Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Schenectady Photographic Society

  • When and where are meetings held? Meetings are on Wednesdays each week from the end of September through the middle of May. We hold our monthly Print Competition on the first Wednesday of the month at the fellowship hall of The First United Methodist Church at 603 State St. in Schenectady.  The entrance and parking lot are on Chapel Street. Up the hill on Chapel Street, an additional parking lot is available before you reach the church. All other meetings are held virtually via Zoom.
  • Can I come to meetings and events if I’m not a member? Yes and No. You may attend our in-person meetings (but not participate in competitions. Digital (Zoom) meetings are strictly for members only. See our calendar for in-person meeting dates.
  • Why should I become a member of SPS? To share your passion for photography with like-minded individuals and be inspired to create and improve your photographic vision. Also, you need to be a member to enter the photo competitions and participate in our traveling exhibits.
  • How do I join SPS? You can join online at https://spsphoto.org/join-the-schenectady-photographic-society/   or bring a check to a meeting and pay the treasurer. Membership dues are $60/year for an individual, $75 for a family, and $20 for students.

  • How long are my dues good for? Memberships run from October to May. Dues should be renewed before the first meeting of the season in order to stay on the rooster in order to receive club notices participate in club activities like competitions and guest speaker presentations. We do not offer any type of subscription plans and you will need to renew each season.

  • Are does prorated? Yes. If you join later in the season (after December) dues will be discounted (this will happen automatically on the signup form). Dues paid after March will not be pro-rated, but will be good for the following season.
  • How do I submit a photo for the print competition? The Print Program is held on the first Wednesday of each month. There are three categories of competition: Color, Monochrome, and Assigned Topic. A total of three prints may be entered each month, with no more than two in any single category. Prints must be mounted or matted on a white or black mounting board. Entered prints must measure at least 5×7 and be no larger than 16×20. Mounts must be a minimum of 8×10” and may not exceed 16×22”. A submission card found at https://spsphoto.org/programs/print/print-night-submission-card-creator/  is to be attached to the back of the mount. Further details may be found at https://spsphoto.org under Competitions.
  • How do you submit photos for the digital image competitions? The Digital Image program is held on the second Wednesdays of each month. There are three categories each week; Assigned Topics, General, and Monochrome. Each entrant may enter up to two entries in any category for a total of four on any given competition night. Digital images are uploaded at https://spsphoto.org/competitions/digital-image/upload-projected/. The image should be no more than 2400 pixels wide and 1800 pixels high.
  • What is the Luba Ricket Creativity Competition? The Luba Ricket Creativity Competition honors Luba’s unique artistic vision. Luba was a former SPS member. Entries to this competition are encouraged to push boundaries with an “anything goes” philosophy. You can expect to see both digital and print images as well as books and dioramas.
  • What are the SPS Traveling Exhibits all about? Members supply prints ready for hanging to be exhibited by the club at various venues. Recent exhibits have been at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, and the Irish American Heritage Museum.