Comments on: Photography Groups, And How Columbus, Ohio Needs A Good One

By: Kerri

Kerri — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:15:12 +0000

I would LOVE to be part of a group like the one you describe! Photography has been my main interest for over 20years and just this past year expanded to begin learning studio work. My cousin is retiring from her business and has helped me tremendously!! I agree with your statement about it being a competitive market but also believe in helping one another so all may succeed. I know it has been a while since you posted your blog, so maybe you have started a group already. If so, I would love to participate. Thanks!!
Kerri

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:32:35 +0000

I totally feel you on this one. I’m from Columbus, recently transplanted back from school and it feels like there is no club that I can find that is anything like what I experienced back at school. DeviantArt helps me some, but I do totally need some face-to-face interaction with some other photographers in the area. Don’t know exactly how to go about getting that though :-\

By: Irene Verweij

Irene Verweij — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:22:47 +0000

Chantal, have you been to a meeting of The Focus Group in Columbus/Upper Arlington?
If not, our next meeting is on Friday March 14, 2008. See the website for more details.
We will have a few samples of our work up for show at Ursus Art Space here in Columbus, from March 1 – April 30, 2008.
Our group is looking for more members!
Hope to see you at the meeting,

Irene.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:20:42 +0000

Chantal: Good post! I live in Columbus, OH and have been searching for a few years now for a good photog group. I completely agree with your comments. It’s very hard to believe that a city the size of Columbus doesn’t have at least one group dedicated to the business. I consider myself a semi-pro and enjoy a part-time portrait business.

If you start a group or hear of one, please let me know.
Thanks!
Sandy

By: Ray Blackerby

Ray Blackerby — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:42:54 +0000

I am an amateur photographer interested finding a professional niche. I agree with what you posted. For artists interested in developing their own abilities groups like this would be very helpful. I don’t know if you have the time or true interest in developing the idea and helping community artists in this way but I would be interested in helping in any way.

By: Doug Stockdale

Doug Stockdale — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:19:19 +0000

Living in Southern CA, we are fortunate to have a group like you suggest, called the Photo Exchange, which meets once per month. Mostly print discussions, but since most of us are published and exhibiting artists, a lot of talk about pending exhibits and exhibiting opportunities. We do sometimes get into technical discussions, but usually when trying to understand how an image was made or printed.

I like the “Monday Meetings” that Paul Butzi talks about; keep it to a small group under 10, meet every other Monday on a roatating basis at someone’s home and bring new work (and some goodies to eat!). Once per week; too often, Once per month, too long between meetings. He also mentioned “cherry picking” the begining group members from other photo meetings, looking for those were was struggling to discuss the merits of an image and not the latest equipment.

By: paul

paul — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:52:00 +0000

Great post, Chantal. As a matter of fact, it spawned my post for today about change!

I would have to agree with you that these types of groups either don’t exist, are so hard to find that they seem not to exist, or we just don’t know where to look!

The photo community in Charlotte is much the same. The photo club here does do outings, critiques, and equipment reviews; however, they don’t talk about the business of photography. There’s another group in South Carolina that runs along a similar vain, again, nothing about the business.

I think that there are a few websites that cover the types of things that you are mentioning, but more on a nationwide level, rather than a local level.

Perhaps you should start such a group! Yes, it takes time and effort to continue. Perhaps its in the form of private/members only blog where you share ideas about the local photography environment.

The market is changing and we will have to change with it. We’ll have to carve out other niches in which to operate.

Speaking of weddings, I certainly would not be surprised to learn that books are down more than 50% from 3 years ago, when digital cameras started hitting the 5 megapixel range.