Portrait Gallery III - Southwest Professional Photographers Association
Transcription
Portrait Gallery III - Southwest Professional Photographers Association
Southwest Image 2011 SPRING ISSUE Volume 38, Number 1 About the Cover . . . “Entangled Eye” by Suzy Roberts of Lake Jackson, Texas took the First Place Trophy in the First Time Award Division at the Southwest Professional Photographers Association’s print competition at the 2010 convention in Arlington, Texas The award was presented by then SWPPA President Marty Sikes. The image, which scored 91 points, was in addition to three others which received a PPA “Seal of Approval” giving Roberts a “4 for 4” pin. She also received the High Print Case for First Time Entrant with 343 points Suzy Roberts (out of 400). The image also garnered a Distinguished Print Award as well as a Judges’ Choice Ribbon. The digital entry was among the first to be entered under the new judging system. Articles President’s Message The Editor’s Desk Old Southwest Notes Tool in Photoshop News from National Music Industry Lessons Photo Gallery Safeguard Files & E-Mail Features 3 4 5 6 8-9 11 12-15 17 www.swppa.com Editor & Advertising Manager Donald Hayden, Cr. Photog., F-PPO 3026 S. Cincinnati Ave. Tulsa, OK 74114 (918) 743-2924 imagerybyhayden@att.net Complete financial information and the 990 forms for the Southwest Professional Photographers Association are available to any member of our regional states by contacting Michael Scalf Sr, Executive Director at P.O. Box 1779, Blanchard, OK 73010 State News Arizona Arkansas Louisiana New Mexico Oklahoma Texas 19 20 21 22 23 24 Presented four times annually as the official publication of the Southwest Professional Photographers Association Inc., the magazine’s purpose is to better inform and prepare the photographers of Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,Oklahoma and Texas and to seek their active support and participation in SWPPA activities. Acceptance of advertising, press releases and other material does not imply endorsement of such by the association or editor/publisher. Permission is granted to similar photographic industry publications to reprint contents provided both the author and Southwest Image are credited as the source. Articles and photographs are welcomed, but the editor reserves the right to revise or refuse material. Southwest Image Page 1 SOUTHWEST PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STATE DIRECTORS Mike Scalf Sr., M. Photog., Cr., CPP P.O. Box 1779, Blanchard, OK 73010 Phone (405) 485-3838 E-Mail: michael@swppa.com Arizona Kay Eskridge, M. Photog. Cr., CPP Phoenix, AZ (602) 393-9333 Dale Holladay, M. Photog., Cr., CPP Safford, AZ (928) 428-0206 EXECUTIVE BOARD Arkansas Joel Schmidt, CPP Little Rock, AR (501) 455-2910 Robert O. Seat, M. Photog., CPP Batesville, AR (870) 793-3291 PRESIDENT Clay Allen, Cr. Photog., CPP Broken Arrow, OK (918) 307-1377 Louisiana VICE PRESIDENT Cindy Romaguera, Cr. Photog. Metairie, LA (504) 799-9729 Thomas Wintz, Cr.. Photog. Baton Rouge, LA (225) 761-4198 Jim Pitre, M. Photog., Cr., CPP Houma, LA (985) 868-0700 New Mexico Donita Privett, CPP Portales, NM (575) 226-7676 Shelley Rice Lovington, NM (505) 396-5767 TREASURER Dan McDonald, M. Photog., Cr. Hurst, TX (817) 545-1199 Oklahoma Dwaine Horton, M. Photog., Cr. Thomas, OK (580) 661-2836 Mike Scott, M. Photog. Clinton, OK (580) 331-2125 SECRETARY Randy Taylor, M. Photog., Cr., CPP Edmond, OK (405) 341-5088 Texas Don Barnes Denton, TX (800) 776-6883 Dwayne Lee, M. Photog., Cr. Arlington, TX (817) 277-0477 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Marty Sikes, M. Photog., Cr., CPP Conway, AR (501) 327-8300 EDITOR NOT CLAIRVOYANT! SWPPA MISC. FF STU CALENDAR ES LIN D A DE If you are moving, please let us know. Send your old as well as new address to: Editor, Southwest Image, 3026 S. Cincinnati Ave., Tulsa, OK 74114-5225. Allow six weeks’ notice. Magazine Ad/Copy Deadlines Spring Issue Feb. 1 Summer Issue May 1 Fall Issue July 1 Winter Issue Nov. 1 Mark Your Calendar New Mexico State Convention – March 26-29, Route 66 Hotel & Casino, Albuquerque, N.M. Louisiana Spring Seminar – March 27-28, Holiday Inn on Evangeline Thruway in Lafayette, La. Arkansas State Convention – June 5-8, Clarion Resort, Hot Springs, Ark. Kerrville Summer Seminar – June 26-29, YO Ranch Resort, Kerrville, Texas Louisiana State Convention – July 30-Aug. 2, Westin Hotel at Canal Place, New Orleans, La. Oklahoma State Convention – Aug. 26-29, Reed Center, Midwest City, Okla. 2011 Texas PPA Convention and PPA District Competition, Sept. 29-Oct. 4, Sheraton Hotel, Arlington, Texas Southwest Image Page 2 From the President’s Desk . . . Film Photographer Lauds Digital Imaging By Clay Allen, Cr. Photog., CPP Photography is a very different endeavor today than it has ever been. Enjoying the 2011 Imaging USA Conference in San Antonio this January and walking through the trade show made me think back to the days when we were working to achieve the best from our film, learning to create images with perfect exposure so our prints would have deep blacks and clean highlights and working hard to learn and use classic lighting with impact. Today, every other trade show booth seems to be offering some sort of magic software to allow us to change and manipulate our images, to add objects that were not present in the original scene and in fact to create a total new and different image on the computerusing parts from many different image sources. More control is available to the photographic artist than ever before in the history of image making. Digital technology continues to amaze this old film photographer that has undergone a complete transition at an advanced age. This new world that is so amazing I just have to shake my head sometimes at the great tools we have to expand a tonal range we worked hard to achieve in the gelatin-silver age. Early days of the digital revolution left me wondering if we had lost our quality control minds with the obvious and visible difference between the silver-gelatin technology and the electronic images of those early days. But the day came when even I had to admit this marvelous new technology was taking our image making to a far superior point than even dreamed in the film days. I now am continually excited about new techniques and new programs that allow us to expand our creativity and thrilled to see what our modern trendsetters are creating. We witnessed a historical accomplishment during the 2010 PPA Affiliated District Image competition in September when Richard Sturdevant scored four perfect 100’s under the critical eyes of most of the best PPA jurors in the nation. It is a real pleasure to view the elements that make up such images from a digital artist that must think ahead to how each element will come into play in the final version. I have to admit I find this marvelous creativity hard to digest since I have always had to work hard on the creative side. Technical aspects of the film age were more comfortable to me, understanding critical exposure controls, black and white manipulation through use of the zone system of exposure and development became strong points. Emphasis by the old masters of my early years for classic lighting patterns and close control of lighting ratio was something I could