Chairman of the Board
Doug Peninger dpeninger@SEPPAonline.com
President
George Singleton gsingleton@SEPPAonline.com
1st Vice-President
Kevin Jiminez kjiminez@SEPPAonline.com
2nd Vice-President
Mary Fisk-Taylor mfisktaylor@SEPPAonline.com
Secretary-Treasurer
District of Columbia
Florida
Janet Boschker jboschker@SEPPAonline.com
Salon Exhibition Chair Executive Director
Delaware
Jessica Vogel jvogel@SEPPAonline.com
Georgia
*** Paula Mignagna
***Anthony Maril Joe Tessmer
*** Martin Gudz Kaye Newsome
*** Spencer Smith Jason White
Rick Gibbons ExecutiveDirector@SEPPAonline.com
S out he r n E x p o su re
Souther n Exposure magazine is an online publication of SEPPA and is published monthly. Editor V ictoria Kelly vkelly@SEPPAonline.com 919.818.0726 Ad Sales & Business Manager Rick Gibbons ExecutiveDirector@SEPPAonline.com 866.982.4856
Maryland
Mississippi/Alabama
*** Lidia Miller Steve Clark
*** Andrew Lamb Gil Brady
North Carolina
*** Bruce Williamson Janet Boschker
South Carolina
*** Patty Hallman Gregg Martin
Article & Ad Submissions 5th of every month OnLine Publication 20th of each month SEPPA 3710 North Main Street High Point, NC 27265 866.982.4856 Acceptance o f a d v e r t i si n g d oe s n ot c a r r y w i th i t en dor se m e n t b y t h e p ub l i sh e r. Opi ni o ns expre sse d b y Sout h e r n Exp osure o r any o f i ts aut h or s d oe s n ot n e c e ssa r i l y refl ect t h e p osi t i on s of t h e Sou theaster n Pro fessi on a l P h ot ogr a p h e r s A ssoc ia t io n . Asso ci ati on f i n a n c i a l i n f or m a t i on avai l a b l e up on re q ue st .
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
*** Jeannie Forehand Barbara White
*** Jim Carpenter Robert Holman
*** Pat Dodd Brentv Kepner
*** state president SEPPA representative
Delaware
Mississippi/Alabama
District of Columbia
North Carolina
www.ppsgw.org
www.ppofnc.com
Florida
South Carolina
www.fpponline.org
www.ppofsc.com
Georgia
Tennessee
www.gppa.com
www.tnppa.com
Maryland
Virginia
www.delawarephotographers.com
www.marylandppa.com
SEPPA is a regional affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America and hosts an annual District Image Judging. To learn more about PPA, click HERE.
www.ppma.net
www.vppa.org
West Virginia www.ppwv.org
SEPPA President George Singleton takes a few minutes this month to talk about image competition... what’s YOUR strategy?
One of my lifelong friends jokingly talks about using “strategery” whenever he is attempting to achieve some business goal or win a game. He made that term up but it is based on having a winning strategy for whatever you seek to do. If you want to improve your business, improve your photographic skills and achieve admiration and recognition from your peers and clients, entering imaging competitions on the local, regional and international levels is a winning strategy. Another benefit of entering photographic imaging competitions is as you succeed in the various levels of imaging competition you earn exhibition merits towards state, SEPPA and/or PPA degrees. To put it another way, earning photographic degrees gives you photographic bling! Check with your state SEPPA Affiliate to learn the requirements for your state association’s degree programs. As a member of SEPPA, the Southeastern Photographic Fellowship (SPF) degree is available to you. The SPF degree can be earned in two categories: The orange ribbon with medallion is earned with a concentration in print credits. The purple ribbon with me-
dallion is earned with a concentration in service to the organization. The requirements for both ribbons may be completed with education and/or service credits. You may also achieve both Degrees, signified by a ribbon with the combined colors of purple and orange. All SEPPA events, beginning April 1, 2010, are eligible to submit for credit. So how do you earn the SPF degree with orange ribbon? Enter the Southeastern District Image Judging every year. For each image that scores 80 or above, you earn one “print credit” towards the SPF Degree. You earn educational credits each time you attend the SEPPA Convention or attend one of the SEPPA Affiliated Schools. You earn service credits by volunteering to help with the SEPPA Convention and the District Image Judging. Once you have accumulated twenty-five credits with a minimum number of print credits, (13), you have earned the SPF with orange ribbon. What does it take to earn the PPA Master of Photography Degree? It takes a minimum of thirteen (13) PPA Exhibition Merits plus twelve (12) PPA Service Merits, (a total of twenty-five (25) PPA Merits).
