Gemma Parris, Design Sourcing Manager of Paperchase was a very welcome visitor to CoL&CPS. She gave a succinct and interesting presentation, with a brief history of Paperchase and her own position, plus examples of photographic cards which had been recently used by Paperchase. She described the process of identifying the original work, usually choosing from Getty Images,  negotiating appropriate licences and then using the design and analysing sales figures to see what worked and what didn't. It was a fascinating insight into how the greetings card industry works and how sales drive the design briefs; we are all looking for penguins on bikes with cupcakes and silly hats to photograph, combining all currently popular themes.
After the break, Gemma looked through some of the images entered into the greetings card competition held in September and commented on whether she thought they would be commercially viable. She particularly liked this cow portrait from Bill Gilliam and was very encouraging to several other photographers. She also suggested members might like to enter the Paperchase Christmas Card Competition:

https://www.wf-site.com/microsite/pages/fd444f10630ce2615b3437897f9086d8

Full of good intentions for 2014, we all declared our personal photography aims and ambitions for the next year. The top three were: 

1) to get out more often and make more of the opportunities around us
2) to slow down, and take fewer but better photos
3) improve our processing skills.

So some of us want to get out more, but also spend more time huddled over the computer? Quite a number of people also have some interesting specific projects for the year, such as Bookshops or One Hundred Strangers. We really hope that they will update us later in the year. Other themes are going back to Black & White or film. On that theme Terry brought along a selection of B&W prints which he has produced recently, some using paper purchased at our Bring & Buy session. The North Norfolk steam railway has never looked so atmospheric.

Alan Ainsworth showed us some more of his architectural and urban images. Beautifully minimalistic treatment of buildings and reflections in street puddles. They were especially interesting to those of us who want to concentrate on presenting our images. The travel junkies in the group were excited to see the 'rushes' of Hillary's Christmas holiday in Burma. Vibrant markets, colourful temples and warm, friendly people in traditional dress.

Two pieces of news:

a) The Lollipop Project with The Gentle Author. To photograph and interview your local Crossing Patrol Person. More details later
b) Next Competition. 4th March, People at Work theme

Over Christmas we had two new members join us: David Newell and Frank Gerhard. And a further two new people this week: Antoine and Kama. Welcome!

That's the taster for the rest of the year. Thank you for everybody who shared their Resolutions (both images and good intentions!)