PPA Today

PPA Benefit Reminders: Your Copyright Resources

2013-05-17T12:42:44Z

Take That, Infringement!
Have you ever been hosed in a copyright dispute? If so, we'd bet that even just the thought of copyright infringement is enough to make your blood boil. Ours too. That little circled letter © sure does come in handy, though. So do PPA's copyright resources and contracts.

Let's take a closer look at our copyright resources. There are good reasons why they are one of the most coveted PPA benefits.

Sample Letters
Look, we know that when emotions run high it can be difficult to get your point across in a professional manner. It happens to all of us! But before you press "send" on that angry response email because your client's request is unacceptable, take a step back and even call or email us if needed. Here, take a look at how we can help.

If you find yourself having to defend your copyrights, PPA has created a handful of letters that will help you stand your ground with poise and authority. Check them out in theLoop's Copyright Q&A Community library. You'll find everything from a standard "cease and desist" letter to samples that help with specific types of infringements, like a client who has violated their licensing agreement.

These letters certainly aren't the only way PPA has your back. Know that you're never alone in addressing an infringement. If you need us, just call 800-786-6277 or email copyrightdefense@ppa.com. No matter the situation, PPA's Copyright & Government Affairs Department is here to provide assistance, general advice or a quick pep talk before you react.

Sample Contracts
When it comes to contracts, it doesn't matter if you're dealing with a friend, family member or a strict business relationship, it's critical to take the time to document the assignment details. These details include your responsibilities as the photographer and their responsibilities as the client. Putting these items on paper will help keep everyone honest, and provide you with an additional layer of protection should you, or your client, need to call an aspect of the project into question.

But a contract should include more than just contact, session, payment, and order information. It's your opportunity to explain your studio's policies, like copyright ownership, and what it means to work with you as a photographer. It's also your client's opportunity to let you know what they expect from you/the session and acknowledge their understanding of the foundation you've laid down.

Your client is coming to you for your professional expertise, so don't be afraid to ask them to sign on the dotted line. No need to be shy! It's just as much for their protection as it is for yours (it's never a bad idea to make sure they understand that too). If you need help developing your contract "tool kit" PPA has a hefty library of samples available for you to download. We also have two free Webinars that will guide you on how to craft and enforce your agreements.

Just think of a contract as the ultimate "To Do" list.

Copyright Kit
It's hard to stay up-to-date on copyright laws and your rights as a photographer and it's probably not the thing you can't wait to dive in to when you have a little bit of downtime. But lucky for you, PPA's Copyright & Government Affairs Department has come up with a handy Copyright Kit to answer all sorts of questions, and some you might not even know you had. The kit covers steps you can take to protect your copyrights, best practices of marking your images, and a quick reference guide to the most common copyright questions.

We're going to stress this one a bit...PLEASE make sure you utilize these copyright resources. They are available at no charge to you and exist only to protect you and your work; ignoring them would be doing your business a disservice. Let us help you! It's what we're here for.

PPA Brag Book: Nature Photographer Rodney Lough, Jr. To Host Book Signing

2013-05-16T15:52:24Z

PPA member and renowned nature photographer Rodney Lough Jr., M.Photog., will host a book signing and unveil his first major image of 2013 on Friday, May 24, at his gallery in San Francisco.

To RSVP, visit Rodney's website.

View some of Rodney's images from the PPA Loan Collection below.

Do you have something you want us to brag on? Tell us here: www.ppa.com/bragbook.

ALL IMAGES © RODNEY LOUGH, JR.

Double the Classes, Double the Fun! (Part 1)

2013-05-10T18:59:50Z

The first round of Super Monday classes kicks-off tomorrow (we know, it's a Saturday), but it's all about the spirit of learning! In that spirit, Mary Buck, CPP, has doubled down and offered two distinctly different Super Monday sessions in Duluth, GA, to help boost the business of professional photographers by offering unique products and inspiring you to utilize the tools you already have in your arsenal.

In her first class (that would be Monday, May 13th) Mary will teach "How to Create a Fusion Video Using ProShow Producer." You already use your dSLR to create amazing photos, but why not utilize all of its functionality and create fusion videos? That's Mary's intent. She'll show you how to best utilize ProShow Producer software and help you learn all about the art of storyboarding and creating a shot list. You'll then be able to put those lessons to good use during a hands-on session with a high school model.

With a strong background in film, Mary has the patience to set up a shot right the first time. She eliminates the need for heavy editing during post-processing, which will help you produce quicker, better videos. Her favorite part of the photography process is creating the image directly in the camera. Defining herself as a classically trained photographer with strong foundational skills in composition, exposure and lighting, she attributes it all to starting her photography journey with film. It is why, she'll tell you herself, she truly believes in getting it right in the camera.

By the time you're done with the class and the hands-on session, Mary hopes you'll have "a new creative skill to add to your product lines to help you stand out from other photographers." As any photographer knows, an advantage on the competition is necessary in the current state of the photographic industry.

