PPA Today

Where Could Your Image Go?

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:12:18 +0000

You never know what one photograph will lead to. Take PPA member Steve Schindler's experience as an example! On New Year's Night 2009, Steve (of Schindler Photography in Lake Charles, LA) noticed kids playing with sparklers--writing their names in the air and so on. He put his camera on a tripod to capture some long exposures of it. Later, he posted one of the pictures on National Geographic's "My Shot" website. In May 2011, he received an email asking to use the picture in the book, "Visions of Earth" and in October 2011 the book was released! Congratulations, Steve! (Image ©Steve Schindler, Schindler Photography)

After the Camera, Before the Print

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:55:22 +0000

Do you sing the praises of Adobe Photoshop software? Thom Rouse does, and he's going to share with you how it's opened up a whole new world of creativity for him via his upcoming webinar: "After the Camera, Before the Print" (May 22, 2:00pm Eastern).

"I consider Photoshop to be a fine art tool rather than just a production tool," Thom says. "But I'm not seeing it taught that way very often. That's why I wanted to share my methods and thoughts with other photographers!"

Photoshop has, in essence, become a new medium for him. He always starts with a photographic image and remains true to his photographic background...but he doesn't stop there. With Photoshop techniques and tool, he can realize inspiration not only from other photographers, but also from painters and illustrators. He doesn't just edit, enhance or correct his photographs; he now has a hands-on palette to manipulate his photographs like on a canvas.

"You have to define yourself as a photographer and embrace the tools that come along if you want to and if they work for you," he adds. "Your focus and concentration should be on the finished result." And it just so happens that using Photoshop helps him reach the artistic result he desires.

Don't forget:
Join him May 22nd for a live demonstration of the techniques he uses and a discussion on other issues you may face as you evolve in your use of such tools. You might discover a new way that Photoshop tools can make your creativity soar!

Why Get Certified?

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:47:09 +0000

You're never done learning. Probably every single pro photographer would agree with that statement. Pushing yourself to polish your technical knowledge and artistic skills keeps your art fresh and alive. That's a big benefit of pursuing certification. Heather McKay, CPP and owner of McKay's Photography in Rochester, NY agrees: "Going through the process to become a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) was probably the best thing I've done for myself in years! My work has improved drastically, even though I was already a seasoned pro."

Plus, the CPP program can help assure clients of your competency--certification is a credential the public can easily understand. After all, many industries have certification programs for their professionals.

Add it all together, and you may be wondering, "Why AREN'T I certified?" But we saved the best news for last: It's easy to get started. Just go to CertifiedPhotographer.com to declare your candidacy.

Even better? There's a Certification Prep Class in Atlanta (July 9-11) that will help you study for the exam and then take it! Many past attendees have praised these prep classes with helping them pass the rigorous exam, so it might be a smart action to consider.

So, are you ready to get certified?

Share the Value of Professional Photography with "See the Difference"

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:27:13 +0000

With the flood of amateur photographers in the market, it's increasingly important that consumers learn the difference a professional photographer can make. Often, it's on the pro to provide such education--and one of PPA's benefits can help! Our consumer-focused campaign, called "See the Difference," is targeted toward wedding couples, seniors and families to help you reinforce the value of pro photography.

PPA has been spreading this message on a broad front, via online advertising and social media. From the ads, potential clients are directed to specialized landing pages with articles, videos and quotes about the importance of pro photography. There, they are provided links to PPA's Find-a-Photographer database, where they can search for a PPA member in their area.

Tools You Can Use
Want to spread the message yourself? PPA provides the same marketing tools to members for use on their websites, in their studios and in their sales materials. For example, you can use the provided side-by-side image comparisons to help potential clients see the difference in quality (amateur vs. pro) right off the bat. (You could use them in brochures, online, etc.) The key here is showing some common mistakes that an amateur photographer might make...as opposed to the techniques you've learned and skills you've acquired to overcome lighting and posing challenges.

You also have access to Facebook tabs, sample brochures and online videos about the importance of pro photography. These videos, for instance, strike an emotional chord in potential clients, and they can be easily shared. You could post them on Facebook, your blog or your website as an example of why you do what you do. Some PPA members even play the videos in their studios. It's one more way to express the value of your art in terms a consumer can understand.

How It Can Work
PPA member Marla Austin of Marla Austin Photography, LLC, says that marketing this difference is integral to the success of her business. "I plan to show the See the Difference family portrait video to prospective clients, and I will post it to several social media channels for additional exposure," she adds. Marla also finds the brochures especially useful--great takeaway material to reinforce the importance of selecting a pro photographer like her.

That kind of awareness is critical to reinforce. As mentioned earlier, many consumers don't fully recognize the importance of selecting a pro photographer for life's most important moments--not until it's too late--but with PPA's help and yours, awareness can multiply.

Take it from one wedding client who DID see the value of pro work--and shared her thoughts on one of the See the Difference landing pages. Anna Marie Huffman, client of Esquire Photography, says: "You can budget aspects of your wedding and still do phenomenal things, but don't cut the budget on professional photography. No one's going to say they had a bad time because the linens were cotton not silk, but you WILL look back at your photos."

Think of this education as protecting your clients from compromising their memories, and help them to "See the Difference"! For more information and to download materials, PPA members can click here.

Increasing Senior Package Sales

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:11:29 +0000

Packages are a popular and oft-lucrative sales tool at professional portrait studios. To make them really worthwhile, the trick is offering package options your clients want without limiting your sales potential. We talked to several studios to see how they make packages work for them--specifically for their senior portrait clients.

Good-Better-Best Options
Beth Forester, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, owner of Forester Photography in Madison, WV, designs her packages so her clients don't have to make hard decisions. At each price point, the package includes all the items from the lower-priced packages, plus new products. Nothing drops out, so they don't have to balance one package with some desirable items against another with other must-haves. For example, Forester's basic package includes all the client's proof prints. The next level adds a DVD slideshow with an iTunes podcast available as a free download. The next level comes with a storybook album. (Image ©Beth Forester)

"Seniors like collages, books and other image collections that are a representation of their personality," she says. "So we add some of those options to each package level to encourage upgrading. In addition, every package has upgradeable options. We offer frames, designer matting, graphic design elements and other add-ons. Everything has a good-better-best option, so we don't limit ourselves at any package level."

Read the full article here.

Making Both Seniors & Parents Happy

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:31:46 +0000

It's a question as old as senior portrait photography--maybe as old as parenting teenagers: How do you make both teens and parents happy? For studios specializing in senior portraits, it's a question that must be reconsidered continually as photographers walk the fine line of being edgy enough to attract seniors and respectable enough to appeal to parents.

Get Them Involved
David Mullenix, owner of Through a Lens Photography in Illinois, aims to please parents and seniors by drawing both into the experience of the session. While he photographs the senior, Mullenix asks mom or dad to lend a hand in a variety of ways, including running a video camera, using a leaf blower to blow the teen's hair, or holding a reflector. (Image ©David Mullenix)

"I don't hustle the mom off to the mom room," he says. "I want her to feel like part of the experience. And it works. Later, in the sales room, the moms often tell us they had as much fun as their seniors. They also let us know it was one of the best memories they have of their child's senior year. That's good, because if they like the experience, they will tell others about it."

Members, read the full article here.

Free Event from FedEx and American Red Cross Helps Prepare Your Business for Disaster

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:54:30 +0000

Is your small business prepared for a disaster? Many small businesses put off this important preparation because of concerns about lack of resources or expertise. But FedEx is here to help. FedEx has teamed up with the American Red Cross to host a live virtual round table on May 22 to teach you how to keep your business in business when disaster strikes.

On May 22 at 11:30 a.m. CT, log on to Facebook.com/FedEx and click the virtual roundtable tab towards the top of the page. From there, you will be able to access the FedEx Virtual Roundtable for Small Businesses and interact with experts from FedEx, the American Red Cross and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. Ask your questions through the designated Facebook tab or by following #FedExARC on Twitter.

This free 30-minute discussion will be broadcast live from Joplin on the one-year anniversary of the worst tornado in the U.S. in 75 years. In addition to streaming over the FedEx Facebook page, the broadcast will be available on UStream. If you can't attend the live broadcast, catch the rebroadcast at 6 p.m. CT. An expert will be available to answer your questions. At either time, you'll be able to watch, listen, ask questions and learn - and download free resources.

Experts say one dollar invested in disaster preparedness may save seven dollars in recovery. That's a 700% return on investment! What you will learn during this 30-minute roundtable may also save you hours, even days, if you are hit by an ice storm, power outage, fire, tornado, hurricane or other disaster. It may even save your business.

Atlanta Attractions for Imaging USA Attendees

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:25:25 +0000

As you prepare for Imaging USA 2013 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on January 20-22, 2013, consider these great activities around the city for your downtime during the convention. All of these attractions are unique to Atlanta and come highly recommended by the Atlanta Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Plus, there are probably some great photo opportunities at each!

