Ken Sklute image
Central Guild’s Winter Seminar will warm up your photography and sales On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Jan. 12-14, PPNC’s Central Guild will host its annual Winter Seminar at Randolph Community College in Asheboro. A full slate is scheduled with a mix of local and national talent. Accommodations for the three-day event will be at the Fairfield Inn & Suites at 920 Executive Way in Asheboro. On Saturday, from 3 until 6 p.m., early attendees can go on a shoot out with PPNC Mentors. There is a $20 fee unless you are a paid seminar registrant. Sunday, from 9 until 9:30 a.m. there will be doughnuts and coffee in vendor area. From 9:30 until 11:30 a.m., the PPA Certification Exam will be offered. Also, from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m., Rhonda Lester and Denise Clay offer The Entrepreneurial Equation. “It’s your business. Only you can make the most of it. Join us to learn about the tools and strategies that can help make running your business easier and more effective.” Denise and Rhonda have both joined Edwards Jones as Financial Advisors Having achieved success as photographers and studio owners, and now in their current field, they have a head for business as well as helping people make
sense of investing. From 11:30 a.m. until 12 noon Hak Ung presents a devotional. From 12 noon until 1:30 p.m., lunch, included with paid registration, is provided. From 1:30 until 3:30 p.m., Chris Garner and Cathy Yount present I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends – Collective Efforts for a Client-Focused Studio. Chris and Cathy form the artistic team at TPS Photography in Morganton, the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Photography runs in their blood. Chris, a third-generation photographer, learned everything he knows about printing and portraiture from his father. His grandfather, Ben Williams, and his father, Gary Garner, founded GarnerWilliams Studio, the current studio’s predecessor. From the early days in a print lab in Morganton, to the classically modern portrait studio of today, Chris has built a rock-solid, client-driven studio focused on customer service. With more than 12 years of experience, his business expertise and desire to craft timeless heirlooms create a winning soluContinued on page 4
Rhonda Lester image
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Winter seminar Continued from page 3
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tion for a thriving portrait studio. Cathy started out as a photographer in Mount Holly and brings nearly a decade of photographic experience to the table. Her father, Randy Price, also owned a studio for a short period of time and taught her everything she knows about the art of creating portraits. Shortly after opening her studio in Newton she chose to merge her business with Chris in early 2012. Her modern and edgy style creates a new phase and look for their studio, offering clients a new portrait style option. The combination of keen business sense centered around their clients and a myriad of portrait styles and options gives their clients exactly what they want. From 3 until 4 p.m., the PPNC Executive Board meets. From 3:30 until 4 p.m., cookies and soft drinks will be served in vendor area. From 4 until 5 p.m. the PPNC Board meets. From 4 until 6 p.m., Liyun Yu presents From Digital Photography to Data Photography. “The conventional workflow indicates that once a photograph is captured using the digital camera, the rest of the image processing actually takes place from the data level on computer systems. A photographer’s skill, experience and ex cellence are all challenged throughout this data processing.” Yu’s presentation will address data photography and its related topics including: Securing the operating system on your computer. Which antivirus program is better and why? How to configure your computing hardware. How to design your own backup system. Dealing with photography data disaster recovery. Protecting your photographic data or database. Making decisions on remote backup options. How to re-evaluate your photography studio business from the business
Denise Clay image intelligence perspective. What is the life cycle of the photography business? Tools to help your photography business. Tips and Tricks on security, networking, storage, etc. all for professional photographers. As a member of PPA, PPNC and PST, Liyun Yu joined the PPNC family from the professional information technology background in administration, security, systems and data center management. Liyun’s professional IT membership includes IEEE senior member, ACM senior member, ISSA member and USENIX member. He has been a dedicated photog rapher focused on landscape for many years. In 2012, his images were accepted by the Spider Award and PPA IPC. Earlier in 2012, he opened Y&U Photo Studio with an online collection of his private work and a suite of photography classes available to local beginner photographers. Born in China, Liyun Yu has lived in the United States for the 18 years. He holds master’s degrees in ecology, electrical engineering and biomedical engineering. He received his PhD in electrical engineering from China Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University respectively. Liyun completed his post-doctoral studies in digital imaging processing at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, prior to holding faculty po-
TPS Photography image sition at University of Central Florida and working as the systems network administrator for Duke University’s Center for Public Health Policy, Law and Management for several years. Currently, Liyun holds the position of systems specialist at the UNC Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology Center. From 6:30 until 7:30 p.m., dinner, included with paid registration, will be served. From 7:30 until 9:30 p.m., a panel of judges will offer print critiques and a Q&A. On Monday, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Ken Sklute, sponsored by Canon, presents Becoming the Versatile Photographer. Ken will show you how to get in command of your location lighting techniques to help you master your ETTL off-camera, off-axis, multiple lighting for depth and dimensionKen will share his diverse knowledge on creatively lighting your images, with consistency and repeatability. Ken will explore lighting and creatively capturing images to help you soar above the competition. Ken Sklute has been honored as one of Canon’s Explorers of Light, a designation shared by only 60 top Continued on page 10
f/’s stop
By FULLER ROYAL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.
Hello 2013, welcome convention Where did the year go? We just decorated the house for Christmas and now, the trees, lights and wreaths are all back in the attic. The thing that has kept the melancholy of the post-Christmas season at bay has been the anticipation of our annual convention and trade show – our once-a-year pilgrimage to the Sheraton to rekindle friendships with folks we haven’t seen in a year. I’m excited about this convention. I am excited about all conventions. I would love to be able to attend PPA’s convention, but there was too much year at the end of the money. The missing 600 Speaking of PPA, I find it fascinating that there are just over 800 PPA members in North Carolina. From what I can tell, nearly 600 of those are not in PPNC. Why? Where are we missing the boat? These folks should be a part of us. We are, after all, a PPA affiliate with a PPA affiliated school? Twenty years ago, most of the North Carolina’s PPA members who were not in PPNC were commercial photographers working in the furniture and clothing industries. Back then, PPA members who never photographed weddings or family portraits seldom joined. Today, the vast majority of North Carolina’s PPA members are wedding and portrait photographers. Can you imagine what PPNC could accomplish with 600 additional members? Imagine the conventions we could have, the trade shows and the guild meetings. Imagine an East Coast School with 12-16 classes. We’re on the right track. We have overhauled our convention, squeezing more into a shorter convention. We have reduced our membership fees and created options with better value.
I like the fact that we no longer require photographers to hold tax identification numbers or even business licenses to join. I know this upsets some folks but that will take care of itself. The North Carolina Department of Revenue will start cracking down on photographers (and anyone else) who do not collect and/or submit sales tax. As one member said, “Let’s get them into church and then we can point out their sins.” I am glad to see Club Merit return as well as the photo shoot-out. The more hands-on we can do, the better. I think the master mentoring at the convention is a great idea. ProShare is still a great idea. Mini print competitions at guild meetings are also win-win and will encourage more participation at the main event. I still think we need a “blue sky” Saturday where all interested parties can share ideas on how to make PPNC better – more attractive to the literally thousands of new photographers out there – plus those 600 PPA members who are not yet with us. The importance of the invitation I have always been an advocate of the invitational portrait session. It is what has enabled my business to survive, and no more so than this past year. In crunching the numbers, I discovered that at least 80 percent (4 in five) of my sessions existed simply because I invited the client to the studio. My phone does not (and never has) ring off the hook. I don’t have the luxury of waiting for people to come to me. I have to go to them both figuratively and literally. I am always passing out cards and sending messages on Facebook. Most are never answered, but enough do to make it worthwhile. Pre-Convention programs In this issue, you will see full page write-ups on the preconvention pro-
grams that PPNC has asked Karen Howlett-York and me to do as a way defraying PPNC’s cost of the convention. She is teaching digital restoration techniques and I am doing a mini version of my senior portrait class. We hope you will come a day early and take advantage. Seating is limited in both and they will be great ways to get the juices flowing for the convention. Need help I know (and hope) that everyone is busy with their businesses and how much harder we’re working to generate sessions and sales. With that said, I need your help in keeping this publication going. During the past year, I sent more than 100 of you requests for information about you and your studio. I wanted to do stories on you, run samples of your work, photos of you and your studio and whatever tips you have for other photographers. I think five of you have responded so far. All of you have stories to tell. If you are a photographer, then you have a story to tell. Rose Mary Cheek and Paul Wingler have helped coordinate articles and that has been greatly appreciated by this editor. I need more. There are five of these issues to put together each year amounting to more than 100 pages of material. This year, when I send you a request, please respond. I took matters into my own hands on October and photographed the Western Guild. If I am not at your guild meeting, please make sure someone sends me 30-40 images. Please make sure you send me images from your ProShare classes! Please send me images from your East Coast School classes. I want to keep Focus on Carolina going with fascnating stories about PPNC’s members and to share new ideas – the ball is in your court. Look for my emails.
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Read it on Facebook
Have you ever considered print competiton? PPNC’s new Print Competition Chairman Rose Mary Cheek asked the following on facebook: “For our new PPNC members, have you ever considered competition? We’d love your comments?” “It’s a little intimidating,” posted Stephanie Winebarger Turner. “The print competition at the Winter Seminar is the perfect way to get started ... much less intimidating and will build your confidence for the real deal,” posted Anne Battery Grant. “We will have a print critique and Q&A Discussion with the panel of judges.” Rich Cox said to think of print competition as “the fastest way to get professional feedback on your work. It can seems gut-wrenching in advance, but if you maintain the attitude that these very, very talented people are trying to show you how to get better, it’s worth it. “Plus, you will see a lot of images and think ‘Hey, I can do that,’” he said. “I have sat in on the judging at the convention before and found it a huge learning experience,” Turner posted. “I think it’s not so much the feedback or judging that’s intimidating but the whole ‘unknown.’ What images, how to present them, naming, how to submit ... it’s the whole process I think that is intimidating for me.” “That is where we hope to help you with answers to help,” Cheek responded. “The unofficial feedback loops are very helpful,” posted Andrew Bowen. “I did a 10-minute critique at PPA a couple of years back, and it was helpful and insightful. I still haven’t put anything into competition, but it certainly helped in my understanding of what things a judge would be looking at.” “From a complete newbies point of view, it would be nice to have a clue before going to sit in at a convention,” posted Shawn Hooper. “Something along the lines of a ‘Intro to Judging’ would be nice. A place to ask questions as things happen would be good. Again, I’m new to the whole competition.” “I have been a member for a few years and never done a competition,” posted Suzanne Ihlenfeld Neuschaefer. “I would love information on the rules and what types of things are looked at in the judging. Grant posted that PPNC members
Days Gone By, PPNC Court of Honor, 2012, Jonathan Burton should Google-search “12 Elements of a Merit Print” for more writings on PPA’s recommendations for print competition. “Or buy Randy McNeilly a cup of coffee, sit and listen ... he can give you much insight,” she said. Angela Dawn Blankenship said a workshop on “competition” would be nice. “I know Adrian (Henson) has been in on something like that before,” she posted. “There are so many aspects –
from creating the image to editing to presenting, that each segment could be presented as a class. “It would be nice to have a class where images were critiqued – both good and bad issues pointed out – in front of an audience (instead of on individual level) so that we could all benefit from each image’s characteristics,” she continued. “Not images of people in the audience (unless volunteered), maybe from other state competition submissions.”
Cheek is print committee chairman Loretta Honeycutt Byrd reported to PPNC member last month that “in an effort to streamline and consolidate our association’s print competition efforts” the PPNC Board created the new position of print competition chairman and that Rose Mary Cheek had been appointed to fill that position. “This is a new venture for our association as we begin to offer more competitions than just at convention,” Byrd reported. “In January, we will begin to offer digital print competitions which will be held at our seminars. This is another new feature for our members and your board is working hard to bring you more opportunities to exhibit, more opportunity for savings. So look soon for our print rules.” “This is an awesome decision,” Elaine
Barnette posted on PPNC’s Facebook page. “PPNC has needed this for a long time. I saw how well this worked in other states. She is a wonderful person to do this job, too.” Tim Talley posted that picking Cheek is a “Great choice.” “Rose Mary Cheek will do a fantastic job,” posted Deborah Hendrix. “She is very loyal and committed to whatever she does.” “Great selection,” posted Yancey Hines. “I am very excited about this,” posted PPNC President Paul Wingler. “Rose Mary has been a very important person within our print salon for several years. I know that she will bring a continuity and a zest to competition. I am loving her suggestions already. Thanks Rose Mary.”
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The PPNC ProShare Experience
PPNC members for years now have been able to extend their guild meeting fun and education by signing up for the Tuesday PPNC ProShare Classes, which run the gamut from creating competition images to restoring photographs to marketing to children and to – in this case – shooting scenics. PPNC member Chuck Hill’s ProShare classes never fail to impress and amaze. This PPA Master Photogapher has conducted four of these classes in the prettiest studio any member could have – the Blue Ridge Parkway. Participating in Chuck’s Western Guild ProShare class were, Mona Sadler, John Sessoms, Tim Hester, Col. Tom McCabe, Willis Brown and Ken Tart.
