Shutterbug57

I was having a discussion about camera club fees. His club gets together monthly and is sponsored by a camera store. They don’t have studio access or a darkroom. They have a $50/year fee. The club I belong to has weekly meetings, 2 studio spaces available to members for $10 per 4 hour session and free use of the 3-enlarger darkroom. At one meeting each month we have a studio night with a model & members chip in $5 to pay the model. There are photo contests with critiques at two meetings per month and teaching at the other meetings. Our annual fee is $195 per year.

My question is what does your club have (space & equipment), what does it do (activities) and what does it cost?

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I used to go to the local camera club which charged a flat fee of £45.00 per year - but I was going nowhere, in part due to the cold church hall they met in. I left, but am continuously surprised that they manage to keep going. I joined the next nearest club at £60.00 per year and for that I get a warm and well lit venue (important to me - I do feel the cold more since I turned 60) and the higher membership no. offers greater funding for better speakers.
The club has a competitive element in so much as you score points to move up from Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced with scores between 17-20 being the only ones that count - so you can't advance on a multitude of cheap shots. A no. of practical events are held throughout the year and I definitely feel I've advanced through this club. Slow and steady with no pressure is what I like - but if you want to race through the rankings you can. All competitions are judged by external judges.
The club also has a social side and many members will do something on a day organised between themselves or via club noticeboard and / or Facebook.
Everything is digital, though some members may enter prints that have come through the 'old' route, but the club has no facilities to demonstrate or teach the old methods.
It's worked well for me.

Bill_de Loc: US

When I was in NY I belonged to the Huntington Camera Club for a few years. It was, and from the looks of things, still a very active club.

http://www.hccny.org/web/

It was on a competition night where my B&W squirrel picture won that my serious interest in wildlife photography began. A visitor struck up a conversation asking if I was interested in wildlife. He suggested I meet a few of his friends at a local preserve that Sunday. That was around 20 - 25 years ago. I am still an avid amateur, he is a Canon Explorer of Light. I learned a lot from him over the years, and in a way I have the Huntington Camera Club to thank for that.

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SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

I belong to the one of the photo clubs in Naples, FL during the winter months. It is an extremely well run organization with something for everyone. To see its website, click here: www.dpi-sig.org

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I belong to the Killbuck Photo Guild in Anderson, Indiana. We meet twice monthly, once for photo critiquing and once for an educational meeting. We are non-competitive, though we do have a quarterly competition of sorts with an outside judge. Our dues are $20 per year, and $35 for a family. Our photographers range from professional to rank amateur, and we all help each other with our work. We currently have about 35 members with a monthly attendance of around 25 for the critiquing and 10-15 for the education sessions, depending on the topic of the month.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

The 2 clubs I've considered joining, one here in Ohio & one in Oklahoma, turned out to be non-receptive to new members. In both cases, no one introduced themselves, asked how I heard about them, nor were 1st time visitors asked to introduce themselves during the meeting. I've been a member of several computer clubs and I'm a member of IPMSUSA, the International Plastic Modelers Society, USA. First time visitors are always asked to introduce themselves & tell what their interests are. Hope your experiences are better.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I like your camera club. How can I join? Great perks.
I belong to the Garden Photographic Society. Meets at the Chicago Botanical Gardens.
One of 35 clubs in the greater Chicago area, the Garden Photographic Society has been meeting at the Garden for more than 30 years. The Society participates in photo shoots, technique workshops, and competitions, all while endeavoring to capture the many seasons of the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Meets twice a month and costs $30 a year.

The Garden Photographic Society meets the first Thursday of every month. It is always best to call the Garden to confirm. Call (847) 835–8357 for more information on meetings or on joining the Society.

Shutterbug57

My club is the Camera Club of Cincinnati- www.ccofc.net. Might be a bit out of your geographical area, but thanks for the response.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Never been in a club and there are no clubs around here, so I have no idea!

Bill_de Loc: US

That's good to know. We should have the admin make this a sticky.



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NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin

I belong to the Racine Camera Club we meet once a month Sept. Thru June there is a monthly challenge ,a summer scavenger hunt , Which is judged by members. We also have a spring contest judged by outside judges.There are tutorials given by club members and occasionally outside speakers if we feel the speaker would generate enough interest we have cosponsored with other local clubs. My membership also allows me to participate in event and competitions held by WACCO (Wisconsin Area Camera Club Organisation ) the highlight s are a Spring and a Fall, State wide competition .
As with anything in life the more you participate the more you get out of it.

kcj Loc: Seneca SC

I live onSc we have a photo club that meets 2 times a month one is about different photo videos and then we get to show our pictures. The second one one of our members sets up a class and teaches us how to do different shots like leRning about lightening or shadows,different lenses. Etc our dues are 30.00 a year and we meet in a church hall. We also try to go on 1 or 2 photo shoots a week and also have a couple of speakers

GlenBose Loc: NE Florida, formerly Limerick, PA

I live in NE Florida, about 30 minutes from Jacksonville. There are no camera stores within 75 miles of where I live other than Best Buy (shudder). The nearest camera club is a 1 1/2 hour drive, which I might attempt but driving home at that late hour is risky for this old man whose bedtime routine begins at 9:30. My best option would be the internet (and UHH).
Does anyone know of online clubs?
Thanks, Larry

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

One of the problems in belonging to a smaller club in a semi-rural area is that there is a limited breadth of interest in things photographically. Here if it's not "the Eagles" in winter it is a small group photo trip that provides slight variations on the same theme in the "competitions" for the next year.

It does get boring. One of the reasons I have opted for a group of friends "on the web" rather than waste my time on a local camera club.

Gronka

I live in Manchester, CT. Are there any clubs in this area?