GPA Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a GPA member?
Membership of the Garden Photographers’ Association requires prior admission to the Garden Media Guild. For full details of the criteria for GMG Membership and the application process, please go to www.gardenmediaguild.co.uk.


Do I have to be working in the UK to be a member?
No. A number of GPA members are based outside the UK. We welcome members from all over the world.


What extra things can I do on the site if I am a GPA member?
You can set up your own Portfolio which can be seen by any visitor to the site.
You can also create a Lightbox which is a selection of pictures you can send to clients or colleagues in complete confidentiality. For example, if you have mobile access to the site, you could create a Lightbox in the field and have your clients look at it before you leave the location. See the pages ‘Members’ Area’ for details of how to do this.
You will also be able to add your contact details, including a short description about yourself and your website link.


I am already a GPA member. How do I register on the website?
You have to be up-to-date with any membership fees.
Fully-paid members can apply for registration by going to the ‘Members’ Area’ and filling in the ‘Apply for registration’ form. Photographers are listed in alphabetical order. Please select your name from the drop-down list, enter your email address and choose a password. These details will be used to login to your Member’s Area.
Password should have no spaces, you can use letters and numbers but not any symbols. Passwords are case-sensitive.
If you are a fully paid GPA member, we will activate all areas for you. This can take up to 5 working days. You will receive an email confirmation with your login details.
After you have successfully registered, you simply login using the email and password you registered with.
Once your application has been accepted, you will be able to create and edit all of your personal details, and promote your work on the site.


I have registered but I have not received a confirmation email
A confirmation email should be sent within 5 days. If you have not received it, perhaps your anti-spam filter is treating it as spam - the email address is almost certainly not recognised. You can add support@gpauk.org to your list of acceptable addresses in your anti-spam software. You can always check the dropdown list of members on the members area page. If your name is not there, it means your registration has been accepted and you can login using the details you provided. If you continue to have problems please contact support@gpauk.org.


Will the system send me a password?
No. Your password is the one you used to register with. Use this to login.


My name is not in the dropdown list of members on the members' area page
That means you have already registered and your registration has been accepted. Use the email address and password you provided in order to login.


Is the email and password case sensitive?
Yes.


Can I use my Googlegroup password?
No, your login details for this website are completely separate. Access to Googlegroups is with a Google account, easily set up at no cost and you can use your normal eMail address.

I have changed my email address; do I need to re-register?
No. Just change your email address in your Contact details on the site. The system will change your login automatically.

I have lost my password.
Just enter your user name (email address) in the login box and click 'forgotten your password? This will be sent to you.

How do I get my images on the site?
Once you have logged in, you will automatically go to the ‘Members’ Area’ page. Click ‘Edit Portfolio’ or ‘Edit Lightbox’ on the menu on the left hand side of the screen.
After preparing all the JPEG files, save them on your computer. You do not have to give them special filenames.
1. Add new image: Click ‘Add New Image’. This will take you to a pop-up, asking you to enter the title of the image as you want it to appear to a viewer (up to 50 characters), then browse for the image on your computer. When you have found the image you want, click ‘Upload’. Upload all the images you want (Portfolio - maximum 9 images, Lightbox - maximum 30 images).
2. Edit image - in order to change to a different image: Click on the thumbnail you want to edit. Click ‘Edit Image’ and on the pop-up browse for the image on your computer. When you have found the image you want click ‘Upload’.
3. Edit title - in order to change to a different title: Click on the thumbnail you want to edit. Click ‘Edit Title’ and on the pop-up retype your new title (up to 50 characters). When you have finished click ‘Change’.
4. Delete image - in order to remove an image: Click on the thumbnail you want to delete; click ‘Delete Image’ and then confirm deletion.
5. Make main image- you can decide which one of your pictures is displayed in the list of members' portfolios. Simply click, 'make main image' when the image you want is displayed in the main window.


Why do I need to allow Pop-ups?
The Portfolio and Lightbox areas use Pop-ups to carry out a number of processes. This may go more smoothly if you enable Pop-ups for this site in your browser. Follow your browser's on-screen instructions. Allowing Pop-ups on this site only will not compromise the overall security of your set-up.


I have uploaded my images, but I cannot delete an image, or send a Lightbox
Even if you allow Pop-ups, some security software will not allow you to delete an image or send a Lightbox. Simply hold down the 'Ctrl' key (or Mac equivalent) while pressing the button on screen.


I have uploaded my Portfolio but the images look distorted
The Portfolio works with images that are 340 pixels along their longest side. If your image is much bigger, the site will force it down to 340 pixels, giving rise to distortion. Re-process your images according to the instructions below:
1. Colour mode: Images must be converted to SRGB.
2. Resolution: Images must be at 72 dpi resolution.
3. Size: Images must be 340 pixels along their longest side.
4: File format: Images must be saved as JPEG, quality 7.


My images don’t look as good as some of the others on the site
If the technical quality of the images of your images is inconsistent with the rest of the site, you will be contacted with further advice.


It takes me a long time to prepare the images for my Portfolio and Lightbox - is there any way I can shorten this process?
Yes. With help from Tyrone McGlinchey at Garden World Images, we have prepared two Photoshop Actions which will automate this process for you and guarantee acceptable quality from good originals. You can use it to batch-process all your Portfolio or Lightbox images in one pass. This action also applies a slight S curve to enhance contrast and a suitable level of Unsharp Mask.
One Action can be used for landscape format images, one Action for portrait format.


How do I update my contact details?
Once you have logged in, you will automatically go to the ‘Members’ Area’ page. Click ‘Update contact’ on the menu on the left hand side of the screen.
Your contact details will appear with your Portfolio, Lightbox and in the list of members. You only need to edit them once.
Add or edit the details you want and click ‘Update’. The changes will appear immediately throughout the site.
To protect confidentiality, your contact details will be hidden by default. If you agree that your contact details should be displayed on this website, please tick the box ‘Show my contact details to visitors’.