Training…A personal view by Tom Lee FSWPP

Some photographers think its easy, some find it hard, most think we cant afford the time or the expense. What is certain, is that none of us can run a successful business without it. Whilst training can be an expensive affair, with the right coaching and guidance, even an expensive seminar or course will reap rewards tenfold in your future business.

Measuring the success or benefit to any training delegate can be a difficult thing to evaluate. Experience and current knowledge has a bearing on the validity of some programmes, but there is no excuse for those of you who are just starting out in business. Several colleagues from the Society, including myself, frequently travel to the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention in Las Vegas each year. Think how expensive that sort of training is! We do it to gain more ideas and experience to pass onto fellow photographers and enhance our own respective businesses.

Now for those of you just starting, we might not expect you to undertake that sort of outlay in the first year of trading, however, an audience of some 1000 photographers at the convention were asked to give a show of hands to indicate those who were in their first year. Over ¾ of the room put up their hands! If a multi-national audience can put themselves out to travel halfway around the world, surely you can attend some events held in this country.

It doesn't have to cost an arm or a leg…

Why have you become a member of the Society? Is it just to impress your friends, or do you want it to mean something to your clients? We don't exist to encourage a 'members only' club or to make off with your membership fees.

The Society is pro-active in putting on seminars, tutorials and events throughout the country for which a nominal fee is charged. Usually including lunch and refreshments for less than £60. And where were you when the Trade Show was on in Liverpool? Apart from substantial support from some heavyweight sponsors like Fuji, Olympus, Graphistudio, Calumet and others, there were eight FREE, hour-long seminars throughout the two-day event. If we can attract members and non-members to this event from either end of the country, we should have no difficulty in attracting people less than an hours drive away. There is simply no excuse for lack of training, particularly amongst Society members. Phil Jones travels thousands of miles each year from Scotland to the south of England just to meet his family of members, and bring the support of the Society to them. In some cases the cost of putting events on has not been met by the cost of the attendance fee, but he still does it!

This might sound a bit harsh, but the fact is that even with many years in the photographic industry, there is a need to continually update, improve and adapt our business products and strategies, just to maintain our niche in the marketplace. The Head Office is always available to point you in the right direction, but sometimes you need more than a phone call to sort out problems. There is nothing better than hands on demonstrations or business talks to give you the impetus and experience you need to succeed. If you need specific help, then we will try to arrange a specific course if the demand is there.

Competition…

The monthly competition is open to all members, but it does not have to be a Wedding or Portrait based entry as some people think. The second place Photographer of the Year 2003 was awarded to a sports photographer.

Believe it or not, this is one of the ways in which you can improve your photographic skills. Each entry is scrutinised and receives a critique whether or not it wins the category. This adds a useful pointer as to the direction in which your photography is taking you, however it won't happen unless you enter. The competition entries for 2003 were slow to come in but picked up both in volume and quality as the year went on. This is an indication of growing photographers' confidence and acknowledgement of constructive comment.

Print Critique…

A number of photographers have attempted to gain their qualifications at either Licentiate or Associate levels this year, without seeking advice first. This has for some, unfortunately resulted in a failed submission costing the author at times hundreds of pounds. This could have been easily avoided by informal discussion with Head office over unmounted 5"x4" prints. Whilst this would not count towards a formal submission, it would save precious amounts of cash that could have been spent on better training.

I am not immune from this learning process. The Society is promoting a new qualification to be known as the 'Craftsman' award. Launched at Focus 2004, it will initially only be open to social photographers but will be widened to include those from the BPPA once the format for submission is finalised. This will not be an easy target to attain, and qualification at this level means that to all intensive purposes the presentation is perfect. Getting it wrong will result in the loss of hundreds of pounds. Having an informal critique of my work prior to submission is as equally important to me as someone aiming for a Licentiate qualification.

Incentive…

Remember that competition I mentioned earlier? The overall winner gets a free trip to Las Vegas WPPI convention with some spending money to boot!+++ a brand new Fuji S3. If you can’t afford the trip you might just win it by submitting entries. Don't worry about the big names that have gone before you, they are there to be shot at. If you don't think your photography is up to it then you definitely need the training anyway! But you have to be in it to win it.

Every day we are gaining more and more respect worldwide, particularly in America. Several well known international speakers have already pledged articles for the magazine and are looking to give us the benefit of their expertise at Society events. You will have an opportunity to meet superb photographers not normally accessible in this country. Phil Jones will always be on hand to provide advice on your future competition entries or qualifications queries. Watch this space.

Finally…

Don't think that attending a training seminar means sitting in front of a know it all who is eager to satisfy his/her ego. Attending seminars is a great way of meeting other photographers and exchanging ideas. If you take just one concept away from your visit and make it work for you, then your fees have been worthwhile, and at the very least you get to see some great pictures.

Photo Quote: The virtue of the camera is not the power it has to transform the photographer into an artist, but the impulse it gives him to keep on looking. - Brooks Anderson,