First, I hope all of you are getting your marketing in full gear for the coming
year. Remember the dollars you spend today will reap benefits in the
upcoming months. I know that Jim Williams has his senior representative
program going with great success. My rep program has begun as well.
Area wedding photographers are participating in one or more of the local bridal
shows to help fill out their calendar. Are you one of the studios that is
doing something to bring in business or are you just waiting for your past
clients to refer you work? In a very competitive business environment,
studio owners need to continue marketing to stay alive. Have you ever
noticed that McDonalds and Coke continue to spend millions every year to keep
their name in front of the consumer? It is not that anybody will forget
these two corporate giants – they simply do not take business with fickle
consumers for granted. You shouldn’t either.
Second, last month's meeting was well-attended, and we were treated to a very
fine presentation from Darrell Moll. (Click here for some scenes
from the meeting.)
This month, we are fortunate to host internationally acclaimed local
photographer Herb Ascherman for our February 26th monthly
meeting. Herb will share his amazing fine art photography with all of us
and show us what sets him apart from all other photographers. Don’t miss
this special program.
One last note. In March, SONOPP will be making a field trip to West Shore
Distributors in Westlake. The March meeting will be held on the 19th – one
week earlier than normal to not conflict with those attending the WPPI
convention in Vegas.
Speaking of West Shore, did you know that they occasionally have little parties
to which all are invited, and at which they give a substantial discount on many
items? Well, they do! And the next one is
Valentine's Day!
Herbert Ascherman Jr.
has been creating fine art portraiture for over 30
years, specializing in stunning
black and white and the resurgent art of
platinum photography.
Internationally recognized for his
photographs of people in
creative,
commercial, and
social settings, Herb’s work has been exhibited and
commercially published throughout the US and in Europe,
Japan and India.
(Click
here to see some samples of Herb's photographic
art.)
This Month's Featured
Links
Every now and then, a photographer needs a laugh. A
moment free from customers, Photoshop, studio problems, and balky lighting.
(Did anybody try this last time? I heard nary
a chuckle...) So here it is (but be sure to have your speaker volume turned up):
Here's an interesting set of remarks and suggestions on the
Photoshop interface, as well as an equally interesting set of ideas
on converting your images to grayscale. Worth a read:
Finally, since most local photographers are in a bit of an economic
downturn, and have to find ways of delivering more to their
customers than the competition, here's something that you don't see
commonly offered in most wedding packages:
This month's technique is called "Neat
Noise," something akin to the well-worn technique of
blurring an image to give a touch of glamour. Here's a before and
after:
Remember that SONOPP members have the privilege of viewing all
techniques (including previous ones) in
The Photoshop Corner, reserved
for Members Only.
Member News
The members listed in the box on the right all have
birthdays this month.
Please bring a
cupcake for each of them to the February Meeting!
Hal Katanik
Dennis Maxwell
Michael Carson
Does your studio offer custom framing to
clients? Do you have a handy gizmo for displaying
sample frame corners for customers to gaze at it awe and
wonder?
If not, SONOPP member Mark Madere can help you.
Click here
to see how!
Hey, It's Coming!
Two of our members, Dale Kincaid and Bill Ford, have agreed
to manage a Workshop (one of SONOPP's Seminar Series) on April
9th. It's a Monday night, but not a regular meeting night.
The Workshop will take you through every step of creating a
slide show from your photographs. You'll be able to create
DVDs, CDs, and Web Shows, all from the same set of images. Dale and Bill will be
using ProShow Gold and ProShow Producer, which are arguably the
most popular products available for this purpose.
Topics will
include:
Selecting pictures
Selecting music, soundtracks, other
sounds; sources; copyright
Types of shows (Stories, Portfolios,
Presentations, etc.)
Kinds of shows (Weddings, Seniors,
Families, etc.)
Levels of shows (Simple, Animated,
Elaborate, High-End, etc.)
