Mentor Study Groups

Mentoring Study Groups

The study group (SG) program is a two part mentoring program – SG Live and SG Online.  Both are described below.

SG Live will be held as part of the pre-meeting training program starting at 6:30 prior to the first meeting each month.  We will divide members into small groups led by master photographers to discuss prints and projected images brought in by members.  Groups may also be formed to discuss other topics of interest.  SG Live will allow us to:

·         Have print study groups,

·         Have digital study groups with a computer so we can see suggested changes real-time,

·         Address other topics of interest in a small group setting and

·         Provide an overview of club activities for new members.

Here is how the image evaluation groups work:

·         Bring one print or one processed digital image file on a thumb drive.

·         Prints can be any size in color or black and white and do not need to be mounted or matted.  You may also want to bring the master digital file on a thumb drive.

·         As people arrive, they will be assigned to a group of four or five with a master photographer.

·         The group members will give and receive input on their images until 7:15.

·         If you did not bring a print or a digital image file, you are encouraged to sit in on a session to either observe or participate. 

Remember that this is about learning from each other in a helpful environment. Please assume that those giving input have a positive intent. If you have not been participating in SG Online, please login and read the introduction to study groups on the study groups page (link below login) for some tips on giving feedback. 

From time-to-time, SG Live will form groups to discuss topics of interest as identified by the members.  An objective of the study groups is to assist members along their individual paths to becoming better photographers. We would encourage each member to think about their individual needs – none will be considered too simple or too complex.  Members may suggest discussion topics via email or during the meetings.  These discussion topics might address cameras, image capture, software, computers, workflow, projected output, printers and printing, etc.  This would be much less formal than the regular training and scheduled only when a desire is expressed.  

Finally, SG Live will also provide an introduction to the club for new members.  As desired, we can discuss club objectives, history, activities, calendar, monthly competitions and image preparation, communications (yearbook, website and newsletter), etc.

SG Online is hosted on the DCC website and password protected. Members will be randomly assigned to the groups each month after submitting their images. The images will then be evaluated by other members within the group, master photographer commentators and possibly other club members.  Both images and evaluations will be posted anonymously. All club members have access to the study groups once they have logged in. 

You may visit the Mentoring Study Groups page to see how the program works.  On the left, you will find a menu that includes the forms for submitting images, descriptors and evaluations. Below this is a set of instructions that describe how the program works in general and some pointers on how to prepare an evaluation. We encourage you to read through these materials. 

To enter an image and descriptor:

·         Be sure you are logged in using your DCC Member Login (top right of this screen)

·         Go to the Study Group home page using Mentoring Study Group link below the login.

·         Upload an Image and its descriptor using the links from the Submissions menu on the left.

The process to upload an image evaluation is similar.

We will tweak the study group program as we go along based on your feedback. So we need your comments on what is working for you and what is not. All suggestions are welcome.

The implementation team members are Bob Johnson, Dennis Fritsche and Frank Richards. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or have a topic that you are interested in discussing as part to the SG Live program.

Classic Mentoring Program

To assist new members in getting 'up to speed' so that they may improve their photographic skills, become more confidence and participate in print and digital image competitions, we have set up a mentoring system. Members who are willing to share their knowledge and skills in various aspects of photography have offered to personally meet with or talk with members in need of help. Areas being offered include:

• critiquing member images
• advice on use of equipment
• matting and mounting of prints
• calibration of monitors
• digital photography editing software (Photoshop, Lightroom, etc)
• other areas

New members wishing help may contact a mentor to arrange a meeting or talk at a mutually convenient place and time.

Guidelines for Mentees: (Note: the word GUIDELINES)

• be clear and organized about the help you want before contacting a mentor
• be respectful of the mentor’s time
• realize that if they cannot answer you promptly that they are busy with other concerns
• take responsibility for your own learning experience by practicing what you are learning
• use several mentors – each may have valuable techniques they can teach you
• know that if a mentor indicates that he/she cannot help you at the moment of your call that it is not personal

When you give skills training to someone use this simple five-step approach:

• prepare the trainee - take care to relax them as lots of people find learning new things stressful
• explain the job/task, skill, project, etc - discuss the method and why; explain standards and why; explain necessary tools, equipment or systems
• provide a demonstration - step-by-step - the more complex, the more steps - people cannot absorb a whole complicated task all in one go - break it down - always show the correct way - accentuate the positive - seek feedback and check understanding
• have the trainee practice the job - we all learn best by actually doing it - ('I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand' - Confucius)
• monitor progress - give positive feedback - encourage, coach and adapt according to the pace of development

Some tips to make training (and learning, coaching, mentoring) more enjoyable and effective:

• Be Patient and keep a sense of humor.
• keep instructions positive ('do this' rather than 'don't do this')
• avoid jargon - or if you can't then explain them and better still provide a written glossary
• be prepared to adapt the pace according to the performance
• encourage, and be kind and thoughtful - be accepting of mistakes, and treat them as an opportunity for you both to learn from them
• focus on accomplishment and progress - recognition is the fuel of development
• offer praise generously

If you are intested in becoming a mentor, please contact Susan Stageman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.