4. DISTINCTIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS
Receipt of your 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 Advisory Board
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.
Cancellation 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
DISTINCTIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS
I agree to uphold The Society's Code of Conduct (www.rps.org/member-code-of-conduct)
I agree to abide by the Distinctions Terms & Conditions and accept that the decision of The Panel is final
Date:
Signature of Applicant:
Research Form 2019 | 2/4
