London Independent Photography

London Independent Photography is a community organisation for amateur and professional photographers with about 300 members. Our activities are designed to bring together photographers with different interests and levels of expertise who wish to develop their personal approach to photography, improve their skills and gain recognition for their work.

If your passion is photography or you'd just like to know more about getting involved with photography in London, feel free to contact us for more information.

Group Activities

We organise an ongoing programme of practical workshops, classes and talks, and also hold regular group sessions in locations around London where members bring their current work for discussion.

Attending satellite group meetings is an excellent way to keep in touch with other LIP members in your area. Find out more about the currently active groups are here.

Magazine

Our magazine is free to all members and currently published three times a year. Our aim for each issue is to inspire, inform and entertain readers by featuring members' photographic work and articles that are engaging.

The magazine is funded entirely by annual membership fees (no sponsorship, advertising or outside funding) which allows us to provide a truly independent and public forum to share thoughts, exchange ideas and discuss our individual approaches to photography.

Details can be found on the Magazine page, and archived versions of past issues are available for sale or downloadable in PDF format.

Exhibitions

Many LIP members have exhibited widely and held solo exhibitions, but gather together to show their individual approaches to photography in an annual group show in London. Each year we invite impartial selectors to view submissions and choose what work will be in the show. Past selectors have included Francis Hodgson, writer and co-founder of the Prix Pictet, Helen Trompeteler, Assistant Curator of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, Bridget Coaker, Picture Editor at Guardian Newspaper Group, Photographers Gallery Curator Clare Grafik, Photographer/teacher Paul Hill MBE, ex Photographers Gallery director Sue Davies and Curator of Photographs at the V&A Mark Haworth-Booth.

Become a Member

To join LIP, please complete a membership application online.

 

Pssst: We're always on the lookout for members who are willing to volunteer time and effort to help keep LIP running smoothly and to improve our programme. If you feel like you might want to contribute some time in any area, please get in touch with our Membership Secretary to express your interest!

 

Formed in 1987:
A Short History of LIP

London Independent Photography was formed on July 29, 1987, and was conceived of by Janet Hall and Virginia Khuri under the inspiration of the workshops organized by Paul Hill at the Photographers Place.
Read A Short History of LIP
by Virginia Khuri

"No group has done more to propagate the cause of creative photography than LIP.  Its programme of events and exhibitions for professional and amateurs alike has been exceptional.  The consistently high standards it sets are not bettered in my experience by any similar capital city group in the world. LIP is on a mission to make people aware of the life enhancing, self-expressive potential of the medium and to encourage the highest standards amongst its members."
Paul Hill MBE FRPS Professor of Photography De Montfort University, Leicester

"LIP is an exemplary (and unfunded) association of individuals who are seriously interested in the art of photography. I hope their ambitious plan receives support."
Mark Haworth-Booth Curator of Photographs, Victoria and Albert Museum

"LIP provides a valuable service for serious photographers in London, both amateur and professional, through its comprehensive programme of events which includes workshops, evening talks, formal and informal meetings and a lively newsletter."
Mick Williamson, Senior Lecturer in Photography at The Cass

"LIP has nurtured many photographers during its existence, with its informal exhibitions, workshops, lectures and newsletters.  Finally there is the chance of selected formal exhibitions, to a very high standard indeed. The contribution that LIP has made to creative, individual photography in the London area has been invaluable.  So far all this supportive work has been done on a voluntary basis, with no funding.  I would strongly support any application for funding for their ambitious Millennium Project, as l believe that it would benefit not only the members but also enlarge public appreciation of creative photography."
Fay Godwin Hastings, East Sussex