Recruiting & encouraging new members

One thought that I've had with respect to both recruiting new members and encouraging folks who've recently joined is to have some kind of "Methods Gallery", where, say once a month, a member posts an image and describes in detail how they arranged the shot and/or processed the shot to get the final image. In addition to the example post, others could post images that they're having trouble with and seek detailed advice.

I'm throwing out this idea because it seems to me that with the high quality of NPN posts, someone who's relatively new to photography may feel intimidated and not want to join or participate once they joined. Should something like this get started, I also think that there are associated questions, like;

1) should the person providing the example get "paid"?

2) how much access should non-NPN members get? (If it's a recruiting tool, there must be some access, but total access seems like giving away trade secrets.)

3) how hard would the implementation be from a programming point of view?

Mark, I like the concept. Perhaps a separate gallery that is exclusively for "how-to" photos to be posted by any member at any time. It would be an instructional gallery (not an image critique gallery) and therefore not park ot he WP/EPA awards.

It could be set up immediately.

I like the idea a lot

Jim - instead of making it a separate gallery, what if it was made as a "sub-gallery"? I'm just thinking along the lines of the very infrequent use of "Anonymous" and "EPJ" galleries that if it's made into it's own gallery it will not be seen by the masses unless they specifically seek it out.

What I'm thinking is at the very least linking to the "how-to" gallery from all existing galleries, and also making a "see how-to" button (ala the "purchase print" button) so that you could cross post.

Brad Hill does extensive "how-to" (in the field, behind the camera) write-ups on his images on his personal website and I'm sure he would be happy to get the ball rolling (Jim, notice how I keep volunteering other people for work??? )

Jim, I think a separate gallery (no WP/EP) is good. I do think it would need to start out with an example and it would be good to add additional examples "occasionally". When a member adds an example (rather than members looking for help), it could be mentioned (and linked to) in the NPN monthly magazine. For members with web sites who are selling methods and/or instruction, letting them link back to their web site seems like good advertising (maybe better than "getting paid" by NPN).

Great suggestion, Mark. Nice perk and incentive to join NPN-- the value of instruction and learning without having to pay a lot for formal workshops.... So then, perhaps make it a members-only gallery, not a give-away to non-members. Like the idea of link to contributor member's website.

DPreview occasionally have such articles, where a photographer explains in detail the post-processing and composition of his photos. I think that actually, making this an article format (part of the monthly releases rather than in a gallery) makes most sense because I would want to see the intermediate steps, and having that in a gallery post would be a bit of a hassle and cumbersome.

Basil is thinking the same thing I did when I first read Mark's suggestion. That said, I think the gallery approach could work: make the final photo the original post, then post the step-by-step process with a series of photos/illustrations as separate replies.

The advantage of this would be that members can post a tutorial at any time (instead of just once a month) and there would be no limit to the number of tutorials that could be posted.

Great idea…!

Mark I like that idea and think it would be very popular and informative for the members. Another idea I had was an option for promising new comers to have a NPN "VIP" do a private review of their gallery or any additional images they wanted to submit. Getting a detailed evaluation of my work by a "true" professional is something that I'd gladly pay for. There has been much discussion lately about some of the crème of NPN leaving or not commenting often enough. Perhaps some of them would rather do their evaluating in private than on an open forum and the opportunity to make some extra money might be enticing as well.

Carey, your suggestion is a good one and very much in line with what we did with the NPN Mentor program, something we need to formalize and offer again. The first step is to create a list of mentors who would volunteer their time to do this.

I think that Mark's idea is great, well translated by Jim: "Perhaps a separate gallery that is exclusively for "how-to" photos to be posted by any member at any time. It would be an instructional gallery (not an image critique gallery)"
Carey's concept is also excellent, perhaps a public evaluation of the works would be more interesting and instructive.
All good intentions for the new NPN year.

An idea we're considering is the creation of a short guide to be included with a new member's intro email. It would be a list of suggestions on how to get the most out of their membership and how to get a quick start in doing so. For example, suggestions would include posting a photo and introduction in the NPN Members gallery, picking at least five photos that have been recently posted and asking questions about the photo, contacting other members by email to ask questions, etc.

If you were to offer tips to new members, what would they be?

Thanks!

Jim, I think your idea of a "getting started" boost sounds like a fine way to welcome new members into the community. I'd be glad to offer tips, but I would try to taylor tips to the knowledge of the member. Thus having them include some info about level of experience with both equipment and software would be helpful. I would also suggest changing "picking at least five photos" to "picking up to five photos" because you might get someone like me (and I've done it, ) picking 20. It's also clear that lots of folks don't read carefully, so advice about setting sizes for NPN posting is likely to be valuable.

BTW, I went looking for the "NPN Members gallery" and couldn't find that title, so I'm assuming it's a tentative title for a new gallery.

I agree with the idea of a "Getting Started" guide for new members.

Mark, I think Jim was actually referring to the NPN Photographers Gallery. The name was changed from "NPN Members" a couple of years ago, if I remember correctly.

I like the idea of "pick up to five photos". However, I think the number should include what the new member thinks are their best work to date, and some that they feel iffy about.

As Mark says, it would also be nice to have the new member give us an idea of their level of experience with equipment and software. I also like the thought of including the posting guidelines.

--P

Good points!

Yes, I'm referring to the NPN Photographers gallery as a place to encourage new members to introduce themselves.

YES!
I'm not a "new" member but an avid lurker. Occasionally I post a photo but very infrequently as I don't think it is fair to ask for critique/comments about my photos but at the same time not feeling experienced enough to comment on someone's photos.

I was just getting ready to post a question about software used which came from my last posting and Mike Ramy's fix and the software that he used.

My 2cents:
1. I would "pay" to have my photos reviewed by a NPN VIP. Excellent idea! Especially if they are a "regular" poster to the gallery of interest.
2. The "how to's"/processing process, again a great idea. Maybe a teaser for non-members and the full "job" or access to for members only? As far as where to "place" it, wherever it would be easiest for lurkers/"just visiting"/etc. to find it.
3. The new member guide, also a great idea! Can "old" lurkers ask for one?

I lurk and participate in a couple of "other" photography forums/facebook groups, but what I have found is that NPN members are the most knowledgeable, friendly, willing to share and are phenomenal photographers. So Thanks!

I like this idea so much that I think I posted it as a suggestion on Preston Birdswell's "blank" image on the landscape forum about 3 months ago. Nice to see it moving forward.