A few weeks ago I finally became a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP). I decided to join for a multitude of reasons which I will not go into in much detail. But more importantly I want to give my opinion of my NAPP membership now that I have been a member for a few weeks and had time to go through the member area of the NAPP website amongst other things. I hope those sitting on the fence trying to decide if a NAPP membership is worth it will find this review useful.
Before I begin though I want to give a little disclaimer…
I have no connection to NAPP other than being a member. I trade messages with some of the NAPP employees on Twitter and Facebook from time to time but other than that I have no affiliation with them at all. The whole purpose of this blog post is to answer all the questions from people thinking about joining that want advice on whether they should spend the money or not. That being said, I am going to provide my member referral link at the end of the article and I do get some perks if people sign up using this link. However, the desire of getting perks from member signups will in no way affect the opinions I state in this article about NAPP membership.
Additionally, I did not include any screenshots of the NAPP members website to avoid infringing on NAPP’s copyright and IP.
So… you want to know what your membership to NAPP is going to get you? Lets do this!
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Tutorials
The NAPP member website has a section for text and video tutorials written by some of the top names in the Photoshop education world to include Scott Kelby, Dave Cross, Matt Kloskowski, RC Conception, Corey Barker, Al Ward, and more. As of the moment I am writing this blog post, there are 54 pages of tutorials containing a total of 1,064 tutorials. That is one tutorial per day for the next 2.9 years! That is not counting all the tutorials that would be added over that period of time.
The categories for these tutorials are Type, Special Effects, Photography, Retouching, Restoration, Correction, Design, Selections, Layer, Effects, Actions, Illustration, Compositing, Finishing Touches, Web, Inspirational, and CS4.
Both the video and text tutorials are of the same quality that you see in all the tutorials released by the collection of NAPP educators. Every step is explained clearly and for the text tutorials there are screenshots showing the important parts of the sequence.
H.E.L.P. Quick Video Tips
HELP stands for How-To Educational Library for Photoshop and it is pretty freaking cool section of the NAPP member website. This is basically a help center to answer any questions you have regarding Photoshop by showing you a short video clip on the topic that you need help with. Say that you want to know more about the channels pallet or your channels pallet disappeared and you don’t know how to get it back. You just go to the H.E.L.P. page and select channels in the left hand box. The right box is then populated by all the quick tip videos that are associated with the channels topic. I selected the channels pallet entry and a video showing me where the channels pallet is, how to use it, and how to get it back if its not there began playing on the bottom half of the page. There is also a keyword search feature so if you cannot find what you are looking for in the selection boxes then just do a keyword search to get your results.
I have to admit that I personal believe that this tool could have a lot more content in it than it does. However, it is marked as still being in the BETA stage so my guess is that once they have it working properly and launch the 1.0 version then it will include a lot more of the Photoshop topics for you to reference for help. My overall opinion of this tool is that it is pretty freaking cool and will be a great resource once it is finished. I would also LOVE to see a version of this tool for Lightroom; H.E.L.L. anyone? 
Tips & Tricks
This section of the NAPP member website currently contains a total of 73 tips and tricks for using various features within Photoshop. Within the first 5 minutes of browsing through the various tips and tricks they have posted I learned ways of fixing some of the things that annoyed me about Photoshop. For example, how to see the color of type while you have it highlighted. Don’t know what I mean? Look on page 5.
Shortcuts, Brushes, and Styles
This page is technically three pages in one. It has a list of Photoshop shortcuts on the first sub-page. The next two sub-pages have a ton of patterns, brushes, actions, and styles from Al Ward that are free to download and use. Why spend the time to re-invent the wheel when you can just download these sets and spice up your design instantly? Don’t get me wrong… this is not the holy grail of downloads for these items as the selections are a little limited… but it is nice to be able to have these on hand for when you really need that brush that is shaped like a butterfly or the text style you need for a last minute project.