Pre-Convention Program
The Art of Photographic Restoration Karen York, Cr. Photog., F. Ph.
Photographs are our memories. They are our link to the past. Images can be passed down through generations as family heirlooms, but sometimes all that handling through the years can damage them. Whether it has faded and worn edges, spots, mold and water damage, or has torn into pieces, with state-of-the-art digital tools and retouching skills, old family photographs can be brought back to life again. First we will discuss types of images
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you may encounter, and the best way for them to be brought forward in photographic papers we have available today. In our class, I will show you how to properly scan and photograph damaged and oversized images. In Photoshop, you will learn how to remove dust, scratches, clean an image, sharpen and add details back to eyes and faces, piece torn images together and remove or single out a person. We will discuss the different techniques for black and white, sepia, hand-
tinting and oil painting to finish the final output. We will also talk about how to make photographic composites from old images. We can save history and restore images to their former glory for the next generation. Our class will be hands on. I will have sample images available. You will also need to bring an image to work on in class. This class is on Friday, March 1 from 1 until 7 p.m. Class fee is $69.
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Liyun Yo image
Winter seminar Continued from page 4 photographers worldwide. During his 38-year photographic career, Ken has been named Photographer of the Year 32 times among Arizona, New York and California. Ken has earned his Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from the Professional Photographers of America; Accolade of Photographic Mastery, Accolade of Outstanding Photographic Achievement, Accolade of Exceptional Photographic Achievement, Accolade of Highest Photographic Achievement and the Accolade of Lifetime Photographic Excellence. Ken was recently named the 2011 Photojournalist Photographer of the Year from the Professional Photographers of California, 2011 Photographer of the Year, Illustrative Photographer of the Year and Image of the Year from the Professional Photographers of San Diego, WPPI Third Place in the Illustrative Category, 2010 Landscape
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Photographer of the Year from the Professional Photographers of California. Recent years have seen Ken awarded Best in Show at the Western States Regional Print Competition, The PPA National Award, Photographer of the Year-Western States Regional Print Competition; Photographer of the Year-Silver Level from the Professional Photographers of America; Wedding Photographer of the Year and Photojournalist of the Year from the Professional Photographers of California, and the Heidi Mauracher Starlite award for Best Wedding Photograph. Ken has accomplished 14 Kodak Gallery awards and I5 Fuji Masterpiece Awards. Ken spends much of his time teaching and lecturing both nationally and internationally. From 12 noon until 1:30 p.m., lunch, included with paid registration, will be served.
Adrian Henson earns first PPA Diamond recognition PPNC member Adrian Henson earned his first Diamond Photographer of the Year recognition from the Professional Photographers of America’s International Print Competition. Henson had four out of four prints go loan, which qualified him for the rarest of honors. He is one of eight PPA photographers in the world to be so honored tis year. The only other PPNC member to win this honor was Sam Gray, who accomplished this feat for two consecutive years. One of Henson’s Loan images is featured in the write-up about him. Richard Sturdevant, who spoke at last year’s convention and is an instructor at this summer’s East Coast School went Double Diamond –two print cases where all four images in each case went Loan. One of Sturdevant’s images can be seen on the PPA’s Professional Photographer cover, above.
Pre-Convention Program
The Six-Hour Senior Class
Fuller Royal, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.
Every second in this 360-minute program will be filled with ideas, information, techniques and resources to help you conquer senior portraiture in your part of the state. Starting with an overview of the various sessions and marketing Fuller creates, he will work his way into a live session with two senior models. Afterwards, he will show you how he creates the end product for his senior clients. This is a fun, fast-paced class full of
humor and information. It’s actually a mini-version of Fuller’s popular in-studio course he teaches each spring. You will not need a camera or a computer but, you can bring them if you wish. The primary thing is to take notes (or record) and watch as Fuller gives you a glimpse at his senior world and how he has adapted it to age groups both older and younger. In 2012, Fuller photographed the most
seniors he has had since 2001. Let Fuller show you how he reinvented his senior and pre-senior business with Safaris, PORTFOLIOS, Inbetweeners and Designers sessions. Fuller will tell you how he gets clients into his door and he will explain how his location-only studio is working. No matter your line of photography, there is something here for you. This class is on Friday, March 1 from 1 until 7 p.m. Class fee is $69.
