Several months ago we announced a new/upcoming Pro Advisor membership program which provided the instant ability to offer approved Focus Groups (mini-workshops) at the Learn Shoot Inspire forums. At that time we governed part of our approval process based on our teaching criteria necessary to be able to offer a Focus Group at any time if the applicant was approved as an Advisor. We had no intention of offering a simple “Pro” membership in fear that it could/would divide our community.

However, after feedback and member confusion over how our program worked we have decided to trust that our amazing community will not allow division to take place maintaining our positive community spirit. We have worked VERY hard to build this new program based off all the offerings, strengths, approval criteria, and experience from our prior photography based websites Local Photography Guides and LPG Photographers which were offered (though now closed) YEARS before Learn Shoot Inspire was even considered a thought. Re-imagining and rebuilding these 3 photography membership, listing and forum sites into one was our original set goal (though ended up decided against for some time) and now we are so excited to see our original DNA bleeding through in the “Pro Member” offerings! The exclusivity, discounts, activities, contests, unmatched listings, SEO, session postings, etc… it’s all there!

Focus Groups will now be a separate application and those approved will receive the Pro Advisor badge as long as they maintain Focus Group offerings at Learn Shoot Inspire. If they decide to no longer offer Focus Groups they will have the option to maintain a Pro membership. All those already approved as Pro Advisors will continue to be Pro Advisors as they have met our needed criteria and been pre-approved to offer a Focus Group at any time now or in the future.

On that note… We are ready to begin taking applications for “LSI Pro Memberships”!
(continue reading below!)

Applications are $25

What’s included?

- Access to an exclusive “LSI Pro Members” area of the forum
- Pro Member forum badge and new “logged in” username color
- Website badge (coming soon)
- A beautiful full page directory listing on Learn Shoot Inspire with enhanced SEO (see screenshot examples above and below as they reveal different feature tabs)
- Pro Blog posting access (see details below)
- Unique offerings from vendors
- LSI social media announcement
- Special Activities
- More!

ps. We have a very exciting Pro community project planned to kick off the experience immediately. Should be alot of fun!

Pro Blog
We have ALOT of amazing photographers often volunteering to guest blog post here at LSI but the sad part is that we never have had the time/opportunity to pursue some of the best ideas. The Pro Blog is that chance. Our Pro Advisors will be able to post amazing image shares or teaching articles as they please. LSI will be sharing many of our favorites on our social media accounts to gain as much exposure for that photographer and article as possible. We will also have regular image activities on the Pro Blog and/or built right into your listing!

Application Process & Membership Fees
Applications are currently handled by a minimum of 2 staff members. Applications that are not approved WILL NOT include any explanation as to why. We will not respond to emails questioning our judgement or messages sent via our forum. We will include a list of things that we look at in general for you to attempt to correct before re-applying no less then 2 months later.

LSI Pro Members are required to maintain a new 1 year membership available at the same $95/Year rate as our normal memberships. HOWEVER, we are not planning to allow discount codes on this offering as we offer occasionally for our normal memberships. If you already have a 3 month, 6 month, or 1 year membership and are approved then we will provide you with a ONE TIME unique coupon code to use which will accommodate for what you may have already paid** on a membership. Accepted or not, application fees are separate and will not be refunded or deposited towards your membership fees.

http://learnshootinspire.com/lsi-pro-membership-application-form/

(If you have paid and submitted our Pro Advisor application form in the past then you may email us at info@learnshootinspire to request to be re-evaluated based on our Pro criteria free of charge for your first re-evaluation.)

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ALTER ANY OF THIS INFORMATION AT ANY POINT. THE PRO FEATURES HAVE NOT ALL BEEN RELEASED AS OF THIS POST. APPLY KNOWING THAT IF APPROVED YOU WILL HAVE 3 DAYS TO PURCHASE THE PROPER MEMBERSHIP AND YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE PARTIAL FEATURES UNTIL ALL OUR RELEASED AT A LATER DATE SOON IN THE FUTURE.

**Coupon Code Calculation Example:

1 year $95 with 40% off coupon code = $57 ÷  365 days = 0.16 avg per day.

$57 – 16 days used at 0.16 avg =  $54.44 coupon provided to apply towards your new $95 1 year recurring membership.

Over the past several months we have been pretty silent in regards to upcoming features. Though we have been silent… we’ve been working incredibly hard on how we wanted to approach the future of LSI. The good news is that we are near finished and ready to begin getting more involved.

We are now ready to begin taking applications for “LSI Pro Advisors”!

Applications are $25

What’s included?

- Access to an exclusive “LSI Pro Advisors” area of the forum
- Pro Advisor forum badge and new “logged in” username color
- Website badge (coming soon)
- A beautiful full page directory listing on Learn Shoot Inspire with enhanced SEO
- Pro Blog posting access (see details below)
- Ability to offer your own Focus Group to possibly boost your income significantly (see details below)
- Unique offerings from vendors
- LSI social media announcement and support when LSI deems appropriate
- Special Activities
- More!

