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Greetings to PPC Members
The value of PPC:
In the most recent past and probably for the last 60 years that PPC has been around, the question is always asked, "What's in it for me?" How can PPC help me or my affiliate. Well simply put, I don't know the answer to that. Each person and affiliate has different needs and wants.
Is it the Find a Photographer on the PPC website? We get hundreds of hits a day on the web site search for a photographer. No that's not what you are looking for? How about the reduced rates on liability insurance? Nope that's not it either.
West Coast School is probably not the answer either as only 107 people took advantage of the school this year. It's ok to learn and to have fun at the same time. Not it, huh? Well maybe the convention is the answer? Over 3,000 people attended the trade show this year and many of those took advantage of the convention speakers and evening events. Even more learning and more fun. Not your cup of tea???
How about an award winning magazine? No, that is learning again. Print competition? Nope, that involves learning again. How about the affiliate exchange where information is exchanged amongst the affiliates on how to make things better. We try to openly share information with each other.
California Sunday, whoops, that is that learning thing again. Sharing speakers, sorry, learning again.
Hmmm, maybe we don't have what you are looking for. Maybe you could be one of those people who join to help make things better. You can come up with suggestions on what we can do to make PPC better and send them to me via the Suggestion Box on the website. I would love to hear from you.
PPC: "ENHANCE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY THROUGH THE PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF EDUCATION, SHARING AND UNITY."
PPC
Michael Collins,
President, PPC |
MEMBER NEWS
A longtime member of PPC, Terry Reinbold, M.Photog., Cr., F-PPC and many time PPC State judge, exhibited his polaroid manipulated images of the Missions of California at the Pro Photo Expo Convention in Pasadena in 2006.
There was an immense anount of interest in the images and Tery has self-published a book of the images.
Please go to the link below for a preview and more information
http://creativecontinuum.com/bookshow.asp?id=65
You will enjoy the images, better still, purchase a copy and Terry will sign it for you!
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Registration is now open on-line for the 2008
Pro Photo Expo Convention and Trade Show
2008 is going to be even better than the 2007 convention!
The speaker line-up is amazing, the trade show is almost full with vendor sign-ups and the Casino Night Party event will keep everyone in "cash". |
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PPC Service Merits
The listing of PPC service merits accumulated by members is on line in the member only section.
If you have merits you have not submiited yet, please do so as soon as possible. Convention is only a few months away and you could be one of PPC's members receiiving a Service Medal or geting a bar for your ribbon.
Send your service merit application (found on line) to Julie Diebolt Price.
Twenty-five service merits are required to earn the medal and for every twenty-five more merits you earn you receive a bar.
Once you start volunteering they add up very fast. Review the Summer issue of Pro Photo West for all the information about service merits.
PPC Fellowship Merits
Fellowship merits are earned by entering PPC's annual print competition. Check out your merit standing on line - you could be close to a Fellowship medal. Details about Fellowship are in the current (Fall) issue of Pro Photo West
Print comp is only a three months away and you can earn those merits by entering the competititon. One PPC merit for scores 78 and 79, two PPCmerits for scores over 80! |
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The Professional Photographers of California Newsletter
October 2007
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Greetings!
What is the price of membership worth? I struggled with that until recently. Unless you were on the planet Mars or further away, you probably knew about the fires in California over the last week or so. Many thousands of people were displaced and out of their homes for a few days and some even lost their homes.
Out of those thousands of people I thought there may have been a photographer or two displaced. We, PPC, put out an email to offer assistance to any PPC member who may need help. I was overwhelmed, not by people needing help but by the sheer volume of calls and emails offering assistance.
Many people offered a room in their home, if needed, some offered their motor home. Many offered their camera gear if needed to keep a business going. But the bottom line is, THIS IS WHY WE ARE A FAMILY!!
The next time you ask, "What's in it for me?" Think about all of the support that is out there in the photographic community. People came out of the woodwork to lend a helping hand, not even questioning who needed it, but openly. Thank you to all of the wonderful members who offered help.
Michael Collins, President
Professional Photographers of California
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The officers for this year are:
Michael Collins, President
Tim Meyer, 1st. V.P.
Stewart Schulze, 2nd V.P.
Marie Zigon, Secretary
Robin Swanson, CPA, Treasurer
Michael Lee, Chairman of the Board
Major Committee Chairs are:
Convention Manager, Michael Gan
Speaker Chair, Victoria Wispell
West Coast School Co-chairs, Kip Cothran & Lisa Batto
Long Range Planning, Craig Holt
Membership, Cayce Newman
Pro Photo West Editor, Donna Jirsa
Contracted Staff are:
Bill Thomas, Trade Show Administrator
Roger B. Daines, Business Manager
It you have any suggestions for these committees, or would like to volunteer for a committee, contact the committee chair, or the President of PPC.
We would be ecstatic if you were to consider being a contributor to this newsletter!
Send articles for consideration to:
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As soon as we have the final competition information from PPA we will put the entry forms and rules on the PPC website.
We will also send out an e-mail informing you they are available.
