Societies Photographic Convention question

[EMA747]

What exactly is the difference between the trade show and normal show? I've never been before and to be honest I am really going to look
at equipment not so much for the other parts of the show. It sounds as if the Canon stand is only there during the trade part of the show.
I really want to look at their video equipment you see.

I'm not currently a "professional" as such would it be a problem getting in to the trade day? I used to be but am now starting again in a
slightly different field so can't really claim I'm a current pro.

 

[meonshore]

Andy

There is a trade show - which is a bit like a smaller version of the recently demised Focus, but with more wedding albums. It runs alongside the convention which is a bunch of rooms with one or more people talking and one or more people listening.

There is only one "show". As for whether you can get in for nothing. There isn't really a restriction, or bar you have to surpass to qualify.... being able to complete the web entry form should be sufficient - but you'll need to do it quickly as the freebie tickets stop on the 10th.

 

[EMA747]

Thanks Mike.

Is it possible to have even more wedding albums on display than at Focus!

 

[EMA747]

To anyone who has been to this in the past is it worth going? How much equipment is on show and are the talks any good?

 

[meonshore]

Andy,

I have been to the trade show almost every year for 10 years and the full convention 3 times - albeit twice when it was in Coventry some time ago, and the first year it moved to London.

I found the trade show useful when I was shooting weddings because it comes early enough in the year to be able to integrate new products into your offering before the January - March part of the booking season. Now I don't shoot them, and my offerings and suppliers for my portraiture are mature, and there is no booking season for portraits then I don't have the same compulsion. If you are looking for equipment then Canon will be there but on a stand 1/25th of the size you would get a Focus/Photography Show, Nikon IIRC have rarely attended and with only a very small stand, as are the other manufacturers e.g. Olympus. You might get 1-2 resellers (Park etc) but again on a smaller scale than the NEC and then it is insurance companies, newborn props, training companies and lots of photo labs, and album manufacturers.

As for the talks - my advice has always been the same:

- If you are at the start of your venture into paid social photography then it is worth attending for the information and network
- Once you are a mature business then the value decreases significantly
- The talks are almost exclusively staffed by members of the society - great if you are listening to the Yerbury's, David A Williams, Jerry Ghionis - not so if it is Fred who started his business last year with no prior experience.You need to sort the wheat from the chaff. It also very much depends on what you are looking to learn or be inspired by.

HTH

 

[Bayrunner]

Is it possible to have even more wedding albums on display than at Focus!

On the last version of the exhibitor list I saw for the 'new Focus' there are remarkably few of the specialist album companies showing - several who do albums as part of a wider range, and a few digital album producers (Bob Books etc), but no GF Smith, Jorgensen etc (at present!) - so if albums are your bag, London or one of the smaller regional shows such as Bigger Picture Roadshow may be the place to go.

 

[meonshore]

I'm guessing but I doubt Andy is after wedding albums...

 

[EMA747]

No I was making a joke about Focus being basically just wedding albums last year. I'm a wildlife, sports and documentary shooter and steer well clear of weddings hehe.