I love looking at old directories.  They tell part of the story of the church (and it is fun to laugh at how we used to look).  I don't find it depressing in the least.

We just completed our most recent directory after ten years. It was a wonderful, exciting project which celebrated our building centennial. We sold ads in the directory and actually returned $1800 to the church after expenses! While there was some change in faces, the actual total number was about the same as the last time.

We just had one done too (pictures taken in October but the directory has yet to arrive--we won't use this company again).  Here is the blurb I wrote for it:

GordW

I won't name names but you may have gotten the same bunch as we did, it took many calls, and forever to get the directories.

And it is sad.  By the time we had gotten the directory, some of the people had passed away.

IT

Russ

I WILL name the company. IPC Canada Photo Services of Concord, ON.

http://www.ipcphoto.ca/

Excellent service, great directory and very few complaints from those who had their photos taken. IPC use wireless technology to send photos from the camera laptop to the consultant's laptop. Costs were good and there was no sales pressure from the consultant. The directories were back within 6 months (we had to send it back once for editorial revision; not unexpected and that extended the time). Photos were taken in May and the directories were printed (after revision) and in our hands about December 1.

DKS

That's them.

Ours was starightforward but still took too long to get the final product.  Good product, just slow.

IT

Russ

This church chose not to use IPC this time.  I have been places that used them before and we never had any problems.

The company we chose (and I honestly don't know its name) has some major communication problems it seems--and have throughout the process.  WE barely got the pictures people had ordered in timne for Christmas, and that was only with some strongly worded e-mails sent after the promised delivery date.

HOwever their work is good--judging from the pictures people ordered and the proofs that we were sent of the directory

They said very clearly in their literature and in our conversations with their staff that it would take 16 weeks from photos to final directory, if no editing or proofing was required. We added a proofing, so ours was longer.  yes, we had four who died in the meantime, but isn't that real life?

BTW, we had a family who did not buy pictures, but who lost a family member while the directory was in production. One call to the company obtained a photo of the person who died, which was sent by courier and arrived the next day.

Our most recent one was done a couple of years ago while we were in a JNAC process. It was done with the thought that it would be helpful for the new ministers to get to know us - a visual aid. It was mostly done in-house (meaning volunteers took the pictures and worked with the secretaries to put the information together). It was sent to a printer. The plan is to update it annually with changes of address and the addition of new members and removal of those who no longer attend - work begins again next month.

We're way overdue!  I agree, it's a lot of fun to look back over the decades ... not sure if we'll be doing any more tho ... lot of work!

DKS

It was well beyond that time frame.  We were concerned that they had "lost" the pictures and we would have to do it again.

IT

Russ

With digital technology, that would be more rare. we alse made and kept backups of all content we sent to them.

Our new church was in the process of taking pictures for a directory the fall we started attending.  We had our pictures taken before many people even realized we were there. 

I found it a great way to put names and faces together.  Almost every Sunday when I got home from church I would find myself looking through the directory for the families of people who had spoken to me, people with children the ages of my grandchildren, people who had read scripture.   It had the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the members of the congregation (even those who didn't have their pictures taken) - a useful directory. 

I still use it, although its getting dated.  Some have died.  Sometimes I hear a funeral announced and I check the directory to see who it was.  The children have grown and changed.  That babe in arms is running around the gym at fellowship time.  That child is now a teenager.  And that lanky teenager is getting married next month.   Addresses and phone numbers have changed and often I wish for the cell phone or the email address as well.   It's time for a new directory.

Our church has photo appts starting in a couple of weeks  - its been 6+ years, the previous one was done right after an amalgamation, so this is the first one since life has settled.

I think its IPC, but I'm not sure. 

we did ours in 2007.  i use it alot to look up names and faces.

one thing they added this year which was a great help was a first name chart.

so you could meet a Jim at church, go home and find all the jims and then find him.  also helps when there are two last names as each surname is listed in this chart with other surnames that go with it.

nice added touch

Great Idea

We did a new Photo Directory last year.  We had engaged a new minister, and thought it would be a good time for an update, and a way for him to get to know our congregation.

We used IPC and were very pleased.  Our final photo sittings were in early May, and after a couple of minor changes, we received the completed Directories in early August.

The photo quality was very good.

It is somewhat shocking to look at previous directories and see how many people we have lost to our congregation, either through death, moving away, or other, but we need to celebrate those people we have, and a few newbies we added to our book.

It is a wonderful record of the life and history of our congregation, and I do think the directories are appreciated by our members. 

My directory lives close to my computer and telephone.  It is handy to look up numbers and addresses.

ANd the clear communication is the key.  THe company we used promised 4-6 weeks for both ordered photos and the directories. 

We don't have a pictoral directory. Our membership is so small that we simply don't need one. We know each other well.

My UU fellowship has never done one. Not sure if it's the same reason, but likely so. Not just that we are small enough to know each other well but also the small numbers make the economics of it less practical.

My family UCCan where I grew up did at least 3 in the time I was there. I think our last family photo before my mother died was for one.

Mendalla

We have had 2 in the last 11 years I've attended. Time for a new one soon.

Cost is usually free for the directories-the company makes it's money off the orders folks place directly from it. 2 different companies-1 was black and while and the more recent one was colour.

I would think that even a small congregation might like to have one done up occasionally for historic purposes.  Just think what it would be like to get it out at the 25 anniversary and look at the people (and the clothes) from back then.

With the technology of cameras and computers it shouldn't be difficult to find someone in the congregation to take pictures of the people and families, and perhaps even a few pages of collages from picnics or rallies or concerts, and put them together with a list of names and addresses.   Of course you would have to budget initial expenses and try to recover them by selling the directories to members and visitors.     And while the directory is still up to date, think what a nice gift this would make at a time of a change in clergy, or to a member who is is no longer able to attend services (age or health), or to someone who is temporarily away for a few years (college, work).

Yes, I can understand where you're coming from, except to say that we do have many photos of the people in the church. We show said pics regularly in the form of powerpoint slide shows. We also record some things which we make available to see on our youtube channel.

Photo directories are a great way to build community for every church.  Be it a church in a city or in the country, large or small!

Even multi-point churches greatly benefit.

Its a great way to welcome new families into the Church since IPC provides extra overprint.

Promote your church activites and church life...the day to day, week to week. Create awareness of all the activites.  It's truly a snapshot of your church in the given year! So a historical record!

One of the best ways to welcome a new minister! Help speed up the process of putting the name to a face when he or she arrives!

IPC photo directories is the company that works with the most churches in Canada.  British Columbia to Newfoundland/Labrador!

IPCPHOTO.CA is their website for more information.

This is a free service to your church families.

They now offer on line appointments which you can demo on their site. This new tool is meant to allow families go on line and pick their appointment from home or your volunteers can use it when calling the familes.

Fundraising opportunities.... Some churches even sell some ads in the back and raise a few thousand dollars on top of getting their free directories. This is called outside fund raising. Churches ask local businesses for their participation and usually generate over a $1000 in most cases!

IPC can help even with a church website making available pdf of your book or jpegs of the families.  Or use it for your office software to upload the family images. 

IPC photo even makes free ministers books like the Toronto, Bay of QUinte and British Columbia conference books that have all the ministers photographed. Each minister photographed received a free copy and nothing is sold! Not even portraits.  This is available to other conferences as a donation from IPC Photo to that conference. One book per minister photographed.  This service usually takes place at the annual conference.

IPC prides itself as working closely with each church and is able to customize a program for each church.  

Proudly 100% Canadian!!!

Current church made aphoto directlory themselves. They snapped photos after a cou[ple of services. I assume I invitation also went out to those were did not attend those days. As a newcomer it is certianly helpful for me to put faces with names.

I have a number of IPC directories from various congregations. 

They can be a thoughtful and wonderful gift for someone who does pulpit supply a few times a year in places even if it is a few years old...