Exemption Form 2021 | 2/4
5. DISTINCTIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS
Receipt of y
our application
On receipt of your application form, we will confirm via email that you
have a place on the assessment day. We will also include further
information that will help you. Incomplete forms may result in a delay
in processing of the application.
Submissions
Applicants may make only one submission to a particular Distinctions
Panel at any time (multiple submissions in the same category at the
same time by an individual will not be accepted).
Images
Submitted images cannot have been previously presented for a
successful LRPS/ARPS/FRPS panel.
Retention of work
The Society reserves the right to retain your portfolio after the of
assessment date.
Non Return Portfolios
If you choose not to have your portfolio returned, it will be disposed of
one month after the assessment date.
Care of your Portfolio
All reasonable care will be taken of your submitted portfolio, but The
Society will not be responsible for any loss or damage whilst in its care
or in transit.
Panel decisions
All portfolios that the Panel or Fellowship Board consider to meet the
required standard need to be ratified by the Distinctions Committee and
the Society’s Council, and it is Council who finally award the Distinction.
This is usually within 14 days of the assessment. Once ratified, you will
receive a letter of confirmation and a Certificate under the Seal of the
Society; signed by the President. You will also receive a lapel badge
and a digital file containing the Society’s Distinction emblem which can
be used on your personal stationery. You are entitled – and
encouraged – to use the letters LRPS/ARPS/FRPS after your name.
Unfortunately, not everyone may be recommended. Applicants will
normally be notified of the decision within two working days. Within 28
days of the assessment, all applicants who have not been
recommended will receive a feedback letter giving the reasons for the
decision. Whenever possible, you will be given the opportunity to
receive help and advice from a member of the Panel.
Copyright and Reproduction
The applicant must own the copyright to, and be the creator of, all the
photographic elements in a submission. No third party images may be
used in the majority of categories. A limited number of third party
images may be used in Multimedia submissions. Third party images
can be used in Research, Education and Application of Photography
submissions; and in Creative Production applications. The Society may
copy, publish and use successful applications for helping other
potential applicants and promoting the Distinctions. Copyright of the
images remains with the applicant and all work will be attributed. The
Society will not use an image outside these uses without your
permission.
Original files
The Society reserves the right to request the original file, negative or
transparency of any image used in a Distinctions application.
Cancellati
on Policy
After submitting your application form, if for any reason you are unable
to send your submission or need to make other changes, please e-mail
the relevant level lrps@rps.org or arps@rps.org or frps@rps.org.
Any cancellations or change requests must be made via e-mail. If you
cancel/defer within 14 days of your assessment date you will be fully
charged for the assessment. We are unable to offer a refund or
deferral. You can request once only to cancel/defer 15 days or more
prior to your assessment, without any charge, but all future requests
will incur a £25 administration charge.
Review procedures and disputes
The decision of the assessment panel is final. However, if a candidate
feels that there is any question as to whether the assessment process
has been correctly adhered to, they can ask the Society to review their
application. All such requests must be made in writing within four
weeks of receipt of the feedback letter, outlining fully the substance of
the applicant’s case. In such cases, the Chair of the Distinctions
Committee will initially assess the case, and decide if the complaint
merits further review. If that is the case, the Distinctions Committee will
appoint a moderator to investigate and report to the Distinctions
Committee for a decision. In such cases, the decision of the
Distinctions Committee will be final.
Certificate and using the LRPS/ARPS/FRPS
Extract from the By-Laws of The Royal Photographic Society of Great
Britain. A Certificate, under the seal of the Society, shall be issued to
all who are admitted to its Licentiate, Associate or Fellowship; but in all
cases, such Licentiate, Associate or Fellowship shall be personal to the
individual member, and shall not be used as part of the registered
name of any company or corporate body or any business whatsoever.
The Certificates granted by the Society evidencing the admission of
any person to Licentiate, Associate or Fellowship, as the case may be,
shall be the sole property of the Society and Certificates shall be held
by members only so long as they remain Licentiates, Associates or
Fellows and, upon ceasing to be such, the Certificates shall be returned
at once to the Society.
Membership
Distinctions are only awarded to members of the Society. If you are a
member, you must ensure your current subscription is paid. If you are
not a member, it is mandatory that the Non-Member section on the
application form is completed. This will only be processed if you are
successful.
Rules of the Society
I confirm that the above information is correct and the Society reserves
the right, if it is considered desirable, to seek further information before
assessing the application. The giving of false or incomplete information
will nullify any Distinction that may otherwise have been awarded.
Should I cease to be a paid-up member of the Society, I will return the
Certificate and no longer use the title.
Model release form
For the majority of portfolio submissions there is no requirement for an
applicant to provide a release form where images make use of models.
Should the Society wish to show a portfolio publicly, outside of an
assessment, or reproduce it online or in the RPS Journal it may require
a copy of a model release form. In rare cases, at the Society’s sole
discretion, and before an submission is accepted it may require an
appropriately signed release form(s) covering all individuals who are
the subject of the images submitted. If you have any questions please
contact: distinctions@rps.org
Applicant Signature Date
I agree to uphold The Society’s Code of Conduct
I agree to abide by the Distinctions Terms & Conditions and accept that the decision of the Panel/Board is final
