Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the “+” to see the answer to each question.
Where and when does the Club meet?
Generally on 2nd & 4th Mondays from September to May. We meet at the Livingston Community/Senior Center at 204 Hillside Ave. in Livingston, N.J. at 7:30 PM. However, because of the Covid-19 epidemic, all meetings are held virtually; in-person meetings will restart when the Senior Center reopens.
I’m a beginner. Should I join?
Absolutely. Joining a camera club is one of the best ways to advance your skills and develop your artistic style. You will get expert feedback from our judges on your images. There are educational sessions on interesting topics and you will get insight and inspiration from the more advanced members. When you enter your images in competitions, you will only compete against other beginners.
I’m quite advanced. Should I join?
Absolutely. Photography is one field where you can continue to learn, develop and advance for your lifetime. Even our most senior members, a number of whom are nationally recognized, continue to compete and share their skills and vision with other members.
Do I have to compete?
No you don’t. However, there is every reason why you would want to. When you submit images to a competition, they are anonymously reviewed by an expert judge who provides feedback on the technical aspects, composition and artistry of you images. So, if for no other reason, joining the Club and submitting your images to the competitions is an excellent way to get feedback and improve your images. Optionally, you may choose to enter Print competitions as well as the Projected Image competitions to help develop your printing skills.
If I enter a competition, will I be competing against more advanced members?
Members compete at 3 levels: Beginner, Advanced and Salon. That way, you only compete against members at a similar level of skill and development.
How can the Club help me improve my photography?
There are too many ways to fit into this FAQ box, but some of the ways are: getting expert feedback on your images from our judges, attending the educational sessions, being mentored by our more senior members, reviewing the educational material on this web site, going on field trips with other members, being inspired by seeing wonderful images produced by other members, and hearing other members talk about how they created some of their best work. The list goes on.
Must I work with a DSLR?
No. Most of our members use DSLR and mirrorless cameras, but our members often submit wonderful images taken with a cell phone or point-and-shoot camera.
How much does it cost to join?
Click here to go to the current membership fee page.
Can I attend a meeting or two to see if the Club is for me?
Yes. You can attend meetings for free. However, only paid up members can enter the competitions and see the Members area of this web site.
Are there opportunities to get more involved?
Yes. You can become a club officer. You can help mentor other members. You can give an educational session on topics you are passionate and knowledgeable about. You can organize a field trip. There are many other ways to get more involved.
What about mentoring?
Yes, of course. Many of our beginning members truly appreciate and benefit from the shared experience of more experienced members.
Do you go on field trips?
Yes, we go on several field trips a year, mostly within New Jersey, but some more far afield. In addition to the social aspect of being out with friendly members, the sites are chosen to provide excellent photo opportunities. It can be interesting to see how other photographers work a site.
What is the New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs?
The New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs (NJFCC) is an association of local camera clubs embracing a membership of more than eight hundred amateur photographers in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The NJFCC is dedicated to making photography more interesting and rewarding to the individual, through service to his/her club and by pooling the resources of individual clubs for the benefit of all. Their web site is www.njfcc.org.