As
I was going into a camera shop this past week, I had a flashback to
when I was new and excited to learn about photography. My first real
camera was a Nikon EM (best little camera I think I ever had). Well
anyways, I told the clerk I needed film, so he asked me what kind
and I said I don’t know. He said do you want 120mm or 35mm film? Is
it a large or small format camera? I was so dumb as to what I
needed; I told him I had a brand new Nikon EM and he said OH! you
want 35mm film. I was so embarrassed when I left the store. (Excuse
me, I am a blonde.)
Many years later my brother Carl Krist (past
president of SONOPP) said I had great talent and an eye for
photography. He gave me encouragement and I got into it more. He
then introduced me to SONOPP. Well, I got hooked.
SONOPP has taught me so much and inspired me to
be the best I can be. Some things I agree with and some I
don’t. That is what is so wonderful about our Society. I am still
learning and so excited about our profession.
As professional photographers it is important
to help our new comers to teach them and to enjoy our profession.
So, when you go into your camera store think back and remember how
you first started.
Thanks for all the help from my photography
friends at SONOPP. And please, don’t forget to invite a friend to
our meetings – you (and they) won’t regret it.
Gratefully yours,
Terry Biacsi
Space is Still Available!
We are renting out this space in the Newsletter. Send
in a contribution that will excite and delight SONOPPers (newsy news
or thoughtful thoughts) plus a publication fee of $10, and if
your contribution is accepted, you'll see your words here next
month. (The $10 is like a wedding deposit: non-refundable.)
From client to
photographer, photographer to photographer, and even
studio owner to studio employee, there is a huge
quantity of miscommunication going around.
In this program, Marci
will discuss the ways that miscommunication can lead to
an unsuccessful relationship, and ultimately the demise
of our industry.
Open lines of
communication, ideas that are CORRECTLY verbalized and
interpreted, and detailed documentation, policies, and
procedures are what lead to successful client
relationships, as well as relationships among
colleagues.
Come find out not only how
well you speak, but just how well (and whether) you really listen.
Marci M. Allin, C.P.P.
Marci began her
photographic career in 1996 when she went to work for a
retail portrait studio catering to families, children,
and pets. Desiring a more challenging style of
photography that would fulfill her passion for capturing
life’s most precious moments, in 1999, she began working
under a PPA certified, Master photographer as an
assistant photographer for weddings. Thus, she had
found her passion. In 2000, Marci opened Everlasting
Moments Photography. Since then, striving to
provide only the best for her clients, Marci has worked
diligently to pursue the personal and professional goals
she has set for herself. Marci is a member of the
Professional Photographers of America (PPA),
Professional Photographers of Ohio (PPO), Akron Society
of Professional Photographers (ASPP), and Senior
Photographers International (SPI).
In 2003, her first
competition awarded her an Honorable Mention for her
unique wedding candid, “Oh Say Can You See.” Since
then, Marci has achieved several photographic awards
including her latest two Merit Prints for her fine art
portrait “My Glorious Day,” and her photojournalistic
image, “Oh My Gosh.” “My Glorious Day” has also
awarded her “Best Bridal Portrait” for the 2006 Mid-East
Regional Convention, along with her first Fuji
Masterpiece Award. In addition, “Oh My Gosh” has
been accepted into the General Collection Book from
PPA’s National Print Competition. Marci currently
holds the office of President for Akron Society of
Professional Photographers (ASPP), presides as Akron’s
Representative to the Board of Trustees of the
Professional Photographers of Ohio, and is a member of
the Rotary Club of Barberton.
While enjoying the success
that her hard work and passion for her career has
awarded her, Marci is convinced that to be one of the
best, you must never stop learning. In May 2005,
she had the opportunity to study under world-renowned
photographer, Monte Zucker, and continues to study under
a local PPA Certified photographer to pursue her goal to
be one of the best.
This Month's Featured
Links
Anybody still use film? No? Well, then, you all
depend on computers. Let photographer Mark Richards give you a tour
of
Vintage Computers, so you can see how easy you got it now.
Oh, you still use film? But you loved the
Vintage
Computers link and are ready to go digital? But you have no idea
of what camera to buy, or how to do it? Well, bunkie, you're
ready for our next link, to a $10 ebook that will tell you how to
Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera.
Photographers are always trying to get their images printed
on odd stuff, such as diaper bags, keepsake boxes, concert posters, and
night lights. Check out Kelly Turner's article in
November's Macworld. It even has a link to
Moo's website. Moo
is a printing company based in London that I'll bet many drachmas you're not
familiar with.
Okay, we'll be serious for a moment.
What do you know about locking transparency and loading selection layers in
Photoshop? Not much, eh? Well, that's why you came to the SONOPP
Newsletter.