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The Marketing Edge By FULLER ROYAL, M. Photog. Cr., F. Ph.
Working the crowd “Eat out often.” I can’t remember which speaker said – or wrote – this piece of advice for photographers. His rationale for the advice was to “see and be seen.” If you are like me, I see potential clients and models everywhere I go – McDonald’s, Walmart, the movie theatre, football games – the list goes on. Somewhere on me, nearly always, in a camera bag, pocket or glove compartment, I have some kind of invitational session card. I go up to friend and stranger
alike and plant a card in their hand, introduce myself and tell them “I would really love to photograph you, your family, your son, your daughter, your children, whomever.” I keep it short and sweet. Sometimes I “plus”the invitation with the idea of a freebie or a discount. Once I have made my spiel, I study them to see if they’re interested or have questions. Then I move on, letting them know that the ball’s in
their court if they are interested and how much I would love to work for them. Of course I let them know that I will be glad to come to them. Now, I wish I had a higher success rate with this. Maybe one in 20 will take me up ... but that’s one I would not have had otherwise. And if that one makes a $1,000 purchase, that’s $50 per card and handshake. That’s not a terrible deal. The cards are cheap to print and are almost a throw-away item. I change mine often with various deals.
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Bob Henderson and Bruce Williamson share a story between classes.
Participants find their seats prior to class.
What would any seminar be without master photographers Bill Branson, Joy Batchelor-King and Randy McNeilly. Welcome back Randy!
Sherry Coffey and Brian Allen discuss portrait technique.
During a break, attendees at the Western Guild’s Fall Seminar make their way to the vendors’ tables to spend, spend, spend. PPNC members are always encouraged to support the vendors who show up and Ken Tart and Rhonda Lester talk support PPNC’s various events. about the upcoming year.
Western Guild Seminar was ‘awesome’ By FULLER ROYAL Editor In the wake of the Western Guild’s successful Fall Seminar in Gastonia, PPNC members had a lot of good things to say. “The organization of the “shoot-out” on Sunday night was a great idea,” posted Peggy Rogerson on PPNC’s Facebook page. “Mixing young and old (sorry), more experienced with less experienced, was a great idea. It also gave us the op-
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portunity to get to know more people. Thanks, Dodie and Scott, for all you did to make the seminar a success. Loved it and loved your town.” “I thought Dodie had a great Western Guild,” said Chuck Hill. “Special thank you to Dodie and Scott Huffman for opening up their gorgeous studio,” posted Angela Dawn Blankenship. “It was wonderful to be around all the beautiful artwork. (I so much prefer live, printed works to digital.) Awesome workshop. Thanks so much, James, for
the video class! Wish I could have stayed today, but glad I got to go Saturday and Sunday.” “It was a great seminar,” posted Chris Garner. “They really did a great job,” posted Rich Cox. “Love the studio (drool). The lighting, posing and tech tips will work for any female subject. I’m gonna be using Jordan’s tip about placing the sun in the image ASAP.”
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Stephen Day and Rose Mary Cheek chat with Ned Sherry Coffey, Debbie Johnson and Wynn, right. Mardy Murphy smile for the camera.
Stu Appelbaum, always a welcome and familiar face, helps customers from his booth.
Loretta Byrd, Victoria Kelly and Joy Batchelor-King.
James Dockery offers a hand with some impromptu posing for the visiting Portrait Photography Group Carolinas members. Karen Goforth and Cathy Yount
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Jordan Chan begins his presentation. Rich Cox, Allen Hinnant and Craig York
Scott Huffman answers questions in his and Dodie’s studio.
George Joell, Terrance Carter and Ned Wynn joke around.
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Fuller Royal offers new member Natalie Susan Norman some tips on her camera.
Sheleria Cushman checks out the merchandise in the vendors’ area at the Western Guild meeting.
Making themselves at home in Scott and Dodie Huffman’s studio are, from left, Craig York, Ned Wynn, Chris Garner and Dodie Huffman.
PPNC stalwart Joe Robinson was at the Western Guild’s Seminar. Congrats to Joe for being awarded Life Membership status with the Professional Photographers of America. Congratulations also to Sam Gray and Linda Weaver for their PPA Life Memberships.
Chris Garner and Dodie Huffman explain the rules of the shootout to the particpants. An ‘aerial view’ of the PPNC group at the Huffman studio.