Meanwhile, it's time to start pulling those "80+" images you've created this year!
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Welcome New and Renewing PPC Members for the months of August, September and October 2007
Jerry Venz, Saratoga
Renee Gardner-Dubins, Fair Oaks
Georger DeLoache, N. Hollywood
Doug Nelson, La Quinta
Thomas Perkins, Covina
Dan Pettus, Temecula
William Hodge, Huntington Beach
Andrea Jones, Modesto
Lori Lethcoe, San Diego
Tracy Slepcevic, Redondo Beach
Donna Rathman, Rancho Santa Margarita
Gerard Borillo, San Jose
Sawitree Crowe, Ramona
Casey Stromayer, Shasta Lake
Auralee Dallas, Lodi
Catherine Reese, Whitter Springs
Ed Chan, Elk Grove
Bay Photo Lab, Santa Cruz
Lesley Lukens, Corona
Valerie Benvenuti, Windsor
Stewart Schulze, Hilmar
Grant Usell, Poway
Thomas Howard, San Diego
Mark Davidson, Palm Springs
Ralf Stier, El Segundo
Judy Stansbury, Sacramento
Leticia Jenkins, Los Angeles
Janet Meadows, Healdsburg
Kim Welshons, Carlsbad
Byron Sands, Boulder Creek
Charlotte Picella, W. Covina
Robert Pierce, Santa Rosa
Kristine Bardin, San Diego
Kathy Nisbet, Riverside
Prema Buck, Temecula
Lisa Evans, Danville
Florence Helmburger, Alta Dena
Vickie Hinton, Armona
Gary Brown, Van Nuys
Linnea Lenkus, Signal Hill
Nick Buratovich, Dinuba
Oscar Afsahi, Encinitas
Jesus Garcia, Lemoore
"Your name could be here as well!
We look forward to a great parnership with you all!! |
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Stop Selling 8x10s and Start Building Relationships
When I first started photography as a business I was totally focused on the whole process - getting the client - getting the shot the client wants - selling the shots to the client - finishing the prints and delivering - on and on it went. It can get a bit mundane - and while the photography aspect of it always gets me excited it's the middle part that gets a bit tedious. I have learned over the years that I love to create. I love to not only capture the moment that the parent wants, but better yet to do something amazing with it afterwards - whether it be a toned or handcolored print or a beautiful storyboard that tells the photo. It is a great feeling, isn't it? To see what your images can do? Now, take that one step further - give that control or satisfaction to your client and you will see a whole new relationship surface. What? Give what? What do I mean? Simple - teach. Teach your clients how to do things creatively - especially with pictures of their previous children and they will come back over and over again. Be inspiring. Be Creative. Why not teach a workshop!
I have spent most of my life teaching one thing or another, so it was very easy for me to add workshops into my studio. Clients wanted to learn how to handcolor, I could teach them so why not?! There are two clients I have found - the ones that are going to do it and the ones that are going to pay you to do it. Many photographers are afraid to teach b/c they somehow think it will take business away from them. Take handcoloring - if I teach my clients how to handcolor - why would they buy a handcolored print from me? Well to start with, I have been handcoloring for about 12 years, this is one workshop. If they want a large photo that is handcolored hanging on their wall, they will most likely pay me to do it. But at the same time, they may dabble in it for fun or to add to their scrapbooks or to unlease their own creative spirit as most of us need. And if they do handcolor their own prints? So what - great - pat yourself on the back for opening up their creative spirit and inspiring them to do so. I have never had a fear of teaching - my Mom and my sister have spent their life doing it in other ways, and I think its extremely important to share your knowledge.
So, now how do we build relationships? Quite simply, bring your clients back to your studio or into your home during a non stressful situation, i.e.not a photo shoot., and teach them how to solder, handcolor, create a bow for their daughters hair, the list goes on, and they will thank you for it.
We have added workshops as part of our studio. Depending upon the time of year, we will have several different types of workshops throughout the month and we love to do seasonal projects - such as soldering ornaments with their proofs at Christmas time for gifts. My clients tell me over and over again that they couldn't sleep that night b/c they wanted to make more. They go home with finished products that they created with their hands and most often my photos (though they can bring their own). Our program has been so successful we our teaching our clients how to teach workshops to others in the home - such as workshop parties. People love to do things with photos - why not teach them how to do this. They will love you for it.
The relationship builds - it has to - when you are sitting side by side with others in a creative environment, you share, you learn more, and you grow together. I guarantee you, that next photo shoot will be way more relaxing.
Ana Brandt owns and operates her photography studio in Tustin, California
Photography Website - http://www.anabrandt.com
Workshops Website - http://www.b--creative.com
Why I love being a part of PPC!
I love to be a part of PPC because I love to be a part of a photographic community where I can learn from others and grow. I read every article in the magazine and I love all the marketing ideas and trials and tribulations of other photographers. We are not alone and it's important that we all learn from each other so that we can grow. |
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Sincerely,
Roger Daines,
M. Photog., Cr., CPP, API, F-PPC, S-PPC,
PPC Businerss Manager
Professional Photographers of California
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