Every photographers seems to have initials after their name.
Do they mean anything?
Well yes they do. They indicate that your photographer has the skills required to meet the criteria laid down by the organisations who award the letters. Look carefully as one set of letters can be much better than another. (Rod is the highest MPA & RPS qualified photographer in S.W. Scotland).
The Royal Photographic Society is the oldest and most prestigeous photographic body in the world. Its qualifications and awards are much prized by professional and amateur photographers alike.
The Master Photographers Association is the only fully qualified United Kingdom organisation for full time practising professional photographers.
LRPS or LMPA (Licenceship) is the basic level and recognises a degree of technical and artistic skill.
ARPS or AMPA (Associate) is much more difficult to achieve and recognises very skilled photographers.
FRPS or FMPA (Fellowship) requires a high degree of technical skill, creativity and originality and is awarded to relatively few photographers worldwide.
The Master Award of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain, MPAGB, is primarily an amateur award but but is only awarded for an exceptional standard of photography which few (amateur or professional) can aspire to.
Maitre de Federation Internationale de l'Art Photographique (MFIAP)has been awarded to only 9 photographers in the UK and fewer than 50 in the world.
