Press Room
Greener Photography, a professional non-profit photography organization founded in 2008, launches new certification for eco-friendly photographers.
March 25, 2010 -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2010 -- San Francisco, CA –
American’s current interest in things environmentally friendly is booming: from “green weddings” and BPA-free water bottles to solar panels on houses and hybrid cars. The photography industry, long known for its overuse of packaging, paper and toxic chemicals, is now getting a little greener thanks to a new organization, Greener Photography.
Greener Photography, a non-profit organization, actively seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of the photography industry by educating photographers, suppliers and the general public about the benefits of going green. The organization was founded by wedding photographer Thea Dodds and portrait photographer Dawn Tacker who were both looking to make their studios more environmentally-friendly. Finding the resources necessary for greening their businesses, however, proved challenging. Dodds and Tacker found themselves spending countless hours researching and sifting through information, often trying to decide what was truly an environmentally friendly option, versus a product or service just jumping on the “green” bandwagon.
“After we spent an enormous amount of time and energy doing the research to make our own businesses more eco-friendly, we realized that other photographers really could benefit from this information. If we could help other photographers more easily green their studios, we’d be not only be helping the photography community, but also the environment. That’s when Greener Photography was born,” said Tacker.
In the United States, there are over 155,000 professional photographers and 14,000 companies that generate over $7 billion in revenue. In addition, the consumer market accounted for approximately 100,000,000 digital cameras sold and an estimated 24 billion pictures taken and 16.5 billion pictures printed in 2008 alone. In just 10 years, online photo imaging has grown from a $10 million to $7.8 billion industry annually. These statistics translate into photography’s largest ecological footprint in its 200-year history, and positions Greener Photography to make a real difference.
“It can be a real challenge to change one's business practices. Even more daunting is deciphering which options are truly environmentally-friendly. Greener Photography takes the guesswork out of creating a greener photography business. We’ve done the homework for our members and provide them with a road-map for success,” said Dodds.
In addition to Greener Photography's education and advocacy initiatives, the organization also offers certification to professional photographers who want to lessen their impact on the environment. In order to achieve certification, photographers must meet strict standards of green business practices. Three tiers of membership are available to members, allowing recognition of photographers at different stages of greening their business.
Certified members have access to a searchable Member Directory, discussion forum, lists of eco-friendly products and services, discounts from photo industry suppliers, research and articles on how to green their business, networking events, and, most notably, recognition as a Certified Greener Photographer. "The value in becoming a Certified Greener Photographer more than pays for the cost of membership. Not only do I have access to a wealth of great information and resources that makes running my business easier and more environmentally-friendly, but I am also able to be a part of a professional photography organization whose mission and values are in line with my own," said San Francisco-based Certified Greener Photographer and wedding photojournalist, Rebecca Wilkowski.
According to Tacker, Greener Photography aims to be the single most up to date and reliable resource for eco-conscious photographers, vendors and photo-enthusiasts. Providing access to information and reliable research is one of the organization's key goals. "Knowledge is power, and we want to empower photographers to make more eco-friendly choices," said Tacker.
In just two years, Greener Photography has built an impressive international membership base and laid a solid foundation for its future work. "We're excited about our plans for 2010, including the launch of our new interactive website, expanding our relationships with manufacturers, reaching a national audience through education and advocacy work, and growing our international network of members and supporters," commented Dodds.
About Greener Photography
Founded in 2008, Greener Photography seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of the photography industry by educating consumers, photographers, and manufacturers about the benefits of hiring a certified greener photographer and incorporating greener business practices. Greener Photography aims to be the single most up-to-date and reliable resource for eco-conscious photographers. For more information on Greener Photography visit www.GreenerPhotography.org or contact Membership Director Thea Dodds at thea@greenerphotography.org or 603-786-5048.
