DistinctionsDatabase
Photography Distinction Database from all over the World
#Distinctions #Honours #Qualifications #Awards
If you have further information to be added to this list, kindly contact on: info@johanndebono.com or Facebook
Last Updated: 30th Sept 2022
Distinctions, What & Why?
Photographic distinctions are awarded to photographers through a process of acceptances, when submitting work in international competitions and/or through sitting for a panel exam. This is done to show the standard they have reached. Many Societies, Associations and other entities have their own distinction processes and also various levels one can go through.
These appellations are proudly displayed on someone’s business cards, résumés, website and email signature.
"Accomplishing something provides the only real satisfaction in life." - Thomas A. Edison
Distinctions from Malta
Malta Photographic Society - Est 1961 ⇨ Link
AMPS - Associate
FMPS - Fellow
Hon.FMPS - Honorary Fellow
Malta Institute of Professional Photography - Est 1996 ⇨
Link LMIPP - Licentiate AMIPP - Associate FMIPP - Fellowship If you have further info, kindly contact on
info@johanndebono.com or Facebook Agile Photographic Society - Est 2017 ⇨
Link G.APS - Genius A.APS - Artisan M.APS - Master GM.APS - Grand Master L.APS/B - Legendary Bronze L.APS/S - Legendary Silver L.APS/G - Legendary Gold I.APS/B - Icon Bronze I.APS/S - Icon Silver L.APS/G - Icon Gold E.APS/B - Elite Bronze E.APS/S - Elite Silver E.APS/G - Elite Gold Association of Photographers of Georgia - Est 2008 ⇨
Link and
LinkInternational Distinctions
AAPG - Artist
EAPG - Excellence
RAPG - Recognized
GMAPG - Grand Master
Hon.FAPG - Honorary Fellow
Association of Romanian Artists Photographers - Est 1956 ⇨ Link
Art.AAFR - Artist
E.AAFR - Excellence
M.AAFR - Master
Australian Photographic Society - Est 1962 ⇨ Link
LAPS - Licentiate
AAPS - Associate
FAPS - Fellow
MAPS - Master
GMAPS - Grand Master
APSEM - APS Exhibtor's Medal
APSEM/b - APS Exhibtor Bronze
APSEM/s - APS Exhibtor Silver
APSEM/g - APS Exhibtor Gold
Bangladesh Photographic Society - Est 1976 ⇨ Link
LBPS - Licenciateship ABPS - Associateship FBPS - Fellowship
ABPI - Astral BPI Artist
BBPI - Brilliant BPI Artist
EBPI - Eminent BPI Artist
GBPI - Gallant BPI Artist
British Institute of Professional Photography - Est 1901 ⇨ Link
LBIPP - Licentiateship
ABIPP - Associateship
FBIPP - Fellowship
British Photographic Exhibitions - Est 1980's. ⇨ Link
BPE1* - Crown 1
BPE2* - Crown 2
BPE3* - Crown 3
BPE4* - Crown 4
BPE5* - Crown 5
ABPE - Associateship
FBPE - Fellowship
Campina Photographic Exhibitions Society - Est 2015 ⇨ Link
A.CPE - Artist
E.CPE - Excellence
M.CPE - Master
GM.CPE - Grand Master
Hon.CPE - Honorary
ES.CPE - Excellence Services
MS.CPE - Master Services
GMS.CPE - Grand Master Services
Canadian Association For Photographic Art - Est 1998 ⇨ Link
MCAPA - Maple Leaf
ACAPA - Associateship
FCAPA - Fellowship
HonFCAPA - Honourary Fellowship
→(CAPA has also different Honours awarded by the Board of Directors)
Honourary Membership
Certificate of Honour for Service
CAPA Distinguished Service Award
Certificate of Photographic Achievement
Creative Union Photoart - Est 1998 ⇨ Link
A-PHOTOART - Artist
E-PHOTOART - Excellence
M-PHOTOART - Master
ES-PHOTOART - Excellence Services Rendered
Danube International Photo Association - Est XXXX ⇨ Link
ADIPA - Artistic
ADIPA/b - Artistic Bronze
ADIPA/s - Artistic Silver
ADIPA/g - Artistic Gold
ADIPA/p - Artistic Platinum
EDIPA - Excellence
EDIPA/b - Excellence Bronze
EDIPA/s - Excellence Silver
EDIPA/g - Excellence Gold
EDIPA/p - Excellence Platinum
M DIPA - Master
GM DIPA - Grand Master
Hon DIPA - Honourary Member
Disabled Photographers' Society - Est 1968 ⇨ Link
LDPS - Licentiateship
ADPS - Associateship
FDPS - Fellowship
(Memberships and Distinctions are only available to people within the UK)
Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique - Est 1950 ⇨ Link
(International Federation of Photographic Art)
AFIAP - Artiste
EFIAP - Excellence
→(EFIAP has also different levels to apply for)
EFIAP/b - Bronze
EFIAP/s - Silver
EFIAP/g - Gold
EFIAP/p - Platinum
EFIAP/d1 - Diamond 1
EFIAP/d2 - Diamond 2
EFIAP/d3 - Diamond 3
MFIAP - Master Photographer
ESFIAP - Excellence for Service Rendered
Hon.EFIAP - Honorary Excellence
Federation of European Photographers - Est 1999 ⇨ Link
EP - European Photographer
QEP - Qualified
MQEP - Master Qualified
Federation of Multicultural Photographic Art - Est 1998 ⇨ Link
EFMPA - Excellence
MFMPA - Master
Hon.E.FMPA - Honorary Excellence
Global Photographers Union - Est 2007 ⇨ Link
GPU CR1 - Crown 1
GPU CR2 - Crown 2
GPU CR3 - Crown 3
GPU CR4 - Crown 4
GPU CR5 - Crown 5
GPU VIP1 - Level 1
GPU VIP2 - Level 2
GPU VIP3 - Level 3
GPU VIP4 - Level 4
GPU VIP5 - Level 5
Aphrodite - Title 1
Hermes - Title 2
Zeus - Title 3
GPU Excellence Trophy
GreenGo Club - Est XXXX ⇨ Link
AGNG - Artist
EGNG - Excellence
MGNG - Master
GMGNG - Grand Master
EHonGNG - Honorary Excellence
Hellenic Photographic Society - Est 1952 ⇨ Link
AHPS - Artist
EHPS - Excellence
EHPS/b - Excellence Bronze
EHPS/s - Excellence Silver
EHPS/g - Excellence Gold
MHPS - Master
GMHPS - Grand Master
ESHPS - Excellence for Service Rendered
Hon.EHPS - Honorary Excellence
HMHPS - 25 years Honorary Member
GHMHPS - 40 years Honorary Member
AHMHPS - Associate Honorary Member
India International Photographic Council - Est 1983 ⇨ Link
LIIPC - Licenciateship
AIIPC - Associateship
FIIPC - Fellowship
Hon.FIIPC - Honorary Fellowship
Indian Visual Arts Foundation - Est 1993 ⇨ Link
AIVAF - Appreciation
FIVAF - Fellow
MIVAF - Master
Hon.FIVAF – Hon.Fellow
International Photography of Nepal - Est 2018 ⇨ Link
BIPN - Basic
IIPN - Intermediate
PAIPN - Pre Artist
AIPN - Artist
EIPN - Excellence
MIPN - Master
GMIPN - Grand Master
PIPN - Proficiency
CIPN - Consociate
FIPN - Fellowship
International Union of Photographers - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
HIUP - Honorable
EIUP - Elite
MIUP - Master
GAIUP - Great Achievement
Irish Photographic Federation - Est 1981 ⇨ Link
LIPF - Licentiateship
AIPF - Associateship
FIPF - Fellowship
Master of Light - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
c*MoL - Competitive 1 star
