North American Nature Photography Association
The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1994 that serves professional and hobbyist nature photographers across the US, Canada, and Mexico through competitions, photo tours, webinars, advocacy, and equipment insurance partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersAlma, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What North American Nature Photography Association does
North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) is a private nonprofit membership organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Alma, Illinois, serving nature photographers and enthusiasts across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The organization functions as the premier horizontal professional association for the nature photography discipline, supporting both professional photographers and hobbyists through structured programming rather than a discrete software product. NANPA operates with 11-50 employees and is governed by a Board of Directors.
NANPA's core products and platform consist of an annual juried Showcase Competition with $6,000 in total prize money across six categories, the Expressions journal, The Nature Photographer Podcast (produced in collaboration with Wild & Exposed), guided photo tours and member-led workshops, a webinar library (some public, some members-only), and free downloadable handbooks. Distribution is primarily self-serve through the nanpa.org website, with contest submissions handled via a dedicated showcase portal. Notable technology integrations include iNaturalist regional collection projects spanning ten geographic regions across North America, plus connectivity to broader community science platforms such as eBird, BugGuide, Bumble Bee Watch, and Journey North. The organization owns a registered NANPA service mark and logo.
The revenue model combines recurring annual membership dues (with members receiving bundled ASMP benefits at no additional charge), transaction-based Showcase competition entry fees ($10 per image or 6 for $50), and episodic professional services revenue from photo tours and workshops. Members gain access to Chubb-provided equipment insurance, advocacy representation (including the VACRA legislative effort and 'No Artists No Art' campaign), conservation grant programs (Philip Hyde Conservation Grant, Janie Moore Greene Grant, College Scholarship Program), and the Nature Photography Foundation affiliated entity. NANPA awards multiple career and service recognition programs annually, including the Trailblazer, Environmental Impact, Lifetime Achievement, and Fellow awards.
North American Nature Photography Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- North American Nature Photography Association
- Legal name
- North American Nature Photography Association
- Website
- https://nanpa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1994 that serves professional and hobbyist nature photographers across the US, Canada, and Mexico through competitions, photo tours, webinars, advocacy, and equipment insurance partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
North American Nature Photography Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photography Association and Community
- NAICS
- Photographic Services (54192)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Photography & Videography Workshops (THAJAKAD)
Keywords
Where North American Nature Photography Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
North American Nature Photography Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to benefits including insurance programs, discounts, webinars, competitions, and networking opportunities. NANPA Members receive the benefits of ASMP Membership at corresponding/equivalent level at no additional charge.
- Showcase Competition Entry Fees: Members pay $10 per image to enter the annual showcase competition, or 6 images for $50. No limit on number of entries.
- Photo Tours and Workshops: Field events including photo tours to destinations like Aurora Borealis in Canada, Cape Cod, Adirondacks, and Rio Grande Valley, as well as member-led workshops and tours.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Showcase Competition Entry |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership |
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
North American Nature Photography Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NANPA is a nonprofit membership association that serves nature photographers in North America through annual memberships, the Showcase image competition, educational webinars and the Summit conference, conservation grants, member insurance, and advocacy for photographer access and ethical image use. It sells access to its community, events, and programs primarily to individual hobbyist and professional nature photographers.
Product overview
NANPA is a membership-based professional association for nature photographers offering a portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include the annual Showcase Competition (juried photo contest with prize money across six categories), the Expressions journal featuring winning images, The Nature Photographer Podcast (in collaboration with Wild & Exposed), and NANPA Photo Tours (small-group expeditions led by professionals). Educational offerings include Webinars (members-only and public sessions) and Free Handbooks on various topics. The organization also supports conservation through grant programs including the Philip Hyde Conservation Grant, Janie Moore Greene Grant, and College Scholarship Program. Community engagement features include Community Science Database and iNaturalist Collection Projects enabling members to contribute observations for scientific research. NANPA members also receive equipment insurance through Chubb as a member benefit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NANPA Annual Membership Annual membership subscription for individuals and families that unlocks access to NANPA programs including Showcase competition entry eligibility, the webinar library, the Expressions Journal, the Nature Photographer Podcast, member directory, advocacy, and conservation programs.
- Showcase Nature Photography Competition An internationally recognized judged competition for nature photographers, providing awards and visibility to members across multiple categories.
- NANPA Member Insurance Program Group insurance program offered to NANPA members through an established partnership with Chubb, addressing liability and equipment risks specific to working photographers.
- NANPA Photo Tours Group travel programs offered through a partner arrangement with Collette, providing members guided nature photography travel experiences.
- Conservation Grants Program (including the Philip Hyde Conservation Grant) Competitive grant funding that NANPA channels to conservation projects, with the Philip Hyde Conservation Grant as a named award.
- Expressions Journal Member publication delivering articles, features, and educational content on nature photography to the NANPA membership.
- The Nature Photographer Podcast NANPA's official podcast covering interviews, technique, and member-relevant topics for nature photographers.
