Recently in Benefits Category

Something exciting is coming your way soon...something that could change the "face" of online dating and help YOU create more relationships, too.

As PPA members, you'll have an exclusive chance to join Accuphoto, starting January 10, 2010. Created by Brenda Kirkland, a PPA member herself, Accuphoto is a unique service that provides certified professional images to members of the online dating community at a fixed price.

How Accuphoto Can Help You
First of all, this is a FREE marketing tool for photographers--that's helpful right there!

PPA is pleased to announce a new benefit for members: an ongoing series of free, member-exclusive webinars designed to provide members with inspiration and tips on photographic art, technique, and workflow.

The first series, "From Capture to Client, presented by Adobe, will begin on September 21, with the webinar "The Art of Facial Retouching. Canon's "Exploring" webinar series begins on October 5, with "Photographing Children. Both series were designed to help photographers gather ideas and solid advice for growing their creativity and business.

Take advantage of all the online solutions BIG Folio has to offer, from SEO to logo/branding design services to online proofing and sales. They have everything you need to successfully present your photography business to your valued clients, all under one roof. Plus, PPA members get $100 off any Premium design OR $50 off any Standard design. Visit the Extreme Details page in the Benefits section of PPA.com for complete details on this offer.Offer expires September 30, 2009.

Independent Leasing Associates--a PPA affinity partner--is pleased to announce the immediate merger with Lanier Funding, LLC, to form United Funding, LLC. The merger will allow greater efficiency and synergy for their clients, vendors, lenders, and associations.

This merger represents the pooling of the expertise of two established and well-respected equipment leasing and finance firms. Working separately over the years, both firms helped develop a state-of-the-art online system (called e-Vendor) to automate the financing process and help vendors close more transactions more quickly, thereby increasing their sales and profitability.

"We have been talking with Lanier for a long time, and we are excited that the merger is finally coming to fruition," stated Bob Bell, Independent's owner. "With all the turmoil in the financial marketplace, we are happy to say our sources of funds are still in business and we have money to lend."

Those businesses who are looking for financing can apply through the online website.

PPA members click here for more details.

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About the Companies:
Independent Leasing Associates has been servicing the small ticket equipment marketplace with emphasis on computers, printers, imaging equipment and inventory control systems since 1993. Lanier Funding, LLC, formed in 2003, specializes in financing equipment for the waste management market place. Both firms offer competitive financing to small- and medium-sized businesses without the typical red tape associated with bank lending. The lending "sweet spot" for both firms is between $5,000 and $250,000 with some transactions approaching the million-dollar mark. The new firm, United Funding, LLC, will have main offices in Georgia and Tennessee with satellite offices in various other states.

Sign up in July and SAVE $75 on BounceBack!

BounceBack, PPA's affinity partner for check recovery services, electronically recovers NSF checks and pays 100 percent of the collected check. BounceBack reduces bank fees and eliminates the hassles of collections using a courteous, yet effective process.

PPA members who sign up by July 31, 2009, will receive an exclusive $75 savings off the one-time activation fee. Grow your business today--let the PPA-approved professionals recover the money that was owed to you yesterday!

Special Adobe Discount for PPA Members

From June 1 until August 31, PPA members are entitled to a 15 percent discount on the Adobe Creative Suite 4® (CS4) full-version product (from the Adobe online store) or $100 off individual upgrades to CS4, and $100 off each CS4 licensing product! This is a time-limited offer, so be sure to act now.

Visit the Extreme Details page in the Benefits section of PPA.com for complete details on both of these offers.

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is thrilled to announce that it has partnered with EYE to run exclusive pro-bono advertisements in eight malls across the country promoting PPA and the use of professional photography. The ads will be running in the following malls during the month of July reaching nearly 8.2 million people at a media value of over $57,000 at no cost to PPA!

• Arrowhead Towne Center (AZ)
• Chandler Fashion Center (AZ)
• FlatIron Crossing (CO)
• Freehold Raceway Mall (NJ)
• Oaks, The (CA)
• Queens Center (NY)
• Scottsdale Fashion Square (AZ)
• Westside Pavillion (LA)

These ads will show mall shoppers the benefits of professional photography and will drive them to the Find-a-Photographer feature on the PPA website (www.ppa.com).

PPA members can also take advantage of mall display advertising with EYE (with preferred rates featuring discounts of up to 20% off the standard 4 weeks of advertising), and  they will also have experts coordinating all aspects of finding space, getting approvals, and creating advertising graphics. For details, log in to www.ppa.com.

From June 1 until August 31, PPA members are entitled to a 15% discount on CS4 full-version product from the Adobe online store or $100 off individual upgrades to CS4 as well as $100 off each CS4 licensing product!  This is a time-limited offer, so be sure to act now.  PPA members can log in to the Extreme Deals page on www.ppa.com for more information.

Dear PPA Member,

We all have routines. In a lot of situations, having them is a good thing. Routines are comfortable, often require a minimum of brain activity, and allow us to navigate through our day.

Unfortunately, routines sometimes keep us from finding new things. If your routine involves ordering the same meal at a restaurant because you know it's delicious and you don't even look at the menu...well, you may never know that the menu has been expanded with new items, including your new favorite dish!

Here at PPA, we're constantly adding to our menu of benefits and resources to help you in your business. Some of these new items can be easily incorporated into your existing routine...and others may have you examining new avenues in the industry.

I always like to read the menu at the restaurants I frequent because I never know what I'll find. To help you do the same, we've made it easier to read the PPA menu with this Vital Signs. You'll find a list of new benefits that you and other PPA members can use, all added since January! (And we're not done--more benefits are coming.)

Cheers!

Christel Aprigliano
Director of Membership

P.S. Tony Corbell's webinar (Enhancing Images While Saving Time) is filling up quickly. If you're a portrait photographer, you won't want to miss this opportunity to see how Tony works--he'll even answer your questions during the webinar. Sign up now!

P.P.S If you haven't already, could you please take a moment (or two) to complete our two-minute survey?

"Apple" is a familiar name to most photographers. In fact, you may use at least one of their products every day! Well, we have some news that will make your day: Your PPA benefits now include exclusive savings from Apple.

PPA is one of a few select organizations to offer Apple's Association Member Purchase Program. Members now receive:

• Special member pricing on Apple and third-party products (up to 17% off)
• Exclusive promotions
• Complimentary shipping on all orders over $50
• Free engraving on all new iPod models
• Mac customization
• Flexible business financing options

"This special program is only offered to a select few organizations chosen by Apple," adds Christel Aprigliano, PPA's director of membership. "Earning this privilege for our members is a great honor, not to mention a great benefit for anyone, especially photographers!"

Click here for more details.