Photo Fest Ireland 2012

The only reason I go to these shows is for the free seminars but I see that Guy Gowan is now charging for his (well for three out of the five)

kjt wrote: »

I'll be there... when it's €10 cheaper!

+1

The event is already paid for by the exhibitors. Why charge the public in??

Looks like a good event but I won't be going.

Rainbowsend wrote: »

I had never been so this year decided to go and see for
myself...........well that's that out of my system!

10 euro entry...outrageous + parking! Unless you wanted to park
down the road and wait for a bus, with the weather we had yesterday
decided against that.

Maybe 30 or so stands and about 20 of them selling albums and
photobooks.

Berminghams had a decent stand but were selling the second hand
gear at shop prices, dont know if any decent discounts were available
on anything else as I wasnt interested.

No printers to talk off, no tripods, one stand doing lastolite stuff....very
expensive, a Nikon stand with a lot of overpriced gear, a Canon stand with
more overpriced gear and not much else!

The "Seminars" went to the Nikon Speedlight one, and it was really a slide
show of the guy's shots not very interesting and didnt learn anything.

I wont be going again.

Went to this several years ago myself and had a similar experience. Key thing for me would be What you get in return for 10 euros. I don't mind paying that if I can say I got something back in return for my money. Went to the Guy Gowan tutorial back then but it just ended with a plug to buy a fairly expensive Dvd. What most people would like to see would probably be stalls selling products (new or second hand) at reasonable or lower than street value prices for the once off nature of the event.

Seminars are heavily reliant on powerpoint displays as well if I recall which is ok but you can get the same stuff off youtube with a decent search. More hands on practical stuff would be better. Basically paying in to see stalls occupied by retailers who are offering nothing different than when you walk in to stores is poor.

http://www.forwardevents.co.uk/roadshows/dublin/exhibitors-list.html
This trade show in September is a better deal. Free admission and free seminars with some free carparking. It is a trade show but at least it is FREE

I wrote to the organisers of Photofest and here is the reply.

Hi Jenny – many thanks for your feedback, we value all feedback whether positive or negative, but thankfully to date we have only received your negative email, and have to say I am so sorry you are overall disappointed.

Reference to you not being happy with paying an entry fee, I hope you can appreciate from a logistics point of view we have to charge this fee, as we only want people who have genuine interest in photography and not strollers coming in from the hotel or people just looking for ‘free-bee’s’ from exhibitors if you follow. To note over 50% of our visitors have ‘free-passes’ as they are put on our Guest List for various reasons whether they are Trade Clients, IPN Members or other.

I go to a lot of Trade Shows myself and have to pay – even generic shows in the RDS were fees can be up to 20Euro, and your right if you don’t feel it has value I just don’t go back – I do the same myself, so no problem there. So, I do understand the Photofest Trade Show is just not for you – maybe try Photovision in September that is very good, and is free.

Just to ask, if you did actually buy anything at the Photofest event – can you please forward me a copy receipt as I would like to refund you you’re 10Euro.

If I can also change your mind for next year, please feel free to contact me before the Photofest event, and I will put you on the IPN Guest List, for free passes and coffee vouchers.

Thanks again for your feedback, it will be brought to our team for discussion – Regards Helen

PhotoVision Roadshow which is held in Croke Park every September is FREE admission and has lots of FREE seminars, Guy Gowan etc.