It's funny this thread should appear at this time as I was just thinking at the weekend how many wonderful people I've met through being a member here.

I would never have joined a camera club because it's not my thing but someone (she knows who she is) introduced me to UKPM towards the end of 2006 and I've been here ever since.

Like others, I've made several acquaintances through group shoots, nights out, online introductions etc. and I hope I'm not being presumptious when I say I consider some of them to be good friends now. The social aspects of the site/community aside, I have found the advice, support and answers to [my] daft questions a massive help in my efforts to learn about lighting, posing models and generally thinking a bit more creatively. I was a complete novice to studio photography and to working with models before I joined.

Of course every community has its ups and downs, they're part of the rich variety of life and without them, we'd all be poorer.

I suppose that's why I like it here.

I think the responses in the newbie’s forum speak volumes about this site and its community spirit.

This is the first such site that I joined, as a precocious talent back in 2006. I like this site for practical reasons, most of the members are based in Scotland. But I’ve arranged relatively few shoots, because I just haven’t had the cash to hire studios or pay for models, and I’ve worked with just a few models from this site. I’ve not been to any of the nights out but did meet a few of the members at a group shoot.

However I spend a lot of time on this site, so I guess it fulfils something more than just the practicalities of arranging shoots. Something of members characters comes through, and is apparent in the advice and offers of help. It may not be an entirely accurate representation, but it is enough to allow me to conclude the most basic understanding of the people here. As they say in “Chewin’ the fat”, “Wank, wank, good guy, wank.”.

There are far more good guys than wanks on this site. (Maybe I’m the only one?)

Anyway, I know I’ve complained about a showcase in the past, and perhaps the people who run the site feel unappreciated from time to time, but I really appreciate the work that they do to keep the site going. I would hate to see the site disappear. And I hate to see anyone leave.

Oh yeah and there seems to be very little txt spk. I h8 txt spk!!!!

Cheers

Gordon

I'm with Gordon, the main reason I like this site is that is is not London-centric. I don't always contribute as much as I perhaps could or should, I have the excuse of uni work at the moment, so mabey things will change when I'm out in the world and have a bit more confidence. I have greatly appreciated the industry wisdom that has been offered in the forums, and the posative comments people have left me

I was the 12th member to join this site on 6 May 2004 and have never regretted it.
I agree wholeheartedly with most of the positive comments that have already been made, so there seems little point in repeating them. Of course it's not perfect, but whatever is...
However I would like to say that one of the major things I like about this site is it's lack of formality and the acceptance of photographers and models of all standards from consummate professionals to rank amateurs like myself.
Long may it continue.

I joined this site a while back - think I was fairly early in the puking order but wtf.

I come back here time and again because I like all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time. I've even had the good fortune to meet some of you at group shoots and to a man/woman everyone was lovely (and I'm not just saying that because of Dave's flowery hat).

I'd like to say I couldn't give a flying fork whether people like my pictures or not but if I'm honest with myself, I do get a buzz when someone says something nice, a flat feeling if an image passes un-noticed and a glass of MacAllan if someone says they don't like my pic.

One look through my galleries and you will see some work that is technically quite competent, some that is over-arty and pretentious and some that is just plain crap. I leave it up to the viewer which is which

I don't know where I'm going with this - I'm tired, less than sober and can't take people who take their photography too seriously - too seriously.

I shoot for a living and this place is an oasis of calm, where I don't have to worry about pleasing a client.

Good night - and thanks for all the fish

I like UKPM because ................. Its very Scotland orientated, you have more chance of getting the odd shoot when the mood takes you, also lots of fantastic photographers, some really cute models and my ultimate favourite ............... a good bit of banter :winkgrin2:

Well, whle pretty new to the tog-model scene, what I liked in here when I cruised about before joining was that people seemed pretty genuine and unguarded. Oh, and a lot of Scottish, which helps

Of course it's not everybody, and I'm sure some people put on pretences (have already had one "model" no-show), but in general the place seems to work and that's pretty rare for online forums.

Looking forward to meeting up with all you togs and models over time!

Cheers,

Scott

UKPM where do I start. I've been a member for a little while and I enjoy this site, its different to many other modeling sites.

Here you find Professionals helping out the little people. You ask for advice you get advise whether if your buying a new camera, lens or just simply wanting to find out who shots what.

Above all that this site closes a small gap, as finding a scottish photographer can be a hard task at times, and here you all are under one roof. I was told about this site by another photographer on OMP I can't recall who the photographer was but to him I thank.

I've met alot of fantastic people from this site and with thanks to this site dispite me not advertising myself as a photographer I'm now a member of the Glernothes camera club which I didnt even know excited.

Louise