Advice for a University Photography Club

Does anybody here actively partake in a photography club? A group of friends and I have recently started a photography club at UCSD and we're looking for some advice on making it a success. We had a relatively successful quarter in fall with a GBM, camera tutorial session, photo contest, and a lighting workshop. What other activities, workshop topics, ideas, etc have you guys found to be particularly effective through a club? Also, we're struggling with funding at the moment after purchasing web hosting for our site and forum, funding the prize of our contest ($50 B&H Gift Card and a few smaller gift cards), frames, business cards, etc. Any advice on fundraising would be very much appreciated. For anybody who's interested, our club website is http://ucsdphotoclub.c​om/. We can pretty much use all of the support we can get .

I belong to a "non traditional" photo group...

- No Officers
- No Contests
- No Pressure (except that brought about by being in a room full of talented photographers. That's pressure enough, trust me...)

We maintain a simple site through PBase that one of our members wrangles.
http://www.pbase.com/p​hotobart/desert_light_​themes

What keep us cohesive is the use of monthly themes. At our November meeting, we simply toss suggestions into a hat then draw 12 of them when we get together in December for a pot luck noshfest and we also do a print exchange (two names from the hat, each gets the print the other person brought.)

The lack of parlimentary structure is (IMO) wonderful because we don't get into petty bickering about whose print gets top billing for shows, etc...

We meet the second Wednesday of each month and hold our meetings in the studio of an area working pro who's been the moderator since the group was started about five years ago or so. We limit our membership to (IIRC) 35-40 max and we have a waiting list that's about 12 names deep right now.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7160392
I belong to a "non traditional" photo group... We limit our membership to (IIRC) 35-40 max and we have a waiting list that's about 12 names deep right now.

I am soooo jealous. I would love to find a group like this, and don't have time personally to start one.

jgrussell wrote in post #7160527
I am soooo jealous. I would love to find a group like this, and don't have time personally to start one.

Man I'll tell you what...

It has expanded my photographic horizons in soooo many ways.

And the best part, for me personally, is the Wednesday meetings. With my work schedule, I don't get to play on weekends like most "normal" people do.

I have started clubs, belonged to and officered clubs and now am judging for several clubs. They are a great way to learn photography, see what others are doing first hand and make great life long friends. Some clubs are very informal, with no officers or staff dues etc. Some are very well organized and may even belong to groups of clubs, have set meetings, dues, comps etc

Just do a google search for clubs in your area and then attend a meeting or two to see if you "fit".

Like right now I belong to International Society of Aviation Photographers - mainly advanced ams. or working pros. And also Fencecheck which is mainly am's from beginners through seasoned pro's. I just judged at the Mid Peninsula Photographer Alliance last night!! It has four clubs attached to it.

And then after starting the Bay Area Canon Users Group, it went for about 6-7 years and finally died, but several of us still get togeather having joined other clubs!

And about 12 years ago I was asked to JUDGE at a small club and it kinda snowballed into more and more clubs and some of the orgs they belong to. I have to tell you that I have learned more from being in, under, around, clubs then I ever have from taking a class!!

Photography is about sharing... So either join a club or start one. BTW I started my first club as a Jr in HS, I still have contact with some of those friends 30 years later...

Geez you're old...

Thanks for the advice guys. The theme of the month idea is very similar to what we do with our contests although they tend to stretch anywhere from a month to two. Do you guys do any fundraising in your clubs or do most expenses just come out of your pockets?

At our monthly meetings, we pony up $5 a head for pizza, salad and bottled waters/sodas that our host graciously provides. I think we get off very cheap...

Once a year we toss a few bucks at our member who wrangles the PBase gallery as well as our host who does have a web presence related to the group as well.

Any other advice for us guys ?

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7163389
At our monthly meetings, we pony up $5 a head for pizza, salad and bottled waters/sodas that our host graciously provides. I think we get off very cheap...

Once a year we toss a few bucks at our member who wrangles the PBase gallery as well as our host who does have a web presence related to the group as well.

This sounds awesome and is exactly what we're missing ...take a note of this Eric and we should have pizza at the next UCSD Photo club meeting

-Jimmy

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7160392
I belong to a "non traditional" photo group...

- No Officers
- No Contests
- No Pressure (except that brought about by being in a room full of talented photographers. That's pressure enough, trust me...)

We maintain a simple site through PBase that one of our members wrangles.
http://www.pbase.com/p​hotobart/desert_light_​themes

What keep us cohesive is the use of monthly themes. At our November meeting, we simply toss suggestions into a hat then draw 12 of them when we get together in December for a pot luck noshfest and we also do a print exchange (two names from the hat, each gets the print the other person brought.)

The lack of parlimentary structure is (IMO) wonderful because we don't get into petty bickering about whose print gets top billing for shows, etc...

We meet the second Wednesday of each month and hold our meetings in the studio of an area working pro who's been the moderator since the group was started about five years ago or so. We limit our membership to (IIRC) 35-40 max and we have a waiting list that's about 12 names deep right now.

Excellent photos in that gallery!!!!!!!

S.Horton wrote in post #7275475
Excellent photos in that gallery!!!!!!!

Thanks Sam...

Needless to say, I'm quite proud to be associated with that group of shooters.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7275483
Thanks Sam...

Needless to say, I'm quite proud to be associated with that group of shooters.

If I lived anywhere near you, I'd try to join.

I just looked at a few more galleries; at the moment on a Ron Watkins shot off the bow of a boat; interesting PP there.

@OP - Call Canon, they might sponsor you with some free gear.

S.Horton wrote in post #7275530
If I lived anywhere near you, I'd try to join.

I just looked at a few more galleries; at the moment on a Ron Watkins shot off the bow of a boat; interesting PP there.

Ron's our master diver/underwater expert... His work rocks!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7275534
Ron's our master diver/underwater expert... His work rocks!

Without objection, I think POTN members need to look over the work in a new thread just for that club:
https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=7275554#p​ost7275554