Thanks! They seem like a friendly bunch so farGood luck Simon! I sincerely hope you have a better time than I did at my first.
They'll be a lucky bunch if they can get over their egos... See... This is why I shouldn't be allowed out
Seriously - have a great time!
I gave my presentation on being a Wedding Photographer again last night, it went down so well I was invited to the pub afterwards too
If you're wanting to do this sort of thing again @juggler then I'd suggest dropping the Committee member who Booked you asking for commentary - here's my "standard" type of thank you and comment message...
Many thanks for inviting me along to present last night, it seemed to be well received and a pint in the pub afterwards was a bonus
I always like feedback on my presentations too, so if you could ask your members for their 'real' comments that'd be helpful thanks
I'm not after any polite backslapping, just honest feedback about what the group liked, didn't like or any ideas on how it can be improved; yours was version 5 as I've already amended some parts in response to crit & ideas from previous clubs
Thanks again
I always enjoy them and getting paid a bit too (£75 in my case) is a bonus
Once you have (I'm sure) positive comments back you can use that as a means of approaching other clubs too, I find it fun but it does drive some other business enquiries too so there's a hint of commercial sense about sharing your knowledge in this way too
If you were close enough to me I'd happily come to watch
Cheers
Dave
I find in a group, there's always someone who isn't interested, someone on their phone, someone trying desperately to stay awake and two people just who can't wait to hold their conversation. It's not possible to please "all the people all the time" and it's one of the challenges of delivering to a relatively small audience. Keeps you on your toes thoughwas a bit tricky to know where to pitch the material given that few of the attendees had any real interest in lighting or portraiture
If you're doing fun things and getting people to laugh I guarantee you did a fab job. People like to be engaged (and not lectured for 2 hours)I did make them photograph each other - which caused some merriment!
I do between 4 and 10 talks a year, done about 30 so far. I can now do 90 minutes without my voice fading to a husky whisper after 70[emoji3]
I’m not in a camera club myself any more, but always enjoy visiting clubs to do talks. Sure, you’ll always get someone who falls asleep, and given my rather niche area of photography, not everyone will be interested. However, I always point out at the start of the talk that even if you hate the photographs, hopefully people might find an interesting place, photographer, technique, website or idea to take away and explore further.
I may be undercharging at £50 [emoji1][emoji1]
No-one EVER falls asleep at my talks, but then I engage them too so I demand attention lol
£50 for you Andy is stupidly cheap - Hell I'd consider driving UP NORFF for one of yours too just to see your work, where I'd also sit in the front - asking questions - so best you don't tell me your dates
Dave
I joined a local camera club in January. Probably been 5 or 6 times. They seem obsessed with rules and competitions and the judges seem to have fixed criteria about what makes a good or bad photograph, can't tell the difference between digital and film and insist that images must have flaws or unwanted objects processed out (I don't use photoshop and do minimal post-processing). I just like looking art interesting photography, preferably travel photography. When I first went along I had no idea it was such a competitive business. There are three clubs within about 15 minutes of me. I think I'll just look out for speakers that interest me.
If you're doing fun things and getting people to laugh I guarantee you did a fab job. People like to be engaged (and not lectured for 2 hours)
It sounds as though a lot of their lectures are rather dry, very long and include a lot of showing off.
the creme de la creme was a two and a half hour lecture by a chap on the steam trains and coal mines of Bavaria.
What put me off from joining a local camera club which runs annual exhibitions was going to one of their exhibitions. What I said at the time was "They shouldn't have called this a photography exhibition! They should have called it a Photoshop exhibition! Hardly any of these are photographs of anything that anyone with the photographer could possibly have seen. They're mostly arty composites of multiple images some of which were once parts of photographs. Not what I would call photography. It owes something to photography in the same way that someone who glues bits of cut out newspapers to furniture owes something to journalism, but in no way is a piece of furniture covered in bits of newspaper a kind of journalism."When I've seen photos from some of other clubs, a lot of the images seem very samey (if that's a word), heavily photoshopped composites and it all becomes very boring.
two and a half hour lecture by a chap on the steam trains and coal mines of Bavaria
I'll take your steam trains and raise you a 2 hour talk on how to do white balance in photoshop. Delivered in the same tone as the teacher from Ferris Bueller. There's 2 hours of my life I won't get back.
One thing that continues to surprise me at my talks is when I refer to photographers from the past (and even some contemporary ones) and how few people tend to have heard of them.
Just as a matter of interest, I've been asked to do a talk at a camera club a couple of times, one about 80 miles away, for which I quoted £100 (+ VAT) . I never heard back from either.
I didn't think that was an excessive fee; how does that seem to other people?
80 miles is quite a way. What's that - just under 2 hours? Each way? 4 hours in the car & a 2 hour talk is quite a dent in your day. Presume it's an evening club so that means setting of during rush hour adding more journey time? So whilst it might be a lot to a camera club, it feels like a suitable recompense to me.
Just as a matter of interest, I've been asked to do a talk at a camera club a couple of times, one about 80 miles away, for which I quoted £100 (+ VAT) . I never heard back from either.
I didn't think that was an excessive fee; how does that seem to other people?
For a judge we expect to pay travel expenses at the PAGB (Photographic Alliance of Great Britain) recommended rate - currently 45p per mile.
For a speaker we expect to pay travel expenses plus an agreed fee.
The performance of judges and speakers is variable but, by liaising with other clubs we normally get good quality, interesting, speakers - some are outstanding. Speakers costs are between £50 and $150 inc travel expenses
I joined a local camera club in January. Probably been 5 or 6 times. They seem obsessed with rules and competitions and the judges seem to have fixed criteria about what makes a good or bad photograph, can't tell the difference between digital and film and insist that images must have flaws or unwanted objects processed out (I don't use photoshop and do minimal post-processing). I just like looking art interesting photography, preferably travel photography. When I first went along I had no idea it was such a competitive business. There are three clubs within about 15 minutes of me. I think I'll just look out for speakers that interest me.
And yes, I hate it when photoshop takes precedent over camera technique - you can't polish a turd even tho' some people think photoshop will. "Oh I can photoshop that out/in" Yes, it has it's uses but it's about photography not an Adobe product.
Went to a local club last night and there was a Practical session taking car light trails down the high street. The guy leading it walked us down the street then stopped us all at an appropriate place. He then set up his massive tripod blocking the footpath and took a couple of quick shots. He gave no instruction to any of the beginners and constantly knocked my tripod. He then stood in front of me for the next 5 minutes. We then moved further up the road where he continued to take his own shots, offered no help whatsoever and left people struggling and catching up. Others constantly walked in front of shot and gave no thought to those around. Complete shambles. Maybe Im a bit picky as Im a qualified teacher and instructor, although not in photography. Its a very old club with mostly elderly members. I walked away last night with a view of a couple of hours of time wasted. Im only new to the club so don't want to go in and tell them how to do it.
the only local(ish) clubs I have found have their agendas set up for the next 12 months with no organised trips or any apparent encouragement of its members to do anything other than turn up for these evening sessions/talks.