comprehend. Teaching students these qualities became a passion because I, and many in my day had to learn from seminars, programs and special events when we could corner the master teachers who were making photography a true art form. Over the past 25 years this old man has been through a whirlwind of changes in image making to say the least and I will be the first to tell you I do not want to go back a day. This is the most exciting, but also the most frustrating, time of my professional life. Wow, what we are seeing unfold before our eyes at a rapidly advancing pace. Southwest Image Clay Allen I have worked harder to learn more at a rapid pace over the past 15 years than any time previously and still feel very inadequate as our programs continue to improve and new versions continually put me behind once again. This makes our associations even more important because we can get away from the distractions of daily endeavors and concentrate on learning and understanding the digital age. This year I hope every single one of our members will make a commitment to advance their skills. Every state will have seminars and conventions, offering many educational opportunities between now and the next regional gathering in September. This year. the Texas Professional Photographers Association will be organizing our convention in Arlington, Texas. All of us can get excited about the progressive and educational speakers they will secure to challenge us to continue to grow and improve. It is to all of our advantage for each and every photographer to make the highest quality images possible for their clients, as well as to network with fellow professionals of all ages. Please plan now to participate in the SWPPA District PPA Affiliated Image Competition by entering state judging opportunities to refine your images in hopes of earning PPA merits. Page 3 By Don Hayden Cr. Photog., F-PPO At a local guild meeting last year, we had no speaker and decided to have a round table discussion on various topics. One was about competition. What ensued was probably the most venomous treatise on the “dreaded soccer moms.” I mean, it really started to get out of hand. There was a lot of talk about how these amateurs, armed with their point and shoots, were stealing all the business. Some of our photographers take a lot of assignments in downtown Tulsa which provides a lot of great backgrounds. The moms are learning that too. In the mid-‘80s, following some ugly encounters between the public and some senior photographers at one of Tulsa’s most photogenic city parks, the park department decided to start charging fees for professionals to use them. We had to get a permit (which began at $100 annually and gradually went up) to photograph in the park. Anyone not “professional” could photograph there to their heart’s content. It really stuck in the craw of many photographers. Fast forward to the aforementioned meeting, when some members said the city should either ban amateurs from photographing downtown or require such a permit to do so. Comments ranged from “They’re stealing our business” to “They don’t know the first thing about proper exposure” to “None of them are members of any photo organizations.” I began to think about what it must have been like in the early 1900s when Kodak came out with the “Brownie” box camera. Kodak’s slogan at that time was “You push the button; we do the rest.” I’m guessing that with all those cameras in the hands of “non professionals,” there was some trepidation about business being lost. Somehow (and I guess I’m being a little facetious) the professionals got past that too. When I was in a networking group in the mid-1990s, folks would ask me if I would forsake film-based cameras for digital ones for my wedding and portrait work. I usually replied that the resolution just wasn’t great enough. Southwest Image But it wasn’t long before that changed. When I worked as news editor in the late 1990s for a twiceweekly newspaper, it was making the transition from film to digital. Granted, we were using cameras which would be dinosaurs by today’s standards. And they looked “pretty amateur.” I could see the benefit - no more messy chemicals; no more waiting around to see what “developed.” Many of us professionals (myself included) greeted the digital age with open arms and, as digital SLRs became better and better, made the jump from film to digital. But, even then, in the back of my mind, I realized that these better and better cameras would reach the amateur or prosumer market and we’d have to rethink how we conducted our business. Many of us professionals really take to Photoshop to enhance our images. Guess what, many amateurs do also. They may not be able to afford the hefty price of that application but there is a plethora of others available at a much lower cost. Instead of being mad at the “soccer moms,” strive to give your clients something they can’t. Professionals need to take lessons from the portrait photographers of old and realize the “Brownie” didn’t put them out of business. Page 4 Tales from the old Southwest . . . Editor’s Note: This the eleventh of a series about the early days of the Southwest Professional Photographers Association based on a book by past president Greer Lile (1968) of Little Rock, Ark. and used with his permission. The Golden Sixties (Part I) President Offie Lites created the expression “The Golden Sixties,” and with his convention truly launched the Southwest well into the new era. Twelve top notch speakers included the great in photography, Gene Classman, John Platz, Ernie Curtis, John Howell, Frank Burchard, LaVerne Friesen, Harold Johnson, Frank Dunlap, William Whitaker, Gene Swinney, Paul March, and Kay Isaacson. The March 26 meeting at Hotel Texas was well attended, and among the many activities, G. J. Shrader received the Southwest National Award. During the business meeting, Ernie Curtis proposed the 1962 convention be held aboard a Trans-Atlantic Oceanliner sailing from Galveston for a sevenday cruise of the Caribbean. Jim Hampson quickly moved to approve the idea, and plans were made accordingly. Buddy Shrader reported $2,000 in the Pop Taylor loan fund, available to any member of the Southwestern or National for educational purposes. Lee Webb suggested for the convention duration the ballroom doors be kept closed so he could hear the programs. Harper Leiper was elected President, Ernie Curtis VicePresident, and Frank Dunlap Secretary-Treasurer. The Tiros I weather satellite was launched in 1960, and for the first time the earth had its picture taken. While at the National, the Seven Ages program was announced - a nationwide effort to boost photography. Also National recognized the efforts of hard working Past President Jim Hampson, and he assumed the job as Secretary-Treasurer of the. PP of A. In issuing his call for the Houston Convention, President Leiper wrote the following editorial: “In retrospect, I often ask myself just what have I gained from some fourteen years of extensive photographic association work. Southwest Image “From the bayous of Louisiana to the hills of Arkansas, over the plains of Oklahoma, the desolate beauty of New Mexico, and then, of course, those at home in Texas - from these places, I have people whom I call ‘friend’. “This to me is the real answer to those who are always asking ‘What do you get out of all this association work’ or ‘What’s in it for me?’ If a man knows five friends he can call and say, “I need help, and know he will get it - he is rich indeed. If he knows ten such friends, he is a wealthy man. “He may never need to call such friends, but the knowledge that he has them there and they have him is - to me the ultimate security in life on this earth.” And Harper Leiper has those 10 friends, plus many more, nor has he ever lost sight of his goals and wishes for the profession, and even today (1968) after serving the National as President, still continues to work harder than ever for his profession. Included in his 1961 program in Houston for an April meeting were Bill Carrier, Pat Apgar, W. D. Smith, Jack Stiles, Phyllis Moore, Fred Knapp and Peter Gowland. Probably the most surprised person at the convention was President Leiper, when Fred Quellmalz, Executive Manager of the PP of A presented the 1961 National Award to him. During this same meeting, Harper managed to lure Lamar Parish to his first banquet, and presented Lamar with a very special plaque for his service to the Association as “Mr. Registration.” The business meeting following saw Ernie Curtis elected President, Dank Dunlap Vice President, and John Gay as Secretary-Treasurer. In the Golden Year 1962, as President Curtis made plans for his convention in Oklahoma City, John Szarkowski succeeded Edward Steichen as Director of Photography at the Museum of Modern Art. Col. John Glenn, on first earth orbit by an American, made photographs with a specially adapted 35 mm Ansco camera with automatic exposure control. Ernie recognized his task, and set about solving the problem. See Old Southwest, Page 25 Page 5 Notes Tool in Photoshop It’s Mark McCall, M. Photog. Cr., CPP all about communication. In a busy studio environment, it’s easy to get sidetracked and overlook something the client has asked for. If you miss it, chances are you’ll be reprinting the client’s order once they receive it. It’s also easy for miscommunication between employees, album designers and production assistants to botch a wedding album page or client order. Photoshop’s Note Tool allows you to attach a virtual “posta-note” to your image to remind others of what you’d like to have done to an image or album page being designed or tweaked in any version of Photoshop. See Fig. 1. Earlier versions of Photoshop gave the Note Tool its own space in the toolbox. To access it in CS5, simply hold down the Eye Dropper Tool. Once the Note Tool comes up, type in your text and then close the box. The note can be moved to any area of Mark McCall\ the image you desire. To delete the note (remember, this is an unnecessary step as the note does not show up in print), simply right click on the note, select Delete. A great way to leave a note about a certain area of an image or album page is to leave a note right on top of it. Fig. 1 It’s even handy for leaving a note to yourself. You can record what font you used on a greeting card layout, client preferences for that image, etc. The best feature of the Note Tool is that the post-a-note doesn’t show up in a lab print or even when you print a proof from your inkjet printer. It’s invisible in any form other than on your computer screen. No need to delete the note when saving. It simply won’t appear in the print. If the image or album page is saved as a PDF, the note is still there and readable. Let’s say you want to send a PDF preview to your client. You have the ability to leave comments for your clients they can read, then delete or move to another part of the image, right in Acrobat Reader. The Note Tool is hidden under the Eye Dropper tool in the tool box of the left hand side of your screen in CS5. Southwest Image Fig. 2 Leave multiple notes in different areas of the album page for multiple tasks to be completed. Even leave notes to yourself about what filters you applied, what retouching you did or steps you took to get the overall look of the image or page you’re working on. See Fig. 2. All your employees or assistants have to do to be able to see it is to double click the note. The Note Box will appear with the text of the note you left behind. Simple. Mark McCall operates a boutique studio in historic downtown Lubbock and is a regular contributor to several photographic publications. Page 6 Southwest Image Page 7 PPA’s International Photographic Competition (IPC) is the gold standard for photography competitions and features the best of the best photographs from around the world in an exhibition every year. Having an image “go Loan”—chosen for inclusion in the world’s most prestigious photo exhibit—is an achievement professional photographers cherish. Since the photographs are judged and critiqued by industry pros with years of experience, doing well in this competition is a message to clients that your work has reached a level of excellence achieved by very few. Plus, when images are accepted in either the General Collection or Loan Collection of IPC, you earn exhibition merits. These merits are the foundation of the PPA master’s degrees. Each merit earned puts you one step closer to this career milestone. Want to reach this level of excellence? You can start with your PPA District Photographic Competition or go directly to the IPC itself. Whatever your choice, knowing the latest changes only improves your chances (and entering both competitions doubles your opportunity for a merit!). Why District? “We all should be taking advantage of competing at the district level,” adds Dennis Craft, M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP, API, F-ASP, chairman of PPA’s Photographic Exhibitions Committee (PEC). Southwest Image ©Wendy Maybury, CPP PPA Photographic Competitions Offer Users More Options 2010 PPA Loan Collection Image Entering at the district level is a great way to test-run your images. Plus, if your image scores an 80 or above (out of 100), it will be awarded a PPA Seal of Approval. When that “sealed” image is entered into the next IPC, it will automatically become part of the PPA General Collection, which is exhibited at Imaging USA. You’ll also receive an automatic exhibition merit, and that image could be elevated to the Loan Collection during the IPC judging, which nets you an additional merit! What’s your district? Every PPA member is assigned to a district based on where they live (or the address in their PPA member record), and a map is available here: www.ppa.com/competitions/districts.php. Page 8 Size (Almost) Doesn’t Matter – The restrictions on the size of the prints have been eased. All photographers will be able to submit different sizes of print images (80 to 480 square inches total, no more than 24 inches on any side). New Categories Encourage Everyday Client Work – The Photographic Open category has been split in two. The new Portrait category is for portraits, wedding images and other work for clients. The new Illustrative category is for landscapes, architectural images, creative composites and other scenic images. Files or Prints, You Decide – Photographers can now submit high-resolution digital versions of their images for judging in every category. “No longer will PPA tell you what format you must submit,” says Craft. “Print or digital…you decide what’s best for your image.” Although some of the entry details have changed, the pursuit of excellence has not. So don’t forget to consider the technical excellence and presentation elements when creating your images (from the 12 Elements of a Merit Image: www.ppa.com/competitions/ districts.php). This includes presentation touches like key lines or borders. As Craft points out, “Those elements are still a part of an image, whether you’re viewing it as a print or on a monitor.” If you choose to enter digitally, make sure you also read and follow the parameters for entering the correctly sized and prepared files (www.ppa.com/competitions/districts.php). Such pixel dimensions and color profiles are essential to ensure your image displays correctly for the jurors. Registration & Submission Updates Not only have the competitions changed in what you can enter, but how you enter has been updated, too! Southwest Image © Tim Mathiesen, M.Photog.Cr., A-ASP, F-ASP Competition Changes and Improvements Over the last few years, some key revisions have been made to modernize the competitions’ procedures and make them more entrant-friendly: To modernize the process—and keep better records—every photographer must register at ppa.com and include a digital version of each entry. Remember, online entry and digital upload is required regardless of your entry format (print or digital). For those used to entering the regional competitions, this may be a big change, as you will not be able register or pay on-site to enter your district competition. However, as long as you enter and pay by the online registration deadline for your district, you will be able to ship your print entries to the designated location. (You may also be able to hand deliver your images. Check your district’s competition rules for details.) Are you ready to excel? Are you ready to discover just how good your images are? Make this the year to find out by entering your PPA District Photographic Competition! Complete rules for the PPA District Photographic Competitions, including the new digital specs, are at www.ppa.com/competitions/districts.php. Contact your affiliate association or Colleen Sweeney (csweeney@ppa.com), PEC Administrator, if you have questions Page 9 Southwest Image Page 10 As Music Goes, So Go We By Larry J Foster, CPP I recently read an article (http://money.cnn. com/2010/02/02/news/companies/napster_music_industry/) chronicling the continued decline in music sales – 50 percent over the last 10 years from $14.6 billion in 1999 to $6.3 billion in 2009. The press release from the Recording Industry Association of America places blame on music sharing and piracy. However, most industry observers say the problems lie in the record labels refusal to give up their album-based business model and being slow to adopt positive digital based solutions. Glancing at the figures shows that gross sales from digital music Larry Foster is increasing by 15-20 percent a year while the gross sales from more expensive physical CDs declines at a steeper rate. What does this have to do with professional photography? I believe we can learn a great deal from the recording industry. Let’s journey back in time to the 1970s and look at how we experienced music some 40 years ago. You would shop diligently for the best components for your stereo system - amplifiers with high signal to noise ratios, turntables with special cartridges and the largest, towering speakers you could afford. You would carefully measure the distance between the speakers and your favorite chair to get the optimum stereo effect. Then you would sit down and listen to your music - usually the whole album which you had purchased days before after stewing through the bins at the local record store. It is this model that built the music industry. In the early ‘80s, music would go portable with the first Walkman and then it would go digital with CDs and then compact with MP3 players. Southwest Image Now we expect our music to be accessible to us everywhere at any time we demand - in the gym, in the car, walking in the park or at work. Music is purchased by the song from Apple or Amazon, the concept of the album is passé and the largest speakers we use to listen to our music are on our desktop computer. The recording industry still clings to the album based business model as the consumer gleefully speeds on powered by iPods and smart phones. Now we will apply this to professional photography. Again, let’s travel back in time and look at how our customers experienced photographs. Years ago, our customers would purchase a nice large portrait to hang in their house, and purchase desk portraits to put on their desks. Professional photography was an investment, and would be displayed with pride for many years. Professional photographers have built their business model on the sale of a piece of paper with the customer’s likeness on it. Photography went digital, then went portable with small cameras and cell phone cameras and now has gone social. Grandma sees the latest pictures of the grandchildren in email, text message and social networks. The wall space once devoted to the family portrait is now occupied by a large screen TVs and the consumer’s appetite for the latest and newest picture makes prints look antiquated. See Music, Page 25 Page 11 Portrait Gallery I “Walter” by Tammy Graham “Snow Fence” by Glenn Hohnstreiter “The Soloist” by Pamela Wessel “Morning Traffic” by Dick Goodall “Caribbean Ghost” by Robby Bishop “Guardians of Rome” by Ed Kelley “Fire and Ice Antelope Canyon” by Bob Coates Southwest Image “Premeditation” by Kelly Shipp Page 12 Portrait Gallery II “After The Dance” by Bonnie Brown “A Glorious Day” by Don Emmerich “River Rocks” by Doug Box “Lonesome Melody” by Julio Gonzalez “Beautiful Expectations” by Bob Spillars “Metamorphosis” by Brandon Trull Southwest Image “Hanging with the Homies” by Margaret Bryant “Champagne Du Cheval” by Jack Puryear Page 13 Portrait Gallery III “Lotus Blossom” by Sharon Baker “A Legacy in the Making” by Athena Rainbolt “Lyrical Depth” by Elena Hernandez “Playin For Tips” by Gary Patton “Rugged Blues” by Ed Broussard “Sweet Taste of Summertime” by Cris Duncan “Last Light” by Jessica Lozoya Southwest Image “Summer Rain Beauty” by Laura Wootan Page 14 Portrait Gallery IV “Dinner Time” by Andrew Faulds “Ducks in a Row” by David Watt “Jack’s Night Out” by Cary Garrison “Rebecca” by Gabriel Alonso “Special Delivery” by Angela Gonzalez “Tea for Two” by Chasity Rozell Southwest Image “Waiting for Michael” by Alvin Gee “Mysterious Beauty” by Kevin Jairaj Page 15 Southwest Image Page 16 Safeguard Files and Combat Digital Overload With Family-Friendly Storage (NAPSA)-You don’t have to worry that your irreplaceable photos might disappear if your computer crashes, or let large files such as photos, videos and music gobble up storage space on your hard drive. Shared storage, referred to as network attached storage (NAS), a technology once reserved for businesses, is now a simple and affordable way for multiple users in the home to store, share and safeguard documents, music, videos and photos. Unlike a traditional external hard drive, network storage is a shared resource and can be accessed from anywhere on the home network. According to a report by