Pro Blog
We have ALOT of amazing photographers often volunteering to guest blog post here at LSI but the sad part is that we never have had the time/opportunity to pursue some of the best ideas. The Pro Blog is that chance. Our Pro Advisors will be able to post amazing image shares or teaching articles as they please. LSI will be sharing many of our favorites on our social media accounts to gain as much exposure for that photographer and article as possible. We will also have regular image activities on the Pro Blog as well!

Focus Groups
LSI Pro Advisors will have to meet the highest standards in the industry. We feel this absolutely necessary as each and every one will receive our stamp of approval to offer a Focus Group (mini-workshop) at Learn Shoot Inspire. Keep in mind though that offering a Focus Group is optional.

How will it work?

- Focus Groups will be offered at ONE constant standard rate of $119 – $140 per person (still in talks on the exact price point).
- You may offer the focus group mini workshop styled, personal critique, video, text, etc. Any way you choose but LSI will have to give the final approval on the workshop to ensure we believe it’s fair and inline with our standards, price-point, and will get positive reviews.
- The LSI Pro Advisor will receive a full 70% of the sales (excluding unforeseen refunds).
- You must agree to participate in LSI Reward or giveaway activities which could require you to offer a seat or two FREE in each of your workshops (we will ensure any such activity is done in a fair and appropriate manor).
- We will include the option of having your Focus Group listing in LSI workshop update emails if submitted in time for the mailing.
- We will mention each workshop on our social media to promote it.
- You will have your own full page focus group listing on the “Pro” public side of LSI.
- We will handle the sales and incoming focus group inquiries for you.
- We are NOT RESPONSIBLE for fully marketing or selling out your Focus Group. Whether or not it’s a success is up to you.
- We will have an ongoing discussion at the forum and provide you with a list of Focus Group topic ideas to get you started.

We reserve the right to change any of the information stated above at any time without notice leading up to our public launch (apply at your own risk in this regard). We reserve the right to dis-allow focus group subjects that may interfere with the sales of our main Learn Shoot Inspire workshops (IOW, we likely would not allow a direct newborn safety & posing focus group but there are many subjects surrounding that that would be fine). We will also require blog posts and/or Focus Group content to be designed specific to LSI. While it is still your content we ask that you make significant alterations away from your offerings at LSI should you ever decide to leave our program and join another. We are also not responsible for piracy of your offerings on LSI though we do our best to fight it.

Application Process & Membership Fees
Applications are always handled by 3 appropriate reviewers who will grade your application with a point system. The reviewers will constantly change. They will be members of our staff, workshop instructors, off-site inspiring photographer, or LSI Pro Advisors. Applications that are not approved will not include in depth explanation why. We will include a list of things that we look at in general for you to attempt to correct before re-applying no less then 2 months later.

LSI Pro Advisors are required to maintain a new 1 year membership available at the same $95/Year rate as our normal memberships. HOWEVER, we are not planning to allow discount codes on this offering as we offer occasionally for our normal memberships. If you already have a 3 month, 6 month, or 1 year membership and are approved then we will provide you with a ONE TIME unique coupon code to use which will accommodate for what you may have already paid on a membership. Accepted or not, application fees are separate and will not be refunded or deposited towards your membership fees.

FOR ALL TO READ IN CLOSING
We are aware that many of the Pro’s in the industry feel that Pro memberships should be free. While we do not believe this is a proper sustainable business module for LSI to follow and maintain our own expenses, we have designed a program for the Pro Advisors to take advantage of which can benefit them far more then memberships cost. We do this in way of Focus Group offerings, SEO enhanced directory listings, vendor discounts, social media support, and increased attention brought to your brand . The true value of this membership is priceless if taken advantage of properly and is expected to be the highest regarded program of its kind in the entire industry.

This program also brings very exciting things to our members who aren’t able to be approved yet for such a program. This not only gives you something to reach for but will also attract additional pros to the forum to help you learn from and network with. The program will also increase content for you to learn and be inspired by via our new pro blog and focus groups! We are so excited about these upcoming features to Learn Shoot Inspire and we can’t wait to have them fully released. Please sound-off any questions or comments below! For those wanting to help pioneer this program with us and are willing to prepare blog posts or Focus Groups right away to be ready for the public launch then we will release the application form link in this post later today.

Ps. Prop Vendors, we will not be leaving you out! We will also be releasing an offering for the highest qualified prop vendors via an application process. Included will be a beautiful full page listing on LSI, Pro Blog posting access for upcoming activities and events, image card at the top of Learn Shoot Inspire, unique but limited Pro Forum access, and social media support when LSI feels appropriate. Prices and application process is still being decided but should be available when the rest of our offerings go fully public.

***updated*** We’ve removed the application link while we revise 12/27/2012. Should be available tomorrow. ****