Our Members

The Photographic Society of America (PSA) is a worldwide organization for anyone with an interest in photography. Founded in 1934, the Society is for casual shutterbugs, serious amateurs, and professional photographers. PSA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, offers members a wide variety of photography-related services and activities.

Individual Chapters of PSA were organized under the Society's Bylaws in 1955. Since 1955, forty Chapters have received a PSA charter, and, over the years, the number of active Chapters has varied. In 1968, there were only seven active chapters: Chicago, Connecticut, Cosmopolitan (NYC), Hawaii, Pittsburgh, Tri-State (Ohio), and Western Michigan. In 1993, there were 18 active Chapters. The Chicago Chapter received its charter in 1955 and is the oldest active PSA Chapter. The Colorado Chapter received its charter in 2022 and is the newest PSA Chapter.​ There are no Chapters outside the USA because of the legalities of establishing branches of PSA outside the USA.

All Chapters adhere to the PSA Chapter By-Laws (updated September 2016) which contain information regarding purposes; membership; meetings; election of Officers; Executive Committee; Committees; websites, newsletters, & social media; fiscal regulations; and authority. Chapters also follow the PSA Chapter Financial System Outline (updated January 2016).

The PSA Southern California Chapter (know as the SoCal chapter) is a local branch of the Society that was organized under the Society's Bylaws in 1955. The Southern California Chapter received its PSA charter in 1991 at the PSA Annual Conference held in San Antonio, Texas. The SoCal Chapter received a certificate recognizing its 25-Year Charter Anniversary (1991-2016) at the 2016 annual PSA Conference in San Antonio, TX.