What cheeses you off with photography and forums?

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #9430426
Yes, $249 for a year and it's the best money I spend on my business since opening up my studio 7 years ago.

Why would someone spend $1000 for the John Hartman Boot Camp?

$1000 or more to attend the PPA/WPPI Convention?

SPA (Senior Portrait Artist) Convention?

SYNC (Senior Youth National Conference) Convention?

Your State's PPA Organization/Conventio​ns?

etc. etc. etc.

Well folks its because the top photographers value their education and it keeps them on top in their area. I'm off to SYNC in a week and a half and have my plans to attend my states PPW Convention in March. Spending money on my education has made me the best photographer in my area and I plan on staying there.

Not bragging here guys, actually I'm a rather humble person and I go out of my way to help someone along. However they must be doing the right things.

Glad your not bragging
Theres a lot of tall poppy cutters lurking on this forum

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #9430426
SYNC (Senior Youth National Conference) Convention?

That's just contradictory.

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #9430426
Why would someone spend $1000 for the John Hartman Boot Camp?

$1000 or more to attend the PPA/WPPI Convention?

Good questions.


Good education is important to be sure, but you can get "education" for free too.

Thing is, you still haven't answered my question. What makes an online forum worth $250 a year?

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #9430633
Good questions.

Good education is important to be sure, but you can get "education" for free too.

Thing is, you still haven't answered my question. What makes an online forum worth $250 a year?

If you're a professional, ongoing education in your field is tax deductible in many cases.

The old "spend money to make money" routine...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9430646
If you're a professional, ongoing education in your field is tax deductible in many cases.

The old "spend money to make money" routine...

Fine and dandy. Is an online forum tax deductible though?!



Best marketing wins! That's what makes you a "good photographer" right?!

I have no problem with education. I just don't get a $249 a year forum. I want to know what makes it so great (seriously, I'm not just mocking).

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9430646
If you're a professional, ongoing education in your field is tax deductible in many cases.

The old "spend money to make money" routine...

Unless it's a "dollar for dollar" deduction, that doesn't always work out.

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #9430668
Fine and dandy. Is an online forum tax deductible though?!



Best marketing wins! That's what makes you a "good photographer" right?!

I have no problem with education. I just don't get a $249 a year forum. I want to know what makes it so great (seriously, I'm not just mocking).

I didn't really mean a forum per se but seminars and classes qualify...

One can make a case though that one needs to be able to see what the competition is doing as well as it being a potential source of income. That's what I tell my tax guy every year regarding my work in TV and that's why every year I write off my cable!

Mostly we just share alot, marketing, business, images, photoshop templets/actions, etc. etc. etc.

There is one action there called The Amazing Randy Action/Templet that I sell to alot of my HS Seniors and I sell it for $175. It's paid for my membership over and over again. And that's just one example.

HS Seniors is my biggest market, I'm now averaging about $800 per Senior. I don't sell digital files. I also don't sell packages, everything at my studio is A la Carte. I find this so much easier. I also live in small town America.

Again not bragging, just showing what you might be able to do if you're wanting to do the same.

^^ Sorry, I missed this post... replying now...

So for $249 you get advice on marketing etc. Could be worth it I suppose.

Then again: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=23

That Amazing Randy Action/Templet must work miracles.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9430699
I didn't really mean a forum per se but seminars and classes qualify...

One can make a case though that one needs to be able to see what the competition is doing as well as it being a potential source of income. That's what I tell my tax guy every year regarding my work in TV and that's why every year I write off my cable!

LOL Good one.

I was talking about the $249 per year forum though. Apparently it's educational... I wonder what you get for your $249. It can't just be a "pros only" forum where you have to use your real name... no way people could fall for something like that.

You must get a t-shirt at least.

Maybe THIS ONE.

One of the best Senior Photographers in America is Fuzzy Duenkel www.duenkel.com He just won the Best Photographer Award at SPA (Senior Portrait Artist) Convention. He happens to be a member of pro4um, plus about 4000 other members and very good photographers.

What happens when you hang with the best? You become better. Or would you rather hang/learn from 2nd best.

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #9430753
One of the best Senior Photographers in America is Fuzzy Duenkel www.duenkel.com He just won the Best Photographer Award at SPA (Senior Portrait Artist) Convention. He happens to be a member of pro4um, plus about 4000 other members and very good photographers.

What happens when you hang with the best? You become better. Or would you rather hang/learn from 2nd best.

Thanks for skewing our curve...

^^ I'd rather hang out with the second best. They don't call themselves "the best" all the time.

I don't call myself the best either, but I keep learning and maybe one day I can say that I am. Not that it means much to most.

^^ Well, the most expensive photo ever sold is not what I'd call "the best" photo in the world either.

http://blogs.photopren​eur.com …ive-photographs-ever-sold

Each to their own I suppose. I am very, very, very far from being "the best" but I enjoy myself (for free too).

My Name is Adrian Evans if you want to know.

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #9430426
Well folks its because the top photographers value their education and it keeps them on top in their area. I'm off to SYNC in a week and a half and have my plans to attend my states PPW Convention in March. Spending money on my education has made me the best photographer in my area and I plan on staying there.

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #9430777
I don't call myself the best either, but I keep learning and maybe one day I can say that I am. Not that it means much to most.

:p
However it seems whatever happens in that forum seems to work for you so that is fine.
Is it a strict forum over there? I love the fun attitude here on potn and there is also a wealth of knowledge

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #9430802
Each to their own I suppose. I am very, very, very far from being "the best" but I enjoy myself (for free too).

I don't think you can talk about that on here:p
And photography is not free, my wallet is proof of that!!!

Sorry to here about your polling!! we need to keep the last one alive!!

slightly more OT: I find it annoying how some people go into threads just to say "not another on of these threads", if you don't want to read it then don't!