photography clubs - grrrr

[freybear3]

i thought i'd rant about this. and i want to hear your opinions as well!


My local photography club charges to be a member, $200 so here is my rant!

Why in the world would i PAY to become a member of a photography club? If i wanted to meet people thats interested in photography and share my photos with, there is a thing called online and also DPS So why in the heck do they charge to be a member?

I asked them what the benefits were, and they emailed me back saying i get to meet local photographers and share my photos and get critique and tips. I was like ummmm OK and where does my $200 go??? The place they meet at is a public place, where they don't charge for space or time. They don't print my photos, they don't do anything for me, so why in the world do i want to pay the membership fee???


I want to hear your thoughts and opinions on your local photography clubs, what is different that i can not be able to do it online, what do they use the fees for, etc....

[HankW]

I have a Photography Club in town here also, but it's free ( well almost, if I want the little newsletter I am forced to give them a self addressed, stamped envelope ).
Some times we meet at a local coffee shop, or the Park. Sometimes at one of our houses. It's a small club, only about 25 members so the group is never very big, but as the weeks go by sooner or later you get to see everyone.

Just now, thinking about it, while writing this to you, Maybe we are not a Photo club but a Social Club carrying cameras and talking photography.

[DogHeadGod]

Sounds like a lot of money for nothing.

For comparison, the local club to me (I'm not a memeber, but looked into it) costs £50 ($70) for the year. It meets once a week, and has its own premesis with a digital darkroom, photo studio, guest speakers once a week from all fields of photography, competitions, various intrest groups (e.g. film, digital, contemporary, studio), organised trips, exhibitions etc.

Members can book the digital darkroom and studio any day of the week

[sybren]

If they can't tell you where your $200 is going, I'd thank them for their very clear answer and just go and look for another photo club.

[JFSanders]

It is a application filter. They figure that only serious photographers will pony up. If I were to start a "club" there would be a sizable dues requirement. And a lawyered up member agreement as well. Way too many things to go wobbly to not have your assets covered. Although the positive side would be the communal equipment that would be available. Imagine lenses and cameras donated by members as they pass away. I envision something on the order of National Geographic...

Could be worse.... A photography club near me asked me to join and get this... to give away my NEGATIVES AWAY FOR FREE because the organization is a non-profit... HAHAH!! But, what they failed to understand is that "I" am FOR profit

[ressalg]

I don't belong to any photography clubs but I do belong to the local chapter of the RASC (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada) which costs me about $60 CND per year. For that $60 I get access to the club's observatory outside of the city, monthly meetings which usually feature a guest speaker, a subscription to SkyNews (semi-monthly Canadian astronomy magazine) and (most importantly) access to some 300 members who all share a passion (on some level) for the hobby. Of all the equipment I've bought in the last couple of years, my membership in the RASC has been the most valued. I've learned more from other members than anything I've read on the web.

As others have stated: The $200 fee seems a little much... especially if they can't give you a definate answer on what they do with that $200. I'd look elsewhere... or start your own.

[CatcherT]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Could be worse.... A photography club near me asked me to join and get this... to give away my NEGATIVES AWAY FOR FREE because the organization is a non-profit... HAHAH!! But, what they failed to understand is that "I" am FOR profit

bwahahahaha, this made me laugh, yeah, I would say Im for profit too.

So they never really answered you with your $200? unless they were a group that really got involved in doing photography shows at local malls, space bought for this in places, maybe had outings at biotanical sites for photography purpose's and there are fees to get into these places, that would make sense.

[m.c.adams]

I belong to the local photography club here. Its dues are $5.00 US a year. Their are several pro photographers in the group that will sit with you afterwords and look at anything you want to show them and give you all the help you need. We meet either at a local civic center or public café. The last meeting, we had a local pro come in and give a talk on flash photography.

[windrider86]

I belong to one in Colorado Springs where the dues are $20 a year. This particular club is phenominal!!! They meet sometimes 2-3 times a month and do outings, have all kinds of wonderful seminars (most are free) I cant spek highly enough about them.
The problem is, I live 150 miles away.
I also belong to a local club that is free. But I end up being the teacher every meeting so am not too fond of that one. But I feel bad for my friend who is working so hard to make it happen. Kind of a pity showing up thing. lol