Interested in Becoming a Judge or Lecturer?
Does your Club struggle to get Judges or Speakers? Are you looking for new Judges or Lectures in your area? I'm sure the answer is yes! In a few years the issue will be worse unless we get more volunteers now!
Our existing Judges and Lecturers are overrun with invitatations from Clubs to fill a slot on their syllabus, they simply can't take on more. Many long term SPF Judges and Speakers have retired over the past four years, after having served our Scottish Clubs in either capacity for many years (some over 50!). Some may still be Judging or Lecturing in a limited capacity, but they may not do so for long.
Although a few individuals have volunteered to take on the role of Judge or Speaker in recent years, this has not replaced the number of Judges or Speakers we have lost. So, In a few years the issue will be much worse.
We need Clubs and Individuals to persuade individuals to volunteer now, to ensure our SPF Clubs all have Judges and Speakers available to visit us at our Clubs i the future.
If you are Interested why not get in touch with the SPF now and have a chat to find out more about becoming an SPF Judge or Lecturer? or have a look at the information below.
If you are considering becoming an SPF Judge or SPF Lecturer but are worried about what you are committing to? Don't be, you can take on as much or as little as you want to, or what your circumstances will allow. If you only want to do 5 Judgings or talks a year, that is still 5 less that require to be filled by someone else.
Please find more information below, or contact Libby on 01555 750737 or to email (click here)
Interested in Becoming an SPF Lecturer?
The process is really easy just drop us an email with your details, and the names of a couple of SPF Clubs or current SPF Judges or SPF Lecturers who are happy to recommend you, using our contact form (click here) and we'll confirm receipt of your email.
We will contact a couple of your referees and get back to you once that is done.
For more on what it means to be listed with us as an SPF Lecturer, please see the information given below.
What Do I Need to Know as an SPF Judge or Lecturer?
Being an SPF listed Judge or Lecturer means agreeing to the conditions laid out under the CONDITIONS OF BOOKING AND BOOKING FORMS area below. This includes the PAGB Terms and Conditions and Guidance Notes for Judges and Lecturers which also applies to ALL SPF Judges and Lecturers, including when Judging or Lecturing at SPF Clubs. This area also shows what conditions SPF and PAGB Clubs should abide by when they book you, both at the time of booking and throughout the Judging or Lecturing process. If you need any guidance on what you are being asked to do by a Club, please just ask me.
The GUIDANCE NOTES areas below also gives additional useful information.
The MILEAGE RATES & EXPENSES heading on this webpage also gives you details on the maximum allowed to be charged by our SPF Listed Judges and Lecturers. As an SPF Judge, you must not charge a Fee in addition to Expenses. As an SPF Lecturer, you must not charge a fee, unless you first notify the SPF. You will be listed accordingly. For Non-SPF or Non-PAGB Affiliated Clubs you are free to charge what you wish.
Interested in Becoming an SPF Judge?
The SPF are very keen to encourage more SPF Club Members to become an SPF Judge. Becoming an SPF Judge is really easy. Have a read of the info on this webpage, and then complete the below Questionnaire, or send us an email containing the info requested in the questionnaire.
Don’t worry about how much of the Questionnaire you can complete. We don’t expect many applicants to be able to answer all of the questions at this time, but your answers will allow us to give guidance on ways you may be able to increase your own knowledge/experience, to progress as a Judge.
If you haven't done any Judging before, we may suggest you try Judging first at a friendly Club local to you.
If you’re not sure you want to go out Judging on your own for the first time; Why not have a word with an SPF Judge in your area, or a retired Judge? We can help suggest someone if you are unsure. They may be prepared to go out with you, or give you some practical help or advice. Or you may be able to go out with them to one or two of their Judgings, and see things from the Judge’s perspective, and gain some tips.
If you are ready to give it a go, we will add you to our SPF 'C' Judges List for new non-accredited Judges, give you advice specific to your answers, and supply you with the current version of the 'After the Questionnaire' document supplied below, which explains the conditions of your listing with us, together with added advice.
Why all the Questions on the Questionnaire?
This Questionnaire will be used for applications to either the SPF ‘C’ List of Judges or the SPF Judges Assessment Day, for possible promotion to the SPF ‘B’ List of Accredited Judges.
Initially, we will use your answers to determine if you presently have the required skills to be –
- Added to the SPF 'C' List of non-accredited Judges - If the 'Questionnaire' indicates that you require to gain more practical experience, or gain a wider knowledge of SPF Club Photography, before being invited to attend an SPF Judges Assessment Day.
- OR Added to the ‘C’ List in the interim, while waiting list for the next SPF Judge’s Assessment Day, with a view to going on the SPF 'B' List of Accredited Judges, following the Assessment Day.
- OR we may indicate that some further photographic/SPF Club/practical experience is required before you can be added to either list. If we feel you are applying to become a Judge too early, we may decline to add you to the 'C' List at this time but give guidance as required.
A copy of the 'Questionnaire for Prospective SPF Judges' is available to download above.
Before submitting, please read the information provided in both of the following areas on this page - 'SPF Judges - C List' and SPF Judges - Assessment Day'
More on SPF C List Judges
SPF C List Judges are as yet non-SPF accredited Judges, but are listed in our SPF Directory. There can be two types of Judges on this list at any time as detailed below.
- Some may be Judges willing to Judge, but who require to gain practical Judging experience, or a wider knowledge of SPF Club photography, before attending an SPF Assessment Day.
- Others may be on a waiting list for the next SPF Assessment Day, having already gained the necessary practical or photographic knowledge required to be added to that list, with a view to become SPF 'B' Listed Judges.
A 'Questionnaire for Prospective SPF Judges' requires to be completed by all prospective 'C' List candidates to show they have the basic knowledge or experience required before they will be listed.
It is encouraged that 'Feedback Forms' are completed by Clubs for all Judges on this 'C' list, which may help them progress their status more quickly. More details are supplied below.
Guidance Notes for Judges and Lecturers
We supply the very useful Guidance Notes which form the basis of our SPF Judges Assessment Day to guide you through your Judging experiences. Guidance Notes 3 is also relevant to SPF Lecturers, as is much of the first section of Guidance Notes 2 -
- Guidance Notes 1 – What Judges Should Be Looking For
- Guidance Notes 2 – Quick Reference Checklist
- Guidance Notes 3 – Presentation Skills
For more on the SPF Judges Assessment Days scroll down to the details below. Judges may also find ‘Supplying Images to a Judge for Digital Competitions’ of use also in downloads.
If you need any guidance on what you are being asked to do by a Club, please just ask me. I have given a few examples in the following relevant to Judges and or Lecturers -
- Whether you are happy or not doing a virtual Talk or Judging or being recorded should be confirmed at time of booking, not on the night.
- Confirm what expenses are due to be paid at the time of the booking and agree the method of payment.
- The manner of Judging should be agreed between Judge and Club at time of booking.
- You should always receive paperwork either electronic or printed (in a format to suit you) containing a map and/or directions (inc. how to get into the building) and an emergency contact phone number.
- Agree when you require the Prints or Images supplied to you, and how they will be supplied to you if PDIs. (You do not have to accept images by a manner that is difficult for you, the Club should accommodate your requirements).
- You should also ask if results are required prior to the night, if so when so you know the time you have available to Judge.
- What the scoring range is, and if marks are required, if so out of what. How many 1st, 2nd, 3rd you can have etc.
- You should always receive paperwork either electronic or printed (in a format to suit you) containing competition specific requirements, and a scoresheet in the same order as the supplied photos.
Digital Images - Please remember to discuss with the Club well in advance of the Competition how the Club proposes to present the digital images to you - please do not leave them to automatically assume that because you are willing to Judge Digital that you do not have any restrictions on how the Digital Images are supplied to you - Please see the Guidance Notes listed below. If Clubs do not adhere to items ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’, ‘d’ & ‘e’ of these Guidance Notes, you as the Judge may refuse to Judge their competition.
Conditions of Booking and Booking Forms
Being an SPF listed Judge or Lecturer means agreeing to the conditions laid out under this area. These are also the conditions that SPF Member Clubs must adhere to when booking SPF or PAGB Judges and Lecturers.
For Full Terms and Conditions please see downloads area below, which also includee a Booking Form pro-forma for use by SPF Clubs and SPF Judges and Lecturers, which apply to all SPF listed Judges and Lecturers, visiting SPF or PAGB Clubs, either in person or virtually, as well as others listed by the PAGB in their in the PAGB secure CMS Website Listing (replacing the old PAGB Handbook).
The SPF Judging Guidance Notes above are an extract from the pack supplied to prospective SPF Judges at our SPF Assessment Day. These are also of interest for those interested in becoming a Judge.
The old PAGB Handbook guidance for conditions of booking a Judge or Lecturer and the expenses they can claim has been superseeded by the PAGB documents supplied below in the downloads area. This applies to everyone listed in the SPF Directory-Handbook and the new PAGB CMS Website Listing, unless otherwise indicated.
For your convenience the relevant details from the PAGB are available below, or on the Library area of the PAGB website (click here).
Please remember that all PAGB Terms and Conditions and Guidance Notes for Judges and Lecturers ALSO applies to ALL SPF Judges and Lecturers. The SPF Directory-Handbook contains some of these details.
Please ensure you confirm what expenses are due to be paid at the time of the booking. An SPF Directory-Handbook is supplied by email to every Club Secretary and Competition Secretary listed with as well as all SPF Judges and Lecturers.
For details about the new PAGB CMS Website Listing of Judges and Lecturers please see more details at the top of the following webpage (click here).
Feedback Forms
These forms are supplied as part of a trial designed to give constructive feedback to SPF Judges visiting our SPF Clubs/Societies, and for SPF Judges to have the opportunity to give constructive feedback to SPF Clubs/Societies that they have Judged. The aim of this trial is to improve the Judging experience for Club and Judge alike.
It is not intended as a mechanism purely to criticise Clubs or Judges, but to let each know any areas of the process that they did well, and areas that may be improved upon for future Judgings. This will be particularly useful for less experienced Competition Secretaries who are often thrown in at the deep end. Many SPF Judges have also indicated that they are keen to receive the feedback, and again the feedback will be particularly useful for newer Judges.
Therefore Judges please use these forms to report instances of what you consider the Clubs you visit have done well, and areas that may be improved upon.
Clubs are encouraged to complete this form with the Club’s collective view, on how the Judge performed at their Club on the night, not the view of an Individual. The form should be completed by members of the Committee, considering these views but; They should also take in to account any factors that might have impacted on the night’s Judging (e.g. a late start/long break in considering timekeeping) and make a measured fair assessment. More examples will be given in a Q&A document (here soon)
Both Judges and Clubs should give credit where it is due, it is easy to be negative, and should consider their answers carefully to avoid offence. Forms received from a Club will be forwarded to the Judge and vice-versa. Other than passing to the SPF Officers administering the trial, all Feedback Forms will be treated in strict confidence.
These Forms are intended only for use by SPF Judges, and SPF Club Committee members on behalf of their Clubs. Only One Form per Club, per Judging please.
Mileage Rates & Expenses
Current Mileage Rate - The current SPF mileage rate is 45p per mile, which includes fuel. (The PAGB rate is also 45p per mile, including fuel) This the maximum allowable rate before being taxable.
At the moment the rate may seem low, depending on your vehicle’s mpg, but it is not long ago that it wasn’t – It tends to average out. Judges and Lecturers are free to ask for a lesser amount, but please do not assume that the next Judge/Lecturer will, they may need the full rate. Many are sympathetic to smaller Clubs. At the end of the year, Judges are likely to need all their expenses to cover all of their incidental costs e.g. evening meal/snacks etc. taken en-route not charged to the Club.
You will find additional details regarding Expenses, Mileages and Fees in the PAGB Judges and Lecturers Standard Terms and Conditions in the downloads supplied above.
SPF Judges - Assessment Day
The SPF runs these Assessments for those interested in becoming an SPF accredited Judge. They are for Club members interested in Judging, but before attending you should have had some practical Judging experience.
The purpose of the SPF Judges Assessment Day is to ascertain if you are ready to be added to the SPF’s ‘B’ List of Accredited Judges details of which will be listed in the SPF Directory. This is our opportunity to see prospective 'B' List Judges in action, with a view to inviting a few new faces on to our SPF Judges list. Judging Assessment Days are popular, although slightly misunderstood - They are not intended to tell you what Judges are looking for, or how to Judge, but instead are an opportunity for the SPF to invite new Judges on to their list, or for those with some Judging experience to hone their skills. These have now changed their names from 'Workshops' to try and avoid confusion.
These Assessment Days are free and are open to all SPF club members, and must be pre-booked, but observers are not permitted. Applicants require to complete a 'Questionnaire' which should show if they hold both the knowledge and experience of photography, and that of SPF Club photography, along with the practical experience and/or presentation skills to attend an Assessment Day, with a view to be invited on to the SPF 'B' List. We will use the Questionnaire supplied to assess if you already have the experience to benefit from this Assessment Day. We try to run this event annually.
During the Day we will discuss with you the pleasures and pitfalls of Judging, what clubs will expect, what you should expect, along with presentation skills. You will be asked to demonstrate your own presentation and judging skills with practical presentations.
Please see further details below on the SPF Judges Assessment Day or contact the SPF General Secretary. Some Guidance Notes, as supplied to attendees of the Assessment Day, are available to download in the Booking and Guidance area below to assist all levels of Judges (See Judges Guidance Notes 1, 2 and 3 supplied above)
Downloads