Photographic Societies in UK
The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) is the umbrella body for the photographic societies in the UK (including the Isle of Man) which are served through 15 geographical Federations. The PAGB organises events for the Federations and societies, including services such as Recorded Lectures. The PAGB Awards for Photographic Merit, open to all members, are known as Distinctions. The PAGB itself has strong links with similar organisations through its affiliation with The International Federation of Photographic Art and also with cross-representation with the Royal Photographic Society.
Member Federations
In the UK there are approximately 1000 societies affiliated with the PAGB, with around 40,000 individual members. The prime purpose of each Federation is to encourage the art and practice of photography directly to members and photographic societies throughout their own catchment areas, whilst also supporting and liaising with other Federations and the PAGB to ensure that local views and interests feature in national debates around photography.
Federations support, advise and encourage photographic societies through the organisation of exhibitions of members’ works, arranging lectures, conferences and competitions as decided by the Executive Committee.
Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs (CACC)
The CACC covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, part of Berkshire (north of the M4) and part of Hertfordshire (west of the M1).
East Anglian Federation of Photographic Societies (EAF)
Founded in 1910, the EAF covers the largest geographical area of all the Federations, to include Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Hertfordshire to the east of the M1 motorway. There are about 120 member clubs and societies with over 4500 individual members.
Kent County Photographic Association (KCPA)
The KCPA covers Kent and some of East Sussex. There are almost 50 associate clubs who are supported by the KCPA executive committee which trains and provides highly qualified judges and lecturers to member clubs.
Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union L&CPU
Formed in 1905 the L&CPU covers Lancashire, Cheshire, south Cumbria, and the Isle of Man and at that time, was the largest federation. Today there are 96 photographic societies with a total membership of around 4,000.
Midland Counties Photographic Federation MCPF
The MCPF covers Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the West Midlands.
Northern Counties Photographic Federation (NCPF)
The NCPF covers Cleveland, the greater part of Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, and part of North Yorkshire. Founded in 1901, the Federation now advises and supports about 50 clubs.
North and East Midlands Photographic Federation (N&EMPF)
Founded in April 1955, the N&EMPF is currently made up of 51 photographic societies and clubs primarily in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The Federation organises annual events including an exhibition, photographic championships, a photographic weekend conference and memorial lecture.
Northern Ireland Photographic Association (NIPA)
NIPA was founded in 1967 and like all the Federations supports the camera clubs with competitions, judges and lecturers mostly through their own website and presence on social media.
North Wales Photographic Association (NWPA)
The North Wales Photographic Association covers Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, and Wrexham and has 22 active member Clubs and Societies. Member Clubs welcome new members and are always pleased to welcome visitors holidaying in the area.
Scottish Photographic Federation (SPF)
Founded in 1903, the network has almost 100 photographic societies. The members groups vary in size and involvement considerably. The SPF organises or co-ordinates entries to events nationally or internationally on behalf of the members. There is also a free monthly e-newsletter the “e-flash”.
Southern Counties Photographic Federation (SCPF)
The SCPF covers Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, east Dorset, Berkshire south of the M4, part of West Sussex, east Wiltshire,
Surrey Photographic Association (SPA)
The SPA covers the counties of Surrey, West Sussex and parts of Greater London. In 2017 the SPA hosted the PAGB Awards for Photographic merit, and the SPA claimed a total of 17 awards.
Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF)
The WCPF covers the western counties of Devon, Cornwall, part of Dorset, Somerset, part of Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire. Formed in 1932 there are more than 100 clubs in the Federation which has organised talks, including one by the world-renowned photographer Charlie Waite.
Welsh Photographic Federation (WPF)
The WPF is a group of 51 camera clubs in the South Wales area. It is the only UK federation that organises an annual weekend photographic convention. It also awards its own photographic distinction, the AWPF, and provides help for those wishing to apply for it.
Yorkshire Photographic Union (YPU)
The YPU was the first of the UK’s regional federations. Its first exhibition was held at the old Bradford Art Gallery in 1898, showing work from its 23 clubs. One of these clubs was the Leeds Photographic Society, considered to be the oldest photography club in the country that was founded in 1852. Today, the federation has 69 member clubs.
