earn your Professional animal photographer credentials

Purpose: To elevate the credibility and professional imagery of pet and animal photographers as well as the quality of the products and services they offer.

Why Accredit?

· To recognize the highest level of photographic performance and set the standard of excellence in the pet and animal photography field

· To increase the credibility of the profession

· To help define the profession, scope of practice, and encourage growth as an artist

· To help each photographer rise above their competition through superior photographic skills

· To ensure a consistent level of imagery which clients can expect from each individual photographer

· To validate sustainable prices to clients. They want the best and credentials prove to them that they are getting exactly that

Accredited Photographers:

· Promote and maintain professional standards

· Keep pace with new developments in the photographic industry

· Consistently produce the highest quality work possible

· Continuously work to better themselves and their business

How to become an Accredited Animal Photographer:

FIRST: Complete the Credentialing Application. Once your information is received and verified, you may log into the member site anytime to update your profile.  We will keep a database of points and will update the point totals after every competition.  (Points will begin to accumulate at the time you join the program.)  Your membership number will be followed by a hyphen, then your current point total.  Upon reaching the "Accredited Animal Photographer" designation, recipients will receive a ribbon and medallion and will be recognized at the AIM conference. Additional medallions will be added at the “Master” and the “Grand Master” levels.

SECOND: Submit images to the Animal Image Makers photographic competition. Each photographer’s top four scores of 80 or higher will count toward the annual point total.

• Top 4 scores of 80+ will count toward accreditation
• Points accumulate as one per score point (score an 81, get 81 points)
• Additional points may be accrued outside of competition:
  1. Speaking for AIM:  80 points
  2. Attending AIM:  40 points
  3. Volunteering for AIM:  20 points

• Three tiers of achievement:
  1. Reach 800 points - "Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery"
  2. Reach 1,600 points - " Master of Animal Imagery"
  3. Reach 3,200 points - "Grand Master of Animal Imagery"