January 2016 Carolina Photographer

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Executive Board Chairman Ellis Williamson Ewilliamson17@nc.rr.com

President Rose Mary Cheek rosemarycheek@charter.net

President Elect Ned Winn studiomail@nc.rr.com Vice President Adrian Henson adrian@adrianhenson.com

Treasurer Tim Hester tim@timhesterphotography.com

CAROLINA PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE is a monthly online publication of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina, Inc. Editor Rose Mary Cheek rosemarycheek@charter.net 828-322-2862 Sales & Business Manager Rose Mary Cheek Member Highlights Contributing Writer Catherine Kouri Articles & Sales Submissions First of the Month Publication 15th of the Month

Secretary Danny Daniel useralex2493@aol.com

Executive Director Loretta Byrd Loretta@ppofnc.com

PPNC 427 Greenleaf Road, Angier, NC 27501 919-796-4747 www.ppofnc.com

Acceptance of advertising does not carry with it endorsement by the publisher. Opinions expressed by Carolina Photographer or any of its authors does not necessarily reflect the positions of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina, Inc. Association financial information available upon request.

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Who Are We? The Professional Photographers of North Carolina (PPNC) is NC’s largest association for professional photographers. We are an affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America, led by an elected Board of working professional photographers. We are a non-profit, member owned association. We are a community in tune with each other’s challenges. Together, we help each other succeed. From a monthly digital magazine with numerous tips and techniques, to one of the state’s largest photographic conventions and trade show, competitions, seminars, and more, PPNC’s members are connected.

Contents From the Editor

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From the President

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Photography & Faiith......No I'm Not Preaching here Chris Garner

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Brian Allen Devotional

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Competition: The Good,The Great and the Ocassionally Embarassing-Aurora DeLuce

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How I Got Shot-Angela Blankenship

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Carolina Photo Expo Highlight Christie Kline-Newborn Track Jeff Gump-Sport Track

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Sunrise Shooters Usher in 2016 - Chris Adamczyk

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On the Cover This months Editor Pick Emerging by Jim Woltjen

An affiliate of

Fans of Professional Photographers of North Carolina

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From the Editor The snow of January 2016 could not keep us away from the great Winter Seminar Renee McCardell had planed. Thanks to her flexibility, coordination and communication, we managed to have a great event. Be sure to see Chuck Hill's family portrait. More photos will follow in next month's magazine. Many PPNC members were able to attend Imaging USA in Atlanta, GA. Staying with friends gave us first indoctrination in the maze of figuring out MARTA. Only took a couple of days. Speakers at the event were wonderful. If you've never taken a Pre-Con class I would highly recommend it. It is an opportunity to have hands on with some of the finest talent anywhere. Be sure to check out the flyer for our upcoming Seminar at East Carolina University, Tom McCabe and crew have prepared a wonderful lineup of education and fun. Rose Mary Cheek, Editor

PPNC Directors & Seminar Chair Eastern Directors

Angela Blankenship abphotography2008@gmail.com Marie White Marie@turnerwhitephotography.com Seminar Chair - Tom McCabe tommccabe46@earthlink.net Seminar is Mar 18-20, 2016

PPA National Councilmen Cassie Stone Janet Boschker Joy Batchelor-King

Central Directors

Deborah Hendrix porbydeb@gmail.com George Joell george@gpjoell3photography.com Seminar Chair- Renee McCardell info@mccardellstudios.com Seminar is Jan 23-25, 2016

Western Directors

Brian Allen puregrit@hotmail.com Cathy Anderson Fabulous.photog@gmail.com Seminar Chair - Stephen Dey photo@charlotteimage.com Seminar - TBD

