Members Feedback required

[Darren]

ClubSNAP members,

To make ClubSNAP a more interesting and valuable community, the CTMs need your feedback as to what YOU want to see in ClubSNAP (Forums as well as web portal) -

Some things which we are already working on:-
Photo technique Articles
General articles
Equipment Reviews
Location/Shooting Guides
Personal Domain Space (fee-based, affordable)

Some ideas which we are toying with:-
Free Storage Space (between 2MB - 4MB)
Tie-ups with online photo-finishers (local) for digital printing
Tie-ups with local retailers
Officially organised (paid/subsidised) photoshoots
ClubSNAP merchandise

Please note that the list above is NOT exhaustive but also not 100% committed, and we appreciate YOUR feedback as this is a community that YOU will contribute to.

 

[cillin]

Maybe can conduct some workshop or discussion in small group, for e.g., how to take street photo, how to take insect mating, technique and type of equipment require. Can be conducted by code team member or moderator or even some professional with lecture follow by hands on and review or comments on the hands on.

 

[rueyloon]

I think we need a better critique section, maybe we should have a critique of the week photo,

I dun think the usual replies of "good, nice, thumbs up" do any good.

 

[Darren]

Originally posted by rueyloon
I think we need a better critique section, maybe we should have a critique of the week photo,

I dun think the usual replies of "good, nice, thumbs up" do any good.

hmmm... i think the Critique discussion thing has been discussed in this thread - CLICK ME! - and the general consensus is that it takes TWO hands to clap - the person posting for Critique is one hand, and the person(s) giving the critiques is the other.

So far, I think the former is plentiful, but the latter is not so active.

Bottom line: If we want to improve Critique, its not enough to create a section or new element, we need the HUMAN participation.

Appreciate if you can contribute (give some Critique lah! nowadays you so quiet?) or some idea how to get more ppl to give comments (apart from members throwing in controversial pics/posts or flaming).

 

[john_nkt]

Maybe Clubsnap can publish a price list of digital cams/accessories in Singapore with alerts on new cameras, latest pricing and price changes plus links to reviews and user comments/feedbacks etc.


Regards

John_nkt

 

[Trevor_Tan]

Originally posted by rueyloon
I think we need a better critique section, maybe we should have a critique of the week photo,

I dun think the usual replies of "good, nice, thumbs up" do any good.

Ya, I think that a good idea, pick a photo from then critique corner every week then have a real expert (maybe a forum member) to point out the do and don't in it.
Then the rest of the not so experts can still give the usual "good, nice, thumbs up", if they find the photo nice. It is also a way to boost the photographer morale.

Trevor

 

[revenant]

Originally posted by john_nkt
Maybe Clubsnap can publish a price list of digital cams/accessories in Singapore with alerts on new cameras, latest pricing and price changes plus links to reviews and user comments/feedbacks etc.


Regards

John_nkt

I second that. Since no where else have that. Could do with something like hwz's pricelist. How about a weekly update?

 

[Trevor_Tan]

Originally posted by Darren
ClubSNAP members,

To make ClubSNAP a more interesting and valuable community, the CTMs need your feedback as to what YOU want to see in ClubSNAP (Forums as well as web portal) -

Some things which we are already working on:-
Photo technique Articles
General articles
Equipment Reviews
Location/Shooting Guides
Personal Domain Space (fee-based, affordable)

Some ideas which we are toying with:-
Free Storage Space (between 2MB - 4MB)
Tie-ups with online photo-finishers (local) for digital printing
Tie-ups with local retailers
Officially organised (paid/subsidised) photoshoots
ClubSNAP merchandise

Please note that the list above is NOT exhaustive but also not 100% committed, and we appreciate YOUR feedback as this is a community that YOU will contribute to.

* Consolate a reference price list for the more common items.
* So good shop names where newibes can use to check for price and their web address (if any)
* A FAQ sections for Technical and non-Technical questions & answer
* articles from maganize (scanned) can be uploaded by the members.
* Can have discount card for equipments, flims, develop & prints.

That all I can think of for now. Will add on later.

 

[Kho King]

I can see that clubsnap is moving toward this:
http://www.photosharp.com.tw/

A very successful website in Taiwan.

My suggestion:
Having membership fees (small amount...) and give member card (elegently made). The member card can be used for:

1. It is a good idea to have relation with some printing shops, and having discount for members develop their photos there. If clubsnap is big enough, I am sure many shops would like to offer this service/offer to clubsnap.

2. Outting. Can have photo shooting session organized by clubsnap, and only available for members, or non-member paying higher price.

3. Promoting seeds once a month. If every month can have 10~20 people buying camera/lenses, then I am sure CP or AP will give special discount or promo to clubsnap members. Every end of each month can have a seed at CP or AP, and when they heard "clubsnap members are coming"...they will sure get ready...and serve us well.

4. Having self testing report (camera/lens/accessory).

5. Auction

Just my thoughts...

 

[Bean]

Originally posted by Kho King
My suggestion:
Having membership fees (small amount...) and give member card (elegently made).

IMHO, If membership fee comes in, ClubSNAP will be like a Photography Society. And a fee might deter most amateurs from participating. Best to leave it free and encourage people to soak in the community.

Just my 1 cent worth....

 

[sbs99]

Originally posted by Bean



IMHO, If membership fee comes in, ClubSNAP will be like a Photography Society. And a fee might deter most amateurs from participating. Best to leave it free and encourage people to soak in the community.

Just my 1 cent worth....

Yah should refrain from charging the people.

Organize more outings!! See chio bu!!! Haaaa
juz joking.

 

[Simon]

Originally posted by Bean



IMHO, If membership fee comes in, ClubSNAP will be like a Photography Society. And a fee might deter most amateurs from participating. Best to leave it free and encourage people to soak in the community.

Just my 1 cent worth....

May you share your knowledge on how ClubSNAP will growth without FUNDS and Being an Unregistered Society without any government recognition?

How do ClubSNAP "leave it free" and how do ClubSNAP "encourage people to soak in the community" ?

 

[Fundee]

THIS IS JUST AN OPINION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clubsnap MUST create some revenue to grow BIG & GO FAR...
1) POP-UPs by advertiser is one thing good but i doubt other members agree to it coz its irritable & might slow things down..
2) Charging a small fees is also a good idea for maintaining this website...MONEY & MAINTAINENCE always run hand in hand...I suggest to have something like access to paying members where more info, technique and online-personal clinic(to be discuss this furthur).
3) Conducting courses is always welcome for further knowledge in certain aspect of photography....(who's conducting what????)
4)Provide web & e-mail space for paying members....(xxx@clubsnap.org)
5)Merchandising of items such as caps, tees, and jackets with Clubsnap patches will make us feel the sense of belonging...

WE IN CLUBSNAP ALWAYS FOWARD MOVING IN TERMS OF TECHNIQUE AND PHOTOGRAPHIC TOOLS....if with the so called Clubsnap membership card we could get some discount or freebies from some known shop will be a plus point......

COMMENTS ARE NOT WELCOME....BUT ..SOLUTION DO...

 

[Zookeeper]

Originally posted by Bean



IMHO, If membership fee comes in, ClubSNAP will be like a Photography Society. And a fee might deter most amateurs from participating. Best to leave it free and encourage people to soak in the community.

Just my 1 cent worth....

Perhaps make a difference between paid membership (with card & privileges) and free membership. This way amateurs can still come in and soak in the "Clubsnap spirit", and if they find that they like it, they can pay for membership with its privileges.

Membership fees need not be the only source of revenue. Advertising? Combine clubsnap photoshoots with commercial assignments to earn funds?

 

[cyanbloodbane]

Originally posted by Fundee
4)Provide web & e-mail space for paying members....(xxx@clubsnap.org)
[SIZE] [/B]

That will be a really good idea. Running a server at home (24/7) cost me SGD 15 per month, if clubsnap can offer decent connectivity and storage space, I dunt mind paying token membership fees.

BTW, whats the operating cost for clubsnap?

 

[Kho King]

From what I saw in Photosharp, there are two kind of membership. One is the Privilage and the other is normal member. Anybody can register as normal member in order to post and participate in the forum/discussion. However, for outing...special discount at certain shops (seeds, film developing...etc.), only privilage members are qualified to it.

The membership fee I suggest is S$10 for first registration including first year annual fee, and S$5 for the following annual fee.

After having paid membership, Clubsnap must make sure that it can deliver enough benefit to the privilage members.

Giving storage and email account to privilage members might not be a good idea, as it might cost too much money to become a privilage member and much investment clubsnap needed in hardware/maintainence.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Goondu]

Sorry, but have to ask this question. Please don't flame me for this.