Google, one out of every 14 hard drives will fail within a year, and other statistics show that 31 percent of PC users have lost all their files due to events beyond their control. With a network storage device, everyone in the family can easily safeguard important files and retrieve them even if a computer fails. No one has to worry about the video of baby’s first steps or an entire music collection disappearing. Network storage, such as the ShareCenter series offered by D-Link, provides ample capacity for everyone in the home to safely store files and documents in one place. It also lets family members share digital photos and media such as music libraries, photo albums, videos and high-definition movies. Installing a hard drive in your D-Link network storage unit is easy. Simply pop off the front panel, slide any Serial ATA drive into one of the open bays - whether it is a drive you already have at home or one you just purchased from the store - and you are done. This device also features a new technology, cloud storage services, that lets you back up directly to the Internet. To help alleviate digital overload, these devices are capable of housing up to two-terabyte hard drives in each bay. Using only a one-terabyte drive, you could store up to an estimated 320,000 digital photos, 16,660 hours of digital music or 250 two-hour DVD-quality movies. In addition to that, most network storage devices are expandable and have an extra hard drive slot to support your growing storage needs. That extra slot can be used to mirror a copy of the data stored to even further reduce the risk of loss if there is an unexpected hard drive failure. Want to get to your files even when away from home? No problem. This storage connects to your network rather than a computer so it is easy to access your shared documents or digital media from wherever you are. As long as you’re connected to the Internet, they’re only a click away. With network storage, your family can always be connected. For more information, visit www.dlink.com Top 10 E-Mail Features Your Business Needs To Succeed (NAPSI)—For small and medium-size businesses, e-mail is one of the primary ways to communicate and connect with customers, not to mention an important tool for storing and organizing information. Not all e-mail systems are created equal, though, and compromising on your e-mail system could put essential information at risk. Here are the top 10 e-mail features your business needs to succeed: 1. Security—Viruses and spam can slow down e-mail, steal confidential information and use your computers to attack websites.\ Ensure that your information is safe with built-in anti-virus and anti-spam filters that are constantly updated. 2. Reliability—Growing businesses can’t afford downtime. Southwest Image Insist on 99.9 percent uptime with a financially backed guarantee. 3. Backup—Losing information due to a power outage or accident can be catastrophic to a business. Make sure your provider routinely backs up data to multiple geographic locations. 4. Support—Problems arise with any system. Confirm that you have round-the-clock phone support for your e-mail. 5. Storage—For many, e-mail is a default storage system. Look for systems with generous e-mail box sizes in the 20−25 GB range and the ability to send and store large attachments. 6. Compatibility with mobile devices—With more and more phones able to connect to e-mail, it’s important to ensure they’ll work well with your business e-mail system. See E-Mail, Page 26 Page 17 Southwest Image Page 18 Education Abounds In All-Day Programs An opportunity for photographers visiting Tonto National Monument on April 14 and 26 is being provided by retired professional photographers Peg Lavoie, Cr. Photog. and Rex Lavoie, M. Photog., Cr., MEI. In cooperation with the interpretive staff of Tonto National Monument, volunteers Rex and Peg launched a visitor photo walk program at the park. The goal of the photo walks is to provide a way for professional and serious amateur photographers to photograph along the Upper Cliff Dwelling trail as well as at the ruin itself without having to disrupt the regular ranger guided tours. The photo walks are planned to allow the participants not only the time to compose images and to also provide them with the best lighting conditions. Group size is limited to 5-7 visitors to make it easier to photograph in the dwelling without getting in each other’s way. The Arizona Professional Photographers Association will host an all-day “Spring Fling” May 1 featuring Nixa, Mo. photographer Jim Lersch’s “High School Seniors My Way.” The cost is $49 for Members and $99 for Non-Members Lersch, M. Photog., Cr., API, promises to show how to adapt lighting techniques (with a commercial edge) to create extremely creative senior images. Lersch has been a commercial photographer for 37 years, during which time he has seen his share of slow seasons. He has learned to compensate for those times by adapting and searching for new ways to keep his business moving forward including working with many famous celebrities in Branson, Mo. such as Andy Williams and Ann-Margaret. Lersch was named Photographer of the Year Award from the PP of the Ozarks in both 2003 and 2004 and holds six Southwest Image Kodak Gallery and four Fujifilm Masterpiece Awards. A PPA Approved Photographic Instructor his teaching credits include instructing at PPA’s Winona School of Photography for several years. In his program, he will also demonstrate how his theory of spending one-on-one time with the students and his unusual techniques have provided him with a leading edge that is creating demand for his high school portraiture. This segment includes a few set photos so to see how easy it is and is also narrated by the actual seniors Jim photographed (they’ll tell you what seniors think and what YOU need to think about). Lersch will provide a list of the questions that he asks his seniors to “get into their minds” and talk about how color plays a key role in finding out who they really are. The next day (May 2) Lersch will be the featured speaker at the monthly AZPPA meeting with a topic of “Commercial Photography for Dummies.” Have you ever considered commercial work to supplement your business income? Are you interested in reaping additional financial benefits within the scope of your existing talents? Lersch will show you how you can add to your income by adapting known portrait lighting techniques to create high-quality commercial images. It’s that easy! In addition, Lersch will demonstrate how his commercial techniques have provided him with a leading edge that has created high demand for his senior portraiture and entertainment industry photography. His program will give you the technical knowledge and inspiration you need to succeed in another aspect of the industry or simply enhance the business segment that you are already in. Guests attend their first monthly meeting at no charge. Meetings are held at Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel 2435 S. 47th Street. “I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation. I don’t find photographing the situation nearly as interesting as photographing the edges.” ~William Albert Allard, “The Photographic Essay” Page 19 Spring Seminar Slated for April 3 Arkansas Professional