Composite photography is growing in popularity and can be a great product offering for your business, as Jim Pierce, CPP, has experienced. But it does require a certain set of skills. That's exactly the sort of problem that PP''s Super Monday Photo Workshops were created to solve! For example, if you've ever dreamed up an image but couldn't figure out how to create it, maybe Jim's "Photoshop Fantasy" class--part of PPA's Super Monday--can help.

Creating His Dreams
Super Monday instructors like Jim are offering their classes because they've amassed talent in a certain area (and they want to share). After earning a degree in Photo Production Technology from Southern Illinois University in 1987, Jim discovered his love for the darkroom and started custom printing images for high-end studios. Then, with the introduction of Adobe® Photoshop® in the early '90s, Pierce became intrigued by the possibilities and was quickly hooked...on version 1.4.

"I like to tell people I've been using Photoshop since before it was a verb!" Jim laughs.

In fact, his love of Photoshop led to his specialty in creating composite images. "I'm a frustrated artist who can't draw a stick figure to save his life," explains Jim. "But by using photos I shoot for the purpose, I can create the artwork that I could only see in myself before. Being a digital artist has given me a chance to put what I have in my head onto a medium that others can see."

Jim is also on a mission to earn all the PPA degrees and, as part of this goal, has started entering his composites in the International Photographic Competition. However, for him, the real joy in composite photography comes from revealing the finished piece to a model he's worked with and seeing stunned silence.

"Words cannot describe artwork. That's why it's an image, not a poem," Jim adds. "If I have been able to transcend words for my model, then I feel I've truly captured their essence."

Teaching You How to Do the Same
"Technology gave me the opportunity to create, and I feel you should always share opportunity with others," says Jim. So he decided to teach other photographers the skills that have helped him create his dreams via composite photography! During his "Photoshop Fantasy" Super Monday class (held in Crystal Lake, IL on Oct. 15), he'll help you learn how to shoot elements of a composite with the final design in mind, use blending modes and masking, understand how light needs to be controlled, and use consistency to give the image an added sense of realism.

"I'm hoping to get the creative juices going, to challenge people to step outside their comfort zone and let their imagination run free," he explains. "How would an image look with a fog rolling in, or wind-blown hair perfectly outlining a face? Does billowing fabric while standing on a cliff overlooking a sunset on the ocean make for a perfect romantic shot?"

If you're interested in learning how to create unique composite shots that can add to your business and expand your creativity, this class may be your chance. Or, check out other Super Monday classes in other locations to find the one that fits you best!

Read more about Jim Pierce here.

Super Monday is an educational program sponsored by PPA every spring and fall. These daylong, interactive workshops are conducted in locations around the country, allowing PPA members to earn merits for sharing their craft and enabling all photographers to learn new skills and develop professional networking contacts.

ALL IMAGES © JIM PIERCE

Do you plan for the season...any season? Lori Nordstrom, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI, does with great results, and she's going to share her strategies for cashing in on the holiday seasons (and planning for the year) via tomorrow's PPA webinar: "Cash In This Christmas" (July 24, 2:00pm Eastern).

Plan on learning both top-level ideas and specific how-to's as she shares details about her Thanksgiving promotion (called "I'm Thankful") and other holiday promos. She'll also discuss how to create different seasonal products and promotions that bring in both high-end clients AND the clients you usually wouldn't reach.

The goal is extra income without sacrificing your precious family time. So tune in and learn how to make the holidays merry for you as well as your clients!

You know what networking is, right? Of course you do. But the majority of people don't quite understand how it works, says Lara White, founder of PhotoMint, an online resource for photography business owners. "Networking is merely the way to meet potential partners," she explains. "In order to get results, you need to follow up."

Lara's going to share how to get those results in her upcoming PPA webinar, "Book More Weddings: Building Vendor Relationships to Drive Your Business" (July 17, 2:00pm Eastern). Luckily for us, she's sharing a few tips right now!

• Make the call. "Once I actually began taking action--following up with people I met--things started building slowly," says Lara about her experience in running a successful photography business (Geoff White Photography) with her husband. "Over time, I began to develop relationships with vendors that led to marketing partnerships and many referrals for my business."
• Build referral relationships all over town (with wedding vendors, for example). Say the bride asks her florist for photographer referrals and is provided a list that includes your name. Next, she asks her venue for recommendations and is shown your sample album as the facility coordinator says you work there frequently and clients love you. Finally, she asks her makeup artist if she has heard of your studio, and she gushes about how awesome you are.  The referrals build on each other, making you look better than ever to the prospect.
• Work on several relationships at once. Some of your relationships will flourish right away while others may take months or years to build.
• Be patient & maintain contact. Lara was afraid that her very first networking event for the wedding industry was a total waste: "I'd only met one person, spent three hours out of the office and paid for the luncheon. But that single meeting led to one of the big breaks in my career." She built a business relationship with that contact, and when he booked a celebrity wedding, he referred Lara and her husband. "That particular wedding got so much press and industry recognition, it was a turning point in our career," she adds.  Plus, the couple purchased two multiple-volume album sets and four parent albums!
• Don't dismiss new vendors. It's often easier to connect with those who are new to the events industry (especially if you're just getting started in photography yourself!) because they will likely have more time available to meet new people, will need images for marketing, and will be eager to get their businesses off the ground as well.

Done right, networking can give you a flood of referrals and bookings. Want to get those kinds of results? Start with Lara's webinar on July 17!

There's no better job than one that allows you to join two of your passions together. That's why Gregg Martin, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, loves his sports photography time. "This is my element," he adds. "If I didn't have a house payment, I would do this every day for free!" And he's darn good at it too. In fact, he's been shooting on the sidelines for the South Carolina Gamecocks for 23 years!

All that experience means Gregg has figured out a number of ways to get the best shots for his clients...and he's ready to share them with you! Catch his tips via his PPA online class next week: "Fundamentals of Sports Action Photography" (June 19, 2:00pm Eastern).

Why can't you miss it? Gregg will be sharing more than just the equipment and clothes you need. He'll be sharing behind-the-scenes strategies for getting the money shots, like the one-second fist pump of celebration after a play is made.

"Sometimes it takes bending the rules a bit--not putting yourself in a dangerous position, just being open for the opportunities," he explains. "When players warm up pre-game, they often get in a big huddle and pump each other up. I'll run up behind them and hold a camera way up to get a bird's eye view image. I've never been told I couldn't do it, but I've also never been told I could!"

Gregg adds that you have to be ready to take the shots when they come. In the stadium where he often photographs, photographers cannot stand in the end zone, but they can walk across it to get to the other side. "If you're walking across the end zone, always have your camera at the ready," he says. "If a play happens as you walk by, you could capture it and have an end zone image no one else has."

Are sports and photography two of your passions? Do you want to break into the sports photography field or make your images better? Then don't miss Gregg's PPA online class next week!

IMAGE © GREGG MARTIN

The call for instructors is now open for Super Monday Photo Workshops to be held on or around Monday, October 15, 2012. July 6 is the deadline to volunteer. We hope you will consider spending a day sharing your knowledge and experience by teaching a Super Monday class. Besides the experience and new networks you'll gain from speaking, you will earn two speaking merits toward a PPA degree.

If you would like additional information, read our Super Monday instructor FAQs.

If you're ready to sign up to be a Super Monday instructor now, click here.

If you're new to the photography business or moving from part- to full-time, PPA's Business Basics Workshop is a great start on the right path. Over two days, you'll learn the fundamentals of running a successful photography business from mentors who run profitable photography businesses themselves.

If you're ready to take the next step in making your business succeed, consider registering for the next Business Basics Workshop with Ann Monteith, M.Photog.Cr. Hon.M.Photog., CPP, ABI, API, A-ASP. It might be the perfect opportunity for you, especially as Ann is an industry leader who has helped hundreds of photographers beat the business blues! The workshop is being held in Atlanta at PPA headquarters on June 9-10, but you'd better hurry - only 2 spaces remain for this workshop!

View other upcoming Business Basics Workshops.

Already have a business established? Consider learning how to improve it with the Business Breakthroughs Workshop.

As you continue to get ready for Imaging USA in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center on January 20 - 22, 2013, here are some great dining recommendations around the city from the Atlanta Convention and Visitor's Bureau:

The competitive spirit of Atlanta's professional chefs has helped put the city on the dining map, with eight former Top Chef and two Iron Chef contestants contributing to some of Atlanta's best eateries. Fifteen new restaurants opened in the downtown area alone in 2011, joining more than 3,000 restaurant choices in metro Atlanta for residents and visitors.

But Atlanta's dining story isn't just one of sheer numbers. Eateries opening in Atlanta cater to the neighborhood, providing a warm welcome and inviting ambiance to invoke the feeling of dining at a friend's house, rather than a restaurant. The city's chefs are passionate about the eating local movement, sourcing meats and produce from local farms.

Atlanta's chefs incorporate local ingredients to serve up the best in New South cuisine with creative twists on grandma's traditional Southern meals. Atlanta's number one rated Zagat restaurant, Bacchanalia, boasts contemporary American cuisine with a seasonal menu featuring light dishes with strong flavors cooked by Chefs/Owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison. Chef Steven Satterfield puts his own spin on the region's meat-and-three meals, creating a menu based on the week's harvest at Miller Union - named one of the "10 Best New Restaurants in the Country" by Bon Appétit in 2010. Atlanta native Linton Hopkins brings regional southern flavor to Holeman and Finch Public House in Buckhead leveraging his relationships with local farmers when putting together menus for the restaurant.

