NAPCP July 2017 Issue of Inspired Magazine

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Featuring Ute-Christin Cowan of Ute-Christin Photography

The

LATEST INSIDE

Our 2017 Best New Emerging Child Photographer!

Snapshot Travel Guide, Fall Gathering Information and more!

Hello friends!

School is out, summer is in! Blue skies are spread with cotton candy clouds, and pitchers of iced tea

are brewing on porches. Consider this July issue of Inspired magazine your quick dip in the pool for today, a refreshing combination of events annual and new, and Association happenings you won’t want to miss.

NAPCP International Image Competition award winner, and NAPCP Ambassador, Ute-Christin Cowan

of Ute-Christin Photography is your July feature photographer! Ute tells us her shooting style can be summed up in two words: natural light. This outgoing and passionate mother of two has a fun and interesting personal history that makes her one of the most fascinating photographers we know. Ute calls Connecticut home, and is eager to share her enthusiasm for her craft with her fellow photographers. It’s easy to see why clients and competition alike love Ute! The Second Half 2017 International Image Competition is now open! For those of you who are NAPCP members, we encourage you to make use of your two complimentary Image Competition Credits, get creative, and submit your work. NAPCP is accepting Competition submissions through Thursday, August 17th, at 11:59 PM EST. Visit the NAPCP website for full Competition rules and guidelines. You never know which image will bring you your day in the sun! We are elated to announce that the winners of our International Image Competition will be featured at an artists reception in September, during the Atlanta Celebrates Photography Festival. Best wishes to all our artists!

While you’re visiting the NAPCP website for the Image Competition, be sure to stop by the beautiful new

Marketing Mondays page. From In-Person Sales to 3 Tips for Preparing for Fall, each video serves as a tool for you to grow in the industry, as well as for you to take advantage of all your NAPCP membership has to offer.

Speaking of preparing for fall, September NAPCP Gatherings will be here before we know it! We want

to thank Sweet Shots: Photography Classes for Parents for sponsoring the upcoming Gatherings around the world. We can’t wait to get together and commune with you. Visit the NAPCP Gatherings page on our website for continually updating information on Gatherings locations and times in your area!

Finally, visit the NAPCP Store for our newest product offerings - including a fully styled birthday party

pack, the extremely popular Snapshot Travel Guide, and the cutest July menu cards (they’re one in a melon!).

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TA BL E O F CO NTE N TS Pg. 4 .............July Printable Calendar & Menu Pg. 5 .........................News & Announcements Pg. 6........Featured Photographer Ute-Christin

Pg. 26.....Free DIY Lemonade Stand Printable Pg. 27 .........................Summer Birthday Pack Pg. 28............................BNECP 2017 Winner Pg. 29...................................Artists Reception Pg. 30..........................Snapshot Travel Guide

Pg. 32............Second Half Image Competition Pg. 34...............5 Reasons to Join NAPCP Now Pg. 36................................NAPCP Gatherings Pg. 37...............................Marketing Mondays Pg. 38....................Video Series: Anne Simone Pg. 39................................Articles You’ll Love Pg. 40...............................#NAPCPInstaFaves Pg. 41.............................Membership Benefits

J U LY P R I N TA B L E S NEW

GET YO UR FREE D OWNLOAD

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N E WS & A N N OU N CE MEN T S

Facebook Community We hope that everyone will continue to partake in our NAPCP Facebook Community page! Join now and get involved with the latest discussions, trending topics, news and updates, and much more! Click here to request to join today!

Napcp Store Visit the NAPCP Store for the latest and greatest products! Download the bold yet classic Birthday Party Pack and let us (practically) plan your child’s next party for you, or snag the Snapshot Travel Guide to accompany you on your vacation. Summer fun!

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FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER U T E - C H R I ST I N C OWA N

Images by Ute-Christin Cowan of Ute-Christin Photography

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R

aaised in East Germany, Ute-Christin Cowan now makes her home

in Connecticut, and is enthusiastic about traveling the world and living life in full color! She tells us she’s very out-going, and passionate about the things and people she loves. Give Ute a nice big bowl of ice cream and she’ll edit photos all night long. She’s a crier and a hugger, and wow -- are we excited to introduce her to you! Keep reading for more from July’s feature photographer!

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AT A GLANC BEHIND 1. Started photographing? 5th Grade 2. Officially opened business? 2010 3. Favorite camera? Canon 5D Mark III 4. Lens of choice? 35mm 5. Favorite Lab? Musea

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6. Favorite subject to photograph? Humans

CE WITH SCENES

UTECHRISTIN

8. Favorite musician? Michael Bublé 9. Favorite movie? The Notebook 10. Recent favorite read? People Magazine (no time for books!)

