I noticed a banner on Becker's blog today for an "elite photographer directory" called Photographik. There are only a couple of brief mentions of it on OSP (that I can find) and nothing helpful to me in deciding whether or not it's worth the annual membership fee.

On a whim I sent in the $20 to see if we're good enough to join. Turns out we are! That's always nice. But before sending in the $99 annual fee, I decided to see who else is on there that I might know. Couldn't find Becker anywhere and no other names I recognized (my apologies if I missed yours!).

Anyway, that got me wondering if maybe it's not that great a site after all. I'd really love to hear from any of you who have any knowledge of the value of Photographik membership.

Thanks a mil!

I was on Photographik's home page for a while. I got lots of hits - from other photographers.

Interestingly, yesterday (after 10 months), I got my first phone call from an actual client.

These kinds of sites only work if you can afford to be on a lot of them simultaneously.

Hi Christian-
Great minds think alike

I saw the same banner today and checked it out but thought the same thing. I had never seen it before so I wasn't sure how much exposure it got and if it were worth it.
sorry I have no added info, but am keeping my eyes out to see if it has been helpful to anybody else.

and to perhaps kill two birds with one stone (not to hijack your thread)
are any of these type of sites helpful?

They are only as good as their advertising. Lots of photographers have heard of it - but so far, not too many potential clients.

i recognized some photographers. i don't know much else?!?!?!

i just signed up myself, so i am not really sure if it's going to be worth it or not. like weddingparty.com, it's just another referral source that is a lot cheaper than the knot and wedding channel. i like this because its more of an exclusive group... they don't just let everyone in.

i told the guy i'd put a banner on my blog as long as he promised to reject crappy photographers and not get caught up in the fact that the more he lets in, the more money he makes (like another supposedly exclusive photographers advertising site that shall remain nameless ). this site also is open to all elite photographers, no matter their style.

if you google "wedding photography" and "wedding photographers", it rates pretty high on the first page, so that fact alone makes me want to be on it.

later,

Hey, thanks for the input, everyone! Just to follow up, I decided to go ahead and see what Photographik does for us. It's not expensive compared to just about every other kind of advertising, and I do like that it's exclusive, not just selling spots to photogs with heavy ad budgets.

I know it's off subject (hey, I started this one, so I can run a rabbit trail, right?), but I can't wait for my 1D Mark III to arrive tomorrow!

It honestly doesn't say! There are no Missouri wedding photographers and only 2 in NY so I may wait till this gets off the ground before I sign up but good luck!
I would hate to sign up and then .....regret it.
I'm kinda like you though, never hear of most of these photographers, the few that are on there.

I've been there for a few months now and get lots of hits to my website. Just a couple of bookings thru them though. I don't think I will renew my subscription since I'm coming up on page #1 and at the top for most searches in the Phoenix metro area.

I think it's nice to be there just as another source of exposure.

I paid my $20. app fee 4 days ago & still haven't received the email requesting detailed information or verifying my payment. Dropped jesse an email yesterday but still haven't heard from him. Anyone else have it take that long?