In a city known for southern hospitality, restaurants and breweries provide welcoming settings for neighbors to gather for good food and drink, conversation and fun. At Ormsby's in Westside Provisions, patrons enjoy the craft beer selection, classic cocktails, fresh pub menu and a wide range of traditional games including: backgammon, bocce, darts, pool, and shuffleboard. SweetWater Brewing Company opens its doors and taps to the public three days a week with brewery tours and tastings. Named one of the "Top 50 Breweries in the Country" by the Brewers Association, the brewery offers the perfect setting for mixing and mingling.

The Buford Highway corridor is the best kept locals-only dining secret. Just one mile from downtown yields an assortment of authentic international cuisine and super-fresh seafood. Flavors of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Latin America occupy restaurants and shopping centers along this highway. Chef Liu has patrons salivating for his juicy soup dumplings and thick egg noodles and Sushi House Hayakawa serves up fresh, buttery sea scallops along with platters of fresh sashimi.

Guests to the South often ask where to go for the best traditional down-home Southern cuisine. Established favorites among tourists and locals include institutions like Mary Mac's Tea Room, serving "classic Southern food in the heart of Atlanta" since 1945; and Pitty Pat's Porch, a downtown landmark named after Aunt Pittypat Hamilton from "Gone with the Wind." For upscale Southern fare, venture to Paschal's and try the Paschal brothers' secret fried chicken recipe. The Varsity, the world's largest drive-in, offering "naked dogs walking," will forever remain an Atlanta staple.

These are just some of the ingredients that make Atlanta an exciting dining destination. Explore the city's restaurants during Imaging USA and discover what satisfies you in Atlanta!

Read more about Imaging USA.

Read more about Atlanta.

Working hard, but have little to show for it? PPA's Studio Management Services (SMS) business workshops have helped hundreds of studios, just like yours, gain control of their businesses and become financially stronger and more profitable. And one is coming to Atlanta--with a little something extra--March 12-14!

Our Business Breakthroughs Workshop can help you keep more money and take control. It's all in learning to manage your finances, price right, attract new clients and increase sales average per session to reach the "elusive" next level. The most amazing thing?  This workshop includes a private consultation with an SMS mentor and PPA accountant...meaning you'll walk away with actionable business and marketing goals AND a custom financial plan.

But this Atlanta class also features a special segment you won't get at any other Business Breakthroughs Workshop. Jen Basford of 3 Girls Photography is joining us for a day, meaning you'll be able to glean extra tips on senior sales and marketing specifics!

So, if you specialize in senior portraits (or want to) and have been thinking about gaining control of your studio with a Business Breakthroughs Workshop, this is the class you can't miss. All class sizes are limited, so register now before your spot is gone!

PPA is excited to let you know that the 2012 PPA Western District Photographic Competition judging is coming up (hosted by Professional Photographers of California). And you know what that means...it's time to get your images ready! You can submit your entries online: February 2 - 23, 2012 (online entry closes at 5:00pm EST).

This district competition is a great opportunity for photographers like you to learn and grow since your work is judged by international jurors. Get your images ready and go to www.ppa.com/competitions/western.php to find the forms, rules and entry information for the competition.

Remember that you can now enter either prints or digital files, and image formats are no longer restricted to 16 x 20. Plus, images receiving a score of 80 or above in district competitions (like the one coming up in your area) will automatically earn an exhibition merit when submitted to the 2012 PPA International Photographic Competition. That means you'll be one step (one merit) closer to PPA's Master of Photography degree.

Start or continue your journey today to earn a degree recognized throughout the world. This PPA District Photographic Competition is the first step--get your images ready to submit!

See the full list of PPA District Competition dates and details online.

How do you build great client loyalty? "The most important thing is to honestly and whole-heartedly care," advises Lisa Crayford, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI. "Your clients will know if you do."

Of course, it helps to have a few strategies up your sleeve to go with that caring! So, tune in December 13 to learn some of the tactics that have helped Lisa build up to 1,000 sessions annually (with many, many returning clients)--via her PPA online class, "The Building Blocks of Client Relationships."

It all starts with prospecting for new clients. For example, one thing Lisa has done since Day One of her business is to be at her four local county fairs (all within a half-hour from her studio). She has fair attendees fill out a survey to win a session and 16x20 portrait. On the survey, they fill in their names, addresses, emails and phone number.

But prospecting can be kind of tricky, as Lisa says. "You want to get good, paying clients in your door, not the bottom feeders if you know what I mean!" That's why--to bring the best prospects to the top--she also has those who fill out her survey indicate their level of interest in her studio (1-5, with 5 being the most interested). She even offers them a choice of winning the portrait or the cash equivalent--"that rules out a lot of people," she explains.

Ready for more detailed tips, advice and techniques on prospecting and what really works to build those client relationships (like charity, sales incentives and customer service)? Join Lisa online December 13 and start building!