"The biggest challenge my business faces are from the over-saturation of photographers and the inconsistency in pricing structures within the industry," said Mary. "To overcome these challenges it is important to offer the best customer service on the planet and to provide something different that other photographers are not offering." In her class, you will get plenty of tips and strategies to accomplish just that.

If it tickles your fancy to learn more about the portrait side of the business, Mary's second class might be more your speed - "The ABCs (Art, Business & Charm) of a Portrait Photography Business" will take place on Wednesday, May 15th.

New Copyright Law in the Works

2013-05-08T20:16:01Z

It's pretty much evolve or die in the photography business. You've got to have the latest and greatest gear, keep up with current trends and establish a fluid online presence. So when you're out there working hard to stay current, shouldn't the laws that serve to protect you be up to date as well?

People in Maria Pallante's world sometimes call The Copyright Act of 1976 "the new law," but that's hardly how she sees it. And as the U.S. Register of Copyrights, she's requesting the makeover on Capitol Hill.

The copyright laws currently in place, which determine what can be copyrighted and by whom, how fair use works, who can be sued for infringement and for how much, are out of date. Basically, "the new law" isn't cutting it anymore. Nor is the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, passed 15 years ago, in 1998. The internet moves a little too fast for that act to be relevant.

So Ms. Pallante's getting to work for you! She has twice called for "the next Great Copyright Act" to be drafted and passed by Congress, and now Ms. Pallante has someone in her corner (other than PPA and its members, of course). Representative Robert Goodlatte, Dem. 6th District of Virginia, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, recently announced his committee would conduct a "comprehensive review" of the existing copyright statute.

We don't know what these new laws might look like, but with these two going to bat for you, there's reason to get excited. Plus, a few hints were made as to what the Copyright Office and Judiciary Committee are looking for in their review:

To make the laws easy to understand and balance the needs of creators and content users so they can communicate effectively.
To bring the law into the 21st Century! While the laws have been "tweaked" on occasion, the last major update to the existing statute was completed in the mid-1970s. Yikes!
To provide copyright owners with effective and accessible enforcement tools. Sort of like PPA's copyright resources. We're such trend-setters!
To keep it simple! The Copyright Office needs to be able to apply the laws to real scenarios, like registration requirements and processes, without needing to seek Congress's approval.

We certainly don't expect the new law to be crafted overnight, but at the same time, we sure hope it doesn't take decades like the act of 1976, so we're staying staying tuned-in to this one! After the Judiciary Committee's review, the process likely will move on to a series of hearings, roundtables, requests for "studies", and public comment periods. Through it all PPA will make sure photographers have a seat at the table when it comes to shaping the future statute.

How the Snappers Got Their Groove Back...with Cookies

2013-05-08T18:04:07Z

by Mariah Ashley

Once you implement a no discounts under any circumstances policy, how long is it before someone actually books you, thereby breaking your long and depressing losing streak? In the case of the Snappers; 29 nail biting days.

Sarah Petty, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, delivered an amazing lecture at Imaging USA 2013 and passed out her new book Worth Every Penny, Build a Business that Thrills Your Customers and Still Charge What You are Worth. When the book was placed in my hands and I read the cover, I thought, did she write this for me? Aside from taking great photographs which so many people can do, the missing piece we needed to give potential clients was a reason to spend more with us. We found that reason in the pages of Sarah's genius book.

The answer is the boutique business model. We booked two fabulous weddings in the month following Imaging by creating the boutique experience outlined in Sarah's book. This is the story of how we booked one of those weddings.

Laura (a bride) sent us a lovely email detailing her intimate wedding for 25 guests at a high-end venue. She had been referred by the venue and loved what she had seen of our work online. She was interested in finding out more about our pricing. In my return email I attached our pricing explaining our minimum investment of $6,875. I figured we wouldn't hear back from her because she was having such a small wedding and probably wouldn't have the budget for our pricing. To my surprise, she did email back but asked if there were other options for pricing since her wedding was so small. Here we go again...time to get ready to say no and watch another bride walk off into the sunset.

Ironically, she also had some questions surrounding sunset and the timing of the event. Per the advice in Sarah's book, I took the opportunity to go above and beyond even though Laura was not yet a client. I wanted to impart that the reason we are one of the most expensive photographers in our area is because of the level of service we give. I decided it was important to position myself as the expert in the hope that she would start to feel comfortable and taken care of. I remembered we had shot a wedding at her venue in almost the exact scenario that she was describing, small-wedding sunset ceremony, etc.

I sent her a link to that wedding from our blog archives. Next, I created a "suggested timeline for the day" from getting ready through reception, all built around maximizing the light and sunset for photos. Finally, I reiterated that our pricing was firm but she'd be well taken care of, which wasn't easy for me to say to her.

]]> I have two computer monitors on my desk. On one monitor I had Laura's email open and on the other monitor was Quickbooks. The balance in my account was grim to say the least. Making payroll would be nothing short of a miracle this week. Laura's wedding was on a Sunday and only six months away. It certainly wasn't guaranteed that we would book this date, but I had a hunch that if I discounted the package even a little that she'd be satisfied and book us straight away.

Trish and I contemplated discounting over lunch. After all, Laura was having a small wedding, but did that mean we'd give her less of our "sparkle routine" (i.e. work half as hard)? No, we'd work just as hard and put just as much heart and sweat into the day. More than that though, we felt like we had to finish what we had started. We committed to following the advice of the experts and now here we are writing about it on this blog. To discount would be disloyal to all the photographers out there reading the posts and struggling along with us. The answer had to be NO.

On the phone, Laura explained she was torn because photography was taking the better portion of the amount she had set aside for the ENTIRE wedding. It's much harder to say "no" on the phone than it is in email, but for a second time, I said an awkward "no" to discounting and then kicked myself for not sounding more confident after we hung up. I figured Laura was now running, not walking toward the sunset.

Surprisingly, Laura got back to me a few days later to schedule an in-person meeting. She also asked if there was any kind of exception that could be made if her wedding day was rainy. I gently explained that in the case of rain we'd be working that much harder and that we'd get amazing photos regardless of the weather. Laura apologized for all the questions, explaining that she hadn't planned on spending as much, but could see we were the BEST. That was the third "no" I had to deliver and I really hoped it would be the last. I think the stress is giving me hives.

This small business stuff is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes when we need a little pick me up I'll bake my top-secret recipe vegan oatmeal cookies. These cookies are literally the most delicious cookies EVER! Whenever I am baking, Trish will declare, "It smells like love in here!" Nothing says, "I care for you, I think of you, I want the best for you," like a home-baked morsel of delightfulness. The fact that they are vegan cookies plays to the "no one does it quite like Mariah and Trish experience" that we were trying to create. It was decided that cookies would become part of our boutique experience. We just didn't know then that they would become the center of it.

On the day before Laura and Bill's visit we baked a fresh batch and plated a half dozen of the cookies on a pretty platter, positioning them to be the first thing Laura and Bill would see when they walked in. Think back to when you were a kid coming home from school hungry. The first thing you smell and see when you come in the door are homemade cookies cooling on the counter. Feeling loved? Yeah you are.

We had a fabulous visit with Laura and Bill chatting and munching cookies. Laura booked us before she left--in fact she had already filled out the contract before she even arrived at our office. I could tell they both felt really good about their decision. We didn't want them to leave empty handed so we gave them a mason jar filled with more cookies wrapped with a beautiful ribbon. I'm pretty sure they got the message that we would be taking very good care of them.

I felt validated by Laura and Bill's enthusiasm, not to mention their love for my cookies. If a bride throwing a small wedding could see past the price to the value, then we were off and running. A proper thank you for Laura and Bill was in order. Trish and I spent the next day scouring local gift shops for the perfect gift, and then we saw it, a set of heart shaped pewter measuring spoons! Weddings + Cookies + Heirloom Measuring Spoons = LOVE. The "welcome to the snap experience" packet was born: boutique (literally)spoons for baking, a copy of my top-secret recipe so they could make their own cookies and pay the love forward, and another small batch of cookies for munching while reading our printed welcome material. It came together so perfectly because when you are your true self and stick to your convictions, when you put love out into the world, and cookies into the hands of others you are repaid tenfold.

Epilogue: The day after booking Laura and Bill, we were contacted by another couple interested in booking us for the very same day at the very same venue. They were having a larger more elaborate event. If I had given into my doubts and discounted for Laura and Bill, 24 hours later I would have regretted having to turn down a wedding at full price. I would have spent Laura and Bill's wedding day looking across the property at the other wedding, knowing that because I discounted for Laura and Bill, I lost out on a couple who probably would have paid full price. There aren't enough cookies to stuff in my face to drown out that regret. No discounts, message received.

Congratulations to Affiliate School Scholarship Winners Robert Stolpe & Darla Sharp, CPP!

2013-05-08T16:02:07Z

Robert Stolpe has been a professional photographer for 17 years and his career resume is chock-full of amazing things. He has a BS in Chemistry and began his career in the technical field, focusing on product development, quality control and manufacturing systems. While photography was always a passion, his friends jokingly suggested he "not quit his day job," so he listened to them for years. He remained an avid hobbyist until corporate downsizing struck and that's when he knew it was time to move on.

His love of photography first appeared when he was a teen. Robert wanted to take pictures at a rock concert for the sole purpose of bringing them home to show his mom. Perhaps that's why he has spent much of his photographic career creating images of musicians!

But beyond a photographer, Robert is a philanthropist. His goals revolve around how he can help and teach others. He is extremely proud to be the advisory board president of his local Boys & Girls Club. He is also an advocate for our industry, encouraging an active and participatory local and state affiliate and national PPA membership. He also counsels other photographers on the value of becoming a Certified Professional Photographer and is committed to spreading the word about PPA's amazing Student Photographic Society membership.

"I am excited about attending Florida School to gain a better understanding of what the school has to offer so I can continue promoting it to other aspiring photographers," says Robert. "I am also looking forward to the week-long education on environmental portraiture to get new ideas and improve my skills, which will please my clients and further my business."

We are proud to have Robert as a PPA member and can't wait to see what he does with his Florida School experience!

Darla Sharp, CPP has been a professional photographer for over 20 years and is as passionate about photography today as she was when she first began.

She remembers falling head-over-heels in love with photography the first time she developed her own roll of film in a dark room over 24 years ago. Darla grew up in a family of artists, but instead of choosing a paint brush she chose a camera. That excitement she first had, watching her image almost magically appear in the darkroom, has never gone away.

"I still get a rush at every opportunity to click that shutter. However, it's the long lasting satisfaction of knowing I have captured a moment that will be treasured for a lifetime that keeps me coming back for more."

Darla specializes in fine art portraiture, newborn, children and lifestyle photography. Her philosophy is reminiscent of this week's blog entry from Mariah (don't miss that!).

On her Facebook page, Darla writes: "Waiting for the perfect hair, perfect weight, perfect clothes to have your portrait taken? You're beautiful just the way you are. So let us pamper and pose you and make some memories now." It's this unique way of approaching her subjects and their essence that drives her work and keeps her inspired.

Darla is excited about the upcoming Florida school classes, where there is a solid focus on technique and skill. She recognizes that fads come and go, but even after all these years, she continually works on improving her skills to provide the highest caliber of work for her clients. She mentioned to us that one of the upcoming courses she is the most excited about is "Creative Arts in Portraiture".

"My dream photography assignment is to travel the world photographing everyday people in their ordinary surroundings. For me, nothing shows the beauty of a landscape more than the people that inhabit it," Darla says.

Congratulations to Darla and we hope that you have an inspiring week at Florida School!

PPA Welcomes Greg Daniel to Board of Directors

2013-05-06T19:25:39Z

What's one of the things that can help make an association great? If you answered 'leadership', we are on the same page!

This is why Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the world's largest photography non-profit association, is so proud to welcome Greg Daniel, M.Photog.Cr., F-ASP, to the association's Board of Directors. Daniel becomes the latest working professional photographer to join PPA's board, which helps to guide the direction of PPA. He is joining current president Ralph Romaguera, Sr., M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API, F-ASP, from Louisiana, vice-president Susan Michael, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI, from Florida, treasurer Michael Gan, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, from California, chairmen of the board Tim Walden, M.Photog.Cr. Hon.M.Photog., F-ASP, from Kentucky and the other board members in keeping PPA the top non-profit photographic association.

A PPA member for 30 years, Daniel's photography career began in 1979 when he founded Gregory Daniel Portrait Artist. Today, with the help of his wife Lesa, Daniel operates two successful portrait photography galleries in Florida, one in Indiatlantic and the other in his hometown of Titusville.

As a portrait photographer, Daniel has become known for establishing a friendly, fun relationship with his subjects. Regardless of his subjects' age, Daniel is able to quickly connect with those he photographs. These bonds show through in the warmth and liveliness his portraits have, making his work pleasing to both clients and art critics alike.

In addition to being a top-notch photographer, Daniel is a bit of an entrepreneur. He is the owner of Daniel Properties, a commercial and residential property management company. Adding to his unique resume, Daniel also held multiple management positions with the Space Shuttle Program from 1979 - 2006.

"I truly love this profession and all that it has provided my family, clients and myself from a creative and financial perspective," said Daniel. "The skills I have obtained through entrepreneurship, photographic association leadership positions and upper management for the Space Program provide me with some unique resources to contribute."

It should come as no surprise that Daniel has received much recognition as a photographer. Among his list of accomplishments with PPA, he has achieved the title of Photographic Craftsmen in 1988, Master of Photography in 1989, and received the Imaging Excellence Award in 2005. He has been a PPA-affiliated instructor for many years and has earned numerous awards from PPA affiliates as well. In addition, Daniel has held committee chair positions for Cameracraftsmen of America and is a founding member of the International Society of Portrait Artists (ISPA).

Daniel's various awards and honors are sure to be valuable as he helps the other members of the Board of Directors plan the future of PPA.

You can read more about Greg Daniel or the other Board of Directors' members in PPA's About section and connect with him on theLoop, PPA's online networking platform for professional photographers.

IMAGE © GREG DANIEL

Young Photographers Alliance Invites Next Generation of Photographers to Escape

2013-05-02T20:25:41Z

We all take moments to escape from our daily realities. The question is, how? And can those moments be captured? That's what the Young Photographers Alliance (YPA) encourages you to discover at this year's fourth annual mentoring program.

If you're an aspiring photographer or just getting started with your career, then read up, because this program is for YOU. YPA's annual mentoring program offers you a priceless opportunity to work with successful professional photographers and fine-tune your craft, create images for your portfolio, develop business skills and promote and explore markets for your work.

If you're seeking to establish yourself as a sustainable professional in today's photography market, this program can provide you with the encouragement and assistance you need. Talented college students and recent graduates (that's you!) will partner with leading industry professionals, who participate as mentors, to collaborate on a photo essay around a compelling social theme.

This year's theme to select participants is Escape. How does one capture the essence of the word? Here is how YPA presents the challenge to candidates: "By its very nature it cannot be grasped or tamed, confined or controlled. Escape is the flower that grows from the crack in the concrete. It is the choice between having a drink or taking a walk. Escape is freedom from reality, but it is also reality unrestrained. Escape is a paradox. Escape is inevitable." Looks like YPA's Escape challenge is a heck of an opportunity to tickle your creativity!

YPA is inviting the next generation of photographers (again, that's you!) to explore and produce an Escape-themed series of images through portraiture, photojournalism, landscape or architectural photography. Each participant is encouraged to present his or her interpretation and to push the boundaries of how photography can shed light on the subject in unique ways.

Escape is a globe-spanning photography initiative, as it will be held in several cities across the world. Team USA locations include Anchorage, AK; Nashville, TN; Kansas City, MO; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Los Angeles, CA; Orlando, FL; New Orleans, LA; New York City, NY; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA. But international teams will also be formed in Toronto and Ottawa, Canada; Glasgow, Scotland and Beijing, China.

Two to four applicants for each city will be selected to work as a team with two mentors. You can submit your applications through Friday May 10, so don't ponder too long and jump in: it's an amazing opportunity! Judging will take place the following week and the chosen mentees will be notified the week after. That quickly. The chosen group will meet for a series of six to eight two-hour sessions between June 1 and August 15, so make sure you will be available then before applying.

Participants will learn to write a creative brief, learn about the business of photography and together with their team, develop a localized promotional campaign as a part of your final deliverables. Teams will also identify a subject based on the Escape theme and you create the images outside of meeting times.

This program is an easy way to network and establish key relationships within the industry while bettering yourself as a photographer. So if you're aged 18 to 29, currently enrolled in a college photography course or a recent graduate, and able commit to the dates of the program, you're eligible!

Apply to the program by joining YPA as a "YPA21" member, which costs $21. This fee includes access to the mentoring program as well as to portfolio reviews, access to other industry information and forums. It's more than a bargain. For more information and to register for the program visit the YPA website.

When you decide to enter, shoot us a note, we'd love to show support and share your work. One more bonus for your networking and marketing development!

New Perk for PPA Members: Significant Discounts to Help You Showcase Your Images Online With Zenfolio

2013-05-01T17:24:11Z

As a photographer, do the technical aspects of launching or re-designing your website keep you up at night?

For most of us in today's market, having a website and being able to sell photography online is essential to our success. To help avoid potential web-related nightmares, a lot of photographers rely on Zenfolio because it's an easy and affordable solution to take the guess work out of designing a website or selling images on the web!

"Zen-what," some of you may ask? It's a subscription-based service with a toolbox that allows you to quickly create a professional website with photos and slideshows that can be shared with your clients, as well as an easy-breezy print-ordering system. But there's more to Zenfolio than the image gallery sharing/print order feature!

The different subscription packages all allow you to professionally present your images and run your online business through a single convenient platform. Options range from portfolio gallery, secured client proofing, custom shopping carts and print-lab integration, to a host of marketing solutions - including search engine optimization and social media integration. If you already have a website, you know that you'll have to update it at some point, and these guys are able to transfer hosting service while preserving your domain name or links.

Many successful photographers (and PPA members!) have made the switch. Some of those include Damon Tucci, Cr.Photog, Laura Tillinghast, Dan Ballard, Blake Gardner and Terrell Lloyd, Cr.Photog. So you don't have to take our word for it: you can hear it directly from pros who specialize in all types of photography and are all proficiently using the platform. Enough bragging. Want to learn more Zenfolio? Watch a quick video demo or read stories from real Zenfolio users.

Last but not least, here's the important stuff: as a PPA member, there are two discounts to help you jump on the Zenfolio bandwagon:

- If you are brand new to Zenfolio, you get 25% off your first year's subscription.

- If you already subscribe to Zenfolio, you get 20% off an upgrade to any higher subscription level.

You'll find the discount codes and other Zenfolio-related details on PPA's Year-Round Discounts page. If you are not a PPA member, you are missing out: it really costs you more not to be a PPA member, so consider joining PPA today.

We love hearing from you, so please send us screenshots and your thoughts on how you create or showcase your business online. In the meantime, happy sales!

Texas Couple On-Board For Two Super Monday Classes

2013-04-24T14:40:17Z

Two is better than one. And since these two photographers joined together (both in marriage and in business!) they realized one of the greatest gifts of photography is sharing their knowledge and experience with other professionals. So Texas couple Laura Ann, CPP, and Randy, Cr.Photog., CPP, Pollard decided to do TWO Super Monday classes. Maybe after reading about this dynamic team you will also believe that two classes (and teachers) are better than one!

For Laura Ann, what began as merely a hobby grew into an official business in 2000, and her partner Randy joined her full time in 2004. Laura and Randy love the art of photography. Randy's favorite part of the photography process is "that moment you click that shutter and you get your first glimpse of what you had only imagined." In fact, the biggest compliment they ever received was from a bride and groom who continually raved about their 'art'. They consider that a huge breakthrough in their photography careers.

Teaching TWO Super Monday classes
When asked to teach a Super Monday class, the duo was hard pressed to choose just one topic.

"We were so torn on what to teach!" they said. "We feel we have a lot to share and had trouble narrowing it down to two. We decided on 'What Do I Do Now? Coping With the Unexpected' because we've all been there - something breaks, you forgot some equipment, you encounter technical difficulties - to have some go-to's in your toolbox can truly save the day."

At the conclusion of this class, Laura and Randy want you to feel confident enough to know you can overcome any sticky situation. To know there is "more than one way to skin a cat" and you do have the tools in your arsenal to solve any problem that arises!

Their second class, "From Birth to Graduation - Photographing Children," covers another subject near and dear to their heart. In addition to weddings and family portraits, Laura and Randy have extensive experience in photographing children. Laura specializes in newborns and children while Randy tends to focus on tweens, teens and seniors.

"We feel classes on photographing children are always in demand and we have so much to experience to share. We want photographers to understand some of the nuances of working with children. Newborns are not like 6-month-olds and require a different skill set. And guess what? One year olds CAN be fun..really!"

Teaching from Experience
Laura and Randy pride themselves on remaining unflappable in very difficult situations.

"We've had a number of 'incidents' happen to us at weddings. Weddings are very unforgiving - you have to think on your feet and get back up and running in a very short time. From lights being knocked over by drunk people, to flash cards going bad, and fauxtogs shooting over our shoulders, we've seen it all! Children's sessions have colicky babies, three-year-old meltdowns, and moms in tears! Truly, we've seen it all."

The classes will be held consecutive Monday's in May, with "What Do I Do Now?" on May 13 and "From Birth to Graduation" on May 20. The classes go from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held at the Pollard's studio, L-Ann Imaging Studio, in Victoria, Texas. Find more information and register here.

Don't miss the opportunity to attend classes with two passionate, personable and experienced photographers. Choose one or both...it's up to you!

Get the full list of Super Monday courses.

ALL IMAGES © L-ANN IMAGING STUDIO

Congratulations to MARS Scholarship Winners Stephen Lewis and Glenn Nielson!

2013-04-24T14:05:21Z

Stephen Lewis followed in his father's footsteps and has served the military for the last 17 years (Thank you, Stephen!). He always loved taking pictures, but a few years ago he realized that his photography 'hobby' had grown into something greater. He purchased a Nikon d3000 DSLR, enrolled in a digital photography class at the community college of Rhode Island and found a passion he never knew existed. Since he plans to retire from the military in a few years, he decided to do something he really loves for the next 20. He has been working towards his BS in Photography ever since and will graduate in July.

Stephen is excited to attend MARS because he feels that learning from top photographers in the field will help him think and shoot like them - and maybe one day even become one of them. But no matter where his career goes, the knowledge he gains at MARS will give him a competitive advantage over other photographers who weren't fortunate enough to have this unique opportunity.

His dream assignment would be photographing for Samuel Adams beer. He would love to shoot beverage ads for magazines and billboards. Hopefully his time at MARS school will get him one step closer to that dream!

Glenn Nielsen was raised on a farm in Southern Utah, where he learned the value of a hard day's work and the importance of committing to getting a job done right. His early desire to fly, and his dad's career as a US Army Air Corps pilot, fueled his desire to tenaciously pursue an appointment to the Air Force Academy. His determination paid off and he spent 22 years in the Air Force. (We appreciate your service, Glenn!)

He bought his first camera in Thailand and documented the beauty and poverty of Southeast Asia, then Japan, Korea and any other place he traveled. Years later, he and he wife took a river cruise to China and his passion was reborn. There were so many stunning things to photograph and he and his Nikon D80 explored it all.

Glenn decided he wanted to be a professional photographer, despite his lack of experience. He took advantage of photo walks, meet-up groups, online forums, webinars and books about his new craft. While the road to this career has been more challenging than he imagined, he is resolved to do whatever it takes to make it to the next level. He doesn't want to be mediocre - he wants to be GOOD.

His time at MARS will be instrumental in moving his career forward. He believes the concentrated learning experience will give him new skills set to set himself apart from others. He is most looking forward to the Painter class with Mills, as having the ability to produce something other than just a photograph will foster respect from clients and result in larger sales.

Glenn's dream assignment is to travel around the world, photographing landscapes, architecture and people. He welcomes the challenge of finding something unique about a site that has been photographed a million times, or catching a person's expression that tells an entire story. Surely his time at MARS will help prepare him for this opportunity when it arises!

Cooper verses Kuper{berg}

2013-04-24T12:37:49Z

By Mariah Ashley

When I found out that Anna Kuperberg was going to be at Imaging USA, I literally fell off of my seat. To say that Trish and I are huge fans of her work would be a major understatement. Anna is not so much of a person (i.e. noun) in our office, but more of a verb. For instance, "Did you see that photo I just took? I totally Kuped it." Or, "I love that shot, it's so Kupe-ish," (in which case she would be an adjective). There is just something magical about Anna's photos.

Anna began her talk with the simple phrase, "Perfection kills life." The magic in her photography is that she doesn't try to hide the imperfections of her subjects, but rather celebrates them. She welcomes them to center stage and presents them with an award for being themselves. The genius of her vision is that it gives people permission to expose themselves to her camera. Her clients adore her because she captures the essence of their true selves like no one else can.

As she was talking, I wrote in my notebook, "Pretty vs. Real". Lately I have felt pressure, exacerbated by blogs like Style Me Pretty and Pinterest, to sanitize my photos with a "Pretty Purell" as if my wedding clients should look like they are part of an editorial shoot instead of real people. Overwhelmingly, STUFF seems to be preferred over SUBSTANCE.

I can trace the origins of my confusion back to its original source - The Coopers. A few weeks after the Cooper wedding, I posted a sampling of my favorite photos on our blog. Within a few hours we had three frantic phone calls from the bride and one darn angry voicemail from the groom.

The Coopers freaked out about one photo I had chosen to include on the blog. The picture was of the bride in profile, her maid of honor shoving the comb of her veil into her hair. In the photo, the bride is making a face like, "EEE-OUCH!"

It was a funny shot, but also poignant because what bride hasn't suffered a little pain for beauty? In my opinion, it was a great shot. Unfortunately the Coopers did not feel the same way. The groom was outraged. He couldn't believe that I would be so insensitive. He angrily asked, "Who in the world would want a photo of themselves like that?"

Then the bride said something to me that caused a long-lasting shift in my thinking and a crack of doubt in my photographic voice. She said through tears, "I want to look like ANGELIC PERFECTION! Every bride does. I don't want anyone to see a photo of me in which I look less than perfect."

Unbeknownst to them, the Coopers were saying this to a girl who recently posted a photo of herself on Facebook wearing mustache remover cream. Even so, I removed the photo and began to wonder if I had things backwards. Do people want to look like themselves or do they simply want to look unflawed and well, picture-perfect? From that point I focused on what the Coopers wanted, striving to create angelic perfection where it didn't exist and filtering out any photo that showed too much of that revolting "realness". Then an odd thing happened--I started to get bored. Very bored. You know what? Perfect is boring. I was sanitizing the fun right out of what I do. Fun is messy and so is life. The Coopers had killed my photographic buzz. Hearing Anna talk about the virtues of the imperfect gave me permission to move past the trauma the Coopers inflicted on us and get back to our perfectly flawed roots.

Thank you, Anna, for being the champion of the imperfect and offering an alternative to the unattainable ideal of seamless beauty. My confidence in the value of emotion over the exquisite has been restored. There's a place for lovely, splendid, and graceful. But lovely isn't always rainbows and lollipops. Sometimes it's your grandmother's hands with wrinkles and ages spots. Splendid can be a well-set table or laughter as you fumble with the cake knife. Exquisite may be a couture gown hanging daintily on an armoire or it may be the gentle rain that starts to fall just as you take the first step down the aisle toward your new life. Who's to say what's perfect?

Viva la imperfection!

Law Breaking Locations: Why You Should Avoid Utilizing Railways for Backdrops

2013-04-23T20:39:33Z

We know you crave creative backdrops to elevate your photography and sometimes clients can be extremely demanding, but utilizing tracks to set the scene is not only dangerous, it is illegal trespassing, and there's no PPA Member Benefit to get you out of that mess! From equipment insurance to protect your stuff to indemnification trust to protect against an unhappy client-- not even the best coverage in the world can protect you against the wide range of pitfalls that shooting on railroad tracks can bring. As dozens of news outlets have picked up, Operation Lifesaver Inc., wants to remind you to avoid utilizing rails during on-location shoot.

According to Operation Lifesaver, "Last year, more than 800 people were injured or killed while trespassing on railroad property in the U.S."

"This spring, as part of our mission to reduce deaths and injuries around trains, we are asking professional and amateur photographers to set the right example by staying away from train tracks," said Joyce Rose, President and CEO, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Rose noted that about every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train.

Operation Lifesaver jumped into action after late 2012 when a teacher who taught art and photography was struck and killed by a train while taking photos on tracks. In response to tragic and preventable incidents like this, Operation Lifesaver has teamed up with PPA to promote rail safety education to the photography community.

David Trust, chief executive officer of PPA understands historically, rails have been top-of-mind settings for on-location shoots, but the cons outweigh the pros. "Trackside settings have become popular for senior, wedding, and family portraits. But photographers need to know the laws and the safety ramifications of staging a photo shoot near train tracks. PPA applauds Operation Lifesaver programs that educate photographers about the danger to themselves and their clients of working near tracks."

So, what are the must-know facts about rails for photographers? *

Trains can't stop quickly enough to avoid people or vehicles on the tracks.
An optical illusion makes it hard to determine a train's distance from you--and its speed.
The average train overhangs the track by at least three feet.
Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and rights-of-way are private property.
No tracks should be assumed to be abandoned or inactive.
People in your community mimic your behavior.

Be a leader in responsible photography for your community! If you hear of another photographer trespassing on the rails, remind them it's not only illegal, but puts them, their equipment and their clients in danger. If you have any questions concerning the legalities of shooting on railroad tracks, contact csc@ppa.com today.

* According to Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
Operation Lifesaver Inc is a national network of trained volunteers provides free presentations on rail safety. If you're interested in more information on how they have made it their mission to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights of way, visit their website at www.oli.org.

Extreme Deal Alert! Blossom Makes It Simple: A Freebie!

2013-04-23T17:21:36Z

Just when you thought you were going to have to dip into your savings to create engaging marketing materials we've got a deal to save you some cash.

PPA has teamed up with Blossom Publishing to offer PPA members another Extreme Deal - a free graphic design for any four of the PPA product suites.

Yes, FREE.

Effective marketing yourself can make all the difference for your business. You want your promotional materials to stand out - pieces that will display your skill, and also show that you are serious about the business side of photography.

Blossom is offering this incredible deal exclusively to PPA members, completely for free, so that you can benefit from this service at no charge and get a taste for the difference it makes to have someone else design and create marketing pieces for you. That's right, with this freebie you can focus on your photography while Blossom designs and creates promotional materials that will showcase your work and help you stand out in a crowd. Just try it!

Since 1994, Blossom Publishing has produced high-end marketing materials, specifically for those of us in the photography industry. Thousands of photographers currently take advantage of Blossom's expertise in marketing design and print offerings. But don't take our word for it; check out Blossom's customer testimonials, you'll see the clear emphasis on their top-notch customer service

We know how hard it can be to stop everything and develop a campaign to market yourself. That's why you shouldn't let this offer go by without giving it a shot! This is the perfect (and free!) opportunity to drive more clients through your doors with a direct mail postcard, gift card, trifold mailer or magazine. There are no hoops or rings to jump through with this deal! All you will pay for is the cost of printing for the product you choose.

This Extreme Deal is only good on new orders, not current or past orders at Blossom, and cannot be combined with any other specials or discounts. This offer is also only available until June 21, so don't miss out!

Extreme Deals are short-term, ridiculously good (extreme!) deals that are available only to PPA members. Keep checking for the latest and greatest deals here.

310 Winning Images at the Southeastern District Photographic Competition

2013-04-15T19:43:48Z

This week the third annual Southeastern District Photographic Competition results were announced. The 2013 competition had over 800 entries, with 310 photographs earning a Seal of Approval with a score of 80 or above. The sealed images can then be entered into the 2013 International Photographic Competition to earn a merit and they will automatically be accepted as part of the PPA's prestigious General Collection.

For the photographers who received high enough scores to merit, now is the time to ramp up your marketing and public relation skills! Issue press releases (we have press release templates to make it easier for you!), promote your achievements across your social media channels and add a mention on your website! Go ahead and toot you own horn - you earned it!

As Sandra Pearce, M. Photog. MEI. Cr. of Sandra Pearce Photography says, your customers might not completely comprehend what earning merits means, but they will recognize that your work has been honored by some hard to impress judges. Like most competitors, Pearce has had both successes and what we'll call "opportunities for improvement" with photographic competitions.

"Competing gives photographers those extra credentials," said Pearce. "Clients can read an article about your awards and--though they may not understand what the awards are--it shows that other people think your work is great, too. I believe I've done well in photographic competition because I love what I do. And even if I don't win, it won't ruin my life or make me stop competing. I do it to become better."

If your images did not merit, please don't be discouraged! Remember that shooting for competition is not the same thing as getting a fabulous image that your clients will want ten 30x40 copies of. It's a different kind of beast and learning from this experience is a great opportunity to discover areas that may require some continuing education to meet the inexorable 12 elements! To boost your chances, explore PPAedu for online support, or see if there is a Super Monday class in your area that covers areas that need a little extra attention. Practice does make perfect (or we should say practice makes a merit worth image)!

To continue to perfect your passion, the International Photographic Competition is now accepting entries through June 28, 2013. Why wait to show the world what you're made of?

Photographers who requested critiques from the Southeast District Competition will be notified when they become available.