FPZ Monthly Newsletter March 31st 2011

Announcing The FPZ Guilds!

The latest feature from Friendly Photo Zone, the FPZ Guilds are upon us! More than just the simple user groups offered elsewhere, the FPZ Guilds allow members to create organizations with specific goals or interests within our community. Is there a specific brand you're interested in discussing? Perhaps you have an older Alpa camera and would like help learning how to make best use of it? Then join the Alpa Guild! Alpa Guild doesn't exist? Then create it!

Initially, each member will be able to create a maximum of 1 guild. That member can manage this guild as he/she sees fit. A complete description of how Guilds work can be found in this Help article. Here are some quick highlights:

• Event Scheduler: This can be very useful for photography clubs or other social groups. The event scheduler allows a guild member to schedule an event, including all details about the event. Other guild members can then confirm their attendance to this event (Yes/No/Maybe) so everyone knows who will be present. The event scheduler also sends out automatic email reminders to attending members so they won't forget about it.
• Private Forum Area: Each guild gets its own private area in the FPZ forum where guild members can participate in discussions. Only guild members can post in this area, and the guild owner can decide whether this area is publicly viewable or not.
• Photo Sharing: Want to share photos only with other guild members? The photo sharing area is the perfect place to do that.
• File Sharing: An area where guild members can share files with ther guild members. Could be an old firmware version for a particular camera that isn't easy to find online anymore, or a zip file with some Photoshop macros that a guild member has developed, among other things.
• Guild Wall: Similar to a group wall on Facebook, members can post quick and simple messages to the guild in this area. Messages can be commented on or replied to. A great way to iron out details of a proposed event, or just have a quick group chat without using the forum.

A Year In Review

FPZ member tiffpix has written up an article describing her quest to evolve from "snapshooter" to "photographer", and how FPZ contributed to this goal over the last year. Packed with tons of photos that show that evolution, tiffpix shares her thoughts and experiences along her path. Be sure and read it here: How FPZ Helped Make Me A Better Photographer.

TW3 Recaps

TW3.33

TW3.34

TW3.35

TW3.36