Starting a Camera Club - Cobar

[Ingo]

I really hate the ongoing saga of insurance issues. Is there a clear message on what it covers and who needs it.

A hypothetical

If you go out by yourself and take photos of a bird in the local park and a toddler happens to run along and trip over the strap of your camera bag, while you are taking a photo and deep in thought. The toddler happened to be watched by mum and saw the kid fall. The toddler ends up being carted away by ambulance to a hospital.

Now, are you responsible to pay for the ambulance?

What about if you are with a few people taking photos and the same thing happened, do you pay for the ambulance?

What about if you area a professional photographer taking the same photo for a commissioned shoot?

I think it may come down to negligence and foreseeability.

Insurance companies really place high prices on premiums, and you pay this "just in case something happens".

I really hate trying to interpret insurance rhetoric.

[John_Alessi]

There is no easy answer Mark and any determination of negligence will be made after the fact by a group of people who may not recognise common sense, by then it is all too late.

Several times on outings I have seen fellow photographers knock over their tripod. Imagine if an SLR camera were to fall, hit and injure a child in such circumstance.
Who would the courts hold responsible..... the child or the photographer?

Private insurance is very expensive however the group cover offered by the state federation is quite cheap.

Don't get me wrong, I despise the way the legal system and insurance companies work, however for a few dollars a year I would prefer not to have to worry about the consequences should the unforseen occur.

[Aussieroo57]

I am not a solicitor but I think you will find a group on non constituted people going out to take photos cannot be sued collectively but maybe individually. This will also happen if you go out on your own and leave gear lying around in a non club event, you wont be covered by their insurance. There are hundreds possibly thousands of people each doing out shooting on their own accord, no difference when we go out as a collective of interested photographers. They use the same threat with your house to be sure you are covered for 10mill$ in case someone trips on your front step and sues you.

[Aussieroo57]

John, have you read the fine print of your insurance. If I have read things correctly you are only covered when on an official club outing not when you are out on your own, by the clubs insurance. I dare suggest you would then need 2 policies, one with the club and a personal one.

[John_Alessi]

Two policies would probably be better but at least with the club policy you would be covered (assuming you were the organiser of the outing) in the event of an unforseen happening caused by one of your participants.

[Ingo]

This is a editorial of the workshop I ran on the weekend to get an idea of interest.
One of the participants took the shot as a practical exercise

http://cobar.yourguide.com.au/news/l...p/1346850.aspx

[Peter_AUS]

Don't forget to sign them up to passionforpixels.com as junior members as I want to get junior competitions going next year, didn't have much luck this year. If you want to know more contact me please.

[John_Alessi]

A good plug for the new club however it probably needed a contact phone number unless you are very well known in the community.

[Aussieroo57]

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[Ingo]

I am actually working part-time for the Cobar Age, so I have an effective way to communicate with everyone. I actaully wrote the article and will continue to do future reports. I have the contacts numbers of heaps of kids, and will drop in a few plugs for P4P as time goes by.

[Ingo]

I see no need to delve into the insurance rhetoric, its too complex and something I can sort out later.

I do appreciate the feedback, its great to have a online resource like this.

[Ingo]

The latest late update

The camera club has started in Cobar. The club is a social group and not incorporated. The club will be affiliated with the Federation of Camera Clubs of NSW (FCC), members will be charged accordingly.

I found out there is no need to be incorporated, public liability for each member will be covered through the FCC. We will meet at my new studio which is covered by insurance and comps wll be run in conjunction with workshops and submissions to the FCC.

The clubs administration will soon be setup and details for membership of the FCC will be submitted next month.

Its really striking how many members af a small community come out to show interest and want to enjoy the benifits of photography.

[speedway]

Sounds like you've got everything under control Mark, good luck to you and your members.

[Peter_AUS]

How is this going, now it has been nearly 6 months further on ?

[Ingo]

The camera club has started and is affiliated with FCC, we meet once a month on the 2nd Wednesday night of the month and a monthly outing.
Membership is only 9 and meeeting night seems to clash with other activities so next month we will meet on a Sunday morning to see if attendance improves.
The outings are great, very social and relaxing.
The members that we have are very keen to learn, all approach photography creatively with their own style which is interesting and good.
I really enjoy the company and share my knowledge by answering questions when asked, which is quite often, on all aspects.
I expect more people will join and interest will grow, as it does we will start to have competitions on a regular basis.
Members visit me at my studio often, I have offered space to exhibit their work and I plan to organise an exhibition.

[LeanneAlessi]

Thanks for the update, Ingo. Good to hear that things are progressing, although a little slowly. It sounds like you have the basis for a very friendly club. I believe comraderie plays a large part in providing an environment in which to enjoy and learn about our photography.

Good luck and keep up the fine work

[Len]

Sounds like a very interesting group you have, hope it all continues for you & your group

[Peter_AUS]

Thanks for the update, glad to see that it is coming along.