The annual meeting of the French Professional Photographers Union (UPP) was held on Saturday, January 26, 2013, at the Espace Pierre Cardin in Paris. Roughly 300 photographers were present.

“The number of member photographers supporting the UPP remains stable despite the difficulties of the profession,” said Philippe Schlienger, president of the association. Unfortunately, looking across the room at the sea of grey hair, few members of younger generations were in attendance.

However, the UPP is present throughout the world. For the next annual meeting of the Center of the Picture Industry (CEPIC) in Barcelona this year, the UPP has been invited to organize its Photographer Centric Day.

The professional organization is very involved with the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, fighting for legislative proposals concerning “orphan works” and so-called “royalty-free” photographs. It also leads lively discussions with representatives of publishers and news agencies to enforce the rights of photographers and their remuneration.

The annual meeting is also the occasion for photographers working in the region to learn something from the association’s sponsors (Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Leica) and partners like the National Association of Iconographers (ANI).

Michel Puech

Read the full text of this article on the French version of Le Journal.