Photographers Association past president Tom Bagby and Kristen McGill of Russellville will present “Why we do what we do” at the state spring seminar April 3 in Conway. This program will give the information that often gets overlooked. Lots of speakers will tell you HOW they do something but the missing piece is WHY. Not all styles and business models are right for everyone and it is up to you to find the best ones for you and your circumstances. “We are here to... help! We will show you who we are and hopefully equip you to discover who you are,” they said. The pair will discuss shooting styles, marketing styles, management styles and how to find the right styles for you and your studio. Bagby, who has been operating Tom Bagby Photography since 1976, brings to this program both business and life experience forged by successes AND failures for without one the other cannot exist. McGill with an eye for design came to the photography industry from a financial background. Her sense of style makes her duties of marketing director come naturally. Her marketing campaigns have won both SPI’s Marketer of the Year and a finalist in PPA’s AN-NE awards. The registration cost for the seminar is $45 per person. Registration forms are available at www.arkansasppa.com Tom Bagby and Kristen McGill A firm believer in the concept that life is meant to be lived; Tom is an avid guitar player, golfer, and a connoisseur of both ketchup and beer. Southwest Image Page 20 High School Senors Photographic Czars to Headline Spring Seminar The husband and wife team of Larry and Karen Peters of London, Ohio will be the featured speakers at the March 27-28 spring seminar of the Professional Photographers of Louisiana at the Holiday Inn on Evangeline Thruway in Lafayette. The event is billed as a seminar for everyone - whether you are interested in improving your skills as a photographer, learning how to photograph seniors or children, or just becoming better at managing the business you are building. The Peters Family has successfully owned and operated Peters Photography since 1972. With three separate studio locations in Ohio, the Peters family has learned what it takes to manage a photographic studio enterprise, and enthusiastically share their hard-earned knowledge with other growing studios. Karen will explain the basics of running a studio – from setting pricing, to managing a staff, to the day-to-day operation of the business. While most photography courses focus on photographic skills, this session will provide the hard-to-find answers to your questions about daily studio management. Larry will share his extensive experience with marketing and sales –and show how he’s made Peters Photography a leader in the industry. As an instructor for over 30 years, Larry will give you practical, easy-toimplement ideas and processes that can immediately impact your bottom line. Larry Peters is a self taught full time photographer. He began his working career as a high school business teacher after having graduated from London High School, Bliss College and Xavier University. Larry holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree plus a Masters Degree in Secondary Education. After teaching school and spending six years in a family run Southwest Image business, he and his wife launched Main Street Photography out of their home. This business grew overnight and went from photographing 200 high school seniors on a part time basis to photographing 750 seniors the very next year. After two week-long courses at Winona, he decided that his photography was going to look different from other area photographers and began developing props, sets and launched new marketing ideas. These same principles have been used over the last 27 years. Larry Peters brought Senior Photography to what it is today with contemporary photography and now with the advent of digital, new digital ideas that not only look different, but have many sales advantages and markets. He also implemented never before used direct mail, the 12-hour sale and new sales techniques and packages. Larry has authored books primarily on senior photography, speaks nationally and internationally and has several Video Series. He was a part of the Portrait 2000 broadcast and was a Kodak Marketing Program participant. The uniqueness of Peters style of photography has earned many awards with Peters and his son-in-law and daughter all being Master Photographers. Their photography studios can boast of photographing over 1,800 students each year with averages ranging from $1,100 plus sitting fees which reach as high as $420.00. The Peters staff also has studio seminars for fellow photographers in the spring of each year concentrating for the most part on Senior Photography. Larry holds a Master of Photography degree, Photographic Craftsman and Master of Electronic Imaging. This two-day seminar is full of guidance, concepts and ideas that that promise to energize participants to return home with a marketing plan and management advice that will benefit studios for years to come. Page 21 Programming Plethoria Planned For State Convention March 26-29 Sisters Kristen Seale and Trisha Simmons of Safford, Ariz. will open the New Mexico State convention March 26-29 in the Route 66 Hotel and Casino in Albuquerque. A question often heard from clients is, “What backgrounds do you have?” The first part of a two part program entitled “Beyond and Back” will teach how to channel creative energy into custom backgrounds that express a signature style. You don’t have to be an artist to create beautiful backgrounds - Trisha will teach you all the tips and tricks to painting on canvas or muslin, plus some awesome ways to paint floors and walls. Trisha’s portion of the program will take you “Beyond” what you have thought was possible in your creative endeavors. The second part of this program will take you “Back” to the basics of what makes a good portrait. “We LOVE Photoshop, but don’t love to use it to create the lighting, posing and photographic techniques that are required for classic portraiture. It is essential that we capture a superior image in the camera!” the sisters agreed. Kristen will talk about how to consistently achieve beautiful portrait lighting and posing on individuals, couples and families. A solid understanding of the basics gives you the freedom to repeatedly create dynamic portraits that appeal to today’s client. Coleen Gonsar and Darty Hines Southwest Image Kristen and Trisha are second generation photographers and together, they successfully run the studio that their parents, Dale and Janice Holladay established over 37 years ago in a small, rural community in Southeastern Arizona. These girls gained a love for photography at a young age, working in the studio and attending conventions with their parents. Because of their expertise, they have each taught classes in photography and Photoshop at their local community college. Next up on the platform (Sunday-Monday) Photographic Craftsmen Colleen Gonsar and Darty Hines of Central Pennsylvania will present “Studio Success.” The pair will share their award winning marketing, photography and sales approaches and techniques. During this program, you’ll find in depth education and demonstrations to push your senior photography and all parts of