About Us

---

The Association for Historical and Fine Art Photography (AHFAP) was founded in April 1985, when photographers from London’s national museums recognised the value of uniting their knowledge under a shared professional network. The first official meeting, held the following year, brought together photographers from the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Tate Gallery, the Science Museum and others, alongside a key industry sponsor, Ilford.

Before AHFAP’s formation, museum and gallery photographic departments often worked in isolation, with little opportunity for collaboration or knowledge exchange. The establishment of the Association created vital connections between institutions and the imaging industry, creating a culture of cooperation, shared expertise, and collective advancement that continues today.

From its earliest meetings to the present day, AHFAP has been a forum for innovation, dialogue, and professional development. Its members have navigated one of the most profound transformations in the history of photography: the shift from analogue to digital imaging. During this pivotal period, AHFAP played an essential role in supporting photographers as they adapted to new technologies, set benchmarks for quality, and engaged directly with manufacturers to shape tools that met the demanding standards of cultural heritage imaging.

The move into digital practice expanded AHFAP’s reach globally. Collaboration with peers in the USA, China, and across Europe culminated in the inaugural International Conference in Brighton in 2011, an ambitious and successful event that inspired a now biennial international conference held at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, attracting delegates from over twenty countries.

As AHFAP’s position of authority became established, its membership widened. Once focused primarily on museum and gallery photographers, AHFAP now represents a vibrant and diverse community of imaging professionals: from archives, libraries, and universities to independent specialists and commercial digitisation companies.

Today, AHFAP members work at the forefront of imaging technology, employing advanced techniques including multispectral imaging, photogrammetry, 3D scanning, Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), 360° capture, virtual reality visualisation, and 3D printing. These innovations are now integral to the documentation, preservation, and interpretation of cultural heritage.

Throughout its evolution, AHFAP has championed quality, consistency, and professional recognition. The Association continues to set and refine industry standards, supporting its members through workshops, training programmes, and annual conferences. With more than 400 members and an active programme of mid-year events, AHFAP remains a hub for professional exchange and collective growth.

Forty years on, the Association stands as a testament to progress, collaboration, and shared purpose. From film to photons, from darkrooms to data, AHFAP’s journey reflects the remarkable transformation of imaging in the heritage sector and its members’ unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and the art of seeing.

This is the final draft of the constitution ratified at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held November 2019

1. The Association shall be called ‘The Association for Historical and Fine Art Photography’ (AHFAP).

2. It shall exist for the promotion of photography in the fields of history, fine art, archaeology, museum and gallery display, conservation and fields related to the cultural heritage sector. It shall encourage the interchange of ideas and general support among photographers practicing in these fields and promote workplace access, thereby increasing opportunities for experience.

3. The membership shall be open to imaging professionals working in the cultural heritage sector.

4. The business of the association shall be conducted by an elected Management Committee comprising, but not limited to the following roles: Chair, Deputy Chair, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Minutes Secretary, Events Officer, Assistant Events Officer, Website Officer and Assistant Website Officer, with the facility for co-opting other Management Committee members as required.

5. The business of the association, including the election of the Management Committee, shall be open for scrutiny and discussion at an Annual General Meeting (AGM).

6. The Management Committee members shall be elected at the AGM.

7. A Management Committee member shall be voted to serve for twenty-four months before re-election. Committee members co-opted are to perform a specific function ratified at the AGM. Members failing to attend three successive committee meetings, without reasonable cause, shall be disqualified.

8. The Management Committee requires a quorum of five members (which must include either the Chair or Treasurer) as a minimum in order to carry out the business of the association.

9. The Chair shall have the power of vote and shall have the casting vote.

10. The association awards the role of Honorary President to a member who has served the association or the industry with distinction. The Honorary President shall be proposed by the Management Committee for members to ratify at the AGM and will serve for 24 months. A president may only serve for one term.

11. A quorate Committee shall have the power to dissolve the association on notice of one month, with any funds held being distributed to a charity or organisation named in the same notice to dissolve.