Watching CNN this morning, I was reminded why I love our industry. I saw updates on the California fires and interviews of several residents who lost their homes (luckily, they were able to grab the family and their pets). Person after person evoked a common theme. Everything they had was gone--all material things had vaporized. But the first loss they mentioned was their pictures! Many cried as they talked about the images they lost--children growing up, portraits of those who'd passed on, events, and celebrations of life.

A similar thing happened after 9-11: people realized how important it was to keep up with family portraits and photos, freezing time and recording life. Before photography, only a few powerful people had images created of them. Photography changed that. For over 100 years, our industry and its master storytellers have made a mark on the lives of millions. What our members do (and you support and improve with products and services) goes much deeper than we sometimes realize.

Take a moment from your crazy day. Take a deep breath, sit back, and realize that we are all involved in an incredible industry that is well-worth the effort. It's one of the reasons that PPA has been around almost 130 years, and I've been hanging around for 19 of those. Thank you all for all you do in the industry to make it better. And thank you for the support you give PPA, so we can keep protecting and helping the folks who make the magic: photographers.

Scott Hersh
Director of Sales and Strategic Alliances

"It's like traditional blogging on amphetamines," says Clay McDaniel, cofounder of Spring Creek Group, an interactive marketing agency. "The marketing results of microblogging can be exceptional. It is a personal, relevant way to connect with 'followers' of your company or brand, creating a constant, ongoing dialogue around your products or services." Read MacDaniel's 10-step guide to make microblogging work for your company. Get the full story >

"Launching a new product or service is an exciting time and it is possible to overlook something in the rush to get that product or service to market," says Bob Cannon, who helps inventors, importers and manufacturers successfully introduce new products in the hardware/hard lines marketplace. In his 30-year career, Cannon says he's made a few missteps, but like all true innovators, he's turned those mistakes into knowledge. That knowledge became his invaluable "New Product Launch Checklist." Get the full story >

Every year, a host of innovative, potentially valuable products and services ready for launch never make it off the launching pad, writes marketing consultant Kim T. Gordon of Entrepeneur.com. Gordon identifies seven crucial steps in a marketing campaign for the successful lift-off of a new product, all of them largely fueled by focused brain power, and deployed before the cash outlay point of no return. Get the full story >

As part of your Platinum or Gold PPA Corporate Membership, your company can submit a tutorial, how-to, or other type of informative article in the new PPA-member Online Content Library. This library provides PPA members access to a wealth of information and news postings provided by you, increasing awareness of your products/services and your reputation as an information resource. The Online Content Gallery is a new ongoing benefit for you as a Corporate Member and PPA Members, so take advantage now!

Article submissions from you can be added to the library throughout the year. Your company will receive credit and thanks for each article provided (along with Web links).  The point of these articles is to provide helpful information--perhaps answers to questions/problems pro photographers often have--with no strings attached, even though you're most likely talking about one of your products/services. Simply, articles should be soft-sell pieces, not advertorials. For example, limit the references you make to your product/service.

Login to in check out what's in the online article library. (Go to www.ppa.com/resources/ then select Tech Tips )

E-mail questions and submissions to Cheryl Pearson at cpearson@ppa.com, or call 404-522-8600 ext.223.

Click here  to view the latest issue of PPA Today.

Take advantage of one of your Platinum and Gold Corporate Membership Benefits--submit an article to PPA's e-mail newsletter, PPA Today. Sent to over 30,000 professional photographers twice a month, this newsletter is a great way to deliver customized articles and tutorials produced by your company. Doing so will help boost awareness of your company and services in our members' minds. Along with a link to your company's Web site at the end of each tutorial or article, your company will receive thanks and credit.

The point in these articles is to provide helpful information--perhaps answers to questions/problems pro photographers often have--with no strings attached, even though you're most likely talking about one of your products/services. Simply, articles should be soft-sell pieces, not advertorials. Give the readers real advice, and they will pay more attention to you. For example, limit the references you make to your product/service.

E-mail questions and submissions to Cheryl Pearson at cpearson@ppa.com, or call 404-522-8600 ext.223. The e-newsletter is provided for PPA members bi-monthly so remember to get your content in early! Click here to view a copy of the current newsletter.

*And don't forget to send me (cpearson@ppa.com) your press releases! If the content is appropriate to our members, we will post it on our PPA Today blog, under the Products category.