Evidence Photographers International Council. Member Benefit Guide

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1 Evidence Photographers International Council Member Benefit Guide

2 welcome Welcome to the Evidence Photographers International Council (EPIC)! Membership in EPIC certainly has its benefits. You are now a member of a non-profit professional association whose goal is to provide members with education and resources to aid in the advancement of evidence photography. Logging into will provide you with a wealth of information. Remember: your username is the you used when joining EPIC, and your password is your EPIC member number. This guide will help you get started, so keep it handy, and please take the time to become familiar with EvidencePhotographers.com EPIC csc@evidencephotographers.com Contents Certified Evidence Photographer Program... 2 Resources... 2 Education & Events... 3 Equipment... 3 Evidence Technology Magazine... 4 Copyright & Government Affairs... 4 Discount Programs... 5 Insurance... 6 Advertising... 7 Student Assistant Search... 7

3 Certified Evidence Photographer (CEP) Program EPIC s Certified Evidence Photographer program sets guidelines and standards needed in this everchanging industry and provides this information through instruction. This new certification is not just a piece of paper; it will become a part of your reputation, increasing others trust in your abilities. Regulated by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission, a professionally licensed certification board, this certification is unique for evidence photographers. The test specifications were created by the best and brightest minds from various fields (FBI, crime labs, Secret Service, etc.), and every test answer is fully referenced to at least one readily available textbook regarding forensic or general photography. The CEP education and certification provides and refines the essential qualities needed in a professional evidence photographer, especially those involved with crime scenes. It is also backed by the Alliance of Visual Artists (AVA), which has successfully educated photographers for over 130 years through Professional Photographers of America (PPA). For more information, go to CertifiedPhotographer.com and click CEP Certification, or call Resources EPIC has many online resources, including helpful links, articles, a forum and even a bookstore. EPIC Bookstore Found in the Resources page of the website, this bookstore compiles helpful forensic and evidence photography books (and books on related subjects) on Amazon.com. EPIC Facebook Forum Chat, network and ask questions of fellow evidence and forensic photographers on this EPIC Facebook page. Simply click on the website s Forum tab to find that special page. Online Articles EPIC members and experts have supplied a variety of articles for members use in the Resources page of the website. Evidence Photographers International Council Member Benefit Guide p2

4 Education & Events EPIC s annual education event is Imaging USA, which coincides and co-locates with Imaging USA, one of the largest professional photographic conventions and trade shows in the U.S. EPIC classes are designed with an evidence photographer s needs in mind, including small classes and hands-on workshops. Imaging USA is a great opportunity to not only learn, but also to meet other photographers who are looking to network and take advantage of those trade show deals. In addition, attendees can take advantage of all the classes Imaging USA has to offer. For the latest information (and to register!) visit the EPIC-Imaging USA section of EvidencePhotographers.com. Equipment Apple Apple and EPIC have teamed up to bring you an Association Member Purchase Program (AMPP). Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, operating systems and professional applications. EPIC members qualify for preferred pricing on the latest Apple products and accessories, including the iphone, ipod, and Mac hardware and software. To take advantage of this benefit, visit com/eppstore/ppa or call and request your AMPP preferred pricing when placing an order. Camera Repair Services: Precision Camera Precision Camera can repair your camera and get you back to work in less than three business days with discounted outbound shipping on repaired/ converted units, discounted flat-rate repair pricing and top-notch diagnostic technicians. EPIC members can take advantage of two special Precision Camera discount programs: fthe f EPIC Premier Services Program includes a free estimate (no diagnostics fee) and a free sensor cleaning certificate after your first repair ($49.95 value). Coupon Code: EPIC2010PCR fthe f EPIC Infrared Conversion Program offers EPIC members up to $45 off Infrared Conversion. Coupon Code: EPIC2010IR To place an order, visit PrecisionCamera.com. Be sure to enter your EPIC discount code in the Promo Code Box. Evidence Photographers International Council Member Benefit Guide p3

