2 Pro's Maybe 3 (1 Semi ok) Needed

[taygull]

Hey guys, some of you know me some of you don't. I am the staff photographer for Frisco Style Magazine. If you don't know the magazine we are the top in our area with 60,000 issues distributed monthly. I've won several awards for my photography not only in the magazine but also some other shots with the DPPA. I have a studio in Downtown Frisco, and shoot all Canon gear.

Here is what I'm looking to do. I'm looking for at least 2 other full time pros to start networking with once per month. We would work on but not limited to;

• Lighting techniques (Studio & Outdoor), I'm pretty good at outdoor "strobist" style lighting.
• Image Review and recreate - Study some of the great images and learn to recreate or get inspiration from them
• Marketing- Web and Non Web
• Work-Flow Improvement
• Intermediate to Advanced Post Processing
• Website techniques
• Emphasize on Wedding, Portrait, and commercial photography. I can provide quite a bit of insight and opportunity on live performance shooting
• What ever else you guys want to work on

The 4th person that I would not mind including in the group is someone who wants to learn photography yet they bring a very high level of web/IT skills to the table to help us pros with our internet presence.

I'd prefer to meet during the week for a full day with a planned schedule so we can have things ready once we meet.

Let me know if you are interested. I'd prefer all Canon shooters but this is not required.

I look forward to seeing where this goes!

I think it is important to ad that everyone one involved MUST bring value to the group not just take value away. I'd think someone with a bunch of experience could benefit as well as someone new to the biz.

chris at chrisfritchiephotography dot com

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by taygull

I'd prefer to meet during the week for a full day with a planned schedule so we can have things ready once we meet.

Let me know if you are interested. I'd prefer all Canon shooters but this is not required.

Chris,
FOR A DAY? I have done this before about 10 years ago and it was a blast to get together and trade ideas. We came from 4 different parts of the area so we would not be stepping on each others toes too much. Like you mentioned we would have a specific agenda on specific topics and would brainstorm problems for each other.

I would love to get a group like this together if we could meet for maybe a morning or afternoon once a month. But lets talk tomorrow at the gtg.

[srwatters]

By limiting your request to full time pro's, you may miss out on some technical expertise that a full time pro lacks time to develop. That is if your intent is to increase your knowledge.

Just a thought as I'm not a full time pro and don't really want to be one.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by srwatters

By limiting your request to full time pro's, you may miss out on some technical expertise that a full time pro lacks time to develop. That is if your intent is to increase your knowledge.

Just a thought as I'm not a full time pro and don't really want to be one.

Scott,
You must be kidding. All the pros I know spend ALL their time and a lot of money developing more, newer, better and FASTER technical expertise and products. They go to more seminars, and spend more money educating themselves about the latest equipment and products than any part timer would consider. The big difference is: Pros develop things to SELL. And sometimes the expertise we develop is centered around things that make our work flow faster and easier. I have seen thousand of things developed by part timers and most of it either would not sell, or would take so long to accomplish that it could not be sold at an affordable price.

I am not trying to get up on my hind legs here. I am just trying to point out that full time pros have unique issues that part timers never know about. We can and do learn from individuals that are not full time. Why do you think I am on TPF?

You haven't lived until you have to make $28,000 per month just to pay the bills. Anything left over after that is yours. That is swimming in the deep end and not everyone can handle that pressure.

[CaptainTom]

In the middle between Scott and Michael.

Full timers definitely have different agendas in their photographic lives. We quite often settle for less than perfection because that is what the client either wants, or can pay for. Those with day jobs have no idea the pressures involved in trying to make your photography pay the bills.

Part timers don't have these pressures, and can therefore afford to spend their time developing specific techniques and skills that the full timer can't.
Their expertise in a specific area can far exceed the full timers. They could contribute on a limited basis. Also, some part time photographers are full time marketers, PR, advertising, sales, etc. and can contribute in these areas.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

In the middle between Scott and Michael. . . . They could contribute on a limited basis. Also, some part time photographers are full time marketers, PR, advertising, sales, etc. and can contribute in these areas.

Tom,

Very good points.

Are you a mediator full time? Maybe you ought to consider.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by MicWayWal

Tom,

Very good points.

Are you a mediator full time? Maybe you ought to consider.

Thanks, but I am a full time photographer until the money runs out tomorrow !!

[taygull]

Originally Posted by MicWayWal

Chris,
FOR A DAY?

Sorry if it was unclear, I am looking for those involved to commit to 1 day per month.

Please lets not get this thread into a debate about who is better full timers vs part timers.

I will say some of the best photographers in the world are part timers and hobby shooters. I'm first looking for full timers mainly because we have the exact same focus...we MUST use this craft to pay our bills. There just seems to be a different focus.

[brad]

I might be interested in something like this, Chris.

[taygull]

For me the next step is to visit with a few of you at the meeting tomorrow. Then I suggest whomever is interested we do another brief get together to just get to know one another. Then we can all go back and think about the commitment.

The challenge will be if we block off a day in advance everyone must do everything they can to meet. It would not be fair for a couple of folks to clear a profit making day for this and then some folks not show up.

Keep this in mind as we talk.

My treo is on the blink, I hope to have a new one tomorrow. I can get voice mails but I can't hear or you can't hear me when I answer a call. So let's see how this goes over the next couple of days and then we can chat here and live this week.

I'm excited about getting to know some of you guys.

[ShaneKislack]

Why not just join dsvc.org and do it right? I'm a new member.

[taygull]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

Why not just join dsvc.org and do it right? I'm a new member.

We are all members of various groups, PPA, TPPA, DPPA, WPPJ (whatever it is). There is a big difference in sitting in a meeting all day and actually having specific relationships with specific piers where you actually get something done vs talking about getting something done.

I don't want to debate the value of membership groups, they are great. Thanks but based on emails and PM's a few others see the value in a small networking group.

Thanks Shane.

[lscottpht]

I would love to, but I'm doing this already with two other photographers. I think it's a great idea.

[CaptainTom]

maybe we need to find out who is already doing this cell idea, and eventually plan an annual gathering ?

[AndrewCCM]

Wish I fit the bill..

Corporate IT guy here that has flexible hours. Shoots about 33 weddings a year...

But by definition, I don't rely on the income to pay my bills...well not all.. LOL

Good luck with your group.