HELP CENTER
This is one of the things that I think is very important to look at when trying to decide if NAPP membership is worth the cost. Have you ever tried to do something in Photoshop or Lightroom that you just couldn’t get right? Ever had a question about camera gear or computer equipment? If you answered yes to either of those questions then you’ve probably spent some time using Google and reading reviews written by who knows who and still left trying to figure it out on your own. Well, as a NAPP member you just load up the NAPP Help Center and see if your question has already been answered. If it hasn’t then you can submit your question and one of the NAPPsters (I may get sued by Napster for that one) will research your question and provide you with an answer.
MEMBER DISCOUNTS
If you’ve watched any of the NAPP News podcasts by Larry Becker then you’ve probably heard him talk about various discounts that NAPP members can get. There are a ton of them. Let me just rattle off a few places that offer discounts to NAPP members… Dell, Drobo, AdoramaPix, MacMall, BorrowLens, LensProToGo, B&H, Office Depot, and a horde of Photoshop software plug-in makers. Is a membership to NAPP worth the 5% or 10% discount you can get from some of these places? Nah. But it sure is a really nice perk if you get a NAPP membership for all the other reasons I’ve covered. They key here is that if you do get a NAPP membership, don’t buy anything until after you’ve checked the member discount page because there is a good chance you might be able to save a few bucks on your order!
PHOTOSHOP USER MAGAZINE
Remember how I mentioned something about the holy grail earlier in this post? Well, the subscription to Photoshop User magazine is, in my opinion, the holy grail of NAPP membership. I can probably make a pretty good assumption that the majority of people that will be reading this article have at least flipped through a Photoshop User magazine at the book store in the past. For those people I don’t even have to say how great a magazine it is. In fact, I am really hesitant to say much more about the magazine in this article because I would rather have those that haven’t seen a Photoshop User magazine before go to their local bookstore and look at one to see for themselves. With the NAPP membership you all 8 Photoshop User magazines and any special editions that come out during that period. That in itself is well worth the NAPP membership fee.
NAPP PERKS
There are additional perks that NAPP members get. These perks include access to product reviews, the NAPP newswire, lots of freebies made available to NAPP members from various companies that make Photoshop plug-ins and other software, the NAPP Watermark Creator program, and the NAPP member forums.
All of those things I listed are self explanatory but I want to make an extra note about the NAPP member forums. All NAPP members can post in any of the forum rooms to discuss all sorts of NAPP, Photoshop, and Photography topics. Just doing some quick math in my head (which means I am probably way off here) there are more than 75,000 posts in the forums as of right now. Lets just say that the forums are a massive resource that you can not only tap into but also contribute to on all topics relating to your Photoshop and photography passion. This is also a great medium to network with other artists that are all NAPP members.
There is also a NAPP Member Referral code that you can give out to friends and family so that you can get some benefits whenever they sign up.
NAPP STORE
The NAPP store offers books, DVD’s, online training, and seminars at a reduced cost to NAPP members. In some cases we are talking about great than a 50% discount! Once you become a NAPP member you will not buy another book at full cost from Barnes and Nobles or Amazon again. Again, is this really worth a membership to NAPP all on its own? Nah. But it is a really nice perk!!
NAPP PORTFOLIOS
The NAPP member website has a section for uploading images that you have created into a nice online portfolio that can be viewed by other NAPP members. I have found this to be a nice resource for viewing art created by others as well as gaining some inspiration for my own photography projects.
OTHER
There are a few other little cool things you get with your membership package but I am going to keep them a secret… I wouldn’t want to ruin the fun.
CONCLUSION
Let me put this into perspective for you… For a one year NAPP membership you are going to pay $99. You get 8 issues of Photoshop User magazine which cost $10 a piece if you buy them at a book store. That means your net cost of joining is really only $19. Now factor in the discount that you get for seminars, online training, Photoshop World tickets, books, DVD’s, and all the other perks that I mentioned above and it is basically like NAPP is paying YOU to join!
As I said before, I have been a NAPP member for just over two weeks now. In those two weeks I have spent around 5 hours or so on their website going through tutorials, reading and posting on the member forums, and cruising through other member’s portfolios. Roughly 5 hours… that’s it. And I can honestly say that in those 5 hours I have learned many things that have changed the way I use Photoshop and also the way that I approach my photography in a very good way. 5 hours. That’s it. And with 50 weeks left on my NAPP membership at this same rate that equates out to roughly 250 more hours of learning from the pro’s. I cannot even image how much my Photoshop and photography talent will grow with 250 hours more of utilizing the NAPP member resources.
So, my conclusion…
NAPP membership is well worth it. Nothing more; Nothing Less. Well worth it.
Wow, this is excellent! I’m sending this to anyone who asks me why I’m a happy NAPP member. Thanks!
Good post. I joined some time ago, and the membership has been worth more than I paid. Always great to get value above the cost of the item, and I’m a happy member.
Great rundown on everything!
Terry,
@Mitz sent me a link to this post the other night…. Every day on Twitter, someone asks, “Who is a member of the NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals)? Is it worth it ?”
I never respond to these folks myself b/c they don’t want to be marketed to, they want to know what other NAPP members think instead. Normally, I “reTweet” the person’s question in the hopes that there’s a NAPP member online willing to answer.
If you don’t mind, I will direct every question-asker I see to your blog from now on. =)
Thank you for the honest post.
Thanks for all the comments on the post so far. I’ve tried to respond to people on Twitter asking about it but I am just too long winded to explain it all in 160 characters! That was my main drive to creating this post…
One thing that I forgot to mention in the article is that NAPP is an organization that is dedicated to making better artists out of all of us and they are very good at what they do. Why would you not want to support and be a part of an organization like that?
My friends are often put off NAPP because they’re not photo professionals. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a pro, just want to learn to use Photoshop like one!
I let my membership lapse because I found I did not have time to take advantage of the site or go to the workshops. If you use your membership it is well worth the money. I do miss Napp. Hope to get back soon.
Your thoughts are my thoughts exactly on NAPP. It’s helped me out more than I realized it would in the first few months! Great post!
Check out Patty’s lastest blog post.. This Is What I Make When Bimmer Man Is Gone
Terry, You are dead-on correct about the value of NAPP membership. I have been a member for over five years. I must confess I could stand to tap into the resource much more than I do, but every year I have taken advantage of the membership for training and discounts and I will continue to renew my membership in the years to come! I highly recommend NAPP to any designer or photographer and your write up was excellent!
Hi Sean, I feel the same way. The funny thing is that I had been recommending NAPP to other photographers for a long time and was never a member myself. I have no idea why I didn’t join sooner. It was one of those things that I just never really thought about. After I took the plunge and signed up, I realized how stupid it was to put it off for so long!
I was a NAPP member for many years. I have been working at a day job for the last couple of years, however, and haven’t been able to afford to renew my membership. I look forward to the day that I do renew. My NAPP membersip was wonderful, beneficial and has made a big difference in the way that I work. Most of all, the day-long trainings are more than worthwhile to attend. I always leave with great new skills and knowledge that help my productivity in many practical way.
Does membership include a phone hotline where you can personally talk to an expert about a problem with photoshop?
Hi Kerry,
Not that I know of. However, they do have an extensive Q&A archive on their site for members and a form for submitting your problem. They say that most questions are answered within 24-hours. NAPP’s Help Desk is made up of three sharp long-time Photoshop users who really know their stuff. So I think that is a pretty sweet perk to being a member!
Would users of Photoshop Elements also benefit from membership?
A NAPP membership is reasonably prices if you consider all the things it includes. Just like any membership – what matters is what you get out of it. Heck attend one workshop or conference and that discount makes up a good difference as well!
Check out Terri’s lastest blog post.. Beautiful Portrait Techniques
Photoshop without NAPP is like a day without sunshine.
I have been a member of NAPP for about 6 months and pay for the video tutorials every month. At first I was on the site every day and went through all of the tutorials that interested me. I haven’t been there in several months but it is still a bargain at double the price. I get both magazines and read them faithfully. I have learned a lot and never cease to learn somthing each time I pick up an issue. Adobe makes great tools albeit a bit expensive for the average person.
