New national professional association for photography
Effective January 2024, the three existing photography and film associations—SBF, USPP, and Vfg—will merge to form the nationwide professional association for professional photography, «Siyu Professional Photography Switzerland.» The new joint initiative brings together the interests and activities of the three associations, aims to create new opportunities, and will strengthen the presence of professional photography.
The merger of the Swiss Professional Photographers and Film Designers SBF, the Union Suisse des Photographes Professionels USPP and the Vereinigung Fotografischer GestalterInnen Vfg has been decided. The new professional association "Siyu professionelle fotografie schweiz" will begin its work in January 2024.
The first talks on merging the three photography associations took place a good three years ago, leading to a joint declaration of intent in 2022. This resulted in a new concept to represent the entire spectrum of modern photography and give it a common face. This year, the three associations formally approved the new professional association with the new name "Siyu Professional Photography Switzerland".
The objectives, services and activities of the three associations will be combined, creating new opportunities for involvement in all areas of interest in modern photography. The door will be opened for the involvement of members, but also for engagements with external interest groups.
The artificial word "Siyu" is based on the English "see you". At the same time, it also stands for "I See You", the understanding of content that particularly characterizes professional photography. Professional photographers are both creatives and service providers. The diverse, dynamic world of photography encompasses not only the entire range of classic and modern photography, but also moving images, drone shots, image editing, CGI, AI and other future technologies. Siyu aims to represent this diversity of photography and create an open, progressive platform.