from the President (cont’d)
What are PPA Service Merits? You receive a PPA Service Merit for each iUSA Convention you attend. You receive PPA Service Merits for each PPA all-day class you attend, such as “Super-Monday” classes or two PPA Service Merits for attending a PPA Affiliate week-long school such as East Coast School. You earn two PPA Service Merits for being Convention Chair or for being President of your PPA State Affiliate. There are also opportunities to earn PPA Service Merits such as volunteering to be a print handler at regional or international IPC events, helping with iUSA Conventions, or serving on PPA Committees. In order to earn the much sought after PPA Degree, Master of Photography here is your winning strategy: enter and attend your state PPA/SEPPA affiliate monthly competitions to help you figure out what to enter into your state affiliate annual image competition. This will give you an idea for the four best images to submit to the PPA Southeastern District Competition, referred to as SEPPA Competition. The results of the SEPPA Competition will let you know if you are on the right track for the annual PPA International Photographic Competition. If an image doesn’t receive a score of 80 or above at SEPPA, you’ll know to either replace or improve that image before sending it to the PPA IPC. If in a given year, one or more of your images scores 80 or above at SEPPA, it will receive the “Judge’s Seal of Approval.” If you submit that “sealed” image in the same year to
the PPA IPC, your image (s) will automatically receive a PPA Print Exhibition Merit. In addition, SEPPA “sealed� images are automatically considered for the PPA Loan Collection. Images selected for the PPA Loan Collection receive an additional PPA Exhibition Merit. So, hone your photographic skills, impress your clients, earn the respect of your peers, and achieve the height of self-satisfaction. Grow, learn and compete locally, regionally and internationally.
George Singleton M.Photog.,Cr., CPP, F.Ph SEPPA President Maryland
SEPPA is pleased to present images from Janet Boschker’s ASP fellowship portfolio.
ASPs’s Fellowship guide as well as write a paper incorporating his or her philosophy, life work and achievement in photography. The ASP fellowship is considered by many to be the highest honor one can receive in professional photography. In keeping with its dedication to the pursuit of the ultimate in creativity and excellence, the American Society of Photographers has instituted the Fellowship with the hope that it will motivate PPA Masters to new artistic attainment from which they will gain added recognition among their fellows and the public which they serve. “ASP is a society of professional photographic artists who aspire to maintain the highest level of excellence by adhering to ethical standards, stimulating creativity and continually refining technical competence. The goal of the organization is to promote education, foster fellowship and perpetuate the ideals of photography as a science and an art.” The road to the ASP fellowship is quite a journey. A candidate must hold at least one of the PPA Master degrees and have acquired 15 points in the Masters Exhibition of the ASP. The candidate must submit a portfolio of his or her finest work as required in the
A jury of peers will judge the portfolio and the paper composed of five who must be ASP members as selected by the ASP Board of Governors. At least four of the jurors must hold the ASP Fellowship. “Southern Exposure” congratulates Janet Boschker, North Carolina, for achieving this honor. Janet is a past president of PPNC, past director of East Coast School and is currently serving as Secretary on the SEPPA Executive Board as well as being a PPA national councillor and the SEPPA representative for North Carolina. Congratulations, Janet. Well done.
Lew Everling Cr. Photog., CPP www.leweverling.com You know, back in the day when someone would stop for Information, Wind and Water.
on. If you have a habit of taking calls during meetings be aware of the message that sends to a potential client—you may end up with an IWW. (You know, back in the day when there were full-service gas stations…someone would stop for Information, Wind and Water.) Everyone has their Zen place--maybe it’s reading, writing, exercise--whatever it may be give yourself 60 minutes to start the day. Turn off the phone, resist the urge to peek at email and other interruptions. Just because someone texts doesn’t mean you have to jump on the reply! (On a side note, text messages have a response rate on average of 90 seconds. That’s darn quick compared to other mediums!) As for phone calls, if it’s that important they’ll leave a message. If you are the caller leave your own message! If you have a face to face appointment let the phone go…better still, turn off the ringer! Have you ever had a meeting interrupted with the “Excuse me, I need to take this” routine? For me, that’s a defining moment of whether or not I’ll spend my hard-earned $$$ since apparently whoever is on the other end of the phone has a higher priority than I do! I usually end the meeting at that point and move
The IWW customer didn’t spend a dime but used the service attendant for directions, tips on car care or more, added air to the tires and water to the radiator. Now...how often do you check email? Set yourself a schedule for reading and returning emails. Nothing interrupts the way emails can if you try to respond as they come in--and then throw in Facebook messages, instant messengers, Twitter and Instagram and we have an entirely different article. Sometimes we just have to put up a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign between status updates on Facebook, @Twitter messages and Google hangout invites. Before you know it the day can be totally consumed with absolutely nothing! While all these medias are essential business tools, we need to use them that way. Have you watched some of Facebook’s newsfeeds lately? It’s 95% negative from politics to relationships and it comes back
to setting the tone for the day! While preparing this article, I watched a thread closely about a photographer ranting about another photographer and his philosophies. This lead to countless others chiming in until the time had spanned over 4 hours with 90 plus comments! I still see the thread pop up with comments even though it’s over 2 months old now-400 plus comments from probably 40 different people going back and forth with who’s right and who’s wrong. How much time did that thread take away from them fishing for the new business they are complaining of not having? Not one person says “hey, if it works for you then do it--everyone has a system, if your system works then go with it!” (That’s why the solar system has functioned so well for so long, it’s a system!) Time is precious--it can’t be bought back, extended, or traded. I wonder how much work could have been done if each one of those thread participants had chiseled away at their list of “I don’t have time for that” and not on Facebook. It’s all about priorities-- and only you can set you free, take back your time, your schedule and enjoy everyday so much more! Special thank you! I want to thank every-
one who responded regarding my brother’s accident--your prayers were truly appreciated. Currently he’s undergone many surgeries and is learning to walk again, has had one leg and foot reconstructed and his spirits are getting better each day. Some days are better than others, and while the road may be long, I remind him that at least he’s on the road! He will most likely be home in time for Thanksgiving, and we will be giving thanks that we still are blessed to enjoy that time with him and his family. On that note I want to wish you the happiest Thanksgiving with a “thank you” for letting me share my thoughts with you.
