I've been a member of four over the last 45 years! I used to go with my Dad to the South Birmingham Photographic Society, and I was probably the youngest member. Very social, but very camera oriented - being a spotty teenager with a Zenit B, I was somewhat at the bottom of the social ladder, whereas if I'd had a Nikon F and all the gizmos I'd have been revered. The sometimes took photographs! A sub group of members used to take over a pub in the lake district (the Outgate Inn) for weekends which were fun. When I went to university I helped run the camera club at Aston, and we built a fantastic darkroom that opened the week I left. I joined the Mill Photographic club when I moved to Banbury, but there were only about six members, but we did have a darkroom that I used quite regularly. My son came along and I went into limbo for a few years and it was his mother that did most of the photography, the results of which are somewhere in NZ.
I joined my current club maybe 20 yrs ago now. The Banbury Camera Club - note NOT photographic society - but almost nobody takes any notice of what sort of camera you use! I've served on the committee, and have been chairman of the club in the past. The club has been going since 1947, and has been as small as 20 members but now is running at about 80, and we regularly get 35+ at our Zoom meetings. Members range from FRPS, through analogue enthusiasts doing wet plate and cyanotypes, digital experts, wildlife gurus, newbies, and a large proportion of ladies, not just recently, but throughout the history of the club, and maybe why it's not too gear oriented. We do practical sessions, lectures, studio sessions, we have an associated monochrome group, and use the facilities of the art dept at Chenderit school, so have a fully equipped darkroom, and the Hesseltine Gallery to hold exhibitions in. A regular feature is the inevitable competition, but having won just about all the cups at one time or another, I've personally stopped entering competitions, but I do think they can help developing photographers hone their skills.
We are a mainly white middle class middle aged group of people, but we do attract the occasional younger members, who do fantastic work then disappear off to uni, get married, move away etc.
Camera clubs are a bit of a self fulfilling prophesy, camera club judges are mainly people who have been successful in camera club competitions, so there is a bit of a vicious circle that stifles or at least doesn't recognise creativity and challenge, but room is made for mavericks like me who have been known to deliberately present 'judge bait' images like 'The Half Bicycle' and the "Purple and Yellow Boat'. You'll meet a lot of really nice people who share your interests, and will see some really good images.