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SEPPA Rep. Loretta Byrd


From the President As of January 27, 2016 there are only 29 weeks until 2016 Carolina Photo Expo. The excitement is building; marketing schedules are being prepared. The Expo committee will meet starting at the March Seminar at East Carolina University. Well, the snow did not keep us from holding a great Seminar. Our thanks goes to Renee McCardell for two really nice facilities, the Holiday Inn in Greensboro, and Revolution Mill (a turn of the century cotton mill that has been wonderfully renovated) and great speaking talent. Our lineup of speakers challenged us both educationally and intellectually. You might think because you have been in business for many years there's not much to learn, but I can attest that after 25 years in business, I come away from most every class I attend with a nugget. One little something that will help me grow personally, or something that will help me with my photography. I spoke with several newcomers at the Seminar, and was pleased to learn how excited they were about the educational opportunities PPNC provides. We encourage you to keep learning. Be sure to check out the lineup for our Spring Seminar to be held at East Carolina University, March 18-20th. It's hard to believe there we are almost 1/2 way through our 2015-2016 calendar year. Your PPNC board is working hard to have the most exciting, organized, uplifting, educational and fun learning opportunities ever, so we are hoping that you are planning to block off the dates of August 12-16th for the Carolina Photo Expo and to be sure to be with us for this great event. New members you'll want to be sure to attend as we have exciting new changes in store. Respectfully, Rose Mary Cheek

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Photography and Faith: No, I’m Not Preaching Here By Chris Garner, CPP

modeled studio that I am proud to invite clients into. So, what has changed? Well, lots have changed. In 2010, I teamed up with Cathy Anderson. We started working together when she pulled me out of my “wedding retirement” and I second-shot for her. Then, two short years later, she became the first employee at TPS. Of course, Cathy has brought more to the table than I ever hoped for with her creativity, business knowledge and talent, which has definitely been a huge plus for the business. However, without a leap of faith, that hire never would have happened. We serendipitously were thrown head-first into the school photography segment, and the studio suddenly took on a whole new life. After we had a few school contracts under our belts, another leap-of-faith hire took place when I got Ben Earp to sign on to the team as our second full-time employee. Ben is a great young photographer with tons of potential and a vision of success. Cruising into 2016 and beyond, it looks like smooth sailing…so long as we stay grounded and keep working hard. The key to all of this positive energy can be summed up in one simple word. Faith. My personal definition of faith is: Knowing that, no matter how terrible things might seem at

Right now, I know many photographers who are at a crossroads in their professional and personal lives. I hear about lots of people who are struggling with the balance of time between work and family life, some who are grappling with the realities of finances and workload, and some who are searching for a feeling of adequacy within this industry. The business of photography can, at times, be a very negative place. Believe me. I have experienced it first-hand. It wasn’t long ago that I felt that the largest segment of my income at the time, children and family portraiture, was being overrun by young moms who got a new camera for Christmas who had no intention of running a legitimate business, filing taxes, or even getting paid for their services in some cases. I felt myself drowning trying to compete, and I had a vision of the business that I had built for nearly a decade going down in flames. I spewed negativity everywhere: on social media; to my friends and family; to my colleagues. Nearly every word that came out of my mouth about the current state of professional photography was negative. As I withdrew into this dark hole of bad energy, I felt like everything was crumbling in on me, and I was about to implode. Fast-forward to 2016. I currently have the business I have always wanted. I have profits. I have employees. I have a newly-re-

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Brian Allen - Devotional

Due to the weather, I wasn’t able to make the Winter Seminar. This is part of the devotion I had planned. As my devotion this comes from a Christian perspective. Hopefully, even if you don’t believe in Christ, there is something of worth to glean from this. I appreciate the opportunity to share.

without PPNC. PPNC is like family to me.

I would like to think I have been an artist most of my life. I remember winning a coloring contest at our church when I was five. In high school I won second place out of 400,000 in the Scholastic Arts contest and received a scholarship because of it. When I joined PPNC about 4 years ago not really knowing jack about what a good solid image looked like I won the Presidential Award. I received my Master of Photography as quick as is humanly possible because of the awesome love and guidance from several great PPNC members. I wouldn’t begin to be able to create award-winning images

nothing was ever good enough. I was the oldest of four and my parents divorced when I was ten. My father was a violent abusive man. My mother struggled to raise four kids alone and I took the brunt of her abuse. I can’t even count the times I was told I should have been aborted and that had I never been born, her life would have been so much better. I say all that to say this, I strive to be the best so that someone will acknowledge that there is something good in me. Or at least that’s how this journey started out.

I have strived all my life to be the best at everything I do. I grew up with a terrible home where

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One of the most important aspects of my life is my faith in Christ. I’m not going to get all churchy on everyone but nothing in my life mattered, or really made any sense until I met Jesus. Jesus took a self centered, angry, violent, womanizing, alcoholic and helped him see that there was so much more to this life. I found peace, joy, love, in the darndest of places and with the most peculiar of people.

that region the communities are still saturated with a belief that any infirmity or affliction is demonic. Who wants a demon living with them? So they take their children out into the middle of nowhere and tie them to trees. These children are left to die alone. This school began to take them in, no questions asked. They provide them with an education and since I have been going I have watched a few very brilliant children start to attend college. It truly is amazing what they do with so little.

About the same time I joined PPNC, God called me to Africa. The first time I went I created at least four merit images and one made the cover of a magazine. I spent so much time looking for that award-winning image that I almost missed the very reason I was there. I went to Africa on a Compassion Tour to visit two of my sponsor children of which I have six now. On the tour we visited the Shalom School for the Blind. The handicapped in that part of the world are treated very differently than they are here. In

The first visit there changed me in ways that I can’t explain. The building had only one set of rooms for classes. All seventy children slept on cots outside in 135-degree weather and also in the rain during their rainy season. Someone started to fund a building project to provide dorm rooms and a roof. Due to an economic collapse in their personal business the building project 9

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Enter your district competition and grow as an artist! Here, your work will be judged and critiqued by jurors trained to understand the elements of a great photograph. Doing well at this competition could also get you closer to earning a PPA degree! (Images receiving a score of 80+ will earn an exhibition merit when you submit them to the 2016 International Photographic Competition.) Good luck!

What's the difference between the Photographic Open competition and the Artist competition? Simply put, the Photographic Open competition judges your photography skills while the Artist competition judges your post-processing prowess. Photographic Open judges assess your skills behind the camera based on your consideration of the 12 Elements of a Merit Image, while Artist competition judges focus not on the image, but the art work ability and technique used in post-editing, whether that be through Photoshop or painting.

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Get your images ready for

PPA’s District Photographic Competitions

©Cathy Anderson

Don’t let “good enough” be good enough. Your clients might not know what makes award-winning photographs, but they recognize excellence when they see it!

©Larry Lourcey

Challenge yourself and reene the quality of your work. Compete in one of the most prestigious photographic competitions and learn from those valuable image critiques!

©Patricia Lowe

Check the dates or download competition rules at PPA.com/Districts

Inspired

Seals of Approval & Merit Images Earn a score of 80 or above at a district competition, and you will receive a Seal of Approval. A "sealed image" is often referred to like a "merit image," but it requires an extra step to get that merit. You will earn one merit when your sealed image is entered in the next International Photographic Competition. (It will also automatically be accepted as part of the General Collection.) You must enter that sealed image in the next International Photographic Competition BEFORE you can earn the merit. Competition Details Registration Opens: January 11, 2016 Registration Closes: February 10, 2016 Competition Dates: February 18-19, 2016 11


Competition: The Good, The Great, and the Occasionally Embarrassing by Aurora DeLuca My entrance into print competition was a bit less orthodox than most. After a several year love affair with portrait and macro photography, I moved from Charlotte to Cary halfway through a difficult second pregnancy. I decided to put work aside for a bit and concentrate more on photography for recreation or practice. I took a few models and fewer clients and played with my macro lens when I could. After my daughter was born, I struggled for a time with Post-Partum Anxiety and really couldn’t continue to do what little I was doing for a while. A few months passed and I realized that I really wanted to work on my photography, and what better way than photographic competition – something a former mentor of mine had mentioned in passing on occasion. I knew that the Carolina Photo Expo was coming up and so I finally joined PPNC, brushed off my com12

