From left to right: Paul Allen, Dominick Cullinane and Dan Morris (three of my former colleagues of BNI Cork City), breaking into my car after the Ireland National Members' Day in June of this year. Don't ask. (c) Roger Overall 2010

The end of a relationship is a sad thing.

This one had lasted six years and given me immeasurable pleasure and benefit.

It ended today at 08.30am, following a standing ovation I will never, ever forget.

The relationship began far less auspiciously. A business contact asked me to cover for him at his regular Business Network International (BNI) chapter meeting. Not a problem, I said. It’s a breakfast meeting, he said. Piece of cake, I said. You’ll need to be there at 06.45am, he said.

‘Scuse me?

06.45?

In the morning?

But I’d already said that I would, so I felt honour-bound to go. It would only be the once, after all. From there on in, he could find someone else stupid enough to get up before 6am to go to his stupid meeting.

Since that morning, I have had more 5am alarm calls to get to BNI meetings than I care to remember.

I’ve watched my chapter grow to reach the top 10 per cent in the world, turning over around €2million in business referred among its members annually. I had the honour of leading the chapter for six-months, and took on a number of other roles.

I made friends. I found comfort and advice. I discovered quality suppliers. I received business – €30,000 this year, I reckon.

I was also invited into the wider BNI network, becoming an assistant director in the southern region of Ireland, taking on a training role initially, later a role supporting another chapter. Both roles were hugely enjoyable and shaped me. I met impressive people, not least the founder of BNI, Ivan Misner, whom I photographed earlier this year.

It wasn’t all plain sailing. It would be wrong to suggest that.

We had our spats, BNI and I.

For a start, I never, ever enjoyed the early starts.

But now reflecting on my departure, I can only say this: “Thank you, BNI”.

You’re likely wondering why, full of such praise and having established a substantial referral income stream, I’ve walked away.

The truth is, I can no longer fulfill my commitments to my chapter or to the organisation.

My chapter meets on a Friday morning. As someone who earns a large part of his income from wedding photography, that has become a problem. Such an early start means I start to flag around 4pm, when there are at least a couple of hours of photography left to go on wedding days. So I decided not to attend on the days I had a wedding, sending a substitute in my stead. However, over the summer, that meant someone else was in my chair for 75% of the meetings. Successful BNI membership relies on regular face-to-face contact. Not attending meetings was impacting on my ability to receive and give referrals.

My Friday commitments are likely to increase in the future.

At the same time, I was elected to the council of the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA). This is an opportunity for me to support my professional body and influence my industry, but it will be a challenging and time-consuming task. So much so, that I couldn’t see how I could combine it with my BNI assistant director duties, which were already demanding an ever larger chunk of my time.

Over a quiet, reflective beer in the Netherlands this summer, the truth dawned. Difficult though it would be, I would have to give up BNI.

It wasn’t an easy decision.

Fortunately, unlike most breakups, I can return to the fold – provided I can find a local chapter that meets earlier in the week that will take me.

This, to be absolutely clear, is a dream client.

I would never have been put in touch with the firm had it not been for Ivan Misner – a man whom, until last Friday, I had never met.

Ivan is the founder of Business Network International (BNI) and I’m a member of one of Ireland’s premier BNI chapters. The introduction to my new client came through a former member of my group. He will be recognized properly once the work is done and the photography is out in the wider world. It’s a new product, so certain non-disclosure restrictions apply. Let’s just say I would never have met him had Ivan not created a forum for us to meet, and a structured channel through which to refer business.

Ivan was in Ireland last week to speak at the national members day at Clontarf Castle Hotel. I spoke with BNI Ireland and suggested that I produce a series of photographs that documented a typical day in his life.

Here is a selection of my favourites, with some notes. I should tell you that Ivan spoke twice on the day and that I’ve ordered these personal favourites of mine so they hang together better as a story. This editorial liberty means that a couple of the photographs are not in their genuine chronological place. Please direct any complaints to my ethics department.

