New NPS Member

[Aloicious]

They wouldn't let me in because I don't know any NPS members. It doesn't seem to be tailored towards commercial photographers, so none of my friends have bothered. (Full-time professional with D3, D800E; 24 mm, 45 mm and 85 mm PC-E; 35/1.4; 50/1.2; 85/1.4; 17-35/2.8 and many, many more lenses - but none of that counts if you don't know the right people. Nothing new there.) With Leica you don't have to be in any little gang - they just fix my stuff for free.

this is pretty much me too, I've looked into it and wouldn't mind joining, but I just don't know anyone personally to be a sponsor, in what I shoot, I end up networking more with the automotive community than I do with the photography community. oh well. congrats on joining

 

[imagemaker46]

2-D3
2-D7000
24-70
70-200
10.5 fish
35
50
sb900

Full time professional and suddenly you go from a single mid range digital body to 2 new D3 bodies. Someone has offered Nikon a tall tail, when you don't come close to meeting the requirements. On and you do get pro rates on buying new gear and access to the loan pool at no charge, as well as the free NPS fridge magnet. Well if you managed to pull it off, good for you.

 

[kathyt]

I am a member of the Canon side. (CPS) The service is amazing. They clean all of my lenses and cameras. I can evaluate (rent) any gear that I want for free. I just have to pay for return shipping. I have had almost every lens that I could ever want in my hands. Downside.....then you want to buy the lenses. There is a bunch of other perks too.

 

[imagemaker46]

I am a member of the Canon side. (CPS) The service is amazing. They clean all of my lenses and cameras. I can evaluate (rent) any gear that I want for free. I just have to pay for return shipping. I have had almost every lens that I could ever want in my hands. Downside.....then you want to buy the lenses. There is a bunch of other perks too.

Canon pro service in Canada used to be pretty good, however if you needed lenses we still had to rent them, there was no free loan pool. I've delt with NPS in Canada and they treat professionals like professionals.

 

[pixmedic]

Just joined NPS, what are the benefits you have experienced? Anything I should be aware of?

i didn't realize you had made the jump to full time photographer from weekend and seasonal photographer. congrats!
not sure who else on the forum is a NPS member. I don't hear it mentioned very often. you will have to let us know how you like their services, how often you use their services, how responsive they are, etc etc.

 

[imagemaker46]

Just joined NPS, what are the benefits you have experienced? Anything I should be aware of?

i didn't realize you had made the jump to full time photographer from weekend and seasonal photographer. congrats!
not sure who else on the forum is a NPS member. I don't hear it mentioned very often. you will have to let us know how you like their services, how often you use their services, how responsive they are, etc etc.

For most professionals being a member of NPS or CPS really means very little and feeling like they have to make a grad announcement about it says a lot.. Having gear repaired quicker, access to a loan pool for gear, and having pro prices on buying new gear are the important elements and they do come in handy.

 

[Helen B]

Is it not necessary to be a full time photographer for the NPS and CPS programs?

 

[SCraig]

Is it not necessary to be a full time photographer for the NPS and CPS programs?

Being a full-time professional photographer and having a current NPS member vouch for that fact is one of the requirements for membership in NPS.

 

[cgipson1]

Is it not necessary to be a full time photographer for the NPS and CPS programs?

You supposed to be a full time pro, with documented history (I think one year although they may have changed that, and you have to provide tear sheets going back one year), and someone to sponsor you (these are the US requirements at least).

 

[imagemaker46]

Just from what I have read they are specific about the gear you own, it has to be current, and they have a list of lenses that they consider eligible as well. The person applying has to be a full time working professional, that has been using pro eligible gear for a year. As far as everything I have read and has been stated by this member he is a full time school teacher that teaches adobe applications Monday-Friday and shoots some car racing and golf on the weekends. As an amateur he has only been shooting for one year, and has been bouncing between Canon and Nikon gear during this time period. He stated last week that he was using a mid range Nikon digital camera body, and the lenses probably don't apply to the requirements of NPS. The rules of eligibility set by Nikon and Canon are put in place to help keep the amateurs from having free access to the loan pool of gear that is set aside for full time professionals. Even as a full time professional there is still a priority order for getting gear, and this member falls far short from being anywhere near that list.

 

[Overread]

If you are concerned about a persons eligibility then don't go on a witch-hunt - simply contact the organisation and provide your evidence for such to them and let their own internal setup deal with the matter. The forums are not the place for this.

 

[cgipson1]

If you are concerned about a persons eligibility then don't go on a witch-hunt - simply contact the organisation and provide your evidence for such to them and let their own internal setup deal with the matter. The forums are not the place for this.

Agreed! Best option.. Contact Nikon!

 

[tirediron]

Interesting, Nikon Canada has no requirement for a sponsor in their NPS program, all you need to do is a write a letter of introduction and provide three tear sheets.

 

[imagemaker46]

Interesting, Nikon Canada has no requirement for a sponsor in their NPS program, all you need to do is a write a letter of introduction and provide three tear sheets.

Still required to be a professional photographer, or at the very least own the correct and current gear. Basically an amateur that has purchased all the gear can become a NPS member if they also have had a few images published. I believe the same goes for Canon.

 

[tirediron]

Interesting, Nikon Canada has no requirement for a sponsor in their NPS program, all you need to do is a write a letter of introduction and provide three tear sheets.

Still required to be a professional photographer, or at the very least own the correct and current gear. Basically an amateur that has purchased all the gear can become a NPS member if they also have had a few images published. I believe the same goes for Canon.

Understood - I was just noting the difference between Canada and North Mexico in terms of specific requirements. Never really seen the point in joining myself. I've only ever had to send on lens in for repair, and my local store gives me great discounts on gear...