President
Ron Nichols
M.Photog.Cr., API
PPA Member since 1984
Shoots: Portraits, Weddings, Commercial, Video
Location: Grand Ledge, Michigan

• Read his bio.
• Read his Board Spotlight interviews (July 2008, August 2006), featured in Professional Photographer magazine.

Bio
Ron runs a successful portrait studio in Grand Ledge, Michigan. His studio specializes in family portraits and weddings. Ron has been a "Top Seven Master" in Michigan many times, and has earned Gallery and Masterpiece Awards along with PPA International Loan Collection Prints.

In addition to his studio work, he provides consulting services to studios, labs, and software development companies. He teaches digital transition through in-studio seminars, at affiliate schools, and at conventions. He is a PPA Affiliated National Juror and past chairman of the Education Committee.
In 1998, Ron was also the recipient of one the highest honors bestowed by PPA—the National Award, given for service to advance the profession of photography.

Throughout his career, Ron has been active in local, state, and national organizations. He has served in Professional Photographers of Michigan and on the PPA Education and MAC committees. He co-founded the Great Lakes Institute of Photography (GLIP) and served seven years as its director.

His philosophy of service is not limited to the photographic community but extends to that of the Grand Ledge community. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and lends a hand in many of the town's festivals and events.

Board Spotlight, July 2008
By Angela Wijesinghe

Ron Nichols has always been involved with different groups. In fact, he spent a lot of time in dark rooms as a young boy, earning his Boy Scout merit badges and growing ever more intrigued with photography.

After starting his own studio, Ron kept getting busier. He volunteered with PPA, co-founded and directed the Great Lakes Institute of Photography (GLIP), made the teaching rounds, and so on. Soon, he had to develop efficiency tools. “I had to work quickly—smarter and better—because I wasn’t in studio very often,” Ron remembers.

His efficiency and workflow systems soon developed into something others needed, programs and software code made to handle problems photographers face. Ron is busier than ever with PPA’s Board of Directors, his almost virtual consulting and workflow solutions company (RonNichols.com), and his studio. Luckily, though, he has a great team (including his wife) in the studio and is able to run RonNichols.com online from wherever he is. “It’s always a balance,” Ron says. “But even though I’m not in my studio every day, I’m consulting in a studio all the time.”

All his volunteering and consulting work gives him a special view into photographers’ needs. “I see similar issues of balancing work,” Ron explains. “Two of the most common items I help photographers with is standardizing procedures and eliminating repetitive tasks. Still, every studio needs to handle it differently.”

Ron knows that photographers tend to go into photography because of the creative aspect. “Then they are hit with the management side…and it’s tough to learn,” he says wryly. Ron’s advice to all photographers is to “concentrate on business.” No matter where you are in photography, take business classes and learn how to run a business. As Ron says, “The most successful photographers aren’t always the best photographers themselves.” They usually have the added benefit of knowing how to make a business profit.

At the end of the day, does Ron miss spending time capturing images? “Not really,” he replies. “I always have a camera in my hand. Now, though, I usually get to photograph what I want and concentrate on the art of it…when I have time!”

Board Spotlight, August 2006
Ron Nichols was groomed for success at an early age. As a third grader, he received an award for one of his pictures. “It was of the state capitol,” he laughed. He hasn’t looked back since.

Ron would accompany his father to photo shoots and did the “yearbook thing” in high school. From there, he went on to work in a camera store.

Like many photographers, the former art major sees the changes that are taking place in his industry. “The photography industry is in a huge transformational stage right now,” he explained. Ron’s advice? Re-brand. He explained that it’s important for photographers to establish and clearly define themselves and their businesses.

Ron now spends most of his time sharing his expertise as a consultant who helps studios develop workflow solutions. What would he tell a new photographer? “Learn business first, art second and then photography,” he said. ”A good camera doesn’t always equal great pictures.”