Founded in 1889, Lancaster Photographic Society is for anyone with an interest in photography. Everyone is welcome! We are people who make pictures purely for the joy of making pictures. Our members use all kinds of photographic equipment, from film cameras to the latest DSLRs to mobile phones, drones and mirrorless cameras.
The photographic equipment that you have isn't important, so come along and learn how to develop your photography skills.
We meet on Monday evenings, 7.30 til about 10 (and then on to the pub), with formal meetings from September to April, and workshops and trips over the summer months.
Meetings are held at:
St Thomas' centreMarton Street
Lancaster
LA1 1XX What three words: fields.forced.beyond
Joining the Society for the 2024-25 seasonThe season starts in September and concludes at the end of May, usually 7.30-10pm at St Thomas Centre. During the summer months we host photo walks, trips and workshops. Meetings are a mixture of talks, portfolios, club evenings (a variety of active and participatory events) and externally judged competitions. We break for a brew and biscuits and cake halfway through the evening (small charge). Some meetings will be available by zoom for international members (details published here), and will also be recorded so that members can view the proceedings at a later date. A small selection of meetings will be hosted using Zoom with a speaker. The first two meetings you come to as a new member are free of charge (except speaker meetings). Beyond that, membership is usually £55 a year (pro rata), or you can come along occasionally for £5 a meeting. A charge is made to all non-members for evenings when we have a visiting speaker. The preferred payment method is by bank transfer, existing members renewing at any time, see (1) below, and new members after their application has been approved and processed see (2) below. Payment can be made by debit or credit card if a member has a clear preference for this (LPS loses money to the bank by doing this) and in exceptional cases by cash. (1) Pay £55.00 via bank transfer for existing membersMembers can obtain the Society's bank details here. Last season's members who have not renewed their membership by 1st October will become lapsed members. Please add your full name (and, if possible, membership number) as a reference when paying subscriptions. (2) Pay £55.00 via bank transfer for new membersFor new members joining this season, a subscription of £55 is payable at he beginning of the season in September. Please contact the secretary Alternatively, come to a meeting at the start of the season and the membership secretary and treasurer will assist you with the process. When you are issued with a membership number (often immediately at a meeting) please make your payment via bank transfer within 2 weeks. (30 Pay £27.50 via bank transfer for new members who are unemployedFor new members who are unemployed joining this season, a subscription of £27.50 is payable at he beginning of the season in September. Please contact the secretary (4) Pay £45.00 if you are a student in full time educationConcession annual membership for full-time students £45 (pro rata) ie £45 for this season. Please contact the Society here if you wish to join as a student. When you are issued with a membership number, please make your payment via bank transfer within 2 weeks. (5) Pay £45 as an international memberPhotographers who don't live close enough to attend meetings in Lancaster and from abroad, can join the Society for a fee of £45 for this season. "International" members are eligible to enter into competitions, as well as join in the Zoom meetings and view catch-up videos. Please contact the secretary In addition to the above, the Society is always willing to assist any member, new or existing, who due to personal circumstances might have difficulty in making their subscription payment in the normal way. Please contact the |
Under 18 policy and policy on vulnerable individuals
Full membership of the society includes some additional benefits such as:
… but the real benefit of joining the society is being part of a helpful creative community of like-minded photographers.
Lancaster Photographic Society is a non-profit making organisation. Your fees are spent on venue hire, guest speakers and equipment, much of which you can borrow.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us! Finally, join the Facebook group for regular updates and to meet our members!
The Society
- LPS committee
- Photographic equipment that can be loaned form the Society
- The history of Lancaster Photographic Society
This website
Members can log in to the website to access additional content (recommended for members), including events, resources, competition scores and committee information.
Any member can have a gallery on the website. Please use the contact form if you have some entries for your members' gallery, to discuss how to upload your images.
In addition, it is possible for the Society to host a members website at no extra cost to the member, though the individual member will be responsible for constructing and editing their site, and backing it up. Guidance is available to members on setting up, maintaining and backing up your site. Please contact the webmaster if you are interested in exploring this.
Affiliations
Lancaster Photographic Society is affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain through the Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union
LPS has also developed a reciprocal association withMorecambe Camera Club: an arrangement has been made so that LPS members are able to attend speaker nights at Morecambe Camera Club free of charge. This is a reciprocal arrangement.There is also the option to attend their summer outings (please contact the club if you wish to attend an outing to make sure that the outing is not over-subscribed).
The Society has also developed links with Lancaster Camera Club, Pennsylvania, and LPS members can join their online meetings.
Sponsors
- Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union
- M & J Framing (10% discount with proof of LPS membership)
- Printroom Lancaster (10% discount with proof of LPS membership)
- Wilkinson Cameras (10% discount off printing and printing supplies with card provided with LPS annual membership)