Presentation

Hi, I've been doing landscape photography for about two years now, and only recently has my work been getting "out there" in mags, etc. I was contacted through my website to give a one hour long presentation to a local photography group, with the subject matter purely at my discretion. I have never done this before, and was hoping to get some guidance as far as how to organize the presentation by some of you who have done this before. Should I display some images and talk about the specific circumstances of capturing each? Focus on processing and workflow? Equipment? Sorry to be so vague, but I've not attended a presentation before and really am at a loss of where to begin. Any help would be appreciated.

Chris,

I had a similar experience not too long ago and will be giving another presentation next month so I think I can help!

What is the local photography groups general style? Here on Long Island there is a group that really focuses on wildlife and does very little landscape... considering you are a landscape guy you should focus on that!

You can ask the person who contacted you if he has a general idea of what the group members would want (sometimes groups are very skilled/advanced so techniques may bore them, or they might be novices so they are looking to learn more).

When I did my presentation it was for an Audubon Society so I chose to do it on birds in their habitat to highlight the diversity in my geographic region. I touched on camera equipment a little but it was mostly about the birds.

For you, I think you should focus on your technique and what went into making the photo since that is what likely matters most to the photographers.

I'd suggest first talking with the person contacting you and seeing what their goals and expectations are. Beginners only? More advanced? Large active group or small inactive one?
Lots of things to find out before you commit, and before you start to plan a program.
Sandy

Hi, Chris. Congrats on the pick for a presentation! Imho, you would want to solicit more info from the group about their specific interests within your strength of landscape photography. If they want a "general overview" that's fine, but at least you'd have something definite to organize your thoughts around and a way to satisfy the customer with what they want to see, know, etc.

Thanks for the feedback. He said it would be an audience of around 50, very diverse as far as specialty and skill level, but the presentation should be directed towards the more advanced members. The presentation would be 30 minutes with 15 min for question and answer. I was thinking of organizing it like a lot of the recent eBooks I've downloaded-- pick 4 or 5 photos and go through what was involved in picking the location and composition, how I chose to compose with light, filters, settings, and then some overview of the processing for each. I know a lot of NPN members advertise on their website that they can be hired for presentations, and many who have probably done several, so I was wondering how they organized their subject matter.

I always have the greatest success when I can "involve" the audience in some point I'm making, rather than simply letting them sit back and look at all the pretty pictures. Since it's a photography group, I'd do this:

Start your talk with some point you want to make, perhaps "The role of foregrounds in building a scene." Make it fairly quick, perhaps 10 of your 60 minutes with visual examples to help make your point.

Then invite your audience to watch for the point you're making as you take them on a photo tour of local or exotic locations.

If it's the norm for the group to allot 60 minutes, and 60 minutes only, for the speaker to make a presentation and field questions, I'd reserve 10-15 minutes for questions. If not, go ahead and prepare a 60-minute show.

Finally, conceive a means of going back to individual photos once your presentation is done and the questions start, so you and the audience can refer back to them during the Q/A period. Nothing will make the questions more meaningful than having the photo under discussion back up on the screen.

Whatever your topic, whether instructional or geographic, engaging your audience will be key, especially if you can think in terms of the 3 "phases" I pointed out.

In general I spend the first half discussing my topic. In the second half, I show a slide show (most clubs have digital projectors) of my images that illustrate the topic. I discuss various photos to make my point.

I find it helpful to have a specific topic or theme within landscape photography to discuss. Maybe the use of filters, HDR, panoramic stitching etc. or the seasons, mountains or a local park or waterscapes etc. This theme helps to guide the discussion towards something you are comfortable speaking about.

I like to have prepared notes of what I intend to speak about. Sometimes they are digital and posted on the club's website, sometimes the club will copy them in advance for their members.

Even though the club wants advanced techniques, be sure to touch on some basics too. Many members can learn more from an hour with you than they will from trying to figure it out on their own. Don't hold back the details. Unless you use a brand new technique that you invented, share everything openly and honestly. Don't hold back. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know" or "I am not sure. Let me look into that and get back to you." Be sure to follow up with that person. Photography is a huge subject. No one knows everything. Its ok to admit that you don't know something.

I ususally set my camera up on a tripod so the members can see my equipment. At least one person will always approach me about my gear.

Try to have something to offer like a workshop or book for sale etc. Make sure that each participant gets your business/promo card.

Invite two or three photography friends (not your family) to your house to practice the workshop on them ahead of time. Ask for their advice on how to make it better.

Be sure that you get compensated for your time and effort!

Try to add some humor. Smile. Breathe. Relax. Have fun!

Thank you all for the thorough replies, I'm really getting some ideas now of what I can do. Thanks!