11. Favorite client product? Musea art prints 12. 3 things you can't live without? Family, Friends, Camera

F L I P T H E PAG E F O R OU R E XC LUS I V E INTERVIEW WITH U TE! N A P C P I n s p i r e d M a g a z i n e Ju l y 2 0 1 7 | 1 1

How did you get your start in photography? It all started back in 5th grade, developing photographs in the darkroom. I have had a camera in my hands ever since. I used to photograph my favorite bands during concerts and meetups, then sell the prints to other fans to afford to go to more concerts and travel throughout Europe. I did this for about 3 years while I was in high school, and it was such a great hobby and way to make some extra money to afford all those crazy adventures. When I came to this country as an au pair in 2003, I snapped images of “my� children and then started to take images for friends and their families. After a while, I started to get paid a little here and there. In 2010 I started my own business on the sid, while working a full-time job in NYC. In 2015 I went for it all the way, and now it is my full-time job. I could not be happier with this journey.

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With your milk bath images, we have to ask, how do you put your clients at ease? I try to make every client as comfortable as possible, especially the ones that plan on being butt-naked. (laughs) I always try to make a funny joke and say that I am German, so I have seen thousands of people naked growing up there, and that usually gets clients to laugh and relax. I have a big bathrobe they can slip on right after they get undressed, and then I always ask if I should turn the light off when they are about to get in the tub. You know, that would be kinda dangerous, but it makes for a second good laugh. I think being naked is not a big thing to me as I grew up going to nude beaches and saunas, so I am used to seeing naked people. German TV is full of naked people and so are all the newspapers, so to me it is totally normal. There is always someone running around naked in my house - my children! Maybe because I am comfortable and relaxed it rubs off on my clients?

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Will you share with us a little bit about how you edit your images? Your favorite tools, any tips? Yes, absolutely! It depends on the session of course, but for family sessions my absolute favorites are the Lightroom presets from Pure, which I use for every session. I apply them in Lightroom (LR), which saves tons of time. I only pull them into Photoshop to run portraiture and to get rid of blemishes and do head swaps. I could not live without my presets - such a big time saver. I have yet to find a newborn LR preset that I love, so those I pull into Photoshop from start to finish and reduce reds, yellows, lighten them up a bit, and then smooth their skin. Remove blemishes, sharpen, and voila! Editing newborn skin takes me the longest. I spend about 4 hours editing a 20-25 picture gallery of newborn images. I have yet to find a way to get that done faster, but I am so critical of myself that I want to make sure it looks perfect to me.

How do you keep from getting bored with the professional photographer experience and process?

I am a big TV junkie and I binge watch TV shows like it is my business. That is a good distraction when I edit because it keeps me entertained and awake. Right now I edit every weeknight from 7:30-12 but hopefully in the near future I can change that. I am trying to move my editing time to during the day, to enjoy my evenings a bit more. I never get bored with shooting; that actually gets me very excited. I admit the editing portion - while it is exciting to see your images come to life - is not my favorite part of the process. It takes so long! I have a bad habit of snacking while I edit, so on a good day I munch on carrots and on a bad day I spoon the Nutella jar.

Thank you so much Ute-Christin!

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Three Tips F O R S U RV I V I NG T H E C R A Z Y P H O T O G R A P H Y W O R L D b y Ut e - C h r i s t i n C o w a n

1- I used to tell myself this every day: Do not compare yourself to others. - There is a saying, “The only photographer you should compare yourself to is the one you used to be”. I love this so much, but it is so hard, especially for someone just starting their business. I used to browse website after website every day and get really depressed that everyone was better than me. In the last year, I have gotten busier and I have no time to even check my Facebook feed, or scroll through anything, and you know what - it feels amazing! Of course I love to be inspired by other posts and I love to see other photographers’ work, but now I look at them and love them for what they are without comparing them to myself and my work.

2- Surround yourself with people who are supportive. - That was never an issue for me ... I think my closest peeps actually believed in me long before I ever believed in myself, but I know how important it is to have a good support system. This can be a lonely job. I miss going into an office and seeing my co-workers every day and chatting away about the weekend - now it is just me most of the time. Make friends that have the same passion as you. I love my local photographer friends; there is no one that will understand all your photography related issues better. Even if they’re your competition, you can learn from each other. Just don’t tell all your secrets.

