Comments on: Why I Left WPJA http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/ An international award-winning wedding photographer who travels the world to photograph weddings, engagement sessions and modern portraits Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:37:59 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Louis http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/comment-page-1/#comment-1507 Louis Mon, 04 May 2009 12:33:46 +0000 http://www.louispang.com/blog/?p=885#comment-1507 Amy: Thanks for dropping into this debate. If you have read my post carefully, you would know that my disappointment with WPJA are as follows: a) The absence of many world renown wedding photographers in WPJA makes me question its elitist claim. b) My disagreement with some of WPJA's recent recruitment. c) Directory listing not providing sufficient referring traffic to my site to justify the U$300 annual fee. d) Void of networking & education opportunities in WPJA. I want to be with organizations that help me to go further, not just take money from me. e) I blog about this so that new photographers who want to spend their hard earn money for betterment to know what WPJA can and cannot provide...and what other professional bodies can help them. I also got a 17th or 15th place in a AGWPJA contest that I never blogged about. How you want to interpret it is up to you. My conscience is clear. It is not uncommon that the same picture may score high in some and low in other competitions. One of Ryan Schembri pictures scored from 60-90+ points in several competitions. Being rejected is part of this business. I've never viewed awards as a conclusive manner to judge my standard. But if you want to stretch that to conclude my 11th place finish in WPJA as the reason I quit WPJA, it is up to you. Those will be your words, not mine. I have always expressed respect for Patrick in public and private. We get alone perfectly well. Amy: Thanks for dropping into this debate. If you have read my post carefully, you would know that my disappointment with WPJA are as follows:

a) The absence of many world renown wedding photographers in WPJA makes me question its elitist claim.
b) My disagreement with some of WPJA’s recent recruitment.
c) Directory listing not providing sufficient referring traffic to my site to justify the U$300 annual fee.
d) Void of networking & education opportunities in WPJA. I want to be with organizations that help me to go further, not just take money from me.
e) I blog about this so that new photographers who want to spend their hard earn money for betterment to know what WPJA can and cannot provide…and what other professional bodies can help them.

I also got a 17th or 15th place in a AGWPJA contest that I never blogged about. How you want to interpret it is up to you. My conscience is clear. It is not uncommon that the same picture may score high in some and low in other competitions. One of Ryan Schembri pictures scored from 60-90+ points in several competitions. Being rejected is part of this business. I’ve never viewed awards as a conclusive manner to judge my standard. But if you want to stretch that to conclude my 11th place finish in WPJA as the reason I quit WPJA, it is up to you. Those will be your words, not mine.

I have always expressed respect for Patrick in public and private. We get alone perfectly well.

]]> By: Amy http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/comment-page-1/#comment-1504 Amy Mon, 04 May 2009 07:28:34 +0000 http://www.louispang.com/blog/?p=885#comment-1504 I saw your "I stand tall" pictures have won an award at WPPI, but this pictures only scored 11th place at WPJA, see this link http://www.wpja.com/wedding_photography_galleries/contest/08/q3/08-11.htm Why you never mentioned that you get number 11th in this category??? Please explain. Patrick Low is better than you in this category. If u got 11th place at WPJA but 1st at WPPI with same photograph...do u still think WPPI is better? or u cant accept that u r not as good? Please think before you write. They are still a lots of photographer in WPJA. I saw your “I stand tall” pictures have won an award at WPPI, but this pictures only scored 11th place at WPJA, see this link http://www.wpja.com/wedding_photography_galleries/contest/08/q3/08-11.htm Why you never mentioned that you get number 11th in this category??? Please explain.

Patrick Low is better than you in this category.

If u got 11th place at WPJA but 1st at WPPI with same photograph…do u still think WPPI is better? or u cant accept that u r not as good?

Please think before you write. They are still a lots of photographer in WPJA.

]]> By: Louis http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/comment-page-1/#comment-1483 Louis Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:06:27 +0000 http://www.louispang.com/blog/?p=885#comment-1483 I knew this is a sensitive post and I tried to give as much facts as possible without bridling my expression. After all this is my personal online space where I express myself. I am glad to know that I am not the only person who sees the issues. It is great we can discuss this in a civil and mature manner. This post however does not discourage anyone from participating in a professional body. The lack of participation is precisely the problem because most of us join one to slap logos on our website/blog. So few participate in the conferences and print competitions which deny us of the opportunities to grow, network and be inspired. Yes, taking part can be costly. Let's start from the print competition then because we belong to a community far bigger than our local community. I knew this is a sensitive post and I tried to give as much facts as possible without bridling my expression. After all this is my personal online space where I express myself. I am glad to know that I am not the only person who sees the issues. It is great we can discuss this in a civil and mature manner.

This post however does not discourage anyone from participating in a professional body. The lack of participation is precisely the problem because most of us join one to slap logos on our website/blog. So few participate in the conferences and print competitions which deny us of the opportunities to grow, network and be inspired. Yes, taking part can be costly. Let’s start from the print competition then because we belong to a community far bigger than our local community.

]]> By: David Cheok http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/comment-page-1/#comment-1478 David Cheok Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:48:47 +0000 http://www.louispang.com/blog/?p=885#comment-1478 It took you three years to realise this? I stopped after year one. WPJA was the in-thing back then but the only reason i joined was because someone in Malaysia included Brunei as part of their positioning statement and being the only WPJA that included my country. I applied and was accepted just to prove otherwise. After that, the WPJA was just a marketing site and unfortunately, we were not part of the demographics.. well.. I wasnt. I did like their 'insurance' policy and where they actually help provide backup gear for emergencies. Just too bad it couldnt apply to us here. We're on our own. And you are right.. most of the top wedding photographers who are the actual masters in their fields are not part of the WPJA. I believe these guys have nothing to prove. Hence, I'm with you in your stance that its not an important part of our work but more as our own tests. Now I see ppl twitting about getting in left right and centre. Later. Rgds, David PS. It was a lot harder to get in back then. It took you three years to realise this? I stopped after year one. WPJA was the in-thing back then but the only reason i joined was because someone in Malaysia included Brunei as part of their positioning statement and being the only WPJA that included my country. I applied and was accepted just to prove otherwise. After that, the WPJA was just a marketing site and unfortunately, we were not part of the demographics.. well.. I wasnt. I did like their ‘insurance’ policy and where they actually help provide backup gear for emergencies. Just too bad it couldnt apply to us here. We’re on our own.

And you are right.. most of the top wedding photographers who are the actual masters in their fields are not part of the WPJA. I believe these guys have nothing to prove.

Hence, I’m with you in your stance that its not an important part of our work but more as our own tests.
Now I see ppl twitting about getting in left right and centre.

Later.

Rgds,

David

PS. It was a lot harder to get in back then.

]]> By: Jenny Sun http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 Jenny Sun Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:25:10 +0000 http://www.louispang.com/blog/?p=885#comment-1475 hey louis! Great post! I'm so glad to see another photographer writing their opinion on this whole thing. I was shocked too when Huy was booted out! anyway, I have never joined, from the beginning for all the reasons you mentioned above :) Lastly, you are right - its all about doing what works for you. And that is different for everyone :) As the aussies say... ON YA! ;) hey louis! Great post! I’m so glad to see another photographer writing their opinion on this whole thing. I was shocked too when Huy was booted out!

anyway, I have never joined, from the beginning for all the reasons you mentioned above :)

Lastly, you are right – its all about doing what works for you. And that is different for everyone :)

As the aussies say… ON YA! ;)

]]> By: ShaolinTiger http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/comment-page-1/#comment-1461 ShaolinTiger Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:55:36 +0000 http://www.louispang.com/blog/?p=885#comment-1461 Agree, the quality of WPJA has gone to the pics, you can even get in by stealing someone elses pics and submitting those. The vetting process seems to have gone down hill. Oh well, I don't think you need any acronyms to boost you up any more :) Agree, the quality of WPJA has gone to the pics, you can even get in by stealing someone elses pics and submitting those.

The vetting process seems to have gone down hill.

Oh well, I don’t think you need any acronyms to boost you up any more :)

]]> By: Shen http://www.louispang.com/2009/04/why-i-left-wpja/comment-page-1/#comment-1458 Shen Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:35:11 +0000 http://www.louispang.com/blog/?p=885#comment-1458 thanks for being frank, again. that's why i listened to you and hope i could too learn and benefit from WPPI. thanks for being frank, again. that’s why i listened to you and hope i could too learn and benefit from WPPI.

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