Victoria Kelly Cr. Photog., CPP DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR MINING NEW BUSINESS? YOU MAY HAVE TO DO A LITTLE SLEUTHING TO FIND YOUR DREAM CLIENT. It’s November…and that means it’s time for me to take a time out from all the holiday craziness and assess the current year—what worked, what didn’t work as well as I wanted and what adjustments I need to make for my marketing calendar in 2014. Photography is a passion business—we all love creating beautiful images—and those who have successful studios are definitely minding their numbers. (If you aren’t, you’ll soon find yourself running a not-for-profit studio.) Do you have a strategy for mining new business? In addition to knowing your numbers, you may have to do a little sleuthing to find your dream client. I create a spreadsheet of my clients for the year---and divide it into 3 parts: As, Bs and Cs. My A-listers are my top investers followed by the Bs and then the Cs. It’s the As and Bs I’m interested in—and I analyze those to see if I can identify patterns that I can carry into the new year. (You can set your “A” limit at any number you wish—I know where mine needs to be to keep me profitable. You should, too.) So let’s focus on what I’m looking for in my A list: I keep fairly thorough records on the
clients that come into the studio---in addition to gathering all the usual information (telephone contact, mailing address and such) I’m also gathering additional information—if mom works outside the home, I want to know where. And I gather the same information for dad. In the course of our first conversations I’m also making notes: what side of the street do they live on? do they have yard art? what are their hobbies? While some of this information may seem irrelevant—you’d likely be surprised at how you can identify your potential client by simply studying the data you should be collecting. For instance…I know the 2 zip codes in my area that have brought me the most lucrative clients…I know what neighborhoods they live in…they typically do NOT have yard art and in what profession they most likely work. Now…you may be asking yourself how this helps you find new clients. Doesn’t it make sense that you would target those prospects who are most like your A-listers? I treat my As like gold—I usually send a small gift basket around the holidays thanking them for their business through
the year---give them preferential dates and times for their holiday sessions and let them know how much I appreciate them. After all—each client has a choice where to invest their photography dollars and I always thank them for choosing me! As you might suspect, I have more names on my “B” list (picture the typical bell curve here) —they are very important to the overall success of my studio—and they have totally different patterns than the As. (I also usually see them 3-4 times a year.) I target new potential business to the Bs with direct mail, again paying attention to the patterns I see when I do my yearly analysis. The clients on my “C” list are typically onetime clients that I most likely won’t see again. They get a followup note thanking them for their business and their email goes onto the general newsletter list. So…is it time to assess your year? You should be planning now how to broaden your success in 2014—because, really, it’s all in the numbers.
Are you attending iUSA in January? You’ll want to download the new Imaging app for your smartphone or tablet... Tag your favorite exhibitors, note which speakers to see-a wealth of information close at hand. Don’t miss it!
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The delightful Krispy Kreme doughnut was born in Winston-Salem. and raised in Wilmington. Havelock is home of Marine Base “Cherry Point”, the largest air base in the Marine Corps. With the holidays starting this month the car is parked and we’re staying close to home—this month our SEPPA state of mind is concentrating on North Carolina, home of Kitty Hawk, the Outer Banks and 3 major universities: Duke, UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University. North Carolina is home to several TV shows: American Gothic, Eastbound & Down, Hart of Dixie and Homeland, just to name a few. Wilmington, NC is sometimes referred to as the Hollywood of the East Coast. UNC Chapel Hill is the oldest state university in the United States. In 1903 the Wright brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk. Known as “Fish Town” in the early 1700s when Blackbeard frequented the coast, “Beaufort Town” was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs in 1722. Cape Hatteras is the largest lighthouse ever to be moved due to erosion problems. Charles Karault (“On the Road”) was born
You might be interested to know that NC is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the nation. The World War II battleship “North Carolina” is permanently berthed on the Cape Fear River at Wilmington. She was saved from the scrap heap in the 1960s by public subscription, including donations of dimes by schoolchildren. And, one of my personal favorites—Krispy Kreme Doughnut was founded in Winston-Salem. Photographically speaking, PPNC offers 3 educational seminars a year plus an annual convention AND a PPA affiliate school, East Coast School, one of 4 in the SEPPA district. PPNC’s current president is Bruce Williamson and the director of East Coast School is Rex Truell. NC is home to Sam Gray, Marilyn Sholin and William Branson III. I do believe my sweet potato casserole is just about done…fill your Thanksgiving plate (seconds are allowed!), count your blessings and we’ll be heading back out on the road in December.