Written by John Craig
I have a passion for photography; a love for the business that Elizabeth and I built and a commitment to the next generation to leave it stronger and healthier.
Size doesn’t matter, quality of conversation does.
The reason to build a community is to discover what ideas need to be fulfilled; to connect people with problems to the people who have answers. The community is to position those for success (whatever you deem success to be.) Not a guaranteed success, but to permit and promote it in others and ourselves.
A community will generate conversation in which we can gain feedback, learn, connect and grow. The only guiding rules for a community are to be authentic, to listen, and respond by doing some good, and lastly to learn how to take remarkable photos.
For me, personally, a photo community will be successful when it does not act as the ruling word on photography, but the guiding word: the starting place.
Tips on community building (a.k.a.) How to get the word out.
Teach a free class (library, community center)
Don’t be afraid to list it on Craigslist
Take the fear out, open it to all levels
Offer to give talks at local Art schools, & community colleges
Ask Facebok & Twitter friends to spread the word
Hold a Photo-Walk, invite people out for a walk with a camera
So, what do you think???
P.S. this is a good conversation to hold at your next PUG meet-up. Let me know how the discussion goes.