5 Evidence Technology Magazine Since 2003, Evidence Technology Magazine has been covering topics that run the gamut, including the CSI effect, fingerprint technology, crime-scene safety, computer forensics, forensic DNA, firearm and toolmark examination, recovering human remains, education and training, photography, forensic video analysis, mass-disaster response, livescan technology, crime-scene diagramming and AFIS technology. In fact, it became the first trade publication in the U.S. to focus exclusively on evidence collection, processing and preservation. EPIC Members receive a free subscription to Evidence Technology Magazine. Once you become a member, you will automatically receive a subscription! Copyright & Government Affairs EPIC is the only professional photographic association with a full-time copyright and government affairs staff. We lobby Congress on copyright and health insurance reform, educate you and the public about copyright issues, and help you protect your work and your rights. How Does EPIC help protect & enforce my copyrights? EPIC works with the U.S. Copyright Office to make it easier to register and protect your work. (We helped the Copyright Office connect with photographers to test the eco system eco/ so you can now register your work online.) In addition, we help manage PhotographerRegistry.com, which helps the public locate photographers when they want to reproduce copyrighted photographs, lowering the risk of copyright infringement. Please note: this is not where photographers register their work. How can EPIC help me with copyright or trademark questions? We believe that education is the first step to protecting your copyright or trademark. EPIC members have access to valuable material available for download and viewing in the Members Only section of EvidencePhotographers.com, including: ffthe EPIC Copyright Kit ffsample licensing agreements ffcopyright transfer forms ffcopyright, trademark and model release webinars If you have additional questions about copyrights or trademarks, or if you have found that your copyrights have been infringed, you can call our Customer Service Center to receive further assistance. We can help by: ffassisting photographers directly who may have problems with another party using work without permission. ffproviding general information about trademarks, what they are and how they work. ffsharing legal resources. Copyright matters can carry over into contract, employment and other legal issues. While EPIC cannot provide legal advice, we can arm you with the pertinent resources and information to help you see the entire picture. Evidence Photographers International Council Member Benefit Guide p4

6 Discount Programs Data Recovery: DriveSavers DriveSavers Data Recovery is the fastest, most reliable and only secure data recovery service in the world. If you re not backed up, losing data can be a nightmare. Use the exclusive 20% membership discount if your data needs to be recovered. (This is the largest discount in the industry!) You won t be charged if data is not recovered (for the Standard and Economy services). For multiple drives, there is a minimum discounted attempt charge. Visit DriveSavers at DriveSavers. com, or call and mention EPIC s Exclusive Partner Code: DS Book Discounts: Barnes & Noble If you re looking for a book on photography or business, the Barnes & Noble online bookstore can help. You can save 5% on an incredible selection of books, DVDs, and CDs. (The discount doubles to 10% twice a year!) Visit to take advantage of the online bookstore, featuring over one million titles, including photography books. Office Supplies: Office Depot Office Depot provides EPIC members a discounted purchasing program for various office supply items. The program is simple to use, easy to manage and tailored to your specific needs. To visit the Office Supplies benefit, log into the Members Only section at EvidencePhotographers.com, select Member Benefits, then select Office Supplies. Fedex Whether you are looking for office and document support, or for reliable and cost-effective shipping, you can count on FedEx and FedEx Office SM to deliver. EPIC members can save up to 26% on select FedEx shipping services and up to 20% on select FedEx Office copy and print services. There are no cost or minimum shipping requirements to take advantage of this great member benefit. Visit and enter passcode 589DBF to start saving now. Evidence Photographers International Council Member Benefit Guide p5

7 Insurance EPIC has chosen partners who can offer specialized assistance with a variety of insurance plans to meet the unique needs of professional photographers: Marsh and Liberty Mutual. Marsh Special Risk Photography Equipment Insurance This discounted program, designed exclusively for EPIC members, insures your most valuable photographic equipment, from your cameras and lenses to lighting equipment and filters. You ve spent a lot of money purchasing your equipment, and you could save a lot of money by protecting it with this insurance plan. (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company) Photographers Business Liability Insurance Plan If you re in business for yourself, you need business liability insurance. This EPIC exclusive program protects you in cases of bodily injury and property damage. Venues often require you to provide proof of liability insurance before you re even allowed to photograph on the property. (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company) Liberty Mutual Auto, Home and Renters Insurance The Liberty Mutual Group Savings Plus program offers quality auto, home and renters insurance to EPIC members and their families. Enrolling in this program or receiving a free, no-obligation premium quote is simple. For more information, call Liberty Mutual at , or visit lm/ppa. EPIC has a special client number, so be sure to mention # when you call. Marsh Services can also help you save on the following insurance plans: ffcustomized Major Medical (Individual and Small Group) ffgateway International Travel Insurance ffbusiness Overhead Expense Plan fflong Term Care ffveterinary Pet Insurance ffclub Chapter Director & Officers Liability ffdisability Income ffgroup Term Life ffenhanced Dental For more information, quotes or claims, call (Monday - Friday, 9am - 6pm Eastern Standard Time), or visit: Evidence Photographers International Council Member Benefit Guide p6

8 Advertising Find-a-Photographer (FAP) Online Referral Database EPIC s Find-a-Photographer (FAP) search engine is a unique, business-generating tool. It is a free service potential clients can use to find photographers in their area. Your profile (name and contact information) will be set up automatically, unless you opt out of the service. If you have any questions, contact csc@evidencephotographers.com. Student Assistant Search If you re looking for an assistant or maybe a second shooter for personal work, the Student Photographic Society s (SPS) assistant search may be able to help you. It lists student photographers, members of SPS, who are available to work in your area. Visit to begin your search. Evidence Photographers International Council Member Benefit Guide p7