joe_flippin Loc: Texan living in Brazil, SA

I need info about starting a Photo Club. Anybody have any ideas??

tlbuljac Loc: Oklahoma

start with getting people who like to take photos

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Joe, find a club within 100 miles and attend one of their meetings. Be up front and ask for help. Preferably a PSA club, they are well organized and connected and the PSA can give you help. Check-out their website. Photographic Society of America. A woman on this site I remenber is connected at the national level somehow. Saw it on the last thread on clubs. Do a search here for clubs. Good luck

joe_flippin Loc: Texan living in Brazil, SA

Thanks for the advice, will check it out.

treehugger Loc: Eastern Idaho Highlands

I tried a club once. A long time ago. While being welcomed by the president, he proudly informed me that they were going to be "real vicious" with their critics of my work. I went home.

Coolcameragirl Loc: Bradenton, FL

I also had a bad first start when I was looking for a club. The first one I tried I found the people very un-friendly and "clicky". I went to 2 meetings and decided it wasn't for me. The next month I tried another club and found my home! The people were wonderful. I have been going for 7 years now and have learned so much because of it. Try again. Our competition is fun and critique is gentle and educational.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

do a google for meetup in you're area

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I am a member of five (5) different photography MeetUp groups in the Los Angeles basin. I have a choice of outings every weekend. I have no idea if http://www.MeetUp.com has groups (clubs) in Brazil.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Sorry Joe, didn't see that you were from Brazil. Don't know if the PSA operates into your neck of the woods but check'em out anyway. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

infocus Loc: Australia

Place an advertisment in your local paper. asking for members. Stipulate what level of camera enthusiast you are looking for. When you plan to meet, how often, what the cost of membership is etc. Most importantly what they will GAIN by being a member of you club.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

.

We have a Photo Guild which is part of a Art Association.

You may make inquiries in your community news asking all who are interested contact you.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

You could start via meetup.com. Just go that website and search under photography and you should find number of photography meetup groups in your area. In DC area there are probably around 2 dozen or more. You can start and customize yours any way you want and use meetup site for posting announcements, discussion, photos, etc.

DTCOP Loc: Camarillo, CA

Make yourself the Treasurer

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I like our format. We meet the 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month Sept. - June and take off for the summer. Our first meeting each month is for competition and we usually have four categories: Color prints, B&W prints, color slides (they are 100% digital now), in two categories: Nature and open which covers anything including B&W. There is a chairman for each category and each member submits their entries (the digital slides) to the chairperson via e-amil. The chair will put all the entries on a disk and bring them to the club so they can be projected on a large screen. We try to recruit an outside judge for each competition but if none is available, someone from the club will do the judging as long as they have no photos in the category they are judging. Twice a year we throw a twist into the competition like an assigned subject -- most recently "Barns", Mondays we will have an additional category: "Contemporary" which is to say manipulated photos that do not represent factual photos (like showing someone dressed as an elf in the center of a rose". Once a year we have a model shoot and a month later we judge those shots. We also get together a couple of times a year to shoot as a group. We currently have about 50 members with around 35 showing up at any one meeting. One person each meeting volunteers to bring snacks which consist of baked goods, fruit, cheese, crackers, and soda -- the club furnishes ice, coffee, and tea. We have been around since 1937 and are members of NJFCC - New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs, as well as PSA - Photographic Society of America. I would highly suggest getting in touch with that organization as they have models and suggestions for holding competitions as well as setting up clubs. Also for whatever state you are in there may be an equivalent of NJFCC that could offer assistance.
Best of luck in getting your club going; such clubs represent a knowledge source that is special in that you will get to know good photographers in your area and also have the pleasure of nurturing new photographers just starting out.

DK Loc: SD

BAD CLUB!! I can't understand why some clubs are so nasty. I would have run too. Clubs should welcome newbies with open arms and lots of constructive help with their questions, not criticisms.