"What is the main reason for setting this up in the first place?"

I think revenues should be generated so as to grow. Examples are merchandising, web hosting. We should stick to that.

If pop-ups advertisements and more privileges to paying members, we are heading towards what the other site is doing and this is the very reason for us to "breakaway" from the other site.

One idea is to set up a pool of photographers who are professional enough to undertake any sessions. Members can always recommend to their friends about this service. ClubSnap can then receive some "commission" from these photographers.

The above idea can be expanded further, if it sounds okay.

 

[Kho King]

Originally posted by Goondu
Sorry, but have to ask this question. Please don't flame me for this.

"What is the main reason for setting this up in the first place?"

I think revenues should be generated so as to grow. Examples are merchandising, web hosting. We should stick to that.

If pop-ups advertisements and more privileges to paying members, we are heading towards what the other site is doing and this is the very reason for us to "breakaway" from the other site.

One idea is to set up a pool of photographers who are professional enough to undertake any sessions. Members can always recommend to their friends about this service. ClubSnap can then receive some "commission" from these photographers.

The above idea can be expanded further, if it sounds okay.

Advertisement advertised by local (Singapore) photography shops isn't a bad idea at all. If local shops are willing to advertise at clubsnap, then it might be able to benefit more people. However, I won't support oversea store advertisement.

There are currently NO local website that can group photographers together like the Taiwanese "photosharp.com". It is no wrong for us to follow their way of doing, since they have proof themselves to be a sucessful one. They are in Taiwan, not Singapore, and we can't join or participate in their activity. Clubsnap will still be very different from Photosharp even if we use advertisement and privilage members style, because it is unique to Singapore only and the activity are for people living in Singapore or around Singapore.

 

[Simon]

ClubSNAP was set up for all fellow Photographers to share and learn as a Photography Community.

The main aim is to have a Portal/Forum where there are no excessive POP-UP Advertisements, "Server Un-available for non-paying members" messages.

Since ClubSNAP is run as a community, this also means that the FUTURE for the GROWTH of ClubSNAP depends on everyone's (CTM/moderators/members) contributions - in terms of participation, posts, money, etc. in their own capacity.

The running costs of ClubSNAP are absorbed by all of the CTMs and some of the moderators and the current arrangement is working fine.

BUT, as the community of ClubSNAP demands/requests more, a blueprint on the direction of how ClubSNAP will grow depends on many factors, and sad to say, obtaining adequate FUNDING to maintain the hardware and bandwidth is one of THE major issues.

In this manner, we are asking ClubSNAP members for your valued opinions on how YOU want to grow ClubSNAP for YOUR benefit. We will explore all possibilities and will definitely involve all members before making any major adjustments in the way ClubSNAP is run.


Ask not what ClubSNAP can do for you, but what you can do for ClubSNAP

 

[Goondu]

Originally posted by Kho King


Advertisement advertised by local (Singapore) photography shops isn't a bad idea at all. If local shops are willing to advertise at clubsnap, then it might be able to benefit more people. However, I won't support oversea store advertisement.

There are currently NO local website that can group photographers together like the Taiwanese "photosharp.com". It is no wrong for us to follow their way of doing, since they have proof themselves to be a sucessful one. They are in Taiwan, not Singapore, and we can't join or participate in their activity. Clubsnap will still be very different from Photosharp even if we use advertisement and privilage members style, because it is unique to Singapore only and the activity are for people living in Singapore or around Singapore.

Er, I am not referring photosharp.com as the other site. As I have not visited that site (due to my lousy Mandarin), I cannot comment whether the site is good or bad.

What I am saying is:

Are we heading the same way that HWZ, with paying members having more privileges than non-paying members? Heck, I even bought a HWZ tee-shirt when they just started merchandising. Now, I hardly visited that site anymore just because it had become too commercialised.

And many kudos to all the CTM for organising the very first photo contest with attractive prizes (at least to me) without any fees. This is very commendable and I am very sure most of us feel that way too.

What have I contributed to ClubSnap, you may ask? Maybe a few opinions here and there, some photographs, but frankly speaking nothing constructive yet.

I am more than willing to contribute a new SM/CF card (Not the microdrive ;p) 128MB type as part of the prizes in future. If monetary contributions is needed, I am more than willing to help because I KNOW that the contribution is going to help ClubSnap in one way or another.

The above is written with sincerity. Hope that I don't sound so noble or "Hau Lian". :embrass: