Local

Local Meetings are our #1 priority. We want to encourage everyone to start meeting locally to critique wedding photographs. So, we want to share what a typical meeting is like:

The first part of the meeting is on the social side.  The first 30 minutes of the meeting time is specifically to be able to talk and vote on photographs. When you come in, you’ll give your photographs (no identification on the front, identification on the back) to one of the local leaders while signing in. Let the local leader know which ones you’d like to go into which challenge category as well as which you’d like to have critiqued (note: you don’t have to bring any photographs to attend. And, you don’t have to have a photograph critiqued if you prefer not to). You’ll be given a notecard to be able to place your vote (more on this at the meeting). About 15 minutes after the official start time, one of the local leaders will post all of the photographs in each competition with a number associated with each one. For the next 15 minutes, you walk around and place your votes on the card – one vote for one photograph in each category. Once you’ve made your choices, please turn the card with your votes in.

Next will be the critique portion. All the photographs seeking critique will be posted (anonymously). The local leader(s) will begin the critique. The idea of a critique is to analyze a photograph and comment on what is great and where the photograph could be improved. Moreover, stating WHY you like it and WHY/HOW areas could be improved. This is more of an open discussion. Everyone is welcome to share and express their opinions. Each photograph will be allowed roughly 5 minutes for critique (depending on the amount of time and total amount of photographs to be critiqued). You’ll have to be there to get a real feel of the critiquing process – but, the idea is to have an open, constructive, critique where the photographer can gain great prospective and insight to their own photography … the result hopefully being that we, as photographers, are pushed to become better and more creative every month.

While the critique is taking place, one of the local leaders will be tallying the votes previously placed. The winners will be announced at the end of the meeting. If your photograph wins, it is your responsibility to submit the file (no larger than 700 pixels on the longest edge at 72 ppi/dpi) as well as your contact, website, and any other information - You can email this to contact@beyondthewedding.com. Note: The front slideshow version will be slightly modified in cropping; however, on the post itself it will be the original size submitted.

Yay! That’s the idea of a typical meeting. The meetings themselves will change/evolve for each local meeting.

Clarification:
Photographs that you can bring to local meetings for critique have no timeframe. The photograph simply needs to have been taken at a wedding by you. You’re welcome to have a photograph you took specifically for a challenge critiqued, but you are also welcome to choose any photograph you’ve ever taken at a wedding to be critiqued. 

I should also note – you don’t have to bring in a photograph to participate – we welcome everyone to come – even if you’d just like to observe. Also, we welcome your comments on photographs for critique regardless if you brought any in photographs yourself (they are unmarked on the front anyway, so, no one should know either way).