c**MoL - Competitive 2 star
c***MoL - Competitive 3 star
MoL* - Artistic 1 star
MoL** - Artistic 2 star
MoL*** - Artistic 3 star
hMoL - Honorary
Master Photographers Association - Est 1952 ⇨ Link
LMPA - Licentiate
AMPA - Associate
FMPA - Fellowship
Hon FMPA - Honorary Fellowship
National Photographic Art Society of Sri Lanka - Est 1950 ⇨ Link
LNPAS - Licentiateship
ANPAS - Associateship
FNPAS - Fellowship
New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography - Est 1938 ⇨ Link
ANZIPP - Associate
MNZIPP - Master
XXX - Master with Distinction
GMNZIPP - Grand Master
GM.HF.NZIPP - Grand Master with Hon Fellow
GM.LM.NZIPP - Grand Master with Life Member
Nordic Association for Photography - Est 2015 ⇨ Link
NSMiF/b - Bronze
NSMiF/s - Silver
NSMiF/g - Gold
NSMiF/p - Platinum
NSMiF/d1 - Diamond 1
NSMiF/d2 - Diamond 2
NSMiF/d3 - Diamond 3
MNFFF -Master NFFF
HonENFFF -Honorary Excellence NFFF
Photo Wedding Stories - Est 2009 ⇨ Link
APWS - Associate
CPWS - Craftsman
MPWS - Master
DMPWS - Double Master
TMPWS - Triple Master
GMPWS - Grand Master
Photographic Alliance of America - Est 1949 ⇨ Link
APAUS - Associate
FPAUS - Fellow
Photographic Alliance of Great Britain - Est 1930 ⇨ Link
CPAGB - Credit
DPAGB - Distinction
MPAGB - Master
APAGB - Associate (Awarded for Meritorious Service)
HonPAGB - J.S. Lancaster Medal
Photographic Society of America - Est 1934 ⇨ Link
PSA* - 1 Star
PSA** - 2 Star
PSA*** - 3 Star
PSA**** - 4 Star
PSA***** - 5 Star
Galaxy 1 to Galaxy 10
Diamond 1 to Diamond 10
QPSA - Qualified
PPSA - Proficiency
EPSA - Excellence
MPSA - Master
MPSA2 - Master Level 2
GMPSA - Grand Master
GMPSA/B - Grand Master Bronze
GMPSA/S - Grand Master Silver
GMPSA/G - Grand Master Gold
GMPSA/P - Grand Master Platinum
BPSA - 1st level
SPSA - 2nd level
GPSA - 3rd level
Photographic Society of India - Est 1937 ⇨ Link
LPSI – Licentiateship
APSI – Associateship
FPSI – Fellowship
Photographic Society of Malaysia - Est 1956 ⇨ Link
APSM - Associateship
FPSM - Fellowship
Hon.FPSM - PSM Honors
Photographic Society of New York - Est 1949 ⇨ Link
Exhibitor of the International Salon of Photography Honors:
EPSNY - Exhibitor
CEPSNY - Coral Exhibitor
GEPSNY - Gold Exhibitor
PEPSNY - Platinum Exhibitor
Hon. EPSNY - Honorary Exhibitor
SEPSNY - Salon Exhibitor
EEPSNY - Excellent Exhibitor
Photographic Art Honors:
APSNY - Associate
FPSNY - Fellow
Hon. OPC-PSNY - Honorary Outstanding Photographer Of the Century
Honorary Honors:
SVCPSNY - Service
Hon.PSNY - Honorary Member
Hon.FPSNY - Honorary Fellow
Photographic Society of New Zealand - Est 1953 ⇨ Link
LPSNZ - Licentiate
APSNZ - Associate
FPSNZ - Fellow
Photographic Society of Penang - Est 1967 ⇨ Link
APSP - Associateship
FPSP - Fellowship
AEPSP - Active Exhibitor
MEPSP - Master Exhibitor
HON PSP - Honorary Member
HON FPSP - Honorary Fellowship
Photographic Society of Singapore - Est 1950 ⇨ Link
LPSS - Licentiateship
APSS - Associateship
FPSS - Fellowship
BEPSS - Bronze Exhibitor
SEPSS - Silver Exhibitor
GEPSS - Gold Exhibitor
PEPSS - Platinum Exhibitor
DEPSS - Diamond Exhibitor
Photographic Society of South Africa - Est 1954 ⇨ Link
LPSSA - Licentiate
