In the ever changing world of photography the IPPA have long recognised that upskilling their members is the best way to enhance profitability and allow members compete on a professional basis.  With this in mind, the IPPA are delighted that their submission to Skillnets was successful, allowing them to develop a schedule of courses for a two year period through to December 2009.
 
The network brings together small firms/self-employed professional photographers with the aim of:

1. Building best practice in the upskilling of professional photographers to take advantage of technological change.
2. Developing the business competence and skills of the members in addition to their technical competence so that hey become not just successful photographers but also successful businesses..
3. Creating a forum for the exchange of knowledge and information on training within the sector.

The network is built on the premise that a truly successful photographic business means not only achieving professional excellence and financial success, but also personal satisfaction and fulfilment.
 
The goal of the proposed training programme is therefore to concentrate on personal, professional and business performance issues leading to the delivery of better services, profit enhancement, cost-effectiveness, improved customer satisfaction and improved personal motivation and efficiency.
 
The focus is on building best practice – best practice in taking, processing, presenting and selling photographs, best practice in running a successful photographic enterprise, and best practice in interacting with clients.

The following specific objectives have been determined for the training programme:

1. To develop the business and financial management capability of photographic enterprises.
2. To develop the marketing and communication skills of professional photographers.
3. To develop the technical skills of professional photographers with special emphasis on helping them adapt to technological change.

The following business outputs for the participants are anticipated from the programme:

1. Boosting the sales and increasing the cash flow of the firms
2. Improving the profitability of the firms
3. Reducing operating costs
4. Simplifying and streamlining productivity
5. Improving time management efficiency
6. Automating critical studio functions
7. Improving sales efficiency

What some of our participants have said out the courses:

Thank You for 2 very enjoyable days.I 
am not a great one for going to seminars,workshops etc
but i am so glad i took up the offer of your 2 workshops.I  have come 
away with a new found energy and hunger for learning
as a result of hearing and watching how you work.
Mark  - Maxwell Photography

Thank you for a very interesting, educational and inspiring day.

Bryan Brophy - BJP Photography

The Professional Photographers Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets Ltd. funded from the National Training Fund though the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.