Robert G Allen Photography Celebrates 10 Years with Nikon Professional Services (all photos from 2015)
Nikon D3x with the Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 lens. Boxer Jimmy Ellis (the other Jimmy Ellis). Watch his fight on HBO with George Foreman at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7NBtb6WgfY
2025 marks the 10th year of my membership in Nikon’s NPS. Let me say right off that I’m a member at the complimentary professional level, not one of the paid options. I was permitted to join back when there were no paid NPS memberships.
To be considered for membership at the time, I had to provide examples of my work published in a commercial setting. For me, that was easy since I was doing event assignments for our local newspaper, the Idaho Statesman. I provided PDFs of pages from the newspaper containing my event photos. Surprisingly, I shortly received notice from Nikon that my NPS membership was approved! Back then, that was a prestigious accomplishment because only professional working photographers who received compensation from their work were allowed in. How times have changed!
Nikon D810 and the Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 lens. Early on location headshot.
Now that Nikon has monetized NPS membership, they have an incentive to water down the barrier to entry (or no barrier to entry). The following is now acceptable to gain membership into NPS:
Nikon D4s with the Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 lens.
“You will be required to supply supporting details about your imaging business. This might include examples of how clients purchase or commission your services like your website url or examples of your portfolio of published or professional work within the last 12 months, or evidence of your membership(s) in professional organizations.”
In other words, if you have a website address, your in. A pretty low bar for sure. NPS membership just doesn’t have the same meaning as it once did but that’s OK. I know that I truly qualified the old fashion way back in the day and I’m good with that.
Let me know in the comments below if you are a member of NPS and if so, what level of membership and how you qualified.
Nikon D32 with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. Harlem Globetrotters.
2025 marks the 10th year of my membership in Nikon’s NPS. Let me say right off that I’m a member at the complimentary professional level, not one of the paid options. I was permitted to join back when there were no paid NPS memberships.