It does seem strange that the rules of membership are different in each country, there is no sponsor requirement here in the UK.

A friend of mine is a full time wedding photog but she only owns one D700 camera body and borrows my gear for large gigs (only doing it for 2 years)... As a result, she cannot get into NPS without claiming my camera as also one of hers...

Also, the one NPS person we know had a spectacularly snotty attitude and effectively said, "Well, she isn't really making enough money to call herself a pro.. her husband is supporting her.. No go.."

She is out there every almost every night of every weekend shooting weddings and has no other job..

We are going to contact NPS directly and make a appeal...

msmoto you may want to simply contact Nikon NPS directly and have a chat with them explaining your unique situation and needs.

I think I will stick my nose in on this one. As someone who has been in the business in the cutting edge in the 60's, when 35mm transparencies were not often used in publications for the furniture industry, and who demonstrated the versatility to such folks as House Beautiful in that shots from showrooms could be eye stoppers, even when taken during the market, I think I qualify for NPS. I also used Nikons to do things not heretofore done in furniture and fashion combined.

But, today, most of what I do is for charitable organizations and provides minimal income. I do not know an NPS member, and have no tear sheets which are current. Actually all mine are from 40+ years ago.

So, if anyone on this forum is an NPS member, has looked at what I have posted on the PAD, and others, and have looked at the thousands of photos in campaigns on my website, and would like to vouch for me as a pro, I would appreciate this courtesy.

Thanks, Ms. Tommie Lauer

In the mid 80's I was working at a small news paper and all of us were NPS members. At the time you could borrow lenses. We were always getting the 300mm f2.8 EDIF, it was about the most exciting glass a news photographer could have and none of us could afford it.

It pains me to say this but I find Canon seems to be better to its amateur users. Our regional photography club council puts on a seminar every year and has had a Canon “Explorer of Light” come a couple of times and it’s all paid for by Canon.

I have been a member of NPS for quite some years, I had a problem with a D3X rang NPS Nikon UK,they sent a courier for the camera resoloved the problem cleaned and calibrated the camera all for free, and returned the camera back in three working days.
Members of the NPS get priorty service as this proved Many thanks Nikon UK NPS

I would love to join NPS but I have a few things holding me back...

1) I don't get paid enough to make a living at it so I have to keep a day job
2) I don't know anybody yet in NPS to "vouch" for me..

I can only hope to solve #1 eventually and #2 will just work itself out.. :)

Why does being a wedding photographer mean you can't have tear sheets shivaswrath? There must be plenty of brides magazines being sold in your area? Send some of your best shot in.

not bad for every 4 years, right? I've needed things repaired rapidly, but I live next to Melville (Norwalk, CT), so I usually get my repairs back under 2 weeks....now, if it was inpportune timing, and I need equpment, I just rent it...in that case, NPS would be nice.

I'm a wedding photog, and semi-pro, so no tear sheets for me, just happy couples...oh well!

At this moment the only advantage I see for NPS members is being able to purchase a product before a major event almost right after it was announced where most people won't get it in time (example: 2012 Olympics for the D4 or maybe D800 or D400).

Other than that I don't see a need to be part of the 'club', but honestly I would want to get there by way of the achievement and not what gear I have to own. At this point if I was really good then my photographs would make an art exhibt and I wouldn't worry about it.

Hi,

NPS _was_ a fee-based service. The fee wasn't much, and there was a magazine attached, but it was something. It was so long ago it might have been hides.

As for whether it is worthwhile to join, that's another matter. Nikon repair services, like any corporate, faceless service, really depends upon the day/person(s)/problem/circumstances, and a the list goes on. I've had terrific service with and without my NPS membership, and I'm had less than stellar service with and without it, too.

My early posting was to the point that I couldn't tell any difference in the quality of my service with/without NPS membership - which I might add is a good thing. If the repair shop is full of NPS gear, none of the regular gear may never get fixed. It should be first in first out.

I've never covered an event where NPS was on site to support Nikon photographers, such as an Olympics, so that might matter to a sports photographer who regularly covers such an event. News events really don't often happen in convenient clusters.

Broadcasting would seem to make it so, but that just for economy's sake. ;-0

My best to all,

Mike

Leica offers a world where exclusivity is maintained by price.
Nikon and Canon offer worlds where exclusivity is maintained by achievement.