3- Never stop evolving. - I always try to learn something new, not every day, but at least once a month. The workshops I invested in have been the best decisions I have made for my business. If you are on the fence, do it! Invest in yourself! You are worth it. Also, make sure you charge for your hard work! I know custom photography is not cheap, but it cannot be. The money we spend - on equipment, workshops, education, PROPS, studio overhead (if you have one), insurance ... and I mean talk about taxes - is a big part of why we need to charge the right amount. There are weeks when I work 50-80 hours if you count all the emails, hours spent on the computer editing, and shooting. Make sure you are compensated for your time. It is still a struggle for me, at times, to be ok with my pricing structure. I am in this to provide for my family - we need my income to live, so I have to treat it as such. Show people why you are worth every penny and, most importantly, believe in yourself and be confident. Go out there and find your ideal clients. It might take a while, but don’t be discouraged; this is your journey, take it at your own pace.

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CAMERA BAG ESSENTIALS W I T H U T E - C H R I S T I N C O WA N

BAG • Fanny Pack

BODI E S • Canon 5D Mark III

LENSES • Canon 85mm • Canon 35mm

EXTR A S • Extra Battery • Extra Memory Card •Squeaky Toy • Business Cards • Lemongrass Essential Oil (for bugs) 2 2 | N A P C P I n s p i r e d M a g a z i n e Ju l y 2 0 1 7

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BEHIND

We visited Ute Christin’s Instagram feed and gathered some of our favorite captures.

SCENES

WITH UTE-CHRISTIN COWAN

Follow her at instagram.com/ute_christin_photography to see more beautiful imagery!

F R E E

D I Y

P R I N TA B L E

LEMONADE STAND

1. Color your banner & sign.

After printing your lemonade sign and banner, have your child color in the pieces.

2. Cut out your lemons & sign.

As soon as you’re done coloring in the banner and sign, help your child cut everything out.

3. String everything together.

Using a hole punch and string or twine, punch holes in your lemons and string them together.

4. Name your price.

Once your banner is complete, help your child decide on a price for his or her lemonade and write it on the sign.

5. Set the scene.

Now that everything is ready just add lemonade and set the scene and you’ll be ready to start selling!

6. Get out there.

You can’t make money without an adorable sales person added to the mix! Put on your best smiles and get selling!

s ta r t y o u r l e m o n a d e b u s i n e s s

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SUMMER B I R T H D AY PA C K S I M P L E R PA RT Y P L A N N I N G

CROW’S NEST PHOTOGRAPHY

It is our honor to announce K.C. Crow of Crow’s Nest Photography as NAPCP’s 2017 Best New Emerging Child Photographer! K.C. Crow is an attorney turned stay at home mom, turned professional photographer. She is located in Orange County California. Her photography passion is turning an everyday childhood moment into a work of art to be cherished and remembered for years to come. K.C. is constantly in search of beautiful light and authentic interactions, and embraces all that goes along with letting kids be kids. Click here to learn more about K.C.

THE

INTERNATIONAL

IMAGE

COMPETITION

A RT I S T S R E C EP T I O N

The National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP) recognizes the accomplishments and creative excellence of its child photographer members.

The September 21st International Image Competition Artists Reception will feature a stunning display of the year’s winning images in our Park Studios gallery.

Come, celebrate with your fellow photographers and the art-appreciating public, too. We eagerly anticipate celebrating our winners during the Atlanta Celebrates Photography festival!

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YO U R S U M M E R T R AV E L B U D DY

H A S A RRI V ED Experience your best trip ever! Use this guide for image inspiration through a new place, adventure or even your own backyard. See the world around you in new ways and add fun to your travels. Have a marvelous time and, most importantly, capture moments for the memory book!

ORDER YOURS

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the NA P CP

SECOND H AL F 2 0 1 7 IN T E R NAT I O NA L I M AG E CO M P E T I T I O N

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PH OTO : C A R I A N N E K R E M L

The Second Half 2017 NAPCP International Image Competition is NOW OPEN. Submissions will close at 11:59PM EST August 17th, 2017. The purpose of NAPCP’s Image Competitions is to recognize the accomplishments and creative excellence of our members, rewarding their talent with medallions, priority listing on our directory, vendor endorsements, member points, titles and professional recognition. Members each receive a total of 2 Competition Credits per Competition with their membership. Additional Competition Credits can be purchased for $25 each. Competition Credits can be used in any single competition, and cannot roll over to the following competition. A critiquing fee of $25 will apply to any member who wishes to receive professional feedback on submitted photos. Additional details can be found here!

JUDGES

We could not be more excited about our talented panel of judges including Barbara Breitsameter, Rob Greer, Jennifer Kapala, Julia Kelleher, Summer Murdock, and Michael Taylor.

To learn more about each judge click here!

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A P P LY F O R F R E E application fee waived during our summer special with code APPLY 25

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FIVE REASONS now is the time to join NAPCP

1 - Apply for free! This summer, we’re waiving our application fee. We don’t want there to be any barriers keeping you from coming together with your fellow professional photographers to learn, grow, connect, and be supported. Simply use code APPLY25 when you submit your application to join NAPCP. 2 - Our constantly-expanding collection of resources! Facebook Live Marketing Mondays, articles authored by the most knowledgeable experts in our field, mentoring, in-person events, NAPCP Gatherings, gallery events, artists receptions, member-exclusive educational documents, the list goes on and on ...!

3 - Recognition. Our bi-annual International Image Competition is open for submissions now! This competition is open only to NAPCP members and is touted globally as one of the premier child and family photography competitions. Two complimentary entries per Competition are gifted to you when you become a NAPCP member, adding even more value to your membership.

4 - Community. The photographers of NAPCP are an association of artists committed to growth in their skills, their craft, and their businesses. More than that, though, we believe that the relationships you form in NAPCP will inspire you to aspire and learn.

We ardently hope that this growth will be organically nourished through others, and we are thrilled to tell you that we see this every day among our members!

5 - Product & services you love. Members-only vendor discounts, constantly evolving and updating to meet the needs of our members. Private Member Community Groupexclusive giveaways. Special offers and gifts through our weekly eblast Jubilate, monthly Inspired magazine, and much more.

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NA P C P G AT H E R I N G S We hope you’re having an amazing summer. We’re so excited to kick start the busy season with you! We want to let you know that your NAPCP Gatherings will take place the week of September 11th-18th all over the world! Visit the Gatherings page on the NAPCP website to find your local get-together. You won’t want to miss this Gathering! Bring a fellow photographer friend with you, or attend independently -- you’ll meet new, like-minded friends in your area. You’ll feel connected, fulfilled, inspired, and have an amazing time, too. This fall, we’ll be discussing the importance of work/life balance during the busy season so you’re able to Enjoy the Journey. Mark your calendar, and take this time for you!

F I N D A G AT H E R I N G I N YO UR AR E A

SPONSORED BY

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ARTICLES YOU’LL LOVE Inspiring words written by our members, for our members.

Getting the Most Out of Your Image Critiques - Why They Are Important and How They Improve Your Business Photographers – we all come from different walks of life. Some of us were professionally trained, some of us are self taught, and still others are a mix of the two, maybe through online schools and videos. There is no right or wrong way to learning the craft of professional photography. Together, we are all artists making a living doing what we love.

I fall into the third of the above categories. An artist all my life, I went to school for graphic design and upon winning an online competition through Amazon, I finally had the opportunity to buy a nice camera and explore my passion for capturing life and memories … not only for myself, but for others. I love what I do because I am able to express myself and share my talents with the world in ways that people in other professions cannot. Read more.

Meet Deanne Mroz: Deanne started her own small photography business in 2010 and has a passion for photographing children and documenting life.

Currently, she is working for NAPCP as the Design Production Assistant.

Pursuing Growth Through Print Competition We’ve all heard it before. One of the “best ways to improve your photography” is to enter a print competition because of how it can help you learn, grow and see minor details you may miss without an extra set of expert eyes. Strong composition, emotional impact, and technical excellence are universal regardless of whether your specialty is portraits, landscapes or perhaps fine art photography. As judges we are looking to see it in practice and reward you on your execution. Read more.

Meet Luke Edmonson: Luke and his father specialize in the fields of wedding photography, portrait photography and fine art photography. One of their passions is to help aspiring and seasoned photographers become the best they can be.

# N A P C P I N S TA FAV E S The images of these amazing photographers caught our eye in June. Visit them on Instagram and follow along! Tag #NAPCP on Instagram and you may see your work in a future issue of Inspired.

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GRAP O T O H P WN

ABRO @ALYSS

@COURTNEYK IR

KLANDPHOTO

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@sabrin

agebhard

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@A

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@SU N

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CAR

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L O C I AN

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AT O T O PH

@BEEC H

ALMER

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MILLER

HYBYMEG P A R G O T O H P @

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E @WHITN

PHOGO YCOOLEY

winning image by Aubrie LeGault

Membership Benefits Read about NAPCP and see the many benefits of NAPCP membership, on our site. Download freebies and preview member-exclusive videos; get to know the heart of our association!

LEARN MORE

Please visit napcp.com or email us at info@napcp.com with questions or inquiries.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS ISSUE

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NAPCP Issue 56

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