Ritz/Wolf Camera & Image November Newsletter

SPECIAL OFFER NOVEMBER 2010 ISSUE 2

Only

for RITZPIX

NETWORK MEMBERS INSPIRATION

PHOTOS FOR MOTIVATION

RITZ TIPS FAMILY PHOTOS

PHOTO L PAE-TONRO -ONE

ON

CAMERA INSTRUCTION

IS HERE!

WHY RITZPIX? WITH PETER TAHMIN

SPECIAL EVENTS IN UTAH & CHICAGO

SHARE, DISPLAY, SAVE

PARTING SHOT

A MESSAGE FROM DAVID RITZ AND STEVE LAMASTRA We know that a new camera can be a bit of a challenge. You love how it outperforms your old camera in both speed and image quality. Put it on green and it goes! But there are times when figuring out how to get it to capture life the way you see it can be complicated. This issue highlights a new service that can help alleviate those challenges. It’s called PHOTO PATROL, a one-on-one consulting service designed to give you uninterrupted, individualized instruction for your specific photographic needs.

We also have updates on our Ritz University events and Photo Classes, which are other avenues to help you capture life the way you see it.

If you and your camera are living in synergy, we have provided you with some inspirations from our Facebook RITZPIX.com CONTEST page. Share your inspiration and you might win a great prize, too. We also have some tips on how to get better family portraits.

The end result of all this support is to help you capture “wow” moments that are worth sharing in a photo book and can be displayed fully in a custom calendar, a poster, a photo mug, greeting card, or any of our hundreds of products you can choose from.

We are always looking for better ways to help you capture, share, display, and save your memories.

As a RITZPIX NETWORK member, we aim to provide you with the portal to those resources and keep your memories alive for generations to come.

Thank you for trusting RITZPIX.com and RITZ/WOLF CAMERA & IMAGE with your precious memories!

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RITZPIX NETWORK MEMBERS ONLY ASK YOUR ASSOCIATE ABOUT RITZPIX NETWORK BENEFITS

7”android WiFi

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50 49 f f o 35% =$162 f f 49 o % 5 2 =$187 RPN Family & Friends/Business Plan DISCOUNT

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3

I N S P I R AT I O N RITZ CAMERA & IMAGE

peacock sunrise

by ALEX CASTRO ft. lauderdale, fl JULY/AUGUST WINNER of a F L I P M I N O H D

F

or this issue and future issues, we want inspiration to come from people just like you – our customers! Our RITZPIX.com Photo Contest Page on Facebook is full of inspiring photos from people of all walks of life. The contest winning shots featured here are just a sample of the hundreds of moments that have been captured by customers from all over the nation. We hope that you will join our community and share some of your own inspiring moments.

But it wouldn’t be a RITZPIX.com Contest page without great contests and awesome prizes. Each contest presents a new theme and a new opportunity to win an incredible prize. Our Summer Destination contest for May 4

newborn

by TRACY PYLES manchester, new hampshire

refreshment in the rockies

by CHRISTIE BELMEAR colorado springs, co

MAY/JUNE WINNER of an OLYMPUS TOUGH 3000

MARCH/APRIL WINNER of a NIKON S3000 and June was won by Christie Belmear, whose “Refreshment in the Rockies” photo won her an OLYMPUS Tough 3000 camera.

Camcorders, netbooks, photo

THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

books, and more have been up for grabs with each contest.

Now, it’s your turn! The next contest begins November 7, 2010 and the theme is FALL COLORS.

WOLF CAMERA & IMAGE

sounds&sights of the monsoon season

by CHANDRA TREUTHART WHITFIELD mesa, arizona JULY/AUGUST WINNER of a FREE PHOTO BOOK

NEW PHOTO CONTEST

FC OAL OLRLS to enter, go to

www.facebook.com/photocontest

by CHASE DALLURA upper darby, pennsylvania

SEPTEMBER WINNER of a SONY ALPHA a330 DSLR

The leaves, the pumpkins, the school buses... there are so many ways to capture this theme. Go to www.facebook.com/photocontest and share your favorite moments

colored lights

by LISA LOMBARDO kent, washington

DEC/JAN WINNER of a LENOVO S10 NETBOOK

filled wth FALL COLOR - but don’t delay. The contest ends

December 13, 2010.

www.facebook.com/photocontest THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

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WOLF CAMERA & IMAGE

CHOOSING

RITZPIX.com “It is the one place on the web that integrates the digital world with the real world.”

The possibilities for sharing your memories are extensive. From Facebook and Foursquare to the latest tablets and mobile devices, there does not appear to be an end to where you memories can go.

So how does RITZPIX.com factor in the sea of online possibilities?

To answer that question, and a few others, we grabbed our authority on the subject - Peter Tahmin, Vice President of RITZPIX.com and Online retail.

Peter, what is your background?

I have been in the photography industry literally all of my life, professionally since 1981 and in ecommerce since 1995. Over the past 20 years, I have specialized in launching or restructuring niche photographic digital imaging and ecommerce businesses.

So since you have been on the forefront of web integration for digital imaging for some time, why should people choose RitzPix? It is the one place on the web that integrates the digital world with the real world. When you import your photos from Facebook, Picasa, your mobile device, or your home computer, you are able 6

to turn those digital memories into something that becomes a part of your life. Whether it’s a poster that gets displayed on your wall or photo book that you can share with friends and family, RITZPIX.com helps make those memories become a part of your everyday life.

How is RitzPix different than similar services on the web?

The chief advantage is the relationship between our 300 stores and our online website, RITZPIX.com. When you order on RITZPIX.com, it is available for pick up at any of our 300 locations nationwide the same day or as fast as one hour in many cases.

That’s huge. We recently began

THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

our 1 hour 1 day initiative, which allows customers to choose pick up within an hour or one day shipping to your home at no extra cost. No more waiting weeks or paying overnight shipping costs from other online imaging sites!

There are a lot of possibilities to choose from on RITZPIX.com.

What do you recommend?

The one item that you can always make is a photo book. There is nothing like sharing a collection of memories in a hardbound book of your creation. It is fast becoming the standard way of sharing memories.

RITZ CAMERA & IMAGE

You’re at your kid’s first game and you’re having trouble capturing her in action.

Call the Photo Patrol!

Your big trip is just days away and you have yet to learn your new camera.

Call the Photo Patrol!

The pictures you take with your wireless external flash are always under or over exposed.

Call the Photo Patrol!

You look at your camera and scream AHHHH! Call the Photo Patrol!

T

he Ritz Family of stores has just launched a new service to rescue you from your photographic woes – the RITZPIX PHOTO PATROL. It is our one-on-one consultation service designed to satisfy the individual needs of every customer. “We have a consultant for almost every photographic need that can meet at our customers’ convenience,” says Bryan Engblom, National Product Manger for Photo Patrol and On Location Photography. “More importantly, we can meet where it’s most convenient for our customers. If you want a member of the Patrol to come out with you to your kid’s practice field to walk you through how to get the action you’re looking for, we can do that. If you want one of us to make a house call for individualized instruction, we can do that. If you want to get hands-on instruction in one 8

THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

of our stores on how to use specific types of equipment, we can do that.”

Dan Dawson, National Sales Manager for Photo Patrol, sees the service as a complement to our popular series of Photo Classes. “In fact, we recommend that you take our classes first if you can. You may be able to discover what you need to know through those class offerings. However, we also recognize that our photo classes cannot cover every individual need nor serve every learning style.

That’s where this service comes in.”

The best way to learn if this service is for you is to stop by any of our 300 locations nationwide for a pre-session consultation. “Our sales associates will do their best to outline how to best meet your needs, whether it’s our Photo Patrol service, a photo class, or quick on the spot coaching. We’re here to help.”

“Photography is supposed to be fun,” says Maderia Eoff, a Photo Patrol consultant based in Beltsville, MD. “Most of the time, you are trying to use your camera to capture something that you want to remember. That experience shouldn’t be stressful or intimidating. The goal of Photo Patrol is to help remove the barriers that keep many of our customers from getting the pictures they want.

Photo Patrol is all about you.”

WOLF CAMERA & IMAGE

Erica specialized in landscape photography at the Art Institute of Colorado and was the winner of the Olympus Photographers of Tomorrow competition in 2009. She was also featured in Photo District News.

Lucas holds an Associate Degree in Photographic Communications and his work as a freelance photographer has been published in numerous magazines and newspapers.

Melanie has been photographing people, places, and things for over 25 years. Her areas of expertise are infants, children, pets, and family portraiture.

Tom is formally trained in black & white fine art photography, darkroom printing techniques, portfolio presentation, and critique. Currently, his skills are focused on portrait, event, and sports photography.

Paula received a degree from Chester College of New England where she won the President’s Award for All Around Photography. She has extensive knowledge of lighting, composition, and book design.

Jamie has over 20 years of experience in professional photography and has received numerous awards for his work. He enjoys sharing his passion for photography, both technical and artistic, with others.

Maderia is the Batgirl of photography, always ready to capture the moment with the right tool every time. She specializes in event and landscape photography and carries a plethora of knowledge on most camera models.

Ricky has years of experience in the video and photography field. He also carries software expertise in iPhoto, Photoshop, and Final Cut Pro.

go to www.ritzpixphotopatrol.com to learn more about the service in your area THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

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RITZ CAMERA & IMAGE

ritz university spe

ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK, UTAH

I

n September, Inkley’s and our wonderful friends from Nikon, hosted a Photo Safari at Antelope Island State Park in Utah. “This location is so unique because of the extremely large variety of photo opportunities it presents,” says Event Coordinator Mark Moeller.

“From wildlife of all types, to water and mountains, to stunning sunsets found nowhere else. “ photos on this page by Mark Moeller

10 THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

In addition to a fantastic learning experience and a spectacular view from Mother Nature, Nikon offered the 40 attendees opportunities to use some of their best cameras and lenses during the excursion.

Between the scenery, state-of-theart equipment, and instruction from exceptional facilitators, it was a great day to capture, share, display, and save memories.

WOLF CAMERA & IMAGE

ecial events E vent Coordinator Julia Groves started the day with only one rule — “You may shoot in any setting except Automatic.” That statement set the stage for hours of fun, discovery, and learning during the RITZ/WOLF CAMERA&IMAGE excursion in Downtown Chicago’s Millennium Park.

Over 40 people, equipped with cameras of all types, were in attendance on a beautiful September day. Facilitators led groups of attendees through photo exercises

MILLENNIUM PARK

that demonstrated the ease, flexibility, and applications of “non-automatic” functions. That hands-on experience allowed attendees to take full advantage of what the city scenery had to offer - award winning art, unique architecture, and gorgeous landscapes.

It was a great day to enjoy the park, mingle, and learn something new about their camera. As one guest stated, “I’ve learned more in this outing than I have in six months of owning the camera!!”

photos on this page by Julia Groves

go to www.ritzcamerauniversity.com to learn about upcoming events in your area

THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010 11

ritz university news

s e t a d p u class for 2011

For the last eight years, tickets to attend a series of Ritz Camera University classes have been included with every camera purchase. More than 180 class locations throughout the country have combined to conduct thousands of classes annually. To keep pace with ever-changing technology, we are launching updates to our course selections in January 2011 so that we can continue to deliver what you need to capture life as you see it.

The Essentials Course

Digital Master Classes

Specialty Classes

1. Digital Imaging Basics

Understanding Exposure

Quality Lighting at Home

The three-class Essentials Course is recommended for all digital camera owners.

Success with digital cameras begins with an understanding of the fundamentals. First, some camera operation basics that are universal to all types of cameras and using automatic exposure modes. Then, the importance of aspect ratio to print sizes, understanding image size in pixels, JPEG image compression qualities, print resolution, file formats, and file size.

All are important factors that affect the display quality, editing possibilities, and storage aspects of the digital image.

2. Photography 101

Got the basics of digital images? Start taking better pictures! Learn the key principles that will improve your photography skills, no matter what type of camera you use. Including: camera handling technique, creative lens use, focusing tips, artistic compositional elements, and some tips on using the built-in flash.

3. Save, Display, Share

For many digital camera owners, learning the methods to archive and then access your digital images is just as important as camera operation.

Also discover the exciting new ways available to display digital images and the other options and possibilities to share your life’s memories.

Learn how to get out of automatic and become creative. It is highly recommended that you take the Essentials Course first.

Unlock the full potential of your camera by understanding the “out of automatic” exposure modes. By learning how to adjust the Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO you can change the creative properties of your image!Then, learn how your camera’s light metering system works and how the light metering overrides can improve exposure.

Light, Inside and Out

Discover what the pros know. How to take advantage of the available light and when to use light modifiers in any photographic situation. Learn how both natural and artificial light will affect the quality of your photographs. Use your auxiliary flash more effectively by improving your basic flash skills. Then, some advanced flash techniques.

These classes focus on particular situations and/or equipment and are scheduled at central locations.

Take your photography to a new level. The unique capabilities of digital cameras allow photographers to use affordable lighting solutions.

Come learn the basics of the systems, accessories, setups, and secrets of using controlled lighting equipment. It’s easier than you may think.

Filter Factor

Using filters can be mysterious for even experienced photographers.

Come learn how you can dramatically improve indoor, landscape, portrait, and other photography by effectively using filters. Also discover how to transform bland black and white photography into dramatic expression by mastering contrast.

Lenses at Length

Designed for camera owners with interchangeable lenses. “It’s all about the lens.” Is a common statement from pros.First, some fun history on the development of the digital camera.

Then, learn the design factors that ultimately determine the price of a lens. Including: focal length, maximum aperture, optical quality, and more.

Then, the advantages of using different lens types for specific photographic applications.

visit www.ritzcamerauniversity.com to obtain the latest class schedules 12 THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

WOLF CAMERA & IMAGE

RITZ TIPS

for a better FAMILY PORTRAIT

by Bryan Engblom, National Product Manager for Photo Patrol & On Location Photography Services

A family portrait can be as formal and timeless or as fun and casual as you are. Consider these tips below to create a family portrait that’s you.

First, location is essential. If you want your family portraits to tell a story about who you are, then choose a location that is important to your family. That might be indoors around the fireplace, outdoors in the back yard, at the lake, or even in the kitchen! The important thing to remember is that you are creating a memory of who you are at this time of your lives.

Proper clothing coordination is also essential in a family portrait.

Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so no single member of the family stands out because their clothing is too light or bright compared to the rest of the group.

However, if there are going to be very small children in the portrait, such as a baby or a toddler, dressing them in lighter clothing will make them stand out more, which is often better because they are much smaller than everyone else.

Simple, solid colors photograph best in a traditional family portrait.

Darker, muted colors will draw your eyes to the faces of those in the portrait. Traditional styles have a more timeless look; casual, relaxed clothing results in a more relaxed feel for the portraits.

If you want to tell a story or have a theme to your family portrait such as

sports or hobbies, you may want to include some props, like a football, fishing gear, skis, or even chef’s hats!

This can make the portrait experience more of an event that younger children will enjoy.

If anyone needs a haircut before the session, have it done at least a week prior to having your portraits taken. Avoid trying out a new hairstyle, as several weeks are generally needed to get accustomed to a new look. Gentlemen may need to shave just before the session as five o’clock shadow can be a distraction.

If you have young children, remember to keep it fun and stress free! This may mean taking a few pictures, then taking a break, and then shooting a few more a little later. The best portraits are often the ones where everyone is interacting with one another, as opposed to everyone looking at the camera. By keeping it fun and relaxed it will become an event your children will look forward to. I hope this helps make your family portrait one that you will enjoy for many years.

Bryan has been a professional photographer since 1982 and has been teaching photography for over 12 years. He is a member of the Twin Cities Professional Photographers Association.

THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010 13

RITZ CAMERA & IMAGE

Capture

Share

GET A GRIP ON YOUR STABILIZATION

ACCESS PICASA WEB & FACEBOOK PHOTOS

No matter how much stabilization is built in to your camera and/or lens, there is no match to the steadiness of a tripod. The new QUANTARAY QSX Ultra 4STM TRI-MONOPOD adds a pistol action grip to allow you to adjust quickly and keep camera angles precise. The quick-release allows you to remove the camera with ease when ready to go hand-held.

The integrated monopad is perfect for video moments or places where a tripod is too cumbersome to carry. However, the tripod has a carry handle for convenient transport.

In an added effort to make your life easier, we would like to introduce “Ritz Access Photo!”

You can access your photos from Facebook or Picasa web in our stores or online through RITZPIX.com to make prints, photo books and more!

14 THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010

WOLF CAMERA & IMAGE

Display

Save

MAKE YOUR CALENDER INTO A YEARBOOK

PRESERVE A FAMILY LEGACY FOR AGES

Many calendars show off favorite photos of family and loved ones, which is great. But those creations are often discarded by year’s end when it’s time for a new calendar.

Try approaching calendar creation as a yearbook, choosing milestones or favorite events that occurred each month of the previous year. Use text to label your memories for display like the calendar above.

When the year ends, your friends and family will keep it as a testimonial of the past instead of an expired calendar that no longer has use.

For anyone born before the year 2000, film and video tapes are a big part of your history. Don’t let those slides, negatives, shoeboxes of prints waste away. Use our SCAN MAN service to save those memories for generations to enjoy.

With our SCAN MAN service your photos, slides, negatives, and video tapes NEVER leave our stores.

Since it is an in-house service, there are no shipping charges to pay for. Fulfillment takes 1 Hour to 1 Day (not weeks).

So get those memories out of the attic, closet, and basement and bring them to us to save forever!

THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2010 15

parting shot

change is here