Mission Statement for Bay Professional Photographers Association:

To advance photography in all its branches, both as an art and as a
profession; to create, foster, promote and maintain cordial relations, cooperation and the
interchange of thoughts and opinions freely among its members.

The History of Bay Professional Photographers Association.

The Bay Professional Photographers Association was originally chartered as Bay Photographers Association, and was organized in 1974. It was the 3rd guild of the Florida Professional Photographers in the state.

The first meeting to set up the association was held in St. Petersburg at the Florida Federal Bank building on 9th Street North (it is now a branch office of Mac Dill Federal Credit Union). The first president was the late Phil Graham, Sr. Our own Bruce Evensen is the only remaining active charter member. He was the second president of the Bay Photographers Association.

The Bay Professional Photographers Association has spun off three other Florida guilds from our membership, Suncoast in Clearwater, a guild that was based in Hudson, FL (now defunct) and Tampa Professional Photographers Association (TAPPA).

We became Bay Professional Photographers Association in 1995. The word "Professional" was added to emphasize that the association is a group of professional photographers.