your studio to the next level. This class will showcase senior portraits and cover other aspects of running a portrait studio. Including lighting, posing, marketing, sales and promotions for the portrait studio. Learn from PPA AN-NE Marketing Award finalist Hines, as he showcases his high school senior marketing campaign from design to delivery. Watch as Colleen and Darty dazzle you with posing and lighting techniques that will help streamline the way you shoot and take hours off of your post production time. Gonsar will lead the discussion on how to price and sell to the person who makes the money decisions: Mom. Learn the sales and pricing phiDon MacGregor losophies behind Colleen & Co.’s two very successful studios. Their straight forward style of teaching will leave you fired up to make changes for success in your own studio. Canadian photographer Don MacGregor will present an allday Tuesday program on Lifestyle Portraiture. MacGregor brings more than 40 years of experience to his class. His enthusiastic, high energy, approach will keep you motivated beyond the convention. He has earned all his professional credentials from professional photography associations and regularly visits the awards podium. See Convention, Page 26 Page 22 Spring Seminar Features Photo Safaris and Darton Drake By Clem Wehner The Professional Photographers of Oklahoma Spring Seminar, March 25-27, will feature the incredibly inspiring Darton Drake, M. Photog., Cr. of Winnetka, Ill. as the main speaker at the Best Western Convention Center in Lawton, Okla. The weekend seminar will also include several photo safaris into the 65,000-acre Wichita National Wildlife Refuge led by some of Oklahoma’s most renowned photographers accompanied by local expert guides. In addition, several master photographers will teach outdoor portraiture in Medicine Park - a scenic cobblestone village with a rather “colorful” history. Darton Drake The fun starts with a “Sunset Safari” to the top of Mount Scott, the highest peak in Oklahoma (not to be confused with Southwest board member Mike Scott of Clinton or Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma), featuring beautiful sunsets across the surrounding mountain tops and scenic valleys. Mount Scott is one of Oklahoma’s most prominent mountains, rising 2,464 feet above sea level. Mount Scott Located on the eastern edge of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, it is a legendary site which boasts tales of ancient spirits, Spanish gold and buried outlaw loot. On the second day, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy safaris for all levels of fitness - from drive-around easy to hiking-boot rugged. There will be classes, workshops, and of course, great food. Drake, who claims he doesn’t teach, will share in an all-day program which some have called “life changing. Three Receive Degrees Three members of the Professional Photographers of Oklahoma have received their Photographic Craftsman degrees. Southwest Image The Professional Photographers of America salutes the photographers that met the requirements to earn their degrees in 2010. The degrees were conferred by PPA Council on Jan. 17, and the degree recipients were honored at the PPA Award and Degree ceremony in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 18. The Oklahomans are Janet Tucker McCoy, CPP, and owner of McCoy Photography of Ada; Gary G. Patton, CPP, owner of Gary Patton Photography of Tulsa and Fran Wehner, current PPO president, owner of Photography by Fran of Lawton. Fran Wehner Gary Patton Horton Named to SWPPA Board Dwaine Horton, M. Photog., Cr., of Thomas has been named Oklahoma’s representative on the board of the Southwest Professional Photographers Association. He joins fellow Oklahoman Mike Scott, M. Photog. of Clinton and filled that position made vacant by Randy Taylor, M. Photog., Cr., CPP of Edmond who was elected secretary to the executive board. Horton, past president of the Professional Photographers of Oklahoma and a National Award recipient, has operated Horton Studios with his wife Eldora for Dwaine Horton 25 years. He has amassed 149 merits of which 69 were for prints including 16 which went loan. The couple recently built a new studio adjacent to their home. Did You Know . . . The first letter to circle the globe by air mail was dispatched from New York on April 19, 1937 and, after traveling through San Francisco, Hong Kong, Holland and Brazil, returned to New York on May 25, 1937. Page 23 Sturdevant Gets New Imaging PPA Award This year the Professional Photographers of America started the Grand Imaging Awards to recognize the best of the best in specific categories and then overall. Richard Sturdevant of Garland, Texas was awarded the overall Grand Imaging Award for his image, The Legend of Brazos Texas Ranger. This image is so powerful that it has won every competition in which it has been entered, both in 2009 and 2010. The image proves that the old west still lives! Sturdevant is not new to receiving awards. He also received the 1st place Grand Imaging Award in Illustrated, and the 3rd place in the Grand Imaging Electronic Imaging category. He had three Richard Sturdevant images in the top 10 for Electronic Imaging at the Grand Imaging Awards. He also received the Bronze Medallion Award for the American Society of Photographers (ASP). Like many photographers, Sturdevant’s career has evolved. He sold cars and medical insurance, was a painter, and did computer illustration. He bought a 35mm camera to take photos of his art. He was hired as an artist, but the company turned its focus to photography. Sturdevant said he felt that things were changing and it was time for him to get good with a camera. His next job was working with a photographer whose main work was seniors. Sturdevant had grand ideas, but the photographer wanted him to stay traditional. When the studio went out of business, Sturdevant now knew he was going to have to go at it on his own. Initially business was slow but gradually word of mouth brought him work. “I just kept at it. I am basically self-taught and I am a workaholic. I’ve always been. I don’t sleep much. I love creating,” he said. Sixteen Texans Receive Degrees From National Sixteen members of the Texas Professional Photographers Association have received degrees from the Professional Photographers of America. PPA salutes the photographers who met the requirements to earn their degrees in 2010. The degrees were conferred by PPA Council on Jan. 17, and the degree recipients were honored at the PPA Award and Degree Warren Eagleton ceremony in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 18. Receiving Master of Photography degrees Cliff Ranson were Walter Eagleton, Cr. Photog., CPP, owner of Eagleton Photography of Denton; Raymond E. Gray, owner of Gray Photography, Inc. of Corpus Christi and Cliff Ranson, Cr. Photog., CPP, owner of Ranson Photography of McAllen. Dianna Lynn Walker Also Phuwadol Thamathitikhun, owner of Phuwadol Photography of Dallas; Dianna Lynn Walker, CPP, owner of Dianna Lynn Photography, LLC of Austin; PamePamela E. Wessel la E. Wessel, CPP, owner of Northernlight of Bulverde and Kimberly M. Wylie, owner of Kymberly Wylie Photography of Dallas Kimberly M. Wiley See Degrees Page 26 Southwest Image Page 24 Old Southwest Continued