Established in 1988 under the Chairmanship of Derek Avery, the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers was founded to service the needs of professional wedding and portrait photographers.
Founded at much the same time, the British Professional Photographers Associates under the leadership of Nigel Greenstreet were working with similar goals but encompassed a broader range of photographers.
Early in January 2000, the now Chief Executive of SWPP Philip Jones, was delighted to announce the merger between these two prominent organisations, under the umbrella of the SWPP. In a joint statement they believed that the new society would form one of the strongest photographic organisations in the UK, and their commitment to improving already high standards would be of benefit to all.
The Society has seen its membership grow rapidly over the last year, with not only UK members but international photographers have also been keen to associate themselves with SWPP and BPPA. A testament to the success of the Society as a whole.
