DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Are photography trade shows, conferences and expos really worth going to?

Feb 20, 2017 by John Aldred 2 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Big photography shows happen all around the world. Some are much bigger than others, but are even the big ones worth going to? It’s a question I see asked quite often online, especially at the moment. The Photography Show is the biggest one here in the UK and it’s on next month. I’m going, and I’d probably still be going even if I weren’t covering it for DIYP. For me, they are worth it. But I know a lot of people who aren’t going, and don’t really see the point.

Having recently attended WPPI in Las Vegas, Joe Edelman tackles this question head on in his new video. There are some downsides to these shows, as there is with almost anything in life. But there are many positives and benefits, too, which Joe talks about. Sometimes it’s the opportunity to learn. Perhaps it’s to play with a shiny new toy you’ve been thinking about buying. Maybe you just go for the networking.

Joe presents quite a few advantages of attending these types of shows. A couple have already been mentioned.

One, a constant in photography, is that there’s always new gear being released. Last year the big ones were the Nikon D5, D500, Canon 1DX Mark II, 5D Mark IV, and the Fuji GFX 50S to name a few. Very expensive items, and people wanted to be able to see them in person. To hold them, and see how they felt. They want to ask questions from people who really should know what they’re talking about (the manufacturers). All in order to find out if it’ll suit their needs before dropping vast sums of money.

On the subject of gear, many of the shows usually have big retailers there, selling equipment at the show. Often there are “show specials”, too. Popular gear at heavily reduced prices. I remember being particularly bummed out at Focus on Imaging (replaced by The Photography Show) a few years ago seeing Nikon SB-900s at around 60% of the regular retail price. Especially as I’d just recently bought four of them.

Joe does, however, warn you to leave the credit card at home, because the temptation to spend is great. And he’s right. At Photokina last year, spending money was all too easy. But I behaved myself. Fortunately, most of the things I actually wanted to buy were still in the prototype stage anyway, so I couldn’t get one even when I wanted to.

Another big advantage is the educational opportunity. Throughout shows like these, highly respected and very experienced photographers give talks and demonstrations. They show how to use equipment or how a certain technique works. Sometimes they talk about other aspects, like the business of photography, or post processing. This is education that would otherwise be impossible to get, if they don’t normally teach. Or, expensive if they do.

Most of the shows now have apps available,  which help you to plan in advance. Joe suggests taking a full day to walk around the show, and then go back to the booths that interest you. At Photokina, though, you’d probably need at least 2 or 3 days to walk the show and scout out who’s there. Personally, I usually tend to have 2 or 3 stands I need to check out as soon as I show up, and then I do as Joe suggests. I just wander around the show, making notes on who to revisit. Then I go back to them later.

My own opinion on such shows has changed over the last few years. Initially, years ago, I found them quite cool. I’d never been to one before. I got to play with a whole bunch of gear I never even thought I’d see in person. I got to meet some of my photography heroes. Then after a couple of years, the shine kinda wore off. I think that may be typical of many photographers who start visiting shows.

Then, in the last few years, things changed. Sure the fancy new gear is still a part of it, but it wasn’t my primary reason any more. To me, now, they’ve become a place to meet with photography friends I rarely got to see, or had only ever met online. Instead of simply going for a one day visit, I stay for the duration of the show.

The networking opportunities both inside the show and outside of it are absolutely invaluable to me. It’s led to projects and collaborations I never would’ve dreamed of. It’s also made me some amazing friends that I can’t imagine not having in my life now.

I wouldn’t suggest attending every show, though, and neither does Joe. It just becomes far too expensive. But I agree with Joe that a photographer should make attending shows a regular thing. Even once or twice a year is regular enough.

You’ll want to do your research and figure out which of the shows is going to best suit your needs each year. Sometimes it’s based on when gear is announced or released and you want to play with it before you buy. Or perhaps a certain speaker is going to be attending. Or maybe a bunch of people from an online group you’re part of are all getting together. The primary reason to visit one show over another will be down to you, but it’s definitely worth going.

I would suggest that everybody check out Photokina at least once, though.

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Default Thumbnail10 Tips for Better Photography Conventions and Trade Shows Will photo & video trade shows and conventions survive COVID-19? Default ThumbnailTrade Show Booths From Smaller Shows 4 easy ways to set up great lighting for vlogs and video conferences

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Joe Edelman, photokina, PhotoPlus Expo, The photography show, WPPI

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« Toy Photography: shooting X-Wing Starfighter flying above water
How and why to use a Rode VideoMic as a wireless boom microphone »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Learn photography

Recent Posts

  • This is why you should stop shooting music videos
  • First look at the Laowa Proteus Flex interchangeable flare optics
  • The Fotodiox RhinoCam Vertex shoots medium format images on L mount cameras
  • San Francisco filmmaker tracks stolen camera gear, police do nothing
  • Nanlite announces powerful AC-powered FC500B and FC300B LED lights

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy