In addition to ordinary membership, the Society offers three levels of distinction—Licentiate, Associate and Fellow—which set recognised standards of achievement throughout the world, and can be applied for by both members and non-members, in all aspects of photography and vocational qualifications in the areas of creative industries and imaging science.

Fenton became the Society's first secretary, a position he held for three years and Henry White was an early treasurer between 1866 and 1872.

An internal review led to constitutional changes, the introduction of a new distinction called the Licentiate in 1972 and six new specialist groups were established.

The Council approved at a meeting on 1 April 1977 a move to Bath and the establishment of a National Centre of Photography to house the Society's headquarters and collection.

An appeal for £300,000 was launched in the summer of 1978 for the funds needed to convert The Octagon and adjacent buildings in Milsom Street, Bath.

With the appointment of John Dudley Johnston as Honorary Curator, a post he held from 1924 to 1955, a more proactive approach was taken to collecting.

The first colour print to be accepted into the Tyng Collection, in 1960, was "Madrasi Fishermen" taken by Dr S. D. Jouhar during his six-month trip to India in 1959.

Dr Michael Pritchard undertook a project to make an online searchable database of members from 1853 to 1901, published by De Montfort University's photographic history research centre.

[23] The Society has a card index of members from the late 1920s to 1980s, which it will search on request, and may also be able to assist with membership enquiries between 1900 and the 1930s.

Past editors have included Arthur Henfrey, Hugh Welch Diamond, William de Wiveleslie Abney, H. H. Blacklock, and more recently Jack Schofield and David Land.

These include John Wall's Directory of British Photographic Collections in conjunction with Heinemann (1977), Roger Reynolds (ed.

[49] The Progress Medal is awarded in recognition of any invention, research, publication or other contribution which has resulted in an important advance in the scientific or technological development of photography or imaging in the widest sense.

[37] Recipients have been: This award is given to an individual for outstanding achievement or sustained contribution in the production, direction or development of film for the cinema, television, online or new media.

It recognizes major sustained, outstanding and influential contributions to the advancement of Photography and/or Imaging in their widest meanings.

The recipients are:[41] This award, established in 1980 and named after Roger Fenton, one of the RPS's founders, is made for an outstanding contribution to the work of The Royal Photographic Society.

[42] This medal is awarded "for a body of photographic work produced to promote or raise awareness of an aspect of public benefit or service".

It was instituted in 1933 when Harold Hood offered to present an annual medal for photography with a particular emphasis on work for public service.

The recipients have been:[43] According to the Society's website this is an "award for major achievement in the field of photographic criticism or the history of photography.

[45] An award, established in 2005, given to an ordinary member who, in the opinion of Council, has shown extraordinary support for The Society over a sustained period.

Sponsored by the Imaging Science Group of the RSP, it was introduced in 1994 in memory of eminent photographic scientist E. W. H. Selwyn, who was the recipient of the Progress Medal in 1971 and the Williamson Research Award in 1936.

[47] According to the Society's website this is an "award offered for a notable achievement in the art of photography by a British photographer aged 35 or under, endowed in memory of Vic Odden".

Recipients were: The Davies Medal was instituted in 1998 and was awarded until 2015 "for a significant contribution in the digital field of imaging science".