There are many different types of photography events out there. Some will be more challenging than others, and some will require more money upfront, but most importantly there are a variety of opportunities to get your name out and meet other like-minded people in your area. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the many different types of photography events that can be conducted in college.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a photography event will generally involve either an exhibition or a workshop. An exhibition is when pieces of work from multiple photographers are exhibited together. Workshops are somewhat similar to exhibitions as they also tend to be an opportunity for people who share an interest in photography to meet one another and exchange ideas. Here we’ll discuss the benefits and challenges of running each type of event, and how it may or may not work in your college campus or community environment.
What are the benefits of running photography events in college?
From a networking point of view running photography events in college can be extremely beneficial. Just like any other form of networking you’re going to meet a lot of people, some of whom you may get on well with, some who you may not, but at least you’ve had the opportunity to meet them.
You’re also going to get a chance to see some of the talents in your campus, and potentially inspire some people to take up photography. Finally, you’re going to get a chance to make some new friends who share your interest in photography.
The challenges of running photography events in college
All good things do come with a price. Running an exhibition or workshop in college can be quite a challenge. If you’re going to be exhibiting or teaching photography in college then you’ll need the permission of the college authorities. This is a difficult process and can be expensive, depending on what you’re doing. You’ll also need to make sure that you have the necessary equipment and space to do this.
This can be especially challenging if you’re running an exhibition, as you may need to go to a large venue. Finally, you’ll need to ensure that the people who come to your event are having a good time and that they walk away with a few new skills and insights to take back to their day-to-day lives.
When should you run a photography event?
You can generally tell when a photography event is going to be well-received based on the number of people who show up. If there’s an event that’s more for the serious photographer, or if there’s an event that’s more targeted towards high school kids, then this will give you a sense of when to hold the event.
You should hold an event at the same time of year that you hold your photography classes, this way it’s likely to be on the calendar alongside other heavy-hitting class timetables. Generally, you should aim to hold your event once a year, as this is enough to keep the general interest up, but not so often that it’s forgotten about.
Running a workshop in college
Running a workshop in college is similar to running an exhibition or a series of workshops. Typically workshops are designed to be hands-on, so you’ll need plenty of equipment to make sure that the people who attend walk away with new insights and skills.
Running an exhibition in the college
If you have the space, and the finances to run an exhibition in college, then you’re in for a treat. As exhibitions allow you to showcase multiple images by different photographers, you can use this space to highlight the work of other students as well, which is extremely powerful. Exhibitions are great networking opportunities, they allow you to put your work in front of a lot of people in one place.
Which type of photography event is best for your campus?
Each photography event is different, depending on the makeup of your campus, the types of people that you’re likely to attract, and the types of photography events that you want to run. If you want to run an exhibition, or if you want to run a hands-on workshop, then you’ll need to find a venue that allows you to do that.
If you want to run a more informal pop-up event, where you just have a table and a few images, then you can do this on college grounds as well. If you want to run a more informal pop-up event, where you just have a table and a few images, then you can do this on college grounds as well. If you want to run a more formal event, where you need a larger space, and where you want to showcase more serious photography from multiple photographers, then you’ll need to find a suitable venue.
Learning from other people’s work
One of the biggest benefits of running photography events in college is that you’re going to get a chance to see some of the talents in your campus. At the end of the day, this is what you’re going to be showcasing, and you’re going to get a chance to see what you’re up against. At the same time, you’re also likely to meet a lot of like-minded people who share your interest in photography. This is something that you can take into your day-to-day life.
Conclusion
Running photography events in college can be extremely beneficial. You’ll get the chance to make new friends, network, and inspire people to take up photography. With the right event, you can even make a few bucks while doing so. If you’re looking for ways to add value to your college experience, then photography is certainly one way to do so.
