A Tribute to PPA CEO David Trust
During my ten-year career at the Copyright Alliance, there have been few constants. The issues have changed, the membership has changed, the policymakers we work with have changed, and there have been many more changes. But during this time, there has been one constant—David Trust, CEO of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Sadly, after running PPA for the past 25 years, David has announced that he’ll be retiring this April. There seems to be no better time to look back and celebrate David’s career and the legacy he leaves behind.
David was tapped to take the helm as the CEO of PPA in 1998, a role that he has now held for 25+ remarkable years. His tenure leading the organization is now the longest in its history, and one that has been marked by incomparable growth, strategic innovation, and a deep commitment to elevating the business and professional standards of photographers worldwide.
Under David’s leadership, PPA has undergone an impressive expansion, including exponential membership growth, an increased breadth of services, and a brand that photographers trust. He also led the way to make PPA’s signature, annual event, Imaging USA, the premier, longest-running national convention for professional photographers in the U.S., offering a massive trade show, hands-on education, networking, top keynote speakers, and opportunities for earning degrees, all of which amount to a vibrant, community-focused event.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the photography industry was among the hardest hit. Weddings, corporate events, portrait sessions, and many other events vanished virtually overnight. David and his team sprung into action and quickly pivoted to assist the photographer community. Within a week, they offered access to scores of classes, from technical photography skills to business survival strategies, free of charge and accessible globally. Members and non-members alike flocked to utilize these resources from nearly 200 countries across the globe.
David has long emphasized respect for photographers, who are often independent business owners, and an appreciation of the hard work and expertise required to be a professional photographer. And David went above and beyond to make sure that policymakers in Washington, DC also recognize this.
Under David’s leadership, PPA’s mission has never been solely about education or commerce. It has also been about advocacy, especially around the legal rights and copyright protections of photographers. Over the years, he has frequently taken PPA’s case to Capitol Hill, testifying before Congress and lobbying for protections that help creative professionals safeguard their work and livelihood. It is well known that David was pivotal to helping pass the CASE Act, which established a small claims tribunal within the U.S. Copyright Office (just one example of his advocacy and support for Copyright Alliance initiatives). He relentlessly pushed for the legislation despite all odds and over many years and was essential to its passage. Without David’s leadership and fortitude, the CASE Act would not have been passed, and photographers around the country would still be hard pressed to enforce their copyrights.
David has also played an instrumental role in the successes of the Copyright Alliance. He has been a long-time supporter of the Copyright Alliance. And by “long-time,” I mean he was here in 2007 when the Copyright Alliance was first launched. In fact, David is the only person still with the Copyright Alliance who was there to help our organization get off the ground.
According to Copyright Alliance lore, there was an article in USA Today about the imminent launch of the Copyright Alliance. From PPA headquarters in Atlanta, David read the article and reached out to those who were responsible for launching the Copyright Alliance and insisted on joining because he thought then, as he does now, that any organization that represents the interests of the entire copyright community must include photographers. And so, for the past 18 years, David has been there supporting and helping the Copyright Alliance.
I have been fortunate to know David for the past ten of those 18 years. I can recall fondly numerous meetings in the House and Senate on the CASE Act. After a while, it was almost like we were an old married couple finishing one another’s sentences from meeting to meeting. Typically, a day of Hill meetings can be a long and tiring task. But with David, they were also tremendously enjoyable. In particular, I can recall during breaks between meetings talking baseball, where he was kind enough not to flaunt his Atlanta Braves’ successes over my Pittsburgh Pirates’ woes, and his love for movies such as “Animal House,” a quote from which I mentioned in my testimony during a CASE Act hearing because I knew he’d enjoy it.
But all good things must come to an end. David will be retiring this year. In summarizing David Trust’s legacy, it becomes clear that his influence goes far beyond membership numbers or revenue growth. He transformed PPA into a modern, forward-looking organization, one that supports photographers as artists, entrepreneurs, educators, and advocates. His blend of media savvy, marketing acumen, and commitment to community has redefined what a trade association can and should be. As the industry faces new challenges, from AI to rapidly changing business models and beyond, David’s leadership has laid the groundwork for photographers to not just survive but to thrive.
I and the rest of the Copyright Alliance team want to take this opportunity to thank David for his leadership of PPA, tenacity, advocacy, and his unparalleled dedication to photographers. The photographer community is stronger because of him. The Copyright Alliance is stronger because of him. We are all deeply grateful and blessed for having worked with him over these many years.
We congratulate David on his imminent retirement and on a remarkable career that will continue to inspire us all!
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