Join the Union

Membership in the Union of Photographers is a professional step and a conscious commitment to the development of the photographic community. This section outlines the terms and stages of admission to the Belarusian Public Association of Photographers (BPAP) in accordance with the Charter and current internal regulations.

The admission procedure is based on the principles of transparency, professional expertise, and respect for each applicant. All stages are designed to ensure an objective evaluation of the applicant’s level, experience, and motivation, as well as an informed decision by the Union.

The applicant submits an official application form via the BAP official website.

The application must include:

• Personal details.
• Information on education and professional activity.
• A short creative biography.
• Selected photographic field (section).
• A portrait photograph for the internal archive.
• Consent to the processing of personal data.

A short text describing the applicant’s motivation for joining and professional goals related to participation in the Union’s activities.

• Format: DOCX or PDF.

Two letters of recommendation from current BAP members with at least 5 years of membership.
Recommendations should confirm the applicant’s professional qualifications and alignment with the Association’s values.

• Format: DOCX or PDF.

The portfolio is a key component of the application and reflects the applicant’s level, authorial approach, and photographic direction.

Portfolio requirements:

• At least 10 photographic works.
• Digital format (JPG, PDF, or online gallery).
• Author’s statement (Artist’s Statement, if available).
• Individual works, one series, or several series accompanied by explanatory text.

Applicants may additionally submit supporting materials confirming professional activity, such as publications, catalogues, reviews, or links to professional online resources.

The application is submitted to the Admission Committee via the online form.

Technical requirements:

• Images: JPEG or PDF.
• Texts: DOCX or PDF.
• File names must include the applicant’s surname (e.g. Ivanov-Bio.docx).
• Materials may be combined into a single archive if necessary.
• A link to cloud storage may be provided if required.

The Admission Committee registers the application and verifies the completeness and correctness of the submitted materials. If deficiencies are identified, the applicant is notified and given up to 30 calendar days to make corrections.

After successful verification, the applicant receives confirmation that the application has been accepted for review. From this point, the expert evaluation stage begins.

All submitted data are used exclusively for the admission procedure and processed in accordance with applicable personal data protection legislation.

Applications are reviewed by the Admission Committee of the BAP.

The Admission Committee is a collegial body ensuring professional and objective assessment of applications. It operates in accordance with the BAP Charter and internal regulations, observing principles of professional ethics and confidentiality.

Expert Evaluation
The review process assesses:

• The coherence and originality of the portfolio.
• The artistic or documentary quality of the works.
• The applicant’s professional (creative) activity.
• Consistency with the declared photographic field.

Interview (if required)
In certain cases, the applicant may be invited to an interview, portfolio review, or project presentation – either in person or online.

Decision
Based on the review, one of the following decisions is made:

• Admission as a full member of BAP.
• Admission with candidate status.
• A reasoned refusal.

Applications are accepted according to an approved schedule.
Review results are communicated to applicants by email within 7 working days.

Become part of the professional community of the Belarusian Association of Photographers.