Tax returns and our frugality have been good to us these past few months, and I am able to attend a workshop in Ft Lauderdale in June: "Almost Alone with David Williams." I am ridiculously excited.
That and a few other workshops, seminars, and conferences on the horizon got me thinking: what is more beneficial to your skill as a photographer (not necessarily as a business person). I would really like to improve my photography over the next few years, and I learn best in a hands-on environment with someone working with me. I am reading a lot, practicing, and assisting periodically with some pros. But I'd like to spend a little bit of money on either some workshops, classes, conferences, or seminars.
My thoughts are that workshops are probably the most bang for your buck. For anywhere from $800 to $2000 you get at least two to three days learning and applying your lessons in a hands-on environment.
However, for that same amount of money, I could probably go to the WPPI or DWF conferences this year. The conferences are longer than the workshops and I'll be able to network, listen to some great photographers, get some new ideas, etc. While I imagine a conference would help my business, I'm not sure it would be as beneficial to my photography.
Since I work full-time, these both cost me vacation time and money.
There are also seminars, but how much more do you learn from a seminar than you would from a book or a video on the subject?
Anyway, just checking to see the pros and cons of workshops, conferences, and seminars. Keep in mind, I'm not trying to market -- yet. I really want to hone my photography over the next year, then maybe start marketing in a year or two. Thanks!
Deb -
It's been my experience that workshops are usually worth the money and the hands on experience and critique of my work at the end have been the high point of any workshop.
Conferences, in my opinion, have tons to divert your attention away from learning, but are good for gathering information and resources.
Seminars, are worthwhile if you don't have to travel far, but are often attached to a sales pitch for many different things and so the information gets diluted. I will go to a seminar in Detroit, but probably won't venture more than 60 miles away to attend one.
I work full-time also and so I have to take time off my day job to attend wedding seminars...and that doesn't always go over big when the bossman finds out what I'm taking a day off for. I've become good at finding other reasons to say "what I'm doing", not that it's really any of his business.
I went to one workshop in my life and it was very beneficial to me, given by gino lucadamo & todd johnson (Gino is still doing seminars, Todd just did that one and has not done another to my knowledge). It was 2 days of very hands on learning and covered a lot of ground with a relatively small group (30 people or so).
Just be careful about what you spend your money on. While this one was very good I have heard many stories from other photogs about seminars that were basically just sales pitches for various products or extended trips through the photographer's portfolio.
msack wrote:
Deb -
It's been my experience that workshops are usually worth the money and the hands on experience and critique of my work at the end have been the high point of any workshop.
Conferences, in my opinion, have tons to divert your attention away from learning, but are good for gathering information and resources.
Seminars, are worthwhile if you don't have to travel far, but are often attached to a sales pitch for many different things and so the information gets diluted. I will go to a seminar in Detroit, but probably won't venture more than 60 miles away to attend one.
I work full-time also and so I have to take time off my day job to attend wedding seminars...and that doesn't always go over big when the bossman finds out what I'm taking a day off for. I've become good at finding other reasons to say "what I'm doing", not that it's really any of his business.
Thanks for the info. I'm thinking I'd rather spend my money on workshops for now. Maybe a conference in 2010, when I'll need that kind of information and networking. FM has been a great resource so far.
Anyone been to won of Neil van Niekerk's seminar/workshops? There will be one nearby -- I'm just wondering if it's worth asking for the day off. Thankfully I work for my dad and he doesn't mind me taking time off to go to a photography workshop. He knows I'm stuck here for at least a few more years. As long as it comes off my two weeks of PTO...