Western Guild Continued from page 14 “The Western Seminar was awesome,” posted Kimberly Austin. “A big thank you to all who made this happen. I came away with so much knowledge and met a lot of wonderful photographers! Thanks again.” “Loved the Western Seminar,” posted Christy Vander Wiele Holcomb. “Thanks for all of those involved in organizing! The shoot out was so fun and a great learning opportunity! Bummed I had to leave before Gene Ho, I know I missed some good stuff.”
“Loved the Western Seminar this past weekend,” posted Heather Foreman Henson. “Great to meet so many new people. Great shoot out Dodie Huffman. Great dinner at Freeman’s Loretta Honeycutt Byrd.” “I didn’t make it to the entire seminar, only Monday, but it was great,” said Melissa Sheets. “I loved having such down-to-earth speakers who were willing to openly share. Great job organizing the event.” “It is so awesome to sit here and see
the respect that the photographers have for one another at PPNC, “ posted Natalee Susan Norman during the seminar. “I tried to get some friends to join me, but I was the only one who came,” said Tiffany Anne Kuechenmeister. “I’ve already been telling them what an amazing time they missed out on. So happy that I went to the Western Seminar! I learned so much and met so many wonderful photographers. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. I have definitely come away from the weekend inspired.”
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One knows from experience that, whatever this is, it can’t be good. From left, Tim Hester, Bill Branson, Craig York and lead “instigator,” Chuck Hill.
Looking like a Disney movie crew on the set of a low-budget remake of “Mary Poppins,” PPNC members – from new to seasoned – had 30 minutes to pull off their first outdoor night photo assignment during the Western Guild “shoot out.” They thought they were in trouble when they heard dozens of police sirens responding to a situation on a nearby railroad trestle.
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New PPNC dues structure for 2013
In one of the biggest overhauls in the history of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina, the PPNC Board of Directors voted to approve changes to its membership categories and the entire dues structure as proposed by the PPNC Long Range Planning Committee. Membership is be defined as one of three categories: active, student or retired. Members are no longer required to hold business or sales tax licenses. PPNC continues to have honorary and life members. The proposal should make many members happy and could entice photogra-
phers to join (and old members to rejoin). The dues structure is as follows: For $320, a photographer receives membership, convention and attendance at all three seminars. For those wanting only membership and the convention, the cost is $225 For membership only with no convention and no guild meetings, the cost is $99. If a member decides he or she wants to attend the convention after they have already paid the $99, the cost is $100 per day or $175 for four days. Seminars will be $95 per person per seminar. Each additional member from the same studio receives a 25 percent dis-
count on any of the above fees. First-year new members who have never been a PPNC member before pay the following dues: membership and convention are $112.50 while membership, convention and all three seminars are $160. These dues are allowed only once in a lifetime. Retired and student dues are $90. Pay-by-the-month is charged $1 per month as a handling charge. Members of the Long Range Planning Committee include Victoria Kelly, Craig York, Paul Wingler, Bruce Williamson, Ken Tart, Mona Sadler, Rose Mary Cheek and Cassie Stone.
A Tim Meyer image, left, and a Don MacGregor image, above.
Highlights of the upcoming convention On Friday, March 1, Karen York and Fuller Royal will host preconvention programs (see related articles). Karen is presenting Digital restoration while Fuller presents Seniors. Both are limited seating and require an extra cost of $69. The amazingly popular Club Merit will be back during print competition on Saturday. Blair Phillips is the morning speaker while Karen Goforth is the afternoon speaker with Business and Marketing. Saturday night features the trade show dinner followed by the members-only trade show. Later, Kevin Jordan will host the back-
by-demand Late Night Shoot Out. On Sunday, the popular Mentor Print Critiques begin and will run all day. Karen Rubin and Marilyn Sholin are the morning speakers. Sholin will present Painter 12. Sunday morning will also have the traditional devotional. Don MacGregor presents Families and Environmental Portraiture Sunday afternoon. Ellis Williamson will host print critique followed by new-member orientation. Sunday night is the annual business meeting followed by the Sunday night
party with dinner and The Band of Oz. Monday is Carl Caylor, presenting Seniors and Children. There is also an all-day studio management class presented by PPA. For this, there is an extra fee of $229. Later that afternoon, Tim Meyer presents Weddings. The end of the day is the Awards presentation followed by a celebration party. Tuesday features speakers Lew Everling (Seniors and Special Media & Marketing), Sunny Williams (Day-Long Extra pat Class - Painter Using Photoshop $59) and Joe Edleman (Search Engines and Social Media - How Effective is Your Strategy?)
