I started the Roswell Photography Meetup Group in 2012. Our first gathering was on September 29, 2012. I didn't intend for it to be a long term endeavor, or even a business. I was a member of the Roswell Photographic Society and gathered a small group to a portrait meetup at Old Car City. Everyone had a great time and when it was over, I thanked everyone for attending. The photographers (and the model) asked if I was going to do something like this again. I hadn't planned on it, but there was plenty of interest, and I had a great time, so I said let's do it!
The group had several intended purposes. To provide photographers an opportunity to network and build their portfolios and offer the models the same along with paid work. I kept the group sizes small, the cost as low as possible, and the gatherings informal and fun.
All was going well, as I was holding several meetups a month. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, however; I learned new and seasoned photographers who had not done a lot of portraiture photography were not signing up. They thought it was only for experienced portrait photographers. I changed the name to Roswell Photography Workshops and offered one on one instruction to those who requested it. The name change worked, as I began seeing some new and less experienced portrait photographers attend.
To date I've hosted over 230 portrait photography meetups, receiving 961 reviews with the following results:
The group had several intended purposes. To provide photographers an opportunity to network and build their portfolios and offer the models the same along with paid work. I kept the group sizes small, the cost as low as possible, and the gatherings informal and fun.
All was going well, as I was holding several meetups a month. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, however; I learned new and seasoned photographers who had not done a lot of portraiture photography were not signing up. They thought it was only for experienced portrait photographers. I changed the name to Roswell Photography Workshops and offered one on one instruction to those who requested it. The name change worked, as I began seeing some new and less experienced portrait photographers attend.
To date I've hosted over 230 portrait photography meetups, receiving 961 reviews with the following results:
Over the twelve years of hosting meetups, I've hired 124 models, many of which were subsequently booked by group members for one on one shoots, fashion shows, designer shoots, video shoots, etc. I've become close friends with several of the models and have photographed their engagements, maternity sessions, graduations and family photos.
Due to an astronomical increase in cost of Meetup.com, I decided to discontinue my subscription effective September 10, 2024. This removes Roswell Photography Workshops and Portraits and Places from Meetup.com. I will continue hosting occasional small, private, group shoots, but with a few changes. I have a very small email list, currently twenty people, which includes frequent attendees.
and close friends. They will first receive notification of my Workshops. If the Workshop doesn't sell out, I will announce it to the general public on Instagram (@LouTR44) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/louraimondiphotography). If interested in attending keep an eye out for announcements.
Due to an astronomical increase in cost of Meetup.com, I decided to discontinue my subscription effective September 10, 2024. This removes Roswell Photography Workshops and Portraits and Places from Meetup.com. I will continue hosting occasional small, private, group shoots, but with a few changes. I have a very small email list, currently twenty people, which includes frequent attendees.
and close friends. They will first receive notification of my Workshops. If the Workshop doesn't sell out, I will announce it to the general public on Instagram (@LouTR44) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/louraimondiphotography). If interested in attending keep an eye out for announcements.