Photography group focuses on 200 members

LAKEWOOD RANCH — When Denny Noto started the Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club 10 years ago, he expected just a few people to show interest in the Ranch’s first photo club.

A man with a longtime love for viewing the world through his camera lens, Noto advertised through word of mouth. At the club’s first meeting in the old Town Hall building on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, about 20 interested photography enthusiasts attended the club’s first meeting.

Today, the group has 177 members. Within the last four months, more than 30 people have joined the club.

“It’s unbelievable how much we’ve grown,” Noto said. “I didn’t visualize the club would catch on so much. I just wanted a fun place for photographers to come together.”

Club members worry their current meeting space, Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, can’t accommodate the group’s growth. If Town Hall doesn’t allow the group to secure an extra room for its monthly meetings, the club might have to start turning members away.

Club members attribute the growth spurt to members’ positive attitudes, interactive meetings, a competitive spirit and meetings that blossom the photographers’ skills.

Word of mouth and print advertisements have also drawn awareness to the club.

Former club President L.B. Blanchard suspects the group’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere has separated the Ranch club from other nearby photography groups.

A membership team greets new and existing members at the door, distributes name badges and encourages other members to foster relationships with individuals who just joined the club.

“We have the key ingredient other clubs may not have,” Blanchard said. “Members who join us say no one spoke to them when they went to other meetings. They just sat and hid in the back. Friendship is the glue that holds our club together.”

Another aspect that keeps members coming back is securing field professionals as speakers, which encourages members to improve their skills — the club’s ultimate goal.

As often as they can, club members book guest speakers, such as professional photographer Scott Kelby, who spoke to the members Nov. 19 at the State College of Florida’s Bradenton campus.

Having field professionals teach trade tools to the photographers gives members a deeper understanding of using their cameras. Having members who own their own photography business and take photographs professionally also keeps members intrigued.

“We have a quality group of people in our club,” Blanchard said. “We encourage people to really learn. We have a saying: ‘Learn to drive your camera and we’ll take you to exciting places.’”

To also improve photographers’ skills, Blanchard and other club members encourage group participants to enter local and statewide contests.

The club recently participated in the quad competition, against Sarasota, Suncoast and Sun City camera clubs and won. This year was the first time the Ranch club participated in the local competition.

The club also features “Share Your Work” segments at its meetings, in which members’ notable photos are projected onto a white board for other members to see. Members give feedback to each other on strengths and weaknesses.

The feedback ultimately aids members in knowing what makes photos contenders for competitions, Blanchard said.

“We encourage people to participate in quarterly contests, which improves their skills,” Blanchard said. “By participating in contests and sharing photos with other photographers and club members, we’re taking photography and our club to the next level.”

Although more members could affect the group’s meeting space, it’s hard for Blanchard and Noto to see the downside of the group’s growth.

“If we grow too much next year, we might have a real problem,” Blanchard said. “But, if you do something right, this is what happens.”

By the numbers
10 - Years since the photography club began

20 - Members in the club its first year

177 - Members in the club today

Club’s new leaders
• President: Bill Mills
• Vice president: Mindy Towns
• Secretary: Vincent Veneruso
• Treasurer: Gary Wong

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].