Signing books and enjoying a joke with members. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Ivan gave a series of interviews during the day. Some booked in advance, some impromptu. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Ivan checks his email while waiting for a telephone interview with 4FM. (c) Roger Overall

Ivan talking to 4FM in Ireland on the 2010 National Members Day, Clontarf Castle Hotel, Ireland. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Ivan is a man of stature and I wanted a photograph that conveyed that. I figured out which side of the stage he'd go up and waited for him to be called. I would have like a few more members on their feet, but I do like the scale of the man compared to his audience. (c) Roger Overall 2010

I'm not sure what's going on here. The people around Ivan are all representatives from chapters that took in six or more new members in a short period of time. Quite what is happening with the lady's shoes is a mystery. I like the fact that everyone else is oblivious to the exchange. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Ivan is a phenomenal speaker. Here he is telling the story of his first live television interview. It was explosive - both the story and the telling. My favourite photograph of the day. For this I wanted to show the audience's perspective. (c) Roger Overall 2010

I loathe it.

Normally, it passes me by and leaves me be.

Today, I had to stand up to it in all its horror. I wasn’t really prepared for the fight after two days in Dublin, during which I walked a marathon, and barely five hours’ sleep having arrived back in Cork late last night.

But people were depending on me, so I rose from my bed with the elegance of a zombie from its grave, and ventured out to this year’s BNI Big Breakfast.

It was worth it.

Three measures determine the success of my business day:

1. Did I take a worthwhile photograph?
2. Did I learn something valuable?
3. Did I strengthen my business relationships or start a new one?

Simply attending BNI’s annual Big Breakfast pretty much guarantees that 2. and 3. are taken care of.

As far as item 1. goes, I was asked to take documentary photographs of the event. In particular pictures of Rob Brown, the keynote speaker, in action. One of those is already one of my favourites for the year.

I got lucky. Sure, I recognized an opportunity when it presented itself and planned the shot when I saw the potential, but luck did play a part.

One of Rob’s final presentation slides showed a lighthouse.

I knew immediately what I wanted to do, but I needed him to move towards me into a band of ceiling light.

Rob’s a walker-talker, so the odds were in my favour. As he stepped forward, he raised his hand as he spoke.

Rob Brown, an expert in reputation, speaks at the Maryborough House Hotel in Cork on 3rd February 2010 during BNI's Big Breakfast event. (c) Roger Overall 2010

If you’re unfamiliar with BNI, it’s a international organization with chapters around the world. The sole purpose of each chapter is to generate word-of-mouth referral business for its members. My membership was worth about €10,000 to me over the course of 2009. Nothing huge, but not to be disregarded either.

Apart from the business and the networking, there are lots of educational benefits to my membership in BNI.

So that’s all good.

There are down sides, though.

This morning was our traditional Christmas meeting, at which we all present on behalf of another member instead of ourselves. It can get messy, not to mention apocryphal and downright libelous.

For instance, this is what Willie Ahern, our group’s electrician, said on my behalf:

“My name is Roger Overall and I am the greatest photographer alive. [So far, so good]

“In fact, before me, there were no photographers worth talking about. [OK, that's not quite true]

“If I take 10 photographs, 11 of them are going to be award-winners. [Now hang on a minute...]

“I don’t need to set a shutter speed on my camera. Time stands still for me. [I have almost never claimed that]

“I don’t need to use flash. The sun just shines brighter for me. [Or that. And then it just gets worse:]

“I’m looking to speak to people who can afford me.

“If you know them, tell them that I invented light.

“Tell them that if they humble themselves before me, I might take a phone call from them.

“That’s Roger Overall, I’m a genius.” [That bit is true]

Now, surely most of that is slander? I’d be the first to admit that I have an ego (we had to build an annex to the house specially for it last year), but this is going too far.

Fortunately, my solicitor is a member of our chapter as well. He has a keen legal brain and a sharp intellect. He immediately leaped into action on my behalf:

My lawyer defending my good character (c) Roger Overall 2009

On a more seasonal note, the group’s printer, Ciaran Buckley-Barry of Prontaprint, volunteered to have his legs waxed for charity as part of his presentation on behalf of the chapter’s beauty salon, Asana.

He didn’t enjoy it:

(c) Roger Overall 2009

We laughed like drains.

All kidding aside, it is a privilege to be a member of the Cork City chapter of BNI and I’m looking forward to 2010 in the company of my fellow members.

So, I’ll raise a glass to them.

Willie Ahern gave me a bottle of 2004 Chateau Cantenac Brown with which to do it.

Thanks for everything, guys.