Click here to learn more.
Enough serious. When
night falls in the snowy wintertime, with the winds howling outside and the
temperature hovering just above zero, do you ever creep into bed planning to
read a good book? But you don't like having a light on because it
disturbs your significant other who has also crept into bed but is NOT
planning to read a good book?
Solution: you need
Kindle. Yeah, it costs a bundle and it's all sold out, but
Christmas is coming. Check it out; it's Kindle neat. But I
lied. You can read it in bed without lying on your side, or having
to hold the book (excuse me, the Kindle) up with your arms. Sadly,
you'll need an extra light. The Kindle is not back lit.
Which has many advantages, except for your significant other problem.
Check it out anyway, and watch the video. You'll be impressed...
Finally, here's a fascinating website for photos:
www.flauntr.com.
But our advice: tread with caution!
Want some tips on using the Liquify Tool? Then go to this month's
Photoshop Corner!
The members listed in the box on the right all have
birthdays this month.
Please bring a
cupcake for each of them to the January Meeting!
BTW, complaints have been
received that recently NO CUPCAKES are being brought to the Meetings! Let's
put a stop to this!
So this month, bring your
four cupcakes and give them to the Executive Secretary,
who will then make sure that every birthday celebrant gets his just
dues. (Since both Dave Neldon and Jim Williams are on diets, the
Executive Secretary will deliver their cupcakes to some other worthy
birthday celebrant...)
David Neldon
Jim Williams
Joe Drabik
Bill Ford
If you haven't made any plans for
Friday night, January 25, here's a thought:
BODIES 1967 - 2007
Please
join
Herb Ascherman
at the
Corcoran Fine Arts Gallery
Shaker
Square
7:00, January
25th, 2007
for an
informal gallery talk.
Bring
your friends!
Commentary
(Read all the way to the bottom: lots of stuff this month!)
Giving Away Your Hi-Res Images
This topic keeps coming
back again and again. Should we or shouldn't we? And if we
decide that it's not a good idea, do we ever make exceptions to that rule?
What kind of exceptions?
This was discussed at a SONOPP
meeting last fall, and opinions were divided. It seemed that a
majority of SONOPP photographers were opposed to giving away the hi-res
images as a general policy. Selling was a different story, and prices
varied; but upwards of $45 per image seemed to be the norm.
When digital files are sold,
most SONOPP photographers appeared to do so only when they knew the images
would be properly processed. For example, the client is a company is planning to use
them on its website, or have them appear in a brochure that will be
commercially printed.
For a discussion of the dangers when it cannot
be determined whether your images will be properly processed, see the
article "Drawbacks To Relinquishing Your Electronic Image Files"
published last September in
Perspectives.
NEW WEBSITE FOR PROFESSIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bowling Green, Ohio, January 14, 2008. Century Marketing announces
the successful launch of
www.PhotoTrimmings.com, a new website exclusively for
photography professionals to use for purchasing a coordinated line
of custom printed products that will promote their businesses and
services. Included in the products offered on the site are upscale
foil imprinted personalized labels to advertise photography studios,
along with custom designed CD/DVD labels, business cards, paper and
plastic bags. Other photography supplies such as in-stock albums,
folios, easels, wallet boxes, etc. can also be found and purchased
on the site.
www.PhotoTrimmings.com will also feature an on-line Design Tool
that allows site visitors to create their own layouts for custom
printed products. Photographers can upload their own logos and
images, or use the extensive logo library to generate a unique
design to use on their labels, bags, business cards, etc. However,
if the assistance from a sales or design professional is required,
Century Marketing’s toll free number is provided throughout the
site.
E-commerce capabilities on the
www.PhotoTrimmings.com site affords visitors the opportunity to
place an order for their custom printed or stock photography
products, check the order status at any time, and subsequently place
re-orders for their photography products while on the Internet, at
their convenience. A blog is also available on the site, so
photographers can share their experiences with Century Marketing and
generate ideas for how to use the products to their advantage.
According to Century’s Vice President and General Manager, David
Francisco, "Our primary goal is provide a website dedicated to
custom printed products used by professional photographers so they
do not have to navigate through our rather extensive
www.PrintMyThing website to find items of interest. Secondarily,
we understand how busy photographers are on a daily basis. By
providing an exclusive website with 24/7 accessibility we can avoid
interrupting their work hours with phone calls to check on their
supplies or solicit new business. Icing on the cake is providing an
on-line Design Tool that is easy-to-use and convenient to this
particular market where photographers can combine their creativity
with our technology to design their own printed products to promote
their businesses.”
In addition to being a member of PPA, Century Marketing has over 27
years of manufacturing experience in the custom printed products
industry, providing digital, foil hot stamp metallic, and ink
printed custom labels and hang tags, as well as paper and plastic
bags, ad specialty products, promotional items and business
essentials for branding and promoting businesses.
For additional information, contact Nancy Eridon at 800-537-9429, or
e-mail Nancy at neridon@cmcgp.com or visit the website at
www.PhotoTrimmings.com.
Dear PPA Member,
The PPA family celebrated achievements, looked
to the future and reinvigorated itself at Imaging USA this week in Tampa,
Florida. As we saw old friends and made new ones with the almost 9,000
guests at Imaging, we also took time to look at the past year and plan for
the future. Consider the following:
In your business it is important to examine your successes and
discover where you can improve. Comparing your numbers with the
Benchmark Financial Survey (at www.ppa.com in the Member's Only Download
Zone) is a great first step. If you want to be successful in the
business of photography, try this.
Will you take advantage of all the marketing opportunities available
to you? Have you created and maximized your business portfolio in
the Find-a-Photographer search engine – powered by Portfolio.com?
You can upload images, create a customized message to potential clients
and ensure that you get the widest possible referrals. And it is
FREE. Click here to find out how to get your share of the average
325 referrals generated daily.
Another key opportunity to enhance your business marketing is the
Sweepstakes Marketing Co-op program. Advertising a sweepstakes to
win a new car (for High School Seniors), a cruise (for the wedding
market) or a Disney vacation (the family portrait market) can be huge.
It can give your marketing some extra pizzazz. To participate in the
sweepstakes, you must sign up by January 31. Go to
ImageSweepstakes.com for all the information you need.
And at Imaging USA, PPA looked at the year's numbers, too. At this year's
Council meeting it was reported that PPA remains financially strong, that
total membership has passed 20,000 and almost 9,000 photographers attended
Imaging USA. All record-breaking numbers.
Above all these numbers and plans, though, Imaging USA was a gathering of
family. We helped each other, shared experiences, congratulated award
recipients, debated issues, welcomed new members and renewed old
friendships. Truly, this family is a large part of the value of membership.
Sincerely, Al Hopper Director of Membership, Copyright & Government Affairs
P.S. Destination: Disney Family Vacation Sweepstakes and the Escape to
Paradise Cruise Sweepstakes winners will be announced in January 2008
Message From the SONOPP Website
I have eight (8) 140-slide Kodak Carousels. I wonder if someone
could use them. They're all in near-mint shape.
Welcome
to the January 2008 edition of the Professional Photographer E-Mail
Newsletter! Each month you'll receive a preview of the latest product reviews,
interviews and news you'll find only at Professional Photographer Online.
Here is an indispensable lighting and posing
tutorial from Web Photo School, free for PPmag.com readers! What better skill to
have than knowing how to minimize the dreaded double chin? This well illustrated
tutorial covers facial analysis; narrow, broad, and split lighting; profiles;
masculine and feminine poses; eye problems; glasses glare; portrait lenses; and
expressions. Read full story.
What's a photographer to do when faced with an enormous
multi-level atrium and multiple light sources of various types? See the results
when Ellis Vener uses a simplified two-exposure High Dynamic Range technique
inside the State Capitol Building in Atlanta, Georgia. Read full story.
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is what you as a Web
site owner have to do to make it easier for search engines like Google and Yahoo
(the kind your potential clients use) to find your site and put it at the top of
the results list. Photographer Bob Coates explains the terminology and helps you
understand the task at hand. Read full story .
As
I was going into a camera shop this past week, I had a flashback to
when I was new and excited to learn about photography. My first real
camera was a Nikon EM (best little camera I think I ever had). Well
anyways, I told the clerk I needed film, so he asked me what kind
and I said I don’t know. He said do you want 120mm or 35mm film? Is
it a large or small format camera? I was so dumb as to what I
needed; I told him I had a brand new Nikon EM and he said OH! you
want 35mm film. I was so embarrassed when I left the store. (Excuse
me, I am a blonde.) 
Here is an indispensable lighting and posing
tutorial from Web Photo School, free for PPmag.com readers! What better skill to
have than knowing how to minimize the dreaded double chin? This well illustrated
tutorial covers facial analysis; narrow, broad, and split lighting; profiles;
masculine and feminine poses; eye problems; glasses glare; portrait lenses; and
expressions. 
What's a photographer to do when faced with an enormous
multi-level atrium and multiple light sources of various types? See the results
when Ellis Vener uses a simplified two-exposure High Dynamic Range technique
inside the State Capitol Building in Atlanta, Georgia. 
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is what you as a Web
site owner have to do to make it easier for search engines like Google and Yahoo
(the kind your potential clients use) to find your site and put it at the top of
the results list. Photographer Bob Coates explains the terminology and helps you
understand the task at hand. 
