- In Focus - |
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Calendar of EventsMONTHLY MEETINGS Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
September 25
October 23
November 27
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President's Message
SONOPP is in a period of rebuilding. After a few years of declining membership, one of my goals this year is to attempt to bring past members back to SONOPP as well as bringing in new members to the association. For the July meeting, several area photographers were invited to come and hear our speaker and consider joining our association. At this time, I would like to encourage each of you to ask photographers that you know to consider attending our August 21 meeting.
Our speaker for August will be Patrick Abel from the Detroit, Michigan area. He runs a highly successful wedding photography business in a demographic very similar to ours in the Cleveland area. His wedding marketing program is certain to be valuable to any wedding photographer in attendance. I feel by showing area photographers what SONOPP has to offer we have a much greater chance of persuading them to consider membership. With everyone’s help, I am certain we can rebuild our membership numbers to those we saw in the past. Patrick Rice, SONOPP President 2006 - 2007 (Click here to see some pics from last month's meeting) |
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In This Issue
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August 21 Meeting
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Hit your numbers through great photography & great management! Managing a studio can be hard work; it is often harder than the photography itself. Mistakes in our business can cost us our next job when our reputation is tarnished by bad organization. Patrick Abel has shot for and managed a medium size studio for over 10 years. The studio photographs about 150 wedding a year and he has identified some of the key factors to successful management. If 90% of our problems are caused by only about 10% of the situations we encounter, identifying the patterns (both positive & negative) to situations is the key to our success. We can build systems to head off the causes before they ever go critical. 50% of our business come from satisfied customers; how many customers really refer us and where do the rest go? This program will also explore what the root causes are to most management issues and how a system was built and implemented to solve them. Bring your note pad; we will move fast and cover a lot of material. (See some of Patrick Abel's work!)
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Maybe you know of Jeff Carlson, who's both a writer and a photographer.
Getting ready for his trip to Africa, he bought a camera, http://db.tidbits.com/index.php?tbart=08348 and then took these pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcarlson/sets/1388514/
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In the May Newsletter, our current president Patrick Rice wrote an article entitled "The Devaluing of Professional Photography." That article received a lot of attention, for he submitted it to other forums. Here are some of the responses, both pro and con. (We are starting with the contrary opinions, since they are far fewer in number. Also, we are not publishing all the agreements, only those which add a slightly different perspective. Our apologies to any whose response has been omitted.)
From Anne Almasy, Atlanta, GA
info@almasyvisualarts.com Hello Mr. Rice! I recently read your article on www.ImagingInfo.com, "Devaluing Professional Photography." In it, you criticize photographers who practice reportage photography, as well as photographers who choose not to operate out of a studio.As a young (I'm 25) professional photographer, it was disheartening to see a well-known professional like yourself make such universal statements about photographers and new photography trends. I studied photography at the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts, and was awarded the honor of having one of the top 10 portfolios in my class. After graduating, I honed my style and have developed a love for the documentary approach to photographing people. Over the past four years, I've built a clientele throughout the Southeast who love my work. Every image I take is carefully composed and thought-out -- even the "candid" images. I spend a lot of time learning to read people and anticipate moments. I've also stopped carrying a lease on a studio; rather, I meet my clients in their homes or at a local coffee shop if they're more comfortable. Because I work with clients in several states, they feel pampered by my willingness to meet them in their neighborhood rather than being forced to drive to me. Is this what everyone should do? Absolutely not! Each artist is unique and will blend into his or her community in a special way. That is why I felt so taken aback by your comments. I feel that the article was one-sided, and made many assumptions about what clients want and what "wedding photojournalists" provide. I have a great deal of respect for your work and your expertise. You are certainly a fixture in your field, and I would never dare to suggest that your business ethic is the cause of an entire industry's downfall! Please give some respect to those of us who are succeeding in a new era of photography. We have so much to learn from you, and I would rather see you as an ally than an opponent. Thank you so much for your time. Anne Almasy
From David Roberts, david@wpja.com
Dear Mr. Rice, I just read your article on Imaging Info. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the following article: http://www.wedpix.com/july-2006/articles/wedding-photojournalism-fad.html David Roberts Founder - Wedding Photojournalist Association http://www.WPJA.com
From Rob Annis of Robert Charles Photography,
rcharlesphoto@tds.net
