What Do You Think Of This Photography Site?

[Josh V]

Could It be something worth being in?Is anyone on this "Photography Networking Site" and can you give us a review?

Anyway,looks interesting:

http://www.thebschool.com/

[Picture North Carolina]

Here's the description of the site (from the site itself):

We have built a place for photographers to hang out, share their images, inspire, connect, network, and shop online. Read how this powerful tool will help you succeed as a photographer

That description exactly fits where you sit right now: POTN. So what's the diff?

B School charges $100 per year or $1000 lifetime and POTN is free. And because POTN more than likely has more members, there's more interactivity and help here.

So which one will the average photographer probably choose?

Not to mention the fact that besides POTN there's probably a dozen or more highly popular forums like it and hundreds, if not thousands, of lesser-popular forums beyond that and most are free.

I think the B School will B a failure and B gone in a short time.

(To me a very good example of very poor market research)

[JustMyLuck]

I agree with CannedHeat. This here is a great website itself with FREE information. There are people here that are willing to help you and give you advices for FREE.

[koppiwrite]

While it may not be worth it money wise, I know that he was on another forum and gave a whole lot of very useful information for FREE before he started charging for the bschool. His posts are still archived and I come across them frequently.

[Picture North Carolina]

While it may not be worth it money wise, I know that he was on another forum and gave a whole lot of very useful information for FREE before he started charging for the bschool. His posts are still archived and I come across them frequently.

Yes, but you're talking about one person. In his own description on the B School website, the stated attraction is photographers hanging out and helping each other.

Realistically, at $100 per month how many do you think will sign up? Three? Five? A dozen? In forums such as POTN, the resources are directly related to the number of users. If you ask a tough question, the more people that use the forum the more likely somebody has an answer.

What you are describing (one guy who gives useful answers) is a consulting service. If he wants to start one and charge for direct answers, good for him.

But at $10 per month membership for a forum, he ain't going to attract very many, if any, people at all. Are you going to subscribe?

[squashed]

not me...never. Couldn't even imagine why ANYBODY would..

[Mike30D]

Here's the description of the site (from the site itself):



That description exactly fits where you sit right now: POTN. So what's the diff?

B School charges $100 per year or $1000 lifetime and POTN is free. And because POTN more than likely has more members, there's more interactivity and help here.

So which one will the average photographer probably choose?

Not to mention the fact that besides POTN there's probably a dozen or more highly popular forums like it and hundreds, if not thousands, of lesser-popular forums beyond that and most are free.

I think the B School will B a failure and B gone in a short time.

(To me a very good example of very poor market research)

I have to disagree with you, Chris Becker is one of the top wedding photographers in the country. I'm sure he will do very well with B School. You're paying for his name and the fact that charging for it eliminates the trolls and trouble makers that you find so often in free forums.

[Picture North Carolina]

I have to disagree with you, Chris Becker is one of the top wedding photographers in the country. I'm sure he will do very well with B School. You're paying for his name and the fact that charging for it eliminates the trolls and trouble makers that you find so often in free forums.

Will you be subscribing?

[Josh V]

Well the $10 monthly might be worth checking out, then Im sure you can cancel after.A couple point that got my attention:


1. Must be a professional photographer.
Or at least an aspiring one. This place is for those who are serious about making money with their cameras.
2.Use your real name or business name.
Non anonymous members here... so your mysterious screen name ain't gonna cut it. No pixelguy25 or photochickfromLA.
3.You must have a web presence.
Every member will need a website, or at least a blog related to their photo business. The [ b ] School is serious about commerce.
4. Don't be a prick!
That's right. We are trying to build a new kind of community of photographers who encourage each other to succeed at what we love. We don't need your bad attitude bringing us down.


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Until I could get some reviews I dont know if I'd join though.

[flipstyle72]

That's lame... Only because they are just trying to cash in on what exist for free and make it sound like it's different. They have NO proof of what type of caliber photographers will join and share info. hell, I could create a site, claim it to be the greatest and only have a handful of @ssholes as members....wait.. nevermind. lol!

[iN5P1R3]

You have to be 18? That sucks—I REALLY wanted to sign up.:rolleyes:

Seriously though, POTN is a GREAT place for photographers newbs and pros. There is a staggering wealth of information here and helpful people to boot. :D

I think the rules are rather...stupid.

[Alleh]

I think that site looks stupid and would never pay. From a business stand point connecting with photographers is unimportant meaning there is no reason to pay for it. Unless it was a professional organization like ASMP. What you want is a group that connects you with clients.

If you want to join another photo group check out www.strobist.com and join in with the flickr group. Most major cities also have started their own little chapters and hold photography meet ups once a month.

[Mike30D]

Will you be subscribing?

No, I don't feel the need to subscribe to it. Besides, I'm already paying for DWF. I'm just saying, he will probably get quite a few people to join up because of his name.

[AndreaBFS]

I'm a member of the b school (one of more than 1,000, btw) and just getting to see a video of Becker in action was worth the first month's membership. The b school is more about networking and marketing and not really comparable to this site, which is geared more toward getting to know your gear and learning technical aspects of photography. The business forum here is very, very light compared to the meaty and open discussions that happen on more private forums.

I am a member of three paid photography forums and each gives me something valuable over and above what is found here. POTN is a valuable resource in its own right, but it's not the one and only site.

[RDKirk]

I don't know about this site, but paid sites can work very well for professional photographers. Sites like DWF and Pro4um (and OurPPA, if you're a PPA member to get into the Members Area) provide excellent hard marketing and craft knowledge of a quality and detail that you can't find on open, free sites.

On Pro4um, for instance, one acclaimed photographer posted a PDF on exactly how he set up a prom portrait event at his studio that netted over $30,000 in one evening. It had taken him years to finally get all the details down pat--everything from security to keeping the crowd happy to what kinds of packages are both most lucrative and make less work. It was quite complex--but doable once someone gave you all the details. On free boards, you get philosophy and generalities. On paid boards you get details.

You also become part of a community that exists in real life as well as virtually. You can actually visit other photographer's studios, see their layouts, get tips on your own.

The main point is that people can get to truly know one another, and with that comes trust, and with that comes much more valuable information.