puter and found about six images to submit. I submitted with only a passing knowledge of the rules for print competition, and asked only my very biased husband for his opinions of my selection and took the plunge. I ended up receiving third place in the animal category for a small lizard that I managed to snap in my bushes, not with my macro lens, but with my 50mm, which just happened to be what was on my backup D7000 at the time. Proof that you never know where that perfect image is going to come from. I ended up going through the competition season


much about not only the ‘rules’ of photography (and, more importantly, when to break them), but also about my own personal tastes and style. I’m not sure that without the umbrella of competition, I would have discovered my personal style. Photographic competition is really against oneself. Sometimes, I get my results and find myself squealing as though I had changed places with my three year old. Other days I want to hide and hope no one realized that those horrible images were mine – I mean, in what world did I ever think I could be a photographer anyway? But, in the end, I submit to the next competition (and really, this is only my fourth year of competition – wait until I’ve been doing this for much longer). *side note: when I get the results and critiques for SEPPA and IPC, I can generally be found alone in the dark in the furthest corner of my house hiding from the world – no one needs to see me cry or giggle. That way no one ever needs to know exactly how insecure I am. Oh well, now you know.*

much the same way, quietly looking through my photos, soaking up whatever critique came my way, and ended up taking that little lizard all the way up to PPA’s loan collection. Who would have thought? That was four years ago (three seasons). My attitude toward competition has definitely grown more serious and more focused, for better or for worse. But one thing is for sure; it has been one of the single most influential activities in my photography career. Through competition, I’ve learned so

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Brian Allen (Cont'd) that just stopped. I left that trip feeling that I had to do something. So how does any of this tie into photography? Good question! I began to use my images to bring awareness to the school and to other social issues that didn’t seem to have a face. I have a business plan that I don’t recommend to people because every photo session I complete 100 percent goes to charity. I have been blessed with another successful business so I can do this. Not everyone can, but you can do something. With some wonderful people in PPNC and around the USA I was able to raise over $27,000 and complete the whole structure of the school except for the roof which will cost around $10,000. I am hoping to raise this remaining amount by May. So back again to why any of this has much to do about photography? Nothing in my life, no award, no acco-

lade, no achievement, ever satisfied until I found a way to give back. This life is short. I have lived with times of plenty in my life and times when I was homeless. It wasn’t until I found a way to bring hope to other people, that I gained hope myself. We have the greatest gift in the world of being professional photographers. We create images for people that they will cherish forever. We capture moments of time that make people forever smile and remember those good times. Find something that pulls at your heart and find a way to make a difference. It might not make you rich in money but it will make you rich in life. PPNC is one of the best organizations I have

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ever been a part of. Let’s make NC aware of our talents by the way we make our communities better. Don’t just make images to make money, make images that make a difference. Recently, the area I travel to has been on the news. A terrorist attack happened at the very hotel I stay at and the restaurant we always eat at. 28 people were killed. I knew several. People ask me aren’t you scared to go back? I love the people there. I love the heat, I love the smell, I love the children. Love always wins. I believe that when Jesus gave his life on the cross for me, because he saw worth in me, that he loved me, he took away my fear. As a follower of

Christ, God called me to go, love my neighbor, and make disciples, he never said anything about coming back.

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Be blessed, Brian


Aurora DeLuca (Cont'd) An even better learning experience is sitting in on the judging itself. Learning what the judges see in the hundreds of photos submitted and what does and doesn’t distinguish a merit-worthy print. I can sit there for hours listening to the judges (even during those times when I find myself looking around furtively in hopes that no one notices that it’s my image up there). I can’t recommend it enough.