Patrick, Every once in a while I hear a voice which echoes mine concerning the plight of Professional Wedding Photography and (what I call) the "de-evolution" of the state of Photography, in general. For example, there was a time when "washed out" highlights in a print used to be considered an error; it is now part and parcel of contemporary photography. More often than not, the acceptance of loose Photojournalism techniques has led to Wedding Photography which closely resembles those snapshots brought home from a family reunion. It seems that at every turn the media has gotten on board extolling the virtues of sloppily shot, poorly produced images which require nothing more than tipping one's camera at a silly angle, framing for the headless torso of the Bride, and perhaps introducing a certain amount of camera movement to give the illusion of being on the "cutting edge". Deplorable. And even trade magazines have bought into this "emperor-with-no-clothes" train of thought. Last month (June 2006), Professional Photographer featured the work of an individual which can only be described as lacking. When I can no longer differentiate between those images produced by my untrained 9 year old son and the featured Professional on the cover of a nationally recognized magazine, I can only shudder (pardon the pun). Should we wonder why Professional Photography has been devalued? If we Professionals do not delineate between good quality professional work (with good composition, posing, lighting, exposure, etc.) and junk photography, we should not expect the general public to seek out the services of Professionals. Comments are welcome. Thank-you for caring. Rob Annis Robert Charles Photography
From Chuck Humbert,
cwhumbert@cox.net Pat, I commend your interpretation on the movement in Professional Photography. I remember in the mid fifties the trend to have 'Formal Portraits' done on location at out door settings began. This led to photographers working out of their homes being able to book weddings without having an 'In Studio Shooting Room'. That was the start of the movement for anyone with a camera to be able to cover weddings. Now with the advent of digital photography and quality inkjet printing I noticed another change. Last month at the SONOPP meeting the speaker mentioned that he sold 8x10's for $10.00 each. Wow! When I closed Humbert Studio three years ago I was selling 8x10's for $59.00. Times apparently have changed. Where it will lead I do not know. Your thoughts as published in the SONOPP newsletter are very appropriate. It is something that we all must be aware of. Where have all the shoemakers and TV repairman gone? Can we innovate and create a new market? We must come up with a new product that requires our professional skills. Bringing this up at the National Level will not help. Our once-professional organizations now consist of anyone with a camera who is willing to pay the dues. The professional organizations have become 'Large Businesses' in themselves with big money going to its upper echelon. They even publish magazines, again for big bucks. In addition, many of our fine photographers have joined the speakers circuit putting on seminars for large fees. Now, here I am just rambling on and not really adding anything to your eloquent epistle. I just had to let you know that you have been heard and that your thoughts are timely. Chuck . . . From Vondel Stevens, Canyon, TX
Photography by Vondel, vstevens@amaonline.com Patrick, I want to thank you for your recent viewpoint article in Studio Photography Magazine. You have helped me to clarify my goals as a professional photographer. If you have any suggestions on how to convince clients that they need an album of wedding images, I would certainly welcome them. Sincerely, Vondel Stevens
From Al Satterwhite
Patrick, I read your viewpoint in 'Studio Photography'....good for you...similar to what I wrote in ASMP magazine a couple years ago...unfortunately, most photographers can't read. all best, Al Satterwhite
From Myron Bursell, Ph.F., Spokane, WA
Green Gables Photography, myron@greengablesphotography.com Patrick, I just wanted to say thank you for your article in the PPA June issue. it was well thought out, to the point, and it was a good point. My wife and I have been in photography for 29 years this year and know all the same instructors and photographers. We need to let the public know that we are worth our talent! Thank you again, Myron
From Pitrice Sanford, Henderson, NV
foreverimages2000@yahoo.com Dear Mr. Rice, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the article about the devaluing of photographers for GP Albums. I think it is an article that the public needs to read. Please send it to magazines like Shutterbug and see if somone will publish it. Thanks again for your article!!!! Sincerely, Pitrice Sanford Forever Images
From Steve Bedell,
steve@stevebedell.com
Hi Patrick, We've briefly met before. I agree totally with your sentiments in PPANE newsletter, wrote similar views 2 years ago in Shutterbug article. I'd like to publish the article in EPhoto, my online magazine, goes to 16,000 photographers. Send me your email and I'll send you sample issue, latest has article by Fuzzy. Thanks,
From Paul Foreman, Fort Myers, FL
captureman@foremanfoto.com WoW! that was a great article your wrote for "Lens". I made similiar comeents on Monte Zucker's Forum and I got blasted into the next country! Every thing you said is VERY true, in spite of what the wannabe Denis Regie's and Gary Fong's say. There are a lot of brides & Grooms and their families that hired a photojournalist and they will not know it, BUT 20 years from now they will wonder why they do not have any portraits from their wedding. I have all but "GIVEN UP" weddings. There are so many PJ shooters who give away the CD here you practically have to crawl over them to get in side a church or rcetion area. GREAT ARTICLE ! Paul Foreman www.captivatingimagesphotography.com
From Steve Klinger, West Warwick, RI
Ultima Photography & Video, ultimastudio@cox.net Hi Patrick. Well I bet you are getting some emails after the "Business Matters" article that was in Studio Photography. I want to say that "It is about time someone said all of that". I swear that it is a competition to see who can shoot the most body parts and not include a face. The photojournalistic wedding approach has gotten carried away. I really wonder how the couple will feel 5 years from now when the trend has passed and we get back to good basic story telling photography and a mix of great portraits on a wedding day, which I hope happens soon. WAY TO GO! I enjoyed your article and hope others realize that there are
lots of us out here who feel the same.
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