All PSA members living in the
USA are automatically
members of the Photographic Alliance of America (PAA). PAA has no membership fee.
PAA’s Mission is to increase the international participation,
visibility, and appreciation of
American photographers and
American photography.
PAA is an Operational
Member of FIAP and facilitates USA photographers to earn FIAP Distinctions and hold FIAP Patronage salons in the USA.
PAA follows the standards and definitions established by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) and the Photographic Society of America Worldwide (PSA).
The Photographic Alliance of America (PAA) is the national photography organization for the United States of America USA. PAA is an Operational Member of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), representing USA photographers. The Photographic Alliance of America provides services for Photographic Society of America Worldwide (PSA) members who are individual PSA members, in the USA.
HISTORY: In 2014, Joanne Stolte began conceptualizing how the USA could have a national photography organization that could become a member of FIAP and provide services to photographers in the USA to apply for FIAP Photography Distinctions and FIAP Patronage for International photography competitions.
In 2017, Joanne presented a comprehensive proposal to the PSA Executive Committee for the formation of the Photographic Alliance of America (PAA) as a service for PSA members in the USA. The proposal was approved and the PAA was formed.
In 2018 the PAA name and logo were registered, the PAA website and Facebook page were established, a PAA article was published monthly in the PSA Journal, and an application for membership was submitted to FIAP. Joanne, the FIAP Liaison Officer for the USA, attended the FIAP Congress in Durban, South Africa, in August where the PAA was voted an Operational Member of FIAP. The First Annual Meeting of the PAA was held during the PSA Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah in September 2018.
In 2019, the FIAP Board of Directors attended the PAA Annual Meeting in Spokane, Washington where the first PAA FIAP Distinctions were formally presented by FIAP President, Riccardo Busi.
Joanne Stolte signing to vote representing USA at 2018 FIAP Congress
2019 Annual Meeting