Most of the Adobe applications do seem a bit expensive but the cost of large application development does come with a significant overhead. I have been rejoicing the release of Lightroom… it is cheaper than Photoshop but still extremely useful!
I have to agree. Lightroom is the best application for adjustments on the market. I use CS4 all the time but LR can;t be beat for time saving adjustments.
d
My NAPP membership is the best 99.00 a year I have ever spent. THe help desk is the first place I go when I don’t know the answer to something. Peter Bauer who runs it has never ever failed me.
I haven’t used the help desk yet but I have heard the same as what you say from those that have… It rocks! Thanks for the comment… it is an honor to have you on the blog!
I am a student at The Art Institute of Dallas, and have been debating the membership for a while. I really must say that after reading your review, I am subscribing as I type! Thanks!!
Hi Dione! I am glad that you found the review helpful. You really will not be displeased with your decision to join NAPP. I am still loving my choice to sign up. In fact, the latest Photoshop User Magazine was delivered to my door step this afternoon so I will be sitting down to read it very soon.
Welcome to the club!!
Thanks Terry! I have been getting the Layers mag for a couple of months now, and have done a lot of research and info gathering on the NAPP. I am also glad that I finally took the jump! Now if I can only get as good as you guys here, I think I may have a chance!
Just keep practicing and you will be as good as you want to be! Pixels are free so never hesitate to practice and try new things. If it doesn’t work, just re-open the file and try something else.
Hey Terry – Nice review. I found it because NAPP sent me an email with the link to your blog – I figure you could probably work that angle (free membership maybe?). When I join, I’ll admit it will be mostly due to your review and the posts from other readers. There appear to be multitudes of photographic groups out there so it is difficult to tell which ones are worth joining – or if mentioning your membership in a Bio means anything to the average, non-commercial, client.
Here is my question. What do you think are the main associations or organizations that a serious professional photographer should be a member of aside from NAPP?
Thanks again,
Erin
Hi Erin,
Glad to hear you found the review useful! As for your question about the associations or organizations… I am probably not the best person to ask about it. I am not a member of anything but NAPP. I don’t have a resume; only a portfolio. The types of work I go for only require a portfolio and none of my usual clients would care if I were a member of an organization or not. They are concerned about the end result and that’s it!
I have heard a lot about various professional organizations and my best advice is to pick one that covers the area you are interested in and then pick the one that has the best cost to features ratio.
Terry
I’m drooling. Too bad I’m poor. Maybe next Tax Refund season…
Terry this is an excellent review of NAPP. I have been a member of NAPP for several years. It is the best $99 I spend each year. It is even cheaper when you sign up for more then one year. Kelby and crew have taught me then I can say. Plus they never fail you when you need them.
I’m sure your belonging to NAPP, will be very enriching to your professional and creative life.
I do have a question. If there is so much to learn at NAPP then why is there http://www.kelbytraining.com?
I do have a membership there under my maiden name, but hesitated joining NAPP for my reason and question above. Not to mention there is only 24 hours in a day and I, also, have membership at Lynda.com.
(-:
I’ve seen both the NAPP membership area and Kelby Training (KT). There are some major differences between the two of them… NAPP has a lot of interactivity between members on the NAPP forums and a lot of perks for members as I discussed above. KT is purely video training on all subjects regarding photography and graphic arts. The depth and breadth of the KT videos is astounding and I can see why one would have to pay more to get access to them. I know personally the time and cost in generating videos of that quality. I keep going back to the idea that you get what you pay for… and with both NAPP and KT I think the prices are just about right for what you get. As their names suggest… NAPP is an association whereas KT is purely a training environment.
Thanks Terry for your answer!
I will stick with KT right now … (-:
I have read quite a few comments on how good NAPP membership is. I am not a NAPP member yet, but getting tempted….
I want to just talk loud my thoughts here to know if its really that good for a non-US person.
Now my location is Sweden, where I won’t get the Photoshop User Magazine in print if I join the USD 99 membership. Secondly, most of those discounts mentioned from companies like Dell, etc are ‘for US and Canada-residents only’, Thirdly, if I know how to use Google well, I can find any video tutorial online on using Photoshop for free.