So why bother doing it if it’s so fraught with emotion, you ask. Am I a masochist? It’s possible, but taking apart my work, especially my best work, is really a fantastic way for me to see the faults and improvement, as hard a pill as it can be to swallow. It makes me pause during sessions and think to myself “hmmm, would this be competition-worthy? Why or why not? Is my lighting correct?” I am a believer in using some client work (although not exclusively – I always enjoy submitting my macro work!). One fabulous photographer once told me that she wants every piece of work to be an image worthy of a merit. I have to agree. I dream of reaching the level of photography where every client receives work that I could conceivably enter into print competition. I’m not yet convinced I’ll get there, but we should all have lofty goals, right?

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29 weeks til

So, through thick and thin, through merits, 79s and maybe even some ‘average’ photos (the horror), I will continue to compete. I’ll continue to set far reaching goals for myself in hope that someday I’ll get there. I hope you’ll join me, if you haven’t already.

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DEGREES AND AWARDS PRESENTED AT IMAGING USA 2016

MONA SADLER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR GOLD AND DIAMOND ANGELA BLANKENSHIP MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER

LINDA PACKARD MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER

IF ANYONE WAS MISSED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW 18


How I Got Shot STICKERS!

By Angela Blankenship

Not just any stickers... these stickers were SPECIAL... they made NOISES when you stepped on them!!! And even LOUDER noises when you STOMP on them! All kinds of animal noises. His favorite was the screams that would come from the princesses!!! Oh, those were his favorite : ) I soooo enjoy a good time and kids having fun, so it was totally fun for Mom and I, too. Hilarious!

Four year old Michael is shy. He is what psychologists call, “Slow-to-Warm-Up” in temperament. He’ll come around; but at first, no matter how often I photograph him and how good of buddies we are at the end, he’s always hesitant and can get down right belligerent if pushed too fast to interact and leave Mama’s side. Luckily, Mom knows this and lets him take his time (not all parents do this and I have to intervene.) I usually spend time talking to Mom and ignoring him completely. She slowly encourages him to interact with me by including me in their conversations.

This image made their Christmas card, which was our goal. Angela -Angela Blankenship, MS, M.Photog, CPP What’s this? AB Photography 231 W. Washington Street

So how did we get this exuberant image from such a reticent child?

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Wedding Must-Have Shots by Jim Woltjen

I have a challenge to all of the incredibly talented wedding photographers in PPNC. What are your must-have shots that you try to get at every wedding you shoot? Shots that you know your clients are going to want in their wedding album, or shots that you love to do variations on at every wedding. Not competition images, but images that you love to do at the majority of your weddings. Let’s all share some of those images, and then everyone can see how they can put their own flair into your must-haves.

publish them in a future edition of the Carolina Photographer. Email me up to 5 images at jwoltjen@suddenlink.net. A 2,000 pixel image is all that I need. Please do not put your name on them, I will keep track of who submitted what. Email me with any questions.

If everyone can send in their top 3-5 must-have shots I will collect the images, and have some great wedding photographers in PPNC distill them down to the top 10 (or maybe 20!). And we will

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

CHRIS GARNER (CON'D) the moment, there is something much greater waiting for you on the other side. For me personally, that faith comes through my Christian belief. Some of my photographer friends may not sign on to that…and that’s completely cool…but whatever you believe, just know that there is a positive energy much bigger than you can ever conceive which exists within your life. For me, the outcome has been a stronger studio that actually makes money. For other photographers, it has been leaving the industry altogether and finding other avenues of happiness. Regardless of the outcome, however, it has all worked out in the end. What you’ll find is, something that seems like a failure may actually just be a detour to something much greater than your current situation.

There is a lot of power in the way you think. It is up to you whether or not you choose to think positively, or to think negatively. You have always heard, “You are what you eat.” I believe, however, that you are what you THINK. One of my favorite authors, Napoleon Hill, wrote a long time ago, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Buddha taught, “The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” I don’t believe so much in the absoluteness of these quotes. i.e. I can believe I am going to be a billionaire all I want, but I think there are far too many variables for that to realistically occur. However, I DO believe that if you think positively, and think happily, you will become positive and happy…and your destiny, regardless of the outcome, will be one of something much greater than you ever imagined. Just have faith.

