According to the latest PPA member survey, many members would like more explanation about the Merit & Degree program and what is involved with it. Inquiring minds want to know, so take a look at the following articles that dip into the inner workings:
Recently in PPA Member Benefits Category
Helping photographers like you learn to
profit from your passion is the goal of the Sandy Puć Family Tour 2010.
This tour was received with rave reviews in 52 cities throughout the
United States, and now it is coming to four locations in Canada!
Join Sandy and her team to fall in love with
photography all over again, see your career in a new light and set your
family market on fire. With equipment reviews, lighting demos and tips
on posing, choosing backgrounds, creating an anxiety-free family
session and more, you'll see how to market your studio as the most
family-friendly in the community.
The Canadian tour debuts August 27th in Vancouver. Sign up fast so you can make it to one of these Sandy Puć Family Tour 2010 stops:
- Vancouver, BC August 27, 2010
- Calgary, AB August 29, 2010
- Edmonton, AB August 30, 2010
- Toronto, ON September 1, 2010
PPA Members Save!
This five-hour
program (including a mini trade show!) is only $79. PPA members save an additional $20--click here for your discount code.
For more information, venue locations and full program description, visit: sandypuctours.com.
Photographer Personality
Match Makes Perfect
When Paula Boatright and Brian Lipka decided to host their wedding hundreds of miles south of their Northern Virginia home, the thought occurred that planning a remote wedding might have its challenges. "We knew the logistics would be harder to control," says Paula, and this daughter of a retired professional photographer knew that one of the most important things she wanted to address first was finding the perfect photographer for their big day.
Paula's story is one of the bridal testimonials found on the new consumer-focused "See the Difference" web page promoting the value of professional photography. After you're finished reading her story, please let us know if you have brides who would like to provide testimonials, or if you've re-photographed a bride who initially had a bad experience because she didn't hire a pro the first time. We'd like to feature those brides' stories, too! The campaign, which is designed to direct brides to the PPA member-exclusive Find-A-Photographer database, features photography, videos and articles to help brides educate themselves on the value of working with a professional photographer. Learn more about this campaign here.
Sample Facebook & Google Ads
PPA members asked for it, and we're doing it! PPA is launching a consumer-focused campaign called "See the Difference," targeted to wedding couples, seniors and families to reinforce the value of professional photography. Online advertising and social media will drive prospects to specialized landing pages. The wedding-focused landing page can be viewed at www.ppa.com/weddingphotographer. (Landing pages featuring senior photography and family/children portraiture will follow over the summer.)
These special landing pages will highlight articles, image galleries, videos, tutorials and search capabilities linked to our exclusive PPA Find-a-Photographer database. We are also researching the use of vertical websites and targeted e-mail marketing. Of course, we'll be pushing the campaign through PPA social media channels, and we hope that PPA members will help us get the word out through blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts.
What can you do? (Or don't do?)
Do Update Your Find-A-Photographer Profile
As we're directing consumers to Find-a-Photographer, make sure your profile is up to date with your logo, headshot and your most stunning sample images! (Please note: Aspiring PPA members are not listed in the Find-a-Photographer database.)
Here's an idea of the traffic we're hoping to drive to Find-a-Photographer: During our test campaign in June (10 days long), we generated 1,615 clicks and 2,499,474 impressions! Over 200 of those visitors conducted searches on the Find-a-Photographer database and about 20% were reading the articles about selecting a professional.
Don't Click It!
You may see our ads on Google, Facebook and other online sites. Please don't click on the ads (we know it's tempting, but...), as we will incur costs for those clicks and it will make our tracking data inaccurate. (Ad copy is based on high-performing keywords.)
Continue reading PPA Launches "See the Difference" Campaign.
PhotoVision is doubling up on the educational segments contained on the next issue with 10 segments and 9 photographers being featured.
As a sponsor, PPA is pleased to offer our members PhotoVision 2010 at the special price of $39 - a $110 savings off the full price of $149. Receive 14 hours of educational content on 6 DVDs, one mailed every other month for one low price. PPA members can sign in here for their discount code.
If you would like to preview 10 minutes of actual content from PhotoVision Issue 81, go to www.photovisionvideo.com/nextissue/
Adobe is allowing two uses of PPA's 15% association discount through the end of August so PPA members can save on both Adobe Creative Suite® 5 and Lightroom® 3. Even if you have used your association discount in the past 90 days, you can receive a second discount code and use it to purchase a new copy or upgrade of Lightroom 3. To use your association discount, login to the Using Member Benefits page on ppa.com.
The Creative Experience Photo Seminar is an exciting two-part seminar focused on teaching you the most important aspects of the photographic process: creative vision. Internationally renowned photographer Matthew Jordan Smith will show you how to channel your creativity and improve your technical skill in this one of a kind seminar. Learn how-to secrets from an established leader in the photographic industry with over twenty years of experience creating iconic images.
Dates and Locations
- June: Los Angeles (June 28-29)
- July: Akron, Ohio (July 19-20)
- August: Minn, MN (August 16-17)
- September: Washington, DC (September 20-21)
- October: Atlanta, GA (October 18-19)
- November: Dallas, TX (November 8-9)
| Creative Experience Evening Lecture Cost $95.00* 7:00pm. -9:00pm Door Prizes Include: Sony Camera, X-rite Color Checker Passports |
Creative Experience Intensive Course Cost: $995.00* Part 1: Monday Evening Lecture: 7:00pm.-9:00pm - VIP seating Part 2: Creative Experience Intensive Course Tuesday Intensive Class: 8:30a.m.-6:00pm. Discussion Dinner with Matthew Jordan Smith 7:00pm-9:00pm |
*PPA Members receive a 20% discount--go to www.ppa.com/education-events/on-tour-codes.php for your discount code. |
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The weather's warmer and your outdoor sessions are probably increasing. But are you as prepared as you think? When it comes to shooting on location at different public places, you might be fined if you don't have a permit. That's why PPA's Member Value and Experience department is sharing the webinar "Do You Have a Permit for That?: Photographing on Public Lands" (May 26th at 4pm Eastern), which offers information on when and how to get one.
Maria Matthews, PPA's Copyright and Government Affairs Manager, often hears about the problems photographers have with permits. "Most of what we hear from members relates to federal park land," she explains. "In these cases, it's a photographer and their clients being caught by a park ranger or other park official while in the middle of the shoot. Rangers will typically ask the photographer to produce a permit. If you aren't able to do so, they may fine you. And in the case of national park land, you're talking about a federal fine."
Continue reading Photographing on Public Lands .
If you are looking to expand your client base and get some free marketing along the way, look no further than Accuphoto. When it launches on May 31, 2010, this unique service will provide verified professional images to members of the online dating community and social networking sites at a fixed price. This is an exclusive PPA member benefit--only PPA members can become Accuphoto Photographers.Accuphoto was started by Brenda Kirkland, a PPA member who had tried out the online dating scene and was disappointed by the abundance of poor quality (or inaccurate) profile pictures that people were using. First impressions make a huge impact, especially on an online dating site, so Brenda decided to do something about it.
"As a professional photographer and PPA member myself, I thought of what a large network of photographers we have within PPA, and how we can make a difference and help these singles create that 'best first impression,'"explains Kirkland.
Beginning on May 31st, Accuphoto will begin advertising with eHarmony, Facebook and other media outlets around the U.S. Individuals who are interested in having a professional profile picture can contact Accuphoto and be connected with PPA members (who are Accuphoto Photographers) in their area. The individual will select their PPA photographer, have their images taken and choose the images they would like to use on their online profile.
It's completely free for PPA members to join and become Accuphoto Photographers. And since Accuphoto markets to millions of online daters (and your potential future clients!), you get your studio name out there at no cost to you. For each client you book through Accuphoto, you will earn $65. And if you upsell to the client, you get to keep 100 percent of the profits.
"Accuphoto is based on a dual benefit--helping singles make successful matches and helping photographers," says Kirkland. After all, you are building relationships with people who may be on the verge of a new commitment, possibly even marriage and the start of a family.
Become one of the 1,300 PPA members who have already signed up to become an Accuphoto Photographer. To register or get more information about Accuphoto, visit www.accuphoto.com (and make sure to have your PPA Member ID# -- you'll need that to sign up).
As a professional photographer, you can get a complete online posting, print, and product solution from Collages.net. While PPA members already receive discounts on their services, Collages.net is now offering you additional savings for a limited time.
Until July 31, 2010, PPA members who sign up with Collages.net will receive a complementary Collages.net account, which also includes four months of online posting for free (a $107 value)! This account gives you access to Collages.net's complete line of professional-grade prints and products - albums, custom album design, books, cards, and gallery wraps.
To take advantage of this extreme deal, login to www.ppa.com/benefits/extreme-deals.php.
Already a Collages.net customer? Don't worry...there is a deal for you, too! If you sign up for Collages.net's annual subscription plan, you will save $100 off the annual fee--and that's not all. You will also receive a $250 product credit. You will need to call Collages.net to take advantage of this great deal. Click here to see all of the features you receive with Collages.net's premier online posting service.
Want more information? Call 877-638-7468, e-mail customerservice@collages.net or chat with Collages.net at www.collages.net/chat.