Finally, Scott Kelby and gang, I think they are just super in offering what they offer online for free.
Someone from NAPP or a NAPP member, try to beat that.
Anyone with some knowledge of Google can find almost anything on the internet… but the quality of the things you find are not always the best. I haven’t found any video tutorials online that can top the ones produced by the NAPP guys. There is a lot more to NAPP then video tutorials anyway… if you want free videos then http://www.planetphotoshop.com is the site to visit and it is run by NAPP and it is free. As for not getting Photoshop User Magazine outside of the US and other offers… I cannot give an opinion as I am not in that situation. Maybe a non-US reader of my blog can answer that one for you. And I am not sure I understand your comment “try to beat that”. Scott Kelby is NAPP….
Yes, Finally someone considerate enough to give an honest opinion of the NAPP membership. I must admit that I have been a member for a little over year now and have been somewhat reluctant to really dive in and take advantage of the benefits of membership but this review gives me a reason to do it. Thanks
All this lovliness from NAPP.
Just be carefull what you post in the member forums
After 3 years of membership, I posted a suggestion on one of the forums that was just a wee bit controversial & was BANNED from NAPP, my membership was terminated in 5 minutes.
Be carefull what you post…….Not all is sweetness & light!
What was the suggestion you posted? I’m sure anyone reading your comment is going to wonder the same thing and probably ignore it since not enough facts were presented. I would ban someone without hesitation if they made certain suggestions or brought up certain topics for discussion. Not only from a legal stand point but also a moral one. So please… do tell.
Hi Derek,
Hope all is well with you. As a member of the NAPP team (and a person who is familiar with this incident) you neglected mention that you were not BANNED from NAPP at all. In fact, you contacted Larry (Director of NAPP) after your latest questionable post and told him that you would gladly leave NAPP if you were refunded your membership fee.
Larry’s response to you “After careful consideration, we have decided to take you up on your offer.”
All of your “less controversial” contributions to the NAPP forums still exist and you are listed there as a “Former NAPP Member” so anyone is free to look for your comments and judge for themselves on their degree of usefulness to the overall discussion.
Our NAPP member forums exist for only one purpose, to allow our members to discuss Photoshop & photography and seek help, advice and ~constructive~ criticism from fellow members. There are ~plenty~ of other forums on the Internet for all other content, but our moderators work very hard to keep the NAPP forums a place where people from all walks of life and skills sets can go and feel completely comfortable in posting, knowing that they will not be ridiculed, berated or teased.
So, in a sense, Derek is somewhat correct about being careful about what you post on the NAPP forums as we do not tolerate negative behavior towards other members. However, we will NOT ban you outright. Instead, we will privately contact you, as we did with Derek on many occasions, and if you decide that NAPP is not the environment for you, we will do whatever we can to ensure a satisfactory conclusion.
Thank you, Nancy, for clearing that up.
Derek, I went through the NAPP member forums last night and looked at all your recent posts. I must say that I would have banned you long before you asked for your membership to be refunded. Almost every post you made was negative, insulting, or condescending. You claimed many times not to be a great photographer but that you worked as a hairdresser for many of the professionals back in the 60’s and 70’s. That’s great but you never actually shared any of the knowledge you may have learned by working with them. In fact, you never really shared any knowledge what-so-ever. You just criticized everyone else. You may see your actions differently but what I am saying is how you came across to everyone else. It is up to you to decide whether to remain as you are or make an effort to become a positive member of the photography community.
As a long time NAPP member, I was really amused by this post. I agree with everything said, it is just that I would have said it in a different order. I arrived at NAPP through the magazine. I found it in a technical bookstore before it was out in Barnes and Noble and the other main stream outlets. I loved it so much that I joined NAPP just for the magazine and it is still the main reason why I am a member.
The rest of the benefits are just the gravy to the meat and potatoes that is the magazine.
Great write up! I couldn’t agree more. I’m on my second year of NAPP membership. There is just so much there in terms of training and discounts, no your level of Photoshop expertise.