File preparation, resolution, types,
editing from within ProShow
Embellishments
Composition
Rules and Guidelines
Length of a show
Kinds of output
The business end of slide shows
Menus
Resources
Product packaging
What you will
learn from this workshop:
The easy, fast-track way to design and
create slide shows from your photographs
Professional-quality output from the
very first try
How this will take your business to
the next level
What you will get
at this workshop:
You’ll watch experienced masters
create shows right in front of you
You’ll get written instructions
pertaining to each topic covered
You’ll walk away with a free CD
containing valuable resources, information, and lessons
What you will get
afterwards:
Free consultation on any topic covered
in the Workshop that you’re having trouble with
Besides all this, the Workshop will have handouts for all, including CDs with
all their tips and tricks, and PhotoDex (maker of the ProShow
products) has agreed to offer a discount for orders placed
at the Workshop!
This is one event you won't want to miss, so mark your
calendars now!
Commentary
The following
email came to us via the "Contact Us" page:
Just wanted to reply to the article about devaluing of
photography. No, I am not a member. I used to do professional
photography but have gotten out of it due mostly to the fact
that I am one of the top digi-haters!
My comment is this. O.K., maybe I can concede that digi-IMAGES
(THEY ARE NOT PHOTOS!) have a place in photography somewhere,
but I don't think it's in portraits. Doesn't ANYONE besides me
and a few of my fellow photographers looks at these images and
say...WHERE IS THE COLOR? Where is that beautiful vibrant,
knock the socks off you color that you used to see with 120
film? Are we so happy for the instant gratification of this
medium that we are willing to forgive this major flaw?
I look at dozens and dozens of web sites showing portrait
photography and they all lack that brilliant, deep color that
gave photos an almost 3D feel.
Do all you professionals really feel this is a better medium?
Is it better to see instantly the result, and then spend
countless hours sitting at your computers tweaking these images
to get them to look like film? Does this make sense?
We need to take back our ART! Digi-images for portraits are not
ART. We might as well just shoot with polaroids!!
Are you interested in acquiring a Hasselblad 500 C? If so, you'll
want to click here.
Remember the article Patrick Rice wrote about "The
Devaluing of Professional Photography" -- well, it's still getting
kudos. Click here to read the
latest, and still more words from Patrick.
School Allows Sword Photo in Yearbook
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 29) - A school district that initially refused to publish a yearbook photo showing a senior dressed in chain mail and holding a sword has agreed to print it after all, lawyers for both sides said Monday.
Patrick Agin's school banned his senior photo from the yearbook because of a zero-tolerance weapons policy. The school relented in the face of an pricey legal battle but stands by its position.
School officials still believe their decision to ban Patrick Agin's photo was correct, but they face a $600,000 deficit and couldn't afford the legal fight, said the district's attorney, Stephen Robinson.
"It was strictly a cost-benefit analysis in the matter," he said.
Agin, 17, dressed in costume for his senior photo. He belongs to the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group of 35,000 dues-paying members who stage mock battles, learn arts like calligraphy and conduct demonstrations in shopping malls.
Portsmouth High officials claimed the photo violated the school's "zero-tolerance" policy for weapons. Agin and his mother sued with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, saying the decision infringed his right to free speech.
The school district will also pay $2,000 in legal fees, the ACLU said.
The state education commissioner this month ordered the district to print the photo. School officials can regulate the yearbook's content, the commissioner said, but rules were being enforced unfairly, since past editions of the yearbook contain photos of toy guns, arrows and a knife. The school band's banner depicts a rifle-toting patriot.
entative
program going with great success. My rep program has begun as well.
Area wedding photographers are participating in one or more of the local bridal
shows to help fill out their calendar. Are you one of the studios that is
doing something to bring in business or are you just waiting for your past
clients to refer you work? In a very competitive business environment,
studio owners need to continue marketing to stay alive. Have you ever
noticed that McDonalds and Coke continue to spend millions every year to keep
their name in front of the consumer? It is not that anybody will forget
these two corporate giants – they simply do not take business with fickle
consumers for granted. You shouldn’t either.
School Allows Sword Photo in Yearbook