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movingex

I signed up to joined the Dallas PPA last night as an aspiring member and attended the meeting. They had a really good speaker on children's photograph. They also awarded prizes to print contest winners which was pretty cool as the winners had some really good prints.

I had to leave before it was over so I didn't get a chance to hang around and ask questions which leaves me wondering how do I get the most out of being a member? I'm assuming that there is more to it than just attending the meetings.

If there are any members here who can give me any insight on how to get the most out of being a member I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

Crashoran · 07-14-2010, 11:26 AM

Make sure they don't turn around and sell your information like they did to us in Kerrville..

J Eddington · 07-14-2010, 03:37 PM

The best thing you can do is to enter the monthly print competitions. You will learn ALOT from this. Sorry I missed you last night! I looked for new people but didn't see your name.

MicWayWal · 07-19-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashoran

Make sure they don't turn around and sell your information like they did to us in Kerrville..

DPPA does not sell or give member's personal information to anyone but its members.

Jeff,

The best way to get the most out of DPPA is go to all the meetings and events. There is a ton of great proven information available from speakers and members alike. When I went to school for photography I learned the technical and creative side of photography. No one taught me the business side or very much of the portrait and wedding side. I learned everything I know from DPPA and TPPA.

While at DPPA events don't always hang with the same people. Meet as many different members as you can. Get to know them and their business. Sit at different tables to be exposed to more and more people. You would be surprised who go to the meetings, sit with the same 5 or 6 people and never get to know others. Then they wonder why they don't learn very much.

When you find someone with whom you can relate to business wise, ask them out for lunch and talk shop. Participate in the print judging and try different things to improve your work. Go to the seminars and socialize with as many people as you can. Simply put as much as you can because the more you put into something the more you will get out of it.

stacyreeves · 07-19-2010, 12:38 PM

is there no august meeting?

J Eddington · 07-19-2010, 12:48 PM

No Little Red School House instead.

I sit different table each meeting and went to 19 out of 25 meetings and then attended the Ladies Outing last summer and I didn't know a single person there! Also go to meetings which don't seem to have an interest in. You will still learn no matter what type of photography they do.
Oh and get ready for Texas School!

ChristopherCoy · 07-19-2010, 01:11 PM

Speaking of Texas school... did y'all see that TriCoast is having a class!??

Its gonna look like black friday at walmart come registration day.

movingex · 07-19-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicWayWal

DPPA does not sell or give member's personal information to anyone but its members.

Jeff,

The best way to get the most out of DPPA is go to all the meetings and events. There is a ton of great proven information available from speakers and members alike. When I went to school for photography I learned the technical and creative side of photography. No one taught me the business side or very much of the portrait and wedding side. I learned everything I know from DPPA and TPPA.

While at DPPA events don't always hang with the same people. Meet as many different members as you can. Get to know them and their business. Sit at different tables to be exposed to more and more people. You would be surprised who go to the meetings, sit with the same 5 or 6 people and never get to know others. Then they wonder why they don't learn very much.

When you find someone with whom you can relate to business wise, ask them out for lunch and talk shop. Participate in the print judging and try different things to improve your work. Go to the seminars and socialize with as many people as you can. Simply put as much as you can because the more you put into something the more you will get out of it.

Good advice,

Thanks!

gregt1310 · 07-19-2010, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

Speaking of Texas school... did y'all see that TriCoast is having a class!??

Its gonna look like black friday at walmart come registration day.

Chris - where did you see this? I haven't been able to find it.....

ChristopherCoy · 07-19-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregt1310

Chris - where did you see this? I haven't been able to find it.....

Mikey put it out on Twitter the other day.

ChristopherCoy · 07-19-2010, 04:21 PM

Soas not to hijack this thread....

Jeffery,

I've been thinking about joining either DPPA or FWPPA. What were your first impressions of DPPA as a newcomer?

MicWayWal · 07-19-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregt1310

Chris - where did you see this? I haven't been able to find it.....

TxSchool won't post the classes and instructors until this fall.

movingex · 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

Soas not to hijack this thread....

Jeffery,

I've been thinking about joining either DPPA or FWPPA. What were your first impressions of DPPA as a newcomer?

Well, so far I've only attended the one meeting last week. The meeting was well organized the speaker was really good. They also handed out awards from the print competitions and it was great to see the winning prints and stuff. I filled out my membership form and paid there on the spot before the meeting started.

There wasn't any formal introduction to the group or any kind of formal dissemination of information to what the group was about either. It was just fill out the form and pay. Granted I am not a full time photographer so I only signed up as an aspiring member so I don't know if the process would have been different otherwise.

From what I can tell from the replies here it's just go to the meetings, participate in the print competition and it's up to you get whatever you can from that. They are having their summer picnic on July 25th and I will go and see what else I can pick up there.