JANUARY 2011 ONLINE PUBLICATION OF SEPPA
Suzette Allen Image Clusters
Victoria Kelly
Lists: Get Organized
Cheri MacCallum
Painting a Landscape: Part 3
Cover Art: “The Mirror Maze” by Don Fields
Kevin Newsome
Chairman of the Board
kevin@newsomesstudio.com
Mary Alice Ross
President
maryaliceross@gmail.com
***Don Engler Peggy Parkinson
Delaware
***Bob Blanken Joe Tessmer
District of Columbia
Doug Peninger
1st Vice-President
ncdoug01@triadbiz.rr.com
***Dana Lunden Terri Crownover
Florida
George Singleton
2nd Vice-President
george.singleton6@verizon.net
Secretary/Treasurer
Anthony Rumley Randy McNeilly
randy@mcneillyphotography.com
Thomas McCollum
Executive Director
seppa@bellsouth.net
Southern Exposure Southern Exposure magazine is an online publication of SEPPA and is published monthly. Editor Doug Peninger NCDOUG01@triadbiz.rr.com 336-883-7104 Ad Sales & Business Manager Thomas McCollum seppa@bellsouth.net 888-272-3711 Article & Ad Submission 5th of each month On-Line Publication 1st of each month
SEPPA
2712 Marcia Drive Lawrenceville, GA 30044 888-272-3711 www.4seppa.com
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***John Carney Spencer Smith
Maryland
***Vanessa Ard David Corry
anthony@anthonyrumley.com
Print Exhibition Chair
Georgia
***Darrell Ivy Gil Brady
Mississippi/Alabama
North Carolina
***Sherry Whitt Janet Boschker
South Carolina
***Clark Berry Jimmy Wood
Tennessee
***Eddie Lambert Jan Wilson
Virginia
***Sharon Younce Robert Holman ***state president representative
Acceptance of advertising does not carry with it endorsement by the publisher. Opinions expressed by Southern Exposure or any of its authors does not neccesarily reflect the positions of the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association.
Additional information of state events within the SEPPA District can be found using the state links below. Please view their websites by clicking on the web address and you will be re-directed. Delaware www.delawarephotographers.com
District of Columbia www.ppsgw.org
Florida
Mississippi/Alabama www.ppma.net
North Carolina www.ppofnc.com
South Carolina www.ppofsc.com
www.fpponline.org
Georgia
Tennessee
www.gppa.com
www.tnppa.com
Maryland
Virginia
www.marylandppa.com
www.vppa.org
SEPPA is a regional affiliate of Professional Photographers of America and hosts an annual District Image Judging. To learn more about PPA, click the logo below.
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Happy New Year 2011 SEPPA friends, can you rapidy believe it’sapproach 2011? The clock is ticking as we the Well, it is and2011 with it there is much to do. This month, I am SEPPA Convention. givingare youfew a checklist about, as are as There itemsofIthings wanttotothink suggest towe you quickly approaching the 2011 SