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.

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) proudly ushers in the new council for 2009 - 2012. As a non-profit, member-driven association, PPA's membership ultimately governs the association through its representatives in the PPA Council.

Councilors are professional photographers who volunteer their time and service to guide and act as the voice for their state's PPA members. Duties include discussing and voting on changes to the Bylaws and Adopted Procedures and the leadership of the association (via the election of the board of directors and the Nominating Committee). They also play a crucial role in sharing the PPA message to existing, new and prospective PPA members.

Currently, three positions remain open due to ties for the final Councilor position in three states: California, Michigan and Pennsylvania. These states' eligible PPA members will receive a paper ballot for the run-off election. PPA will be notifying these states and their members of the timeframe for the paper ballots and the run-off election's outcome.

To see the full list of PPA Councilors, please view the online Councilor Directory. PPA welcomes our new Councilors, and we thank them for their service!

A Fully Packaged, On-Demand Digital Photo Book for Professional Photographers from www.fstopbooks.com.

f•stop books™ (www.fstopbooks.com), a new on-demand product offering, has announced the launch of its stylish, high quality digital photo books and presentation packaging which together enable professional photographers to offer their clients products that fully express their big moments in life with elegance and personality - at affordable prices. Visit www.fstopbooks.com for more information.

Now more than ever, professional photographers need affordable and innovative ways to promote their businesses and reach new customers. One of the most sought-after promotional methods for portrait and wedding photographers is mall advertising, yet it is not always easy to secure space at a reasonable rate. Today, Professional Photographers of America (PPA), in conjunction with Marathon Press and EYE, announced a new national advertising program that makes mall advertising easy and affordable for photographers.

Through an exclusive arrangement with EYE, one of the nation's leading providers of mall display advertising, PPA has secured preferred advertising rates in over 250 malls for member photographers. These preferred rates provide PPA members discounts of up to 20% off the standard 4-week advertising rate.

What happens to image licenses when those images are posted to a third-party site?

Facebook found itself in hot water in early February after stating it would continue to hold a usage license on artistic works posted to its pages after the owner of those works deleted them from the site or closed his account. A public outcry elicited a quick about-face from the company. The following day, Facebook issued a statement clearly articulating that its license to use posted images expires when users delete them from the site or close their account.

Where does Brides Magazine tell its readers to go when looking for a photographer? Why PPA of course! See #66 on their list.

Many Americans, including professional photographers, most of whom are self-employed, are feeling the effects of current economic tough times. And many photographers fear that if they don't get some relief fast, their businesses will suffer irreparable damage.

Throughout its nearly 130-year history, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has provided business-critical resources to professional photographers. Today PPA, together with its long-standing Industry Advisory Committee, announced a renewed commitment to giving all photographers the help they need to combat economic challenges during the next several years. New programs and resources will be rolled out regularly, giving photographers tools and information to make a real difference in the bottom line of their businesses.

Many of the ideas for helping photographers navigate difficult times come from PPA's Industry Advisory Committee, which has met at least twice a year for decades, collaborating with PPA on ways it can help make photographers successful. In fact, the committee met again this weekend, praising PPA for its regular work on photographers' behalf in the areas of health care reform and copyright protection.

"It's wonderful what PPA is doing to lobby on Capitol Hill to secure health care benefits for photographers," adds Kevin Casey, CEO of Collages.net and member of PPA's Industry Advisory Committee. "This is an important issue that affects the daily life of photographers, and it's important that we are there trying to solve serious issues, rather than just talking about them."

"Our Industry Advisory Committee has been such an important part of our advocacy efforts. They care about photographers and are serious partners in helping us get through these difficult times. We have serious situations, and that means expending serious resources, including substantial financial resources, to make a difference," explains David Trust, PPA's CEO. "Some groups are out there talking, but this takes a lot more than talk - it requires real action, which PPA is already taking."

Photographers are urged to take advantage of the programs and resources available now,  only through PPA, the world's largest non-profit association for professional photographers:

• PPA's Indemnification Trust:  protection when things go wrong on assignment.
• Studio Management Services:  providing business education and financial guidance.
• PPA's Financial Benchmark Survey:  providing the data that defines a successful business.
• Full-time Copyright & Government Affairs Staff: fighting for photographers on copyright and small business issues.
• And more

Professional Photographers of America (PPA), a worldwide non-profit association, exists to assist its 22,000 members and the photographic industry in achieving their professional, artistic and fraternal goals; to promote public awareness of the profession; and to advance the making of images in all of its disciplines as an art, a science, and a visual recorder of history. For more information, visit www.ppa.com.

Professional Photographers of America today announced the resignation of long-time Director of Membership, J. Alexander (Al) Hopper, effective December 31, 2008. Hopper says he made the decision to leave PPA after fourteen years in order to pursue personal goals.

"I've been fortunate to work at PPA with superior volunteer leaders and the world's finest association staff. It has been a real privilege, and I will always cherish the friendships I have made," says Hopper. "I now need to pay attention to some personal obligations and take advantage of some new opportunities."

The winners of the 2008 Professional Photographer Cover Photo Contest have been announced.

First prize was awarded to Heather Smith of Smith Photo Design in Cumming, Ga. Smith's image will be featured on the cover of the November issue, and in a story inside the issue.

"The image is pure simplicity. And simplicity works on a cover," said contest guest judge Helen Yancy, M.Photog.M.Artist.MEI.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP, API, F-ASP.

The contest drew more than 50,000 entries from photographers around the world. Those who placed or received honorable mention did so against high odds.

The Second Place award went to Heather Leed; Third Place: Marie Labbancz; Fourth Place: Jennifer Fields, and Fifth Place: Laura Wootan.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to Ritz Blanco Rivera, Carrie Sandoval, Rebecca Worple, Kristen Beinke, Andrew Nock, Matt Nicolosi, Dena Strban, David Sacks, Paul Van Hoy II, Carla Nelms, Lindsay Docherty, Bryan Cox, Julie Klaasmeyer, Tania Quintanilla, Desiree Elting, Laura Siebert, Michelle Moore and Ross Bothwell.

The image entries created by this year's winners and honorable mentions can be viewed at this online gallery on our Web site: www.ppmag.com/cover-contest/winners.php. Also, look for the contest article featured in the November issue of Professional Photographer.

The submission period for the 2009 Professional Photographer Cover Contest will open March 1, 2009 and close March 31. For details about next year's competition, please visit www.ppmag.com in 2009.

To view the 2008 winners' gallery online, go to www.ppmag.com/cover-contest/winners.php.