In early 2011 I was accepted onto the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) mentoring program.  The AIPP mentoring program exists to assist photographers to become viable professionals.  Entry to the program is by application and the submission and acceptance of a selection of work by peer review.  At the completion of the program photographers may be granted full membership of the AIPP and become an Accredited Professional Photographer.

The mentor for the year long program was Des Birt.  Des is a well known professional photographer in Perth, specialising in wedding photography, also finding time to lecture photography at the local polytechnic college.  The mentoring group I joined consisted of seven photographers.

Two years after the completion of the mentoring program, six of group (and Des) still meet on a regular monthly basis.  The meetings are now an opportunity to share tips, have a general chat about photography, or sometimes simply to have a meal and a good chat.

One of the strengths of the group is that no one of feels the slightest bit intimidated of threatened by the presence of fellow professional photographers.  Ideas are freely exchanged and critiqued; information is provided to help and support each of our businesses.  The meetings are a great place to sound out fellow professionals about a new marketing idea, or a new idea for a photo session.  

My hope is that other AIPP mentoring groups have progressed through the program, both in WA and across Australia, and have maintained the same level of ongoing contact.  To me, that would be good for the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.

Beth Stevens 

Daniel White 

Sue Warrington 

Trevor Althorpe

Melanie Adams

Kelly McEwan 

Des Birt 

AIPP Mentoring page