publishing Architectural Photography; it’s available for public download via our website home page so that the information is freely available, especially to those seeking to utilise your images. Please use this document to communicate with and educate your clients about best practice around copyright and licensing.

The Australian Government is carrying out a review to ensure copyright enforcement mechanisms in our laws remain appropriate, effective and proportionate. Interested parties are invited to make submissions by 7th March 2023 and we will absolutely be doing so, copyright enforcement being at the heart of why we exist.

WELCOME BEN GUTHRIE TO THE COMMITTEE

Founding Member Ben Guthrie has already been generously volunteering his time in support of Image Makers Association Australia and it’s time to formally welcome him to the Committee. With a background in fine arts, architecture and now working as an architectural photographer, Ben’s insight will be invaluable and will help grow the capacity of our organisation.

As a Corporate Affiliate, Stylecraft has generously offered their showroom walls in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to our Association.

Members may submit proposals to exhibit in one of these showrooms from April – September 2023 via the online form HERE. Submissions will remain open until 28th February 2023.

We are excited to announce that EIZO has joined Image Makers Association Australia as our first Industry Member.

EIZO’s support at this early stage will help grow our capacity and what we are able to achieve on behalf of our Members. We look forward to working with them on education and workshop opportunities, supporting each other and the industry.

On 24th November at 4pm AEDT, Arts Law will be running a 1 hour webinar workshop for Image Makers Association Australia Members. It will cover an introduction to Arts Law including how to access their services as well as issues most relevant to our members based on recent survey data including copyright, credits and contracts.

With only 1 week to go we have 90 RSVPs and a capacity for 200, please spread the word and take this important opportunity to invite your clients, friends and family to join in celebrating the opening night of 1 SHOT 22 - DEFINING MOMENTS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. All Members are welcome and we also encourage everyone to invite guests to the Opening Night. Please register their attendance HERE

1 SHOT 22 - DEFINING MOMENTS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

LOCATION: SUN STUDIOS MELBOURNE, 95 BUCKHURST ST, SOUTH MELBOURNE

OPENING NIGHT: THURSDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2022, 6-9PM

EXHIBITION DATES: 10TH NOVEMBER – 16TH DECEMBER 2022

MEMBER SURVEY – FINAL CHANCE TO RESPOND

Thanks to everyone who's already submitted their feedback to the Member Survey - we've had 36 responses from our 82 members - which is a response rate of 43.9% [see we're already crunching the data].

MEMBER FORUM SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER

You are invited to attend Image Makers Association Australia’s first Member Forum online on Saturday 22nd October 10am-12pm AEDT, with an in-person option for Melbourne Members.

We have drafted a set of suggested terms and conditions Members may like to attach to their quotes and invoices in future. This document is currently in DRAFT form, available for review via the Member Collateral menu in the Member Login.

We are very excited to announce that our inaugural exhibition will be held in partnership with Sun Studios and would like to extend our gratitude for their support.

We have prepared a Member Survey so that we can determine what our members want into the future and offer as much value as possible. The answers will inform the structure and questions for the Member Forum to be held on Saturday 22nd October 10am-12pm online, with the possibility of an in-person Melbourne venue. 

Thanks to your support, we are pleased to announce that we have exceeded the minimum 50 memberships needed to cover foundation expenses and operating costs in our first year, including a paid staff member for 8 hours per week.