Setting up a Facebook photography group (Blog #54)

Welcome to a short blog about my latest Facebook adventure.

I know Facebook isn't everybody's 'thing', after all it's been around for what seems like forever, and other social media channels have sprung up since it first appeared on scene. For me, Facebook has its place in my online presence, especially the group feature, but it's not my only channel.

I'm a keen hobbyist smartphone photographer, keen to practice, keen to learn, and keen to connect with other photographers who simply enjoy taking photographs.

Where I live there's a thriving colony of photographers, some whose names have become familiar to me, but I was sure there were many more out there who are unknown to me, people who loved taking photographs as a hobby.

I decided to create a group. Choosing a name was the first  step: it had to include the word 'Hobby'. I also wanted it to be sort of geographically defined, with the name of my home town being the obvious choice. Defining my group by town, district or area was to later prove a bit of a sticking point among group members, but one we eventually resolved.

So I created my group, made it private so that I could have some control over potential member requests to join.

How to get members? I knew a few local photographers, all of whom I contacted and invited. A few of them then got their friends to join, which was nice. It has been agreed that the group numbers are to be restricted so that members become more familiar with each others output.

So far the group is working well together, posting frequently and generating comments and discussions.

We had our first face-to-face group meeting last week where we drank coffee, talked photography, walked around town, and took pictures. This group outing event is set to be a regular monthly event.

The thing about a Facebook group, as opposed to a page, is that it is a forum for interaction, a two-way dialogue, not a monologue.

Follow me on Threads and Instagram @smart_phone_photographer_ 53. My Facebook group Knaresborough District Hobby Photographers. NB: only those who full-fill the geographic condition.