APSSA - Associate
FPSSA - Fellow
EPSSA - Expert
MPSSA - Master
Professional Photographers of Canada - Est 1946 ⇨ Link
CPA - Craftsman of Photographic Arts
MPA - Masters of Photographic Arts
SPA - Service of Photographic Arts
F/PPOC - Fellow
Rising Star Photography Society - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
ARSPS - Associateship
FRSPS - Fellowship
Hon.ARSPS - Honorary Associateship
Hon.FRSPS - Honorary Fellowship
Royal Photographic Society - Est 1853 ⇨ Link
LRPS - Licentiate
ARPS - Associate
FRPS - Fellowship
(The above distinctions also apply for Photographic Research Distinction)
Hon FRPS - Honorary Fellow
Safra Photographic Club - Est 1972 ⇨ Link
A SAFRAPC - Associateship
F SAFRAPC - Fellowship
HON SAFRAPC - Honorary
HON F SAFRAPC - Honorary Fellowship
Sarawak Photo-Art Society - Est 1988 ⇨ Link
ASPAS - Associateship
FSPAS - Fellowship
Hon.SPAS - Honorary
Hon.FSPAS - Honorary Fellowship
BE.SPAS - Bronze Exhibitor
SE.SPAS - Silver Exhibitor
GE.SPAS - Gold Exhibitor
PE.SPAS - Platinum Exhibitor
DE.SPAS - Diamond Exhibitor
Serendib Society of Photographers - Est 2020 ⇨ Link
A.SSP - Artistic
E.SSP - Excellence
M.SSP - Master
GM.SSP - Grand Master
GM.SSP/b - Grand Master Bronze
GM.SSP/s - Grand Master Silver
GM.SSP/g - Grand Master Gold
Sigma Academy of Photography - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
LSAP - Licentiate
ASAP - Associate
FSAP - Fellow
MSAP - Master
GMSAP - Grand Master
GEPSAP - Global Excellence Photographer
Photographic Service Distinctions:
Hon.SAP
Hon.Associate
Hon.Fellow
Hon.Master
Hon.Grand Master
Hon.Global Excellence Photographer
Singapore Colour Photographic Society - Est 1966 ⇨ Link
ASCPS - Associateship
FSCPS - Fellowship
ESCPS - Exhibitor
Hon.ESCPS - Honorary Exhibitor
Hon.SCPS/Hon.FSCPS - The Honorary Awards
Swan International Photo Club - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
ASWAN - Associateship
FSWAN - Fellowship
MSWAN - Master
Hon.FSWAN - Honorary Fellowship
The Guild of Photographers - Est 1988 ⇨ Link
RGP - Registered (i.e. untested/member)
QGP - Qualified
CGP - Craftsman
MCGP - Master Craftsman
The Image Colleague Society - Est 1988 ⇨ Link
For photographic portfolio achievement distinction:
A.ICS - Associateship
F.ICS - Fellowship
M.ICS - Master
M.ICS/b - Master Levels
M.ICS/s - Master Levels
M.ICS/g - Master Levels
For exhibition proficiency distinction:
BP.ICS - Best Photographer
GM.ICS - Grand Master
ICS.SAFIIRI - SAFIIRI
GWP.ICS - Grand World Photographer
For exhibitor achievement distinction:
HON.EICS - Honorary Exhibitor
For photographic service distinction:
HON.FICS - Honorary Fellowship
HON MICS - Honorary Master
HON.PIPICS - Honorary Promoter International Photography
The National Photographic Society - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
nDip - Diploma in Photography
LNPS - Licentiate
ANPS - Associate
FNPS - Fellowship
The Societies of Photographers - Est 1988 ⇨ Link
SWPP - Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers;
LSWPP - Licentiate
ASWPP - Associate
FSWPP - Fellowship
SIFGP - Society of International Fashion and Glamour Photographers
