The Dansk Fotografisk Forening (DFF) or Danish Photographers Association is a non-profit organization for photographers who earn a living from photography. Since 1879, it has been supporting professional photography and assisting its members.

Aims and objectives

Founded in 1879, the association claims to be the world's oldest organization for professional photographers. Its objective is to support and develop photography, foster cooperation among its members and prevent unfair competition.

These aims are facilitated by means of courses, seminars and mutual cooperation in order to inspire the association's members and keep them informed of the latest techniques and procedures.

The association provides information about the training of new photographers. Members can obtain legal advice thanks to contractual agreements with the Danish Union of Journalists, PresseFotograf Forbundet (Danish Union of Press Photographers) and CopyDan, an organisation promoting access to cultural resources against payment of copyright dues.

The organization also cooperates with the Federation of European Photographers

Federation of European Professional Photographers

The Federation of European Professional Photographers or Federation of European Photographers is a non-profit organisation that organises national professional photographers associations in Europe and has member organisations in some 20 countries. The FEP is headquartered in Brussels.-External...

.

History

Dansk Fotografihistorie, published in 2004, provides some interesting details of the association's history:

• In 1879, while the distinction between amateur and professional photography was still rather vague, the Dansk Fotografisk Forening was founded. Court photographer J. Petersen was chairman while Christian Neuhaus, Budtz Mullerand many other successful photographers of the 1870s sat on the board.

• In 1880, the association had 87 members. By the turn of the century, there were over 1,000.

• In 1881, the organisation expressed the desire to use photography as a means of recording Denmark's cultural heritage.

• In 1887, Mary Steen
  Mary Steen
  Mary Dorothea Frederica Steen was a Danish photographer and feminist. At the age of 28, she opened a studio in Copenhagen where she specialized in indoor photography. She later became Denmark's first female court photographer, working not only with the Danish royals but, at the invitation of...
  
   was the first woman to become a member of the association. She later became a member of the board.

• In 1889, the association supported the newly founded tourist association, encouraging its members to photograph tourist resorts across the country.

• In 1897, with Peter Raun Fristrup as its spokesman, the association called for a photographic record to be made of Copenhagen, which was undergoing substantial changes.

• In 1909, the organisation's journal Dansk Fotografisk Tidsskrift reported that over the 10 years from 1897 to 1906, the number of photographic firms had risen from 53 to 108 in Copenhagen and from 220 to 263 in the provinces. It also reported that the number of women photographers was rapidly growing.

Oldest national professional organization

Founded in 1879, the association claims to be the oldest national organization for professional photographers in the world. It should however be mentioned that Austria's Photographische Gesellschaft was founded as early as March 1861. Professional Photographers of America

Professional Photographers of America

This organization was formed in April 1880 as the Photographers Association of America, Inc., by members of the Chicago Photographic Association and the National Photographic Association. The name was changed to Professional Photographers of America, Inc. , in 1958 to distinguish the association...

, founded in 1880, was created by the members of the Chicago Photographic Association and the National Photographic Association

National Photographic Association of the United States

The National Photographic Association of the United States formed "for the purpose of elevating and advancing the art of photography, and for the protection and furthering the interests of those who make their living by it." In particular, the group organized initially to prevent "the reissue of...

, the latter having been founded in 1868. The Royal Photographic Society

Royal Photographic Society

The Royal Photographic Society is the world's oldest national photographic society. It was founded in London, United Kingdom in 1853 as The Photographic Society of London with the objective of promoting the Art and Science of Photography...

in the United Kingdom was founded in 1853 as The Photographic Society "to promote the Art and Science of Photography" but was not specifically for professional photographers (or limited to members from the United Kingdom).