- NANPA Webinar Series Live and on-demand webinars delivered by working nature photographers and educators, available as part of the membership experience.
- NANPA Summit Conference Annual multi-day conference for NANPA members featuring keynote presentations, workshops, image reviews, and networking for nature photographers.
Companies that use North American Nature Photography Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
North American Nature Photography Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
North American Nature Photography Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)coreNANPA and ASMP have joined forces particularly on the Advocacy front, achieving victories such as the introduction of VACRA. NANPA programming and events are administered in partnership with ASMP. NANPA Members receive the benefits of ASMP Membership, in addition to the benefits of NANPA membership, at the corresponding/equivalent level, and at no additional charge.
- Wild & ExposedcoreCollaboration on The Nature Photographer Podcast, featuring photographers, their field adventures, and best advice for nature photography enthusiasts.
- ChubbcoreChubb provides equipment insurance programs for NANPA members under group arrangements, offering coverage for theft and damage to camera equipment.
- iNaturalistcoreNANPA maintains regional collection projects in iNaturalist covering New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Plains, Southwest, Mountain-West, Pacific, Canada, Mexico, and an umbrella project. Members contribute observations that support scientific research on biodiversity.
- Graphic Artists GuildminorNANPA and ASMP stand together with the Graphic Artists Guild in supporting the 'No Artists No Art' campaign advocating for artists' rights.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
North American Nature Photography Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Nature's Best Photography: Nature's Best Photography runs the Windland Smith Rice International Awards, a major nature photography competition with Smithsonian exhibition. It directly competes with NANPA's Showcase for prestige and visibility among nature photographers but lacks the broader membership-program offering.
- Nature First: The Alliance for Responsible Nature Photography: Nature First is a nonprofit focused on ethical principles for nature photography, aligned with NANPA's 'Ethical Field Practices' programming. It addresses a niche but overlapping mission and represents both a peer in values and a potential partnership or competitive overlap.
- International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP): iLCP is a fellowship organization for conservation photographers that overlaps with NANPA's conservation-focused membership. It is smaller and more elite/credential-oriented but addresses the same intersection of nature photography and environmental storytelling.
Broad incumbents
- Photographic Society of America (PSA): PSA is a long-established international photography association offering membership, competitions, and exhibitions. It is much larger and broader in scope than NANPA but competes for the same amateur-to-serious hobbyist photographer segment.
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Operated by the Natural History Museum (London), Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world's most prestigious nature photography competition. It competes for attention and prestige in nature photography but operates as a museum program rather than a membership association.
Direct peers
- National Press Photographers Association (NPPA): NPPA is a professional association for photojournalists and news photographers offering membership, advocacy, and education. It shares NANPA's nonprofit association model, advocacy orientation, and member-benefit structure, but is focused on press/news photography rather than nature.
- Professional Photographers of America (PPA): PPA is the largest US professional photography association, operating a membership model with education, certifications, insurance benefits, and an annual convention. Like NANPA, it serves working photographers seeking career development and peer community, but with broader scope across all photography genres.
- American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP): ASMP is a professional association for media photographers and is NANPA's core strategic partner, co-administering programming and providing dual-membership benefits. It is the most directly comparable peer in structure, membership model, and advocacy focus, though it serves a broader commercial photography audience.
Others
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Cornell Lab operates eBird, NestWatch, and other citizen-science platforms that NANPA members contribute to. It is not a photography association but is a core ecosystem partner and adjacent institution serving the same naturalist audience.
Regional players
- Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA): OWAA is a US-based professional association for outdoor communicators, including writers, photographers, and broadcasters. It shares the nonprofit membership model and serves a related outdoor-content audience, though its scope is broader and includes writing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
North American Nature Photography Association social profiles
Digital presenceNorth American Nature Photography Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North American Nature Photography Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
North American Nature Photography Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
North American Nature Photography Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about North American Nature Photography Association
What does North American Nature Photography Association do?
NANPA is a nonprofit membership association that serves nature photographers in North America through annual memberships, the Showcase image competition, educational webinars and the Summit conference, conservation grants, member insurance, and advocacy for photographer access and ethical image use. It sells access to its community, events, and programs primarily to individual hobbyist and professional nature photographers.
Is North American Nature Photography Association a public or private company?
North American Nature Photography Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was North American Nature Photography Association founded?
North American Nature Photography Association was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is North American Nature Photography Association based?
North American Nature Photography Association is headquartered in Alma, United States, in the North America region.
How does North American Nature Photography Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are showcase Competition Entry Fees and photo Tours and Workshops.
Who are North American Nature Photography Association's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Nature's Best Photography, Nature First: The Alliance for Responsible Nature Photography and International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). Broad incumbents are Photographic Society of America (PSA) and Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Direct peers are National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). Cornell Lab of Ornithology is listed as an others. Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) is listed as a regional player.
Does North American Nature Photography Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for North American Nature Photography Association.
What industry is North American Nature Photography Association in?
North American Nature Photography Association's product category is Photography Association and Community. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAKAD, Photography & Videography Workshops. Its NAICS code is 54192 and its SIC code is 8600.