LSIFGP - Licentiate
ASIFGP - Associate
FSIFGP - Fellowship
SITTP - Society of International Travel and Tourism Photographers
LSITTP - Licentiate
ASITTP - Associate
FSITTP - Fellowship
SICIP - Society of International Commercial and Industrial Photographers
LSICIP - Licentiate
ASICIP - Associate
FSICIP - Fellowship
SISLP - Society of International Sport and Leisure Photographers
LSISLP - Licentiate
ASISLP - Associate
FSISLP - Fellowship
SINWP - Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographers
LSINWP - Licentiate
ASINWP - Associate
FSINWP - Fellowship
SIMPP - Society of International Media and Press Photographers
LSIMPP - Licentiate
ASIMPP - Associate
FSIMPP - Fellowship
SISEP - Society of International School and Event Photographers
LSISEP - Licentiate
ASISEP - Associate
FSISEP - Fellowship
Tricity Photo Art Society - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
ATPAS - Associate
FTPAS - Fellow
Hon.FTPAS - Honorary Fellow
Hon.MTPAS - Honorary Member
Unione Italiana Fotoamatori - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
MFO - Meriti Fotografici Organizzativi
BFA* - Benemerito 1 Stella
BFA** - Benemerito 2 Stelle
BFA*** - Benemerito 3 Stelle
BFA**** - Benemerito 4 Stelle
MFA - Maestro
United Photographers Hong Kong - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
Photographic Competitions:
BUPHK - Bright Star
SUPHK - Silver Star
GUPHK - Gold Star
DUPHK - Diamond Star
Assessments:
LUPHK - Licentiate
AUPHK - Associate
Sr.AUPHK - Senior Associate
FUPHK - Fellow
Sr.FUPHK - Senior Fellow
International Salons:
ARUPHK - Artist
PUPHK - Proficiency
EUPHK - Excellence
MUPHK - Master
MEUPHK - Master Exhibitor
Sr.MUPHK - Senior Master
GMUPHK - Grand Master
Sr.GMUPHK - Seniour Grand Master
Honorary Service:
Hon. SUPHK - Honorary Service
Hon. OS UPHK - Honorary Outstanding Service
Hon. ES UPHK - Honorary Excellence Service
Hon. UPHK - Honorary Member
Hon. Disting. UPHK - Honorary Distinguished Member
Hon. Elite UPHK - Honorary Elite Member
Hon. Diamond UPHK - Honorary Diamond Member
MCM UPHK - Meritorious Committee Member
Hon.EUPHK - Honorary Exhibitor
Hon. AUPHK - Honorary Associate
Hon. FUPHK - Honorary Fellow
Hon. MUPHK - Honorary Master
GM UPHK - Grand Master
United States Photographic Alliance - Est xxxx ⇨ Link
L.USPA - Licentiateship
A.USPA - Artist
E.USPA - Excellence
M.USPA - Master
ESUSPA - Excellence Service
Hon.E.USPA – Honorary Excellence
Wedding and Portrait Photography International - Est 1978 ⇨ Link
AWPPI - Associate
MWPPI - Master
DMWPPI - Double Master
TMWPPI - Triple Master
GMWPPI - Grand Master
DGMWPPI – Double Grand Master
TGMWPPI – Triple Grand Master
Welsh Photographic Federation - Est 1951 ⇨ Link
AWPF - Associateship
Wildlife Photography Association of India - Est 2001 ⇨ Link
B.WPAI - Bronze
S.WPAI - Silver
G.WPAI - Gold
P.WPAI - Platinum
U.WPAI - Uranium
M.WPAI - Master
HON.WPAI - Honorary
HON.FWPAI - Honorary Fellow
World of Photography Group - Est 2016 ⇨ Link and Link
Hon.WPG - Honorary Member
Hon.FWPG - Honorary Fellow
Hon.MWPG - Honorary Master
If you have further info, kindly contact on info@johanndebono.com or Facebook