if you know anything about me, which many of you wont YET :), you know that i
love people and love bringing them together!

and doing it again here in manila - by pioneering the first SMUG (http://www.smugmug.com/smugs/info/) group in the
philippines!

i cannot tell you how excited i am! i am co-leading the group with renowned
philippines travel photographer ferdz decena (http://ferdzdecena.com/) and our first meet-up is sept 30!

we are still canvasing for a venue to hold SMUG in - if you know of one in either
makati/pasig/mandaluyong/san juan areas, PLEASE contact me...(see below)
thanks!

what is a SMUG group you are asking? well i'm glad you asked. :)
their website simply puts it as this:

Do you dream in megapixels? Would you consider giving up a kidney for a
Canon 5D Mark II?

You're not weird. You're one of us.

And we think you'd fit right in at a SmugMug User Group (SMUG), a
mug-to-mug gathering of photographers like you.

A SMUG is a place where you can learn, teach and meet up with other
photographers who share your passion. It's also how we can tell you
what's happening in our world and discover what's happening in yours.
SMUGs are a great way to connect with other photographers and add a few
weapons to your creative arsenal.

and so what will happen at these SMUG meet-ups? well.....

Things to Expect at a SMUG
You Learn: Guest speakers will light up the room with their wisdom for
shooting great images and making money with photography. (we already
have Jo Avila booked for January's meeting. if you are a full-time professional
photog who would love to be a guest speaker, please let us know!)

You Talk: Make contacts and connect with other pros in the know. Monthly
meetings set the stage for infinite opportunities.

We Listen: SMUG leaders stay in close contact with SmugMug and share
your requests and gripes with our team. We also love photography as
much as you, so be prepared to spot a Smugger at your local meeting.

sounds pretty amazing, right? now what is the catch? well here is what is NOT the
catch:

Things You Will Never Do
• Open your wallet: Save your money for new gear. SMUGs are free.
• Sign up for anything: There are no commitments, no requirements and
no vacation timeshare offers here.
• Hold hands and sing Kumbayah: We love ya... but not that much.

so what will you bring to SMUG other than yourself and maybe a friend or two? let
me tell you:

• Friends. Relatives. Strangers.
• Ideas: Good. Bad. Crazy.
• Toys: Make us drool.
• You: Drop in. Talk shop.

plus, there's always merienda. :)

we have 12 meetings a year - one a month. of those 12, 4 we have special speakers, 4 are photowalk, 2 are social events - as in doing some things in/for the community/charity- and 2 are parties - summer and xmas.

tentatively this is our schedule:


sept 30 LAUNCH
oct 28 SPEAKER
nov 25 PHOTOWALK
dec 16 (party!)
jan 27 SPEAKER
feb 24 SOCIAL/COMMUNITY
mar 30 SPEAKER
apr 27 PHOTOWALK
may 25 (party!)
june 29 SPEAKER
july 27 SOCIAL/COMMUNITY
aug 31 PHOTOWALK

we will be announcing our speakers as we know them. on sept 30 we will also be talking what SMUG is all about and what you will be getting from it this coming year.

HELLO! sign me up! :p

stay connected with us to hear where we will be meeting up on SEPT 30.

facebook: www.facebook.com/metromanilaSMUG (http://facebook%20-%20www.facebook.com/metromanilaSMUG)
twitter: www.twitter.com/smugmm (http://www.twitter.com/smugmm)
meetup.com: http://www.meetup.com/MetroManilaSMUG/


for more info, feel free to email me at tracey [at] traceylheppner [dot] com
xotracey

Looks interesting. Sign me up. Hope work doesnt interfere

I agree, it does sound interesting :)

This looks promising.

Question: Is it also open for Nikon user? hehehe... :)

I'm in! :)

wow, i'm familiar with the smugmug photo sharing site. but i never thought that there is a group here in manila :)

i hope i can come.. :D

Question: Is it also open for Nikon user? hehehe... :)

of course! it's open to ALL photogs, of ALL calibers! :)

thanks ADMIN for putting this thread in the right spot! i'm new so didn't know where i should post it! you guys rock! :)

of course! it's open to ALL photogs, of ALL calibers! :)


ooohhh good!! good to hear that! :D:):Grin:

Hi Tracy,

Hope to see u on the 30th and the rest of smugs ppl...

hey DPPers..

have two questions re SMUG. :)

1) any professional photogs interested in giving back to photographers and being a special speaker? we have 3 openings for the upcoming year. also, any pros wanting to lead a photowalk? we have 4 openings for those!

2) anyone on DPP have a subdivision clubhouse in the makati/pasig/mandaluyong areas that we would be able to either USE or rent for our regular meetings?

please either contact me here or at tracey@traceylheppner.com!

looking forward to our sept 30 launch!

:) tracey

Hi Tracy,

Hope to see u on the 30th and the rest of smugs ppl...

you bet miguel! :)