Goal #27 – The Benefits of Joining a Photography Group

This goal was put on my list thinking I’d join one of the major national photography organizations, either WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) or PPA (Professional Photographers of America).  And while I will continue to look to these organizations for quality content and I will attend one of the two photography conferences each year, I’ve found a lot of value in an organization much more personal and closer to home.

Last June I attended the first meeting of the Denver Photo Betties, which at the time was just a group of local women photographers who were interested in connecting with each other.  We had found each other through another Facebook group as a result of Jasmine Star’s CreativeLive ReSTARt workshop.  The host of the first meeting, Katie of The Roaring Artist had been a part of a similar group in Philadelphia and was craving the camaraderie and friendship that networking with a group of similar artists and women would bring.

Over wine and snacks, we established what kind of group we wanted to be, shared our current favorite images, and set goals for  what we each wanted to get out of the group.  We planned our first happy hour get together and a week later I volunteered to be on the board.

Since last summer the Denver Photo Betties has been an amazing support system for us in our business and has introduced me to a group of phenomenal women that I have had the pleasure of talking to, learning from, and shooting alongside of.

We’ve hosted business workshops like goals setting and website critiques, we’ve planned shoot outs, and we have several amazing workshops lined up in the next couple of months.  The best part of the workshops is that they are led by members of our group–women who excel in a certain area of photography that are willing and excited to teach and help out fellow photographers.

The group is made of seasoned pros and newly launched businesses, those who shoot only film and those who love digital, full-time and part-time photographers, single women, moms, and mom’s-to-be, and we cover the gamut in what we shoot, from exclusively weddings, to families, newborns, and seniors.

Through an active and supportive Facebook group, monthly get togethers, and day to day exchanges with these women, I feel I have grown tremendously as a photographer over the last year.  And as I look to continue to improve and grow our business it feels so good to know I’ll have an active support group along the way.

Photo by Natascha Lee Studios