I don’t actually remember the first time that I heard the phrase “pay it forward” but I know that it accurately summed-up something that was there in my mind from quite a young age. I had two parents who both loved to explain how to do things and both of them took enormous pleasure in “paying it forward”. Both of my older brothers either consciously or subconsciously echoed our parents attitudes as well. In fact, if you look around, it’s happening all of the time and it is to be appreciated and celebrated.

I can remember watching a film actually called Pay It Forward which came out in 2000 and that, despite it’s rather cheesy nature, it definitely helped to put a name to what I had already been doing for many years.

Fast forward to 2019 and something that was discussed and voted on by the Board and then the membership of The British Press Photographers’ Association. We wanted to establish a form of membership that would help new entrants to our profession to get a foothold in it because the routes that most of used had disappeared over the years. Young photographers don’t spend the same amount of time working alongside their more experienced counterparts and the employed jobs just aren’t there for those who could benefit from them. Ours is an industry without standardised qualifications or a formal career path and so we took the view that we should try to redress that balance by offering some informal help.

Anyone who has regularly seen what I have posted on the web since 1998 will know that I have been doing this and I was delighted to be invited to become one of the mentors for The BPPA’s Associate Member scheme. New photographers from the United Kingdom and those studying here can apply to join and get access to hundreds of years of experience and knowledge from over a dozen industry practitioners just by doing a Facebook group.

The scheme went live last week (mid-October 2022) and we are looking forward to some interesting and even difficult questions. If you are a new entrant to the world of press photography or if you know someone else who may benefit from the scheme then please have a look at this link and use the links to apply.

Paying it forward is a concept close to my heart. Answering questions, sharing my knowledge and generally helping others trying to make their way is something I hope to continue to do as I rapidly approach the end of my fifties.