from Page 5 His thinking rightfully was, “we must have a good, strong, educational program to attract attendance; and to afford a good, strong, educational program, we must have good attendance.” He succeeded in both phases, as more than 600 photographers traveled to Oklahoma City to hear Kermit Buntrock and Duane Salie, Bill Gibson, Glen Worley, Jason Halley, Judy Brownell, Houstin Payne, Van bore, Wallace Seawell, and Ken Carson with his “ultimate program.” The SW National Award was presented to Billo Smith and SW Past President Harper Leiper presented an honorary life membership scroll to Ernie Curtis. Frank Dunlap was elected President, John Gay Vice President, and Kaye Marvins as Secretary-Treasurer. Ernie had provided the program - the program provided the attendance. The Southwest enjoyed a good year. As Frank Dunlap assumed his job, plans were being completed for a gigantic National for Dallas in 1963. To aid attendance, the Southwest agreed to forego their annual meeting; and immediately through the magazine, and by personal appearances start publicity for the big Deal in Dallas. Jim Hampson was the National President and most every Southwesterner had a job to do. Harper was serving Jim as back-up man plus having a National office of his own to worry with, and Ernie Curtis was Portrait Program Chairman for the National. Meanwhile, with all this going on, back in Henderson, Texas, they elected a new Mayor - the Honorable Odell Poovey. Music Continued from Page 11 A print-based business model does not have an answer for the person who wants a shiny new profile picture every other week. How our consumer experiences photography has changed, and our business model needs to change with it. A quote from the article summarizes it the best for both industries: “The problem for the music industry may actually be its greatest opportunity. Despite the great decline in sales, the Internet has exposed consumers to more music than ever before. But that accessibility has been difficult to monetize.” Now, I don’t have a crystal ball - I don’t know what the new business model is going to be. But I have some theories and some thoughts. Take or leave them as you wish. Facebook has replaced wallets. Consumers still want to share their pictures with their friends; they just want to use Southwest Image Facebook instead of exchanging wallets. We need to figure out how to leverage this into a profit. It’s not a buffet. “Get all the files for one price” does not allow impulse/ emotional purchasing and effectively caps your sale at a given price. ITunes does not have unlimited downloads for a single price - and neither should we give all the files for a single price. Bigger is more expensive. We charge different rates for 4x6 prints than we do 16x20 prints. We should charge different rates for different sized files. Think songs, not albums. Our gross sales per customer will decline, but we will see them more often. Instead of a customer paying a $1000 every five years, we may see them every year and only sell $200; or maybe every month for a $30 sale. Instead of a senior session lasting 2-3 hours, maybe we photograph them for 10 minutes every month for nine months. Our customers want new pictures more frequently. What are we doing to meet that need? Fresh is better. To get our customers coming back on a more frequent basis, we are going to have to change our scenes and props and backgrounds more frequently, and do more “limited edition” scenes. Every business exists to fulfill a need or a desire in the consumer. If the business is not fulfilling a need, then it is out of business. The needs and desires of our consumer have changed, and our business model needs to change with it. If a prospective consumer comes to us and we are unwilling to provide what they want, they will continue looking even if the quality is not what they would prefer. I believe this is why so many “soccer mom” start-ups are succeeding at the expense of established studios. We as established professionals need to step up and set the new standard before the hordes of uneducated masses set it for us. Dwell on these things next time you listen to your iPod. Larry Foster, owner of Foster Photographic Arts of Norman, Okla., is a past president of the Metropolitan Area Professional Photographers Association in Oklahoma City. Did You Know . . . Louis Braille, inventor of a system of reading and writing used by blind and visually impaired people, lost his sight at age three as a result of an accident. At age 15 he simplified a method of battlefield communication used by the French military to create his own system. Page 25 Convention Continued from Page 22 Most importantly, he brings real life experience running a successful business with an honest, down to earth attitude. MacGregor has lectured across Canada, the United States and is a recipient of PPA’s and Canada’s National Awards for his dedication to professional development in photography. He also has been an instructor at numerous conventions and schools including 19 years at Texas School. Degrees Continued from Page 24 Charles Parish Receiving Photographic Craftsman degrees were Marc D. Bailey, CPP, owner of Marc Bailey Photography of Longview; Don L. Barnes, owner of The Photographers of Denton; Maria T. Bernal, owner of Maria Bernal Photography of Cedar Park; Farrah Braniff, CPP, owner of Farrah Braniff Photographs of Houston and Leslie A. Kitten, CPP, owner of Savant Photography of Lubbock. Also, Charles Parish, CPP, owner of Parish Photography, Inc. of San Antonio; Teri Quance, M. Photog., CPP, owner of Quance Design & Photography of Cypress; Richard W. Sturdevant M. Photog., owner of Sturdevant Studio of Garland and Brandon W. Trull, of Perry Aslyn Portrait Design of Dallas. Marc D. Bailey Farrah Braniff Southwest Image Don Barnes Leslie Ann Kitten Richard Sturdevant E-Mail Continued from Page 17 Teri Quance Brandon Trull Make sure your e-mail provider has support for Windows Phone, iPhone, Android and Blackberry, among others. 7. Web access from different browsers—Particularly if you travel, it’s important to make sure your e-mail system allows easy access from a PC, phone and a variety of Web browsers including Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox and Chrome, so you have uninterrupted access. 8. Offline support—If you use Microsoft Outlook, make sure your provider has full support for its features, including offline access, so you can continue to be productive even without an Internet connection. 9. Control—It’s your e-mail, so even if you don’t manage servers in-house, confirm that your e-mail system gives you the ability to manage things like security settings, distribution groups and shared address book information over the Web. 10. Easy to use—For a tool you use every day, it has to include features that make your life easier. Look for the latest features, such as: • Ability to sort e-mail the way you normally work-by date, sender or subject; • Shared calendaring, so users can see their colleagues’ schedules to book meetings; • The ability to include conference rooms and equipment when scheduling meetings; • Shared mailboxes that multiple people can access and respond to, such as customer service e-mail accounts. Page 26
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