See the largest fish through the largest window in the largest aquarium in the world.
Head to the Georgia Aquarium, where you can see tens of thousands of animals in more than 8 million gallons of water. The world's largest aquarium houses whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea and only whale sharks in an aquarium in North America. Visitors can even get up close and personal with these gentle giants in Georgia Aquarium's swim and dive program. In April 2011, the Aquarium opened AT&T Dolphin Tales, a state-of-the-art dolphin exhibit including dolphin encounters, viewing windows and a dolphin show. www.georgiaaquarium.org

Stroll through the collections of art from around the world without leaving Atlanta.
The High Museum of Art, the premier art museum in the South, is in the midst of a multi-year partnership with The Museum of Modern Art. Through 2013, the partnership will bring many international exhibitions to Atlanta and past exhibitions have included masterpieces by Claude Monet and Leonardo de Vinci. www.high.org

Try a "Coke and a smile."
Born and raised in Atlanta, Coca-Cola is synonymous with the city. Visit the World of Coca-Cola to learn the story of the famous soft drink, now celebrating its 125th year. Go back to the early years of Coke's creation in Atlanta and follow the global brand through the decades. After you've refreshed yourself with more than 60 products from around the world, step out of the museum's front door and into the hub of the tourism district. www.worldofcoca-cola.com

Find out why the greatest American novel was written in "The Dump."
Atlanta is home to the Margaret Mitchell House, featuring the furnished apartment nicknamed "The Dump" by Mitchell and where she wrote "Gone with the Wind." 2011 marks the 75th anniversary of the book as one of the best-selling novels in the world, second only to the Bible. www.margaretmitchellhouse.com

Race the gold shoes for a gold medal.
As host of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta continues to commemorate the Olympic legacy. Centennial Olympic Park was the world's gathering place during the Games and includes the Fountain of Rings, the world's largest fountain utilizing the Olympic Symbol of five interconnecting rings. In 2006, the Atlanta History Center opened a $10 million wing celebrating the Centennial Olympic Games that includes interactive exhibits allowing visitors to compete against Olympic legends such as Michael Johnson and his gold track shoes. www.centennialpark.com

Be a weatherman and news anchor, all in the same day.
Ride the world's longest freestanding escalator to go behind-the-scenes of the first global news network at the Inside CNN Studio Tour. Learn how to report the weather using a green screen, watch the newsroom floor as stories from around the world unfold and keep your eyes peeled for a Robin Meade or Sanjay Gupta sighting! www.cnn.com/tour

Find out what it takes to earn a Nobel Peace Prize, or two.
Atlanta is one of the only two cities in the world to lay claim to two Nobel Peace Prize winners--Martin Luther King, Jr. and former President Jimmy Carter. See the medals on display and learn about their legacies at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and the Carter Library and Museum. Atlanta's history in the Civil Rights Movement will be punctuated in 2013 when the National Center for Civil and Human Rights opens, giving visitors a place to explore struggles for equality throughout history and engage in conversations about the future. www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov

Order a F.O. and a naked dog walking.
Only the folks at the world's largest drive-in will know that you're really asking for a frosted orange drink and a plain hot dog to go. The Varsity was established in Atlanta in 1928. www.thevarsity.com

Take bird watching to a whole new level.
Atlanta is home to not only the NFL Falcons, NBA Hawks and MLB Braves, but also to the NASL Silverbacks and WNBA Dream. Atlanta's sports teams play year-round so travelers can walk out of a museum or attraction and into a game virtually any day of the year.

Watch a three-course meal go full-circle atop the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere.
Atop the 73-story Westin Peachtree Plaza, the rotating Sun Dial Restaurant Bar and View offers visitors a first-class meal, scenic glass elevator ride, panoramic view of the city and a walking tour. www.sundialrestaurant.com

Hike the world's largest exposed mass of granite.
Stone Mountain Park is Georgia's most-visited attraction. Get your adventure on by making the 1.3-mile hike to the top of the mountain, where you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the entire city. www.stonemountainpark.com

Follow the footsteps of the country's civil rights leaders.
In 2004, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame was unveiled at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Using genuine shoes from each of the honorees to create the footsteps, the Walk of Fame inducted 17 inaugural members, including Jimmy Carter, Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and Andrew Young. Each year, more foot soldiers are added to the Walk of Fame. There are hundreds of additional spaces designated for future placements of worthy footsteps. www.nps.gov/malu

See puppets that are much more than socks.
The Center for Puppetry Arts, the nation's largest puppetry center, hosts famous puppets and presents both family and adult shows throughout the year. The Center is planning an expansion that will double the museum's current size and will allow for the museum to bring many of its collectibles out of storage. The expansion will also make room for the Jim Henson Wing, scheduled to open in 2012, which will include 500-700 puppets, props, videos and much more. www.puppet.org

Find more Atlanta information here.

Newborn & Maternity Photography: Learn How in California

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:22:54 +0000

Ana Brandt, of Anamaria Brandt Photography in Tustin, CA, has photographed hundreds of newborn babies and pregnant women in her area since going pro in 1999. In fact, she has become so recognized in her area for this type of work that her business has been steadily growing regardless of the economy.

"I believe that you can't be great at everything all of the time. To be successful, you need to know how to do something and do it well," Ana explains.

For her, that's pregnancy and newborn photography! If you want to learn how to add these specialties to your own business, be sure to attend her "The Art of Specializing in Pregnancy & Newborn" Super Monday class on May 14 in Tustin, CA.

Inspired by Her Past
Ana was fascinated by photography growing up. "As an adopted child with no photos of myself as a baby or of my birth family, I was always captivated by relationships caught on film," she says. And she believes that eventually led her to specialize in pregnancy and newborn photography after attending photography school.

"I was so captivated by this 'stage' because I was never able to experience it with my biological mother--even in image form," Ana adds.

Start Preparing for Imaging USA 2013

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:00:23 +0000

Imaging USA 2013 will be held January 20 - 22, 2013 in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia World Congress Center.

You can find travel information on the Imaging USA Hotels & Travel page, including airport, public transit and rental car information as well as driving directions. Reserved hotel information will also be available on this page beginning in June.

Online registration will be open in June as well. Pricing options are currently listed on the page, so you can go ahead and find the option that works best for you!

Of course, Imaging USA is famous for the great photographic education that occurs during the conference. You'll get a first look at the schedule of classes and instructors in June. You can find information about the Imaging EXPO tradeshow here.

Be sure to check imagingusa.org for all of the latest news and information!

In Memory: Ron Kalwajtys

Wed, 02 May 2012 14:59:35 +0000

Ron Kalwajtys, 73, president of GP Albums/General Products LLC, passed away on April 18, 2012.

Ron was introduced to the family business at a very young age when his father, Ray, took him to work on weekends to get out of his mother's hair. By the mid-1950s, Ron was an important part of the album business and learned every operation in the plant. In the 1960s, he became part the sales team. He was also an exhibitor at the very first PPA trade show (now called Imaging EXPO) as well as the first WPPI trade show. Throughout the years and these experiences, he saw the photographic industry blossom and change dramatically. And although he had been battling prostate cancer for five years, he continued to work at GP until he was hospitalized with complications from his chemotherapy in early April.

Michael Ayers, a family friend and longtime GP customer, described Ron perfectly in saying, "He never knew a stranger and will be missed by all those who knew and loved him... right about now he is enjoying a Ketel One on the rocks."

The Kalwajtys family will continue the GP Albums/General Products legacy that Ron and his father Ray created. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all the lives he touched.

PPA's Online Learning Pass: Your Gateway to Business Education

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:26:09 +0000

Want to absorb all the business knowledge you can AND earn merits for your PPA degrees while you do so? Well, you can...with an Online Learning Pass. PPA provides you with the right education and the learning tools to aid in your continued success as a professional photographer.

Our webinars--online classes/seminars--form a growing online learning program that offers targeted presentations on essential elements for your business success, including: financial management, marketing, pricing, sales and workflow. You can choose to participate in a single, live webinar or sign up for an Online Learning Pass for $99, which gives you access to any live or on-demand webinar for 6 months! This 6-month subscription pass begins the minute you sign up, and you'll be able to enjoy every program in PPA's on-demand archive AND all of the new, live programs. It's the best deal for the best online education!

"Really, for the price, you can't beat the six-month Online Learning Pass here on PPA.com," says Amy Hall of Nebraska. "The webinars related to pricing, marketing and more will really get you going in the right direction. Plus, you can just listen to them whenever you have time in the comfort of your own home!"

And those benefits don't even include the merits you can earn. For example, your Online Learning Pass makes you eligible to receive 1.5 service merits at the end of your subscription, which can help you reach the 25 merit total needed to earn a PPA degree (www.ppa.com/degrees). If you renew your 6-month subscription, you can acquire up to 3 merits in a year just from your Online Learning Pass!

"I've found these online classes to be great learning tools, so I think the main benefit to this PPA benefit is the knowledge you gain," adds Greg Yager, CPP, of Yager Studio. "I just look at the merits as a bonus."

It's easy to experience the unbeatable educational benefits of the Online Learning Pass for yourself--just sign up for one here. After you've purchased it, you can access your pass at any time:

Click on the "My PPA" tab located on the left of the horizontal menu bar.
Click on "My Online Learning Pass," found on the left of the screen.
Enjoy!

The Online Learning Pass is an exclusive benefit for PPA members. If you cancel your membership, you will no longer be able to access it. Please note that there are no refunds for the Online Learning Pass.

A+ Marketing Ideas: Ace Ideas for Senior Portrait Promotion in Today's Market

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:18:07 +0000

Marketing to the senior portrait market is no cake walk. It demands an adaptive plan that stays abreast of the fickle tastes of teenagers while also appealing to the moms and dads who foot the bills. Check out two promo approaches that have been working for some PPA members.

1) Senior Modeling Campaign
For Eric, Cr.Photog., and Shawna Anundi of Eric John Photography, a senior model promotion has breathed new life into their senior portrait business. Suggested to them by the marketing team at Marathon Press, and based on a program that worked well for PPA members Shane and Sunny Dwyer, the campaign worked like this: Shawna posted Facebook status updates on the studio's page, requesting models for some promotional shoots. She posted the updates around 3:00 p.m. (when kids were leaving school) for six days over the course of two weeks. No cost, no obligation to buy anything; the only requirement was that the models bring a parent with them.

"For two hours after each post, the phone would ring like crazy," says Shawna. "After six days, we had signed up more people than we could handle, so we closed the program."

The modeling shoots usually last 15 to 30 minutes. At the end, the kids' parents receive all the relevant studio info, including pricing and booking details. Kids can come back for a viewing session to see the images in a customized slideshow (and about 90% of the participants did so). "I was hoping for 15 kids, but we ended up with 50," adds Eric. "From that group, we've already booked 33 full senior portrait sessions. And we still have another 10 model sessions to photograph!"

Read the full article here.

Jen Basford: Making a Career Change Worthwhile

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:38:06 +0000

How many of you know a photographer who got into the business as a career change? Chances are, we all know someone like that (and it might even be yourself!). It doesn't matter where you come from; what matters is where you go with your photography in the end. Does it remain a hobby, does it take over your life, or can you balance it as a career you love?

Jen Basford of 3 girls photography in Edmond, Okla., went through a successful career change herself, and she knows the importance of getting your photography business established the right way (for you).

Making the Change
Jen had no photographic aspirations in school--she wanted to be an astronaut! That lasted about two weeks into her college career, though, which was how long it took to get her major changed. She ended up earning an MBA and working for Accenture. After several moves and her second daughter's birth, Jen's interest in photography was born.

"I didn't have any intentions of making a business out of photography, but I did want to learn how to do things right," she admits. Her MBA experience led her to study photography through courses and workshops...and to join PPA in 2005, way before she went into business as a photographer.

"I knew through business school that belonging to professional organizations was important in whatever profession you chose," Jen explains. "So, I searched out national photography associations and immediately joined PPA as a student."

Read the full article here.

Inside a Profitable Senior Portrait Studio

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:19:40 +0000

For the last dozen years, Andrew Jenkins, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, has owned and operated Canfield Jenkins House of Photography in St. Johns, Mich. Over those years, Jenkins and his staff have built the studio into a premier provider of high-quality senior portraiture (as well as child/family portraits and wedding photography). And though maintaining high sales averages isn't easy for any studio, Jenkins has consistently done just that through careful marketing, effective sales techniques and a superlative experience for both senior and parent.

Coordinating Marketing Initiatives
These days, Jenkins' best marketing initiatives revolve around his senior model program. Every spring, he launches a model search by posting status updates on Facebook, asking rising seniors to come in for modeling sessions in March or April. Jenkins lets them know that the studio wants to use the images in its marketing materials. In exchange, he offers every participant a free portrait session during the summer months.

"This program does two things," adds Jenkins. "One, it creates a buzz early on for our studio; and two, it's a great way to start booking sessions for the summer."

Members, read the full article here.