Are some of you really calling for such a fundamental shift in the core values of the brand? For this is what I believe the consequences of such a request (NPS for everyone who will cough up the money) are.

More importantly, and why you will never see NPS go subscription:
NPS is a loss-leader. It creates brand, rewards loyalty, but does not generate revenue.
If Nikon were to open, and therefore swell, the ranks they would need to dedicate much more of their resources to this non-core business. Airlines have played with this model in the past, and as any of you who have been frequent-fliers for more than 15-20 years know, perks have gone WAY down as once exclusive programs were scaled for the masses.

I completely agree studio460, but I think Nikon is right to keep a membership category going just for pro's. Poster has a good point though, that all the NPS benefits you mention, could be offered to members of a paid for 'club', maybe an enhanced level of NPU membership? Would enough people be interested in joining such a club?

SkintBrit said:
You'd be correct if the only thing it offered was expidited access to the service department, but what about the free training days, and opportunities to try out the latest equipment before it goes on general release. Maybe this is not the case in all countries?

I'd like to join for the other benefits as well. I registered online for an NPS seminar at UCLA's cinema studies theater a few months ago. It was great! They had cookies, snacks, sodas, gave away free 'NPS' camera straps and handed out glossy D3s brochures.

I got to meet and talk informally with several Nikon reps about "inside" Nikon stuff, and the future of V-DSLRs in general. Plus, I met a lot of interesting photographers from various areas of the field. I also had a great discussion with the owner of Red Rock Micro, who was also in attendance.

Nikon did an excellent job of assembling the event. They served snacks prior to the event, and didn't open the theater until after about an hour after the event's scheduled "start time." This provided an excellent opportunity to meet and talk with other the photographers in attendance. I think NPS is an excellent professional association worthy of any serious photographer's interest.

Seems OK in principle poster, but I would think that Nikon WANT the service to be free, as a way of contacting their most "influencial" customers? The ones who they feel are going to draw attention to their brand and have people say "he/she shoots with a Nikon!" so it must be good.

NikoDoby said:
Unless you are a "real" pro who feeds his family from photography income then no NPS isn't for you. You'll see no benefit from it. If you shoot at major events where NPS has representatives, then yes NPS "passes" can be very useful.

You'd be correct if the only thing it offered was expidited access to the service department, but what about the free training days, and opportunities to try out the latest equipment before it goes on general release. Maybe this is not the case in all countries?

Make NPS membership open to everybody. Charge for the membership everybody who wants to have it. Problem solved. Those who want expedited service/repair/shipping etc simply pay for it. It would rather quickly tame all hot heads wanting to get into the program. Professional photographers who NEED rather than WANT the club membership would pay up since they make their living from shooting photos, and they would simply see it as a cost of business. Rest of the people wouldn't bother.

I would be willing to pay to be evaluated and recommended.

Edited:

Nevermind... I retracted my comment. No point in upsetting people's egos.

I would if I could. I have 2 professional Nikon bodies including a D3s, 5 pro lenses, and a ton of other photo stuff and computers, etc. It would be nice to be able have the recognition from Nikon that I own so much of their stuff and use it all the time... but I make my money from other sources even though some of my photos have been published.

If any NPS member would like to recommend me, I would be delighted!

Does an NPS member in one country, have any entitlement to the benefits in another?

NikoDoby said:
Tear sheets are like a portfolio but instead of showcasing the photos YOU think are your best, it has samples of publications that have used your photos. So things like magazine covers and articles, billboards, or other marketing material. Unfortunately screen captures of the Nikon Rumors Photo-A-Day thread don't count ;^)

Of course they do, Dad. They're the best! ;-0

Tear sheets are like a portfolio but instead of showcasing the photos YOU think are your best, it has samples of publications that have used your photos. So things like magazine covers and articles, billboards, or other marketing material. Unfortunately screen captures of the Nikon Rumors Photo-A-Day thread don't count ;^)

Proof of publication.

Not really a point for me to join, but I guess it'd be nice.

By the way, what's a tear sheet?

Unless you are a "real" pro who feeds his family from photography income then no NPS isn't for you. You'll see no benefit from it. If you shoot at major events where NPS has representatives, then yes NPS "passes" can be very useful.