The Sonora Photo Club was founded in 2005 by a small group of five or six friends who had an interest in photography. Most came from a background in film photography and made the leap to digital which they felt was a wonderful new medium. And yet, there were still quiet
whispers of “loving their darkroom.”

As such a small group they met at a clubhouse or at a member’s home where the meetings were pretty informal. Members brought prints to discuss and then decided where to go on their next group photo trip. New members joined as they met current members and were invited to attend the next meeting to “see what we do.”

The membership remained small for a number of years but grew slowly to the point where meeting in homes was no longer viable. The meeting location became the meeting room at the library in Sonora, the current meeting spot for the club. As the club membership grew, so did the activities. Discussing photos continued to be a priority but members also shared their knowledge of the various cameras and lenses, software, hardware, how to’s, and generally anything that pertained to photography.

Starting in 2024 the photo club has been experiencing another metamorphosis as the membership has changed in size and activities following the onset of Covid and the recovery from its impact. The club has become affiliated with the Mother Lode Art Association (MLAA) which provides benefits including the opportunity to hang photos in their annual fine art show and to hang in photo displays in other locations. A new leadership team is in place, and we're building momentum with new opportunities, regularly scheduled field trips, and an emphasis on learning and growing.  See more about our principles by reading our Vision, Mission, and Values statements.

​Come join us and see where we’re headed next!