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Christie Kline, Newborns M. Photog., Cr., CPP

Christie is a second-generation photographer operating out of Germantown, Ill. Christie’s passion for photography started at an early age working with her mother who established the studio in 1977. Now a co-owner with her mother Christie took over the shooting in 2002. Growing up surrounded by the love of photography, Christie is proud to carry on her mothers dream. The studio, “Sonshine Portrait Design,” is located in a one of a kind studio built in 2006. While babies and children are the studio’s specialty, they serve a broad range of clients. Christie feels that by getting to know each client individually, she can create a product as unique as they are. The end result is a portrait

tailor made for each client. Christie’s talent for design, light and final composition sets her apart from her completion. Her personality and attention to detail keeps her clients coming back. Her new “Posh Collection” has received rave reviews from clients and other photographers alike. Christie holds the Professional of Photographers of America, “Master of Photography” degree, Craftsman

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Highlights degree and is a Certified Professional Photographer. She is a member of Professional Photographers of America, Northern Illinois Professional Photographers and Professional Photographers of Illinois. Since 2006, Christie has won numerous awards for her photography

on a local, state, district and international level. These awards include the prestigious Fuji Masterpiece Award, three Kodak Gallery awards, Lexjet award, CPP award and others. Her work has been featured and published in the PPA international Loan Collection. She has also been named in the top ten photographers for Illinois the past five years. Christie is now speaking and sharing her success with other photographers across the United States. Giving back to the profession that has given her so much.

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Jeff Gump, Sports Cr.Photog.

businesses, is perhaps even better known as a speaker and trainer of photographers across the nation. Gump declared himself a professional as a photographer at the

If you are into sports, you want to put Jeff at the top of list. Youth Sports Photographer and Trainer

Jeff Gump, founder of one of the country’s most successful youth sports photography

age of 15 and today Gump’s Sports Photography has shot well over a million young people and is still growing strong from headquarters and staff in Jacksonville, Florida.

As a well-known and sought after speaker, he has traveled over North America and Canada for the past 10 years educating aspiring as well as veteran photographers. He has spoken to both large and small groups for organizations such as PMASPAA (Photo Marketing Association), PPA-Imaging (Professional Photographers of America), PMA Canada and many PPA state organizations. One of the reasons for his popularity as a speaker is that, in an industry where secrets are typically well-guarded, Jeff holds nothing back.

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Highlights He shows audiences everything from how to make a winning presentation to how to set up and execute flawlessly on photo day. And perhaps most importantly, he explains how the photographer can keep more money in his pocket instead of paying out too much of it in big commissions. 

Jeff has ways of making action photography much more profitable, he shares an impressive array of trade tricks, and he even talks about his resources such as

suppliers and bankers. Jeff also reminds us all that customer service is vital. “Service and sales are what makes youth sports really fun and really work,” is his way of putting it. Jeff was awarded from Professional Photographers of Association the “Photographic Craftsman” degree - One of the highest recognitions for speaking, writing, or mentoring on photography; positions the photographer as an authority in the industry.

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Sunrise Shoot Ushers in 2016 by Chris Adamczyk Hearing about the curious tradition of shooting the last sunrise of the year, followed by shooting the first sunrise of the next year, drew me to Atlantic Beach before dawn on the final day of 2015 (and I am NOT a morning person). The tradition apparently has both accidental and intentional origins. To hear it told, Adrian Henson decided to shoot sunrise on a New Year’s morning several years ago, inviting Mona Sadler to join him. Mona heard the invitation as ‘New Year’s Eve morning’ and found herself shooting sunrise by herself. When she joined Adrian the next day for his sunrise shoot on New Year’s Day, a new tradition was born... shooting the last day of one year and the first day of the next. So before 2015 faded away, several of us gathered before dawn on New Year’s Eve morning at the Oceanana Fishing Pier in Atlantic Beach to shoot sunrise and share breakfast. Heavy over26