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Resolve to make your business better every year By ANGELA WIJESINGHE Originally published December 2012 in Professional Photographer magazine (ppmag.com) We are creatures of habit (especially when it comes to things we don’t really enjoy, like dealing with the business side of things). We have a routine; we stick to it; we pay our taxes. Isn’t that good enough? Unfortunately, no. Sticking to the status quo in business is not smart. Everything around us is constantly changing and adjusting: the economy fluctuates, software updates (almost every week it seems), competitors come and go. Your business can’t stand still in a moving world—there’s a reason it’s called running a business after all! Here are the kinds of adjustments you can make now and throughout the year to keep your business aimed at profitability.
Review your prices and workflow
Prices are one of those items that fluctuate (just look at what you pay at the pump). Bridget Jackson, manager of PPA’s Studio Management Services (SMS), advises photographers to assess the prices in their marketplace every year. Did your lab increase its prices? If so, you might need to adjust your own pricing to keep your cost of sales aligned with the suggested PPA benchmark of 25 percent (more on this at ppa.com/ benchmark).
Re-evaluate your plans
When you started your business, you probably had a couple of plans—some type of business plan (more than “take pictures and make money,” I hope) and a marketing plan. But do you look at those plans and evaluate the results? “If you don’t re-evaluate your plans on a regular basis, you’ll probably just sit back and do what you did last year,” notes Jackson. “But doing the same thing over and over doesn’t mean it will work. It’s smarter to evaluate what went right, what went wrong, and then see what changes you need to implement.” Take, for instance, your business plan (or financial projection, as Jackson calls it). It basically looks at the number of sessions you need to do at a given sales average to yield the income needed to cover expenses. It’s handy information to have, but only if it’s current…and that means it needs updated at least yearly. “To update, look at what you did historically (last year) and what you want to do in the future (the next year). Then compare your new plan to PPA’s Benchmark Survey,” explains Jackson.
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“Doing this can help you see if you need to sell more, cut expenses or both to meet your income goals.”
Be a nerd: track your results
Now I would be the first to admit that pouring over numbers isn’t my idea of an ice cream party. But if you create a plan like that once a year, you won’t be working in the dark, especially if you follow through and track your actual results during the year. “Photographers typically don’t realize their businesses aren’t doing well until they run out of money, but there are signs before that,” says Jackson. That’s why you need to track your sessions, sales and expenses in software (like QuickBooks, the leading small-business financial software) and compare them to your financial projection. It’s a way of seeing the signs so you can adjust in time.
Plan your taxes and get help
Taxes are yet another business hurdle no one likes to face. They’re like trips to the dentist. You know you need to do it annually, but it’s often a painful process (at least it is in your mind). Making an appointment to look at your taxes early— like September or October—can actually help you make decisions, though. Jackson calls it tax planning. “Once again, you need to look at where you are compared to where you were last year,” she explains. “Did you make more money? If so, you may owe more in taxes, and that might encourage you to acceler-
ate the purchase of equipment. Capital expenditures are typically fully deducted in the year purchased…and that means lower taxes.” Does this sound like a foreign language to you? You’re not alone. That’s why Jackson encourages photographers to talk to other small-business owners in the community and even visit DaveRamsey.com for a list of tax experts (called Endorsed Local Providers on the site). And if you are ready to hire an accountant, “interview them like you would an employee.” Ask for references. Make sure they run a good business and work with other small businesses. Don’t worry if you can’t find an accountant who has specific experience with photography businesses, either. There are some things you can do to ensure he or she knows what you need in this industry. Jackson suggests watching the latest “Income Tax Strategies” webinar that PPA provides members, and making a list of those recommendations to review with your accountant: “Tell them that this is what your association suggests, and ask what they think.”
Resolve to do this annually
At this point, you may be feeling overwhelmed at the thought of doing all these steps once, let alone every year. But when people make New Year’s resolutions, it’s rarely for fun activities. If you like to do it, you won’t need a resolution! So will you resolve to re-evaluate, plan and track? Do it, and you may be surprised at where you’ll be this time next year.
Cindy Smith, center, poses with Guy and Maxine Cox on the occasion of Guy’s 90th birthday, recently. Several PPNC members made it to the longtime photographer’s party, which had been organized by his chldren.