Help with research project - photography club why join?

bigsean

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6 Sep 2009 - 7:27 PM

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I have just become President of Newport Photographic Club (Gwent), I have been asking these questions before I took the role on. Our club was known as a very cliquey club. I thought to myself what would make this more attractive to new members as all the new members we got left after a few weeks, I came up with a few changes that seem to be working;

1. Make the club more of a social place to be evening meals, visit the local pub, barbecues etc. so members get to really know each other, which was not happening when we met once a week. We also encourage family members to come along as well.

2. A place of learning about photography. We have added tutorial evenings Photoshop for beginners, studio groups, landscapes etc. these are taught by members who are the best in the club at what they do and when you learn together, you can phone each other for advice and create a better closer atmosphere within the club.

3. Involve longer serving members with newer members like a mentoring scheme showing them where they can improve and what they have got right, this brings all the members together and makes older serving members feel they are contributing towards the future of the club.

4. Days out are another fun learning experience, they do not have to be far local park, town centre, river etc.

5. Helping junior member attain their RPS, FRPS etc. This gives member a project for the whole year and is mentored by members who have already gained theirs.

6. Above all it has to be fun! If you want people to spend their free time away from loved ones, it has to be a laugh. We are at the club to enjoy photography and I'm glad to say there has been a big improvement within the club.

I hope this has been of some help to you

Sean

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roxpix

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6 Sep 2009 - 8:16 PM

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Not specific to any epz members but perhaps clubs would be less imposing to new blood if legacy terminology & hierarchal titles such as 'President' 'Chairman' etc were replaced with something a little more in keeping with the over-riding value of having fun & learning more about ones hobby!

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miptog

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6 Sep 2009 - 8:32 PM

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Quote: the current project I have is about my photography club.

It would be useful to understand a bit more about the project so as to put your question


Quote: If you were thinking of joining a photography club, what would you expect the club to offer you?

in better context.

The ethos that bigsean has described is an excellent one, and I am sure it will be a rationale for several people wanting to join.

I also feel it would be useful to describe the historic context of camera clubs, there current status, and the possible future status as part of your project.

I feel the primary reason for joining a Camera Club is to learn the basics of photography without having to go through "conventional" photography courses, and often the need is at a very basic level. For example "Someone has just bought a dSLR, and they have no idea how to use it".

Perhaps it would also be useful as part of your research is to ask the question what is the purpose of a camera club.

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rowarrior

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6 Sep 2009 - 8:37 PM

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I'll make sure to tell our president to change his title lol

We had to close the books on membership last year in our club because we had far more people signed up than we had room for if everyone turned up!

We have a very social club, which apparently is very abnormal in that we have quite a lot of women and there is quite a range of ages of club members (judges keep telling us this is weird). What we do is:

Club nights every Thursday, with either guest speakers, or judging on our competitions (3 projected image, 3 print, one theme and 1 annual exhbition for each of projected image and print)
Beginner's night once a month
Studio night once a month, with model
Photoshop night once a month
Projected image group night once a month
Contemporary Photography group once a month
Club 'wanders' that happen throughout the summer and at times through the club year (September to May) where we all go somewhere to take photos
We currently have a large project that we're trying to get all the club members involved in too that will span the 15 months or so.

All of those are included in the annual membership fee of £50. We can also hire the club rooms and studio lights/backdrops for a couple of pounds for the day, and use the club computer/printers to process and print our photos.

As a general rule we all stand around and chat for 20 mins or so before the meeting starts, and then have tea/coffee after the meeting and weekly raffle to chat a bit more. We also have a Google group that we can chat online through, and a website.

People are quite happy to help each other, and it's the more experienced members that run the monthly sessions for people. Although several of the groups are aimed more at beginners, anyone can come along and share ideas and things.

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montechoro

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6 Sep 2009 - 9:19 PM

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Quote: You'll turn up at your first meeting and the chairman, leader etc., who will still use film rather than digital, will look at your kit, and in a long drawn out drawl will say. “ Well I wouldn't use one of these”.

Then they will tear you photos to bits because they are not “technically” correct.

You expectations on joining your new club will disappear in moments and you will wish you had never taken up photography.

Don't let this put you off, it happened to me many years ago and I'm sure things have changed now, honestly.



Oh no it hasn't changed in some clubs that much at all. I've been to two in the last year and the same attitude prevails - camera gear snobs; we know best mentality; cliquey small groups; set ideas; no interaction or encouragement - everything bigsean fought to eradicate is alive and well in some clubs.

I didn't join either club.

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bigsean

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6 Sep 2009 - 9:52 PM

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I'm glad that some of my ideas have been welcomed by members on here, I have tried my hardest to make it as friendly as possible. All the negative things associated with some of comments above were in abundance at our club. we were the best in Wales but that was a few years ago and other clubs have caught up while we rested on our laurels.

I used to sit at the back and moan about what the club should be like! I then decided I needed to change it and with like minded people we joined the committee and fazed a lot of new ideas in. I have still got a lot of new ideas, but I have been told slowly slowly catchy monkey. I love photography and feel I am so lucky to have such a fantastic hobby and to have met some fantastic people. I sometimes think it verges on an obsession, but I would not change it for the world.

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montechoro

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7 Sep 2009 - 4:22 AM

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Quote:
My project is to look at how to attract new members whilst retain the existing members. So I was interested to learn and understand from people who were thinking about joining a photography club. What would they want from it, what would make them join.

I'm still looking to join a photography club. I'm looking for a club that doesn't react to new members with staring and absolute silence like a stranger walking into a saloon in a Hollywood western. It all goes quiet, everybody looks at you and nobody speaks. (exaggeration I know - but that is how it can feel on first nights.

What would make me join? - a feeling of welcome, help and constructive criticism - instead of brand and gear snobbery.

I was a walk leader in July for the Scott Kelby World Wide Photo Walk 2009 - over 30,000 people in 900 cities took part.

I contacted the Secretary of one local camera club with all the details for his members to attend the biggest free social event in photographic history thinking a local photographic club would really like to take part.

He sent me an email back saying "As I wasn't a member of the club - he would not be passing the details on to the members"

It is that mentality that holds photographic clubs back in my opinion.

I wonder what the members would say if they saw the email from their club secretary refusing to inform them of a free local photo event?

I think the idea of camera clubs is great - only let down in practice by the actions and attitudes of their members.

People like bigsean have the vision and foresight to take camera clubs forward and watch them grow - but some clubs are not there yet.

HTH

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