night rains threatened to turn this into simply a breakfast gathering, but, at dawn the clouds on the horizon broke and treated us to rays of pinks and oranges and reds. Cameras on tripods dotted the beach. Amid the sounds of shutter clicks and the cries of seagulls, we captured merit images (we hope) of the surf, the pier, a colorful cloudy sunrise, birds and each other. As a new PPNC member, gathering at the beach before dawn with fellow photographers gave me a new sense of the word ‘fellowship.’ We gathered again on New Year’s morning to welcome 2016, despite the pre-dawn drizzle. This time we had rain gear. Our sunrise may have been a little less colorful, but the company was still lively. The tradition of shooting back-to-

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back sunrises was honored. The breakfasts that followed each morning at the Four Corners Diner were a real treat. Adrian had us downloading photography apps; Mona reminded us about PIGOENC and SEPPA Print Competition deadlines; Tom McCabe and Jim Woltjen had stories to tell; and Carolyn Temple and Emma Lupton shared secret places to shoot. As first-timers, Peggy Rogerson and I joined in the early morning banter. 2015 was sent out among friends. Skills were practiced. Techniques were learned. Friendships were strengthened. I was excited to think about what a year of growth it will be for all of us, as 2016 dawned in the company of my fellow photographers



New Members

Yasmine Leonard Christopher Okano Laura Payne Andrea Thomas

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Why Should You Join the Professional Photographers of North Carolina?

1. Free registration to Carolina Photo Expo and, depending on your category of membership, seminar registration is included for the year. 2. Receive our digital magazine 12 times a year with articles, diagrams, and tips on how to improve your photography. 3. Listing on our website to help you grow your business or sell your photo art. 4. Access to the back issues of our magazine, almost a “college degree� in photo education. 5. Network with technical experts and fellow photographers at events. 6. Shoot Social Networking (actual hands-on-photography events) 7. Enter our digital photo contests held at selected seminars. 8. Enter our premier Photo Salon competition at the Carolina Photo Expo to receive recognition and awards. Also, winning awards help grow your standing experience with friends, family and customers; even getting your images published in our Carolina Photographer magazine. 9. Camaraderie with like-minded photographers to help you embrace and grow your creative talents. 10. Become inspired! Nothing helps you take your photography to the next level than to see great photography, learn the techniques and push yourself to create your next masterpiece. 11. Opportunity to volunteer at events and make life-long friends 12. Opportunity to apply for a scholarship to attend the week-long East Coast School.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN PPNC 31





The Value of Membership • Annual Carolina Photo Expo with Nationally Known Speakers Sharing the Current Trends in Photography with one of the largest State Trade Shows in the Southeast. (PPNC members attend for free) • Three seminars per year packed with education • East Coast School Photographic Workshops is a week-long event held each year with classes taught by top instructors from around the country, with classes from beginner to advanced. • Scholarships to East Coast School • Photographic print competitions – an excellent way to gain invaluable knowledge • On Line Membership Directory that is accessible to thousands of potential clients • A digital monthly magazine packed with ideas from posing and lighting to business and marketing • Private Print Critiques – Advice from a Master Photographer on how to improve your photographic images • Quarterly Shoot Socials – Networking and learning with other PPNC members in your trade area • Referrals – PPNC makes many referrals over the year. Once you become a PPNC member, our staff can refer your studio to potential clients. • Degree Program – The steps it takes to earn the PPNC Associate Fellowship and Fellowship degrees are symbols of quality and will strengthen your skills. Earning a PPNC degree is a way of telling potential clients to call you and not a competitor. • Networking – PPNC members develop friendships and relationships that last a lifetime. A fellow PPNC member is always available to help in times of crisis. • As a member of PPNC, you automatically become a member of the regional Southeast Professional Photographers Association, providing you with even more access to information and technology.SEPPA produces a monthly magazine full of information plus a biennial convention and trade show free to all PPNC members. • Insurance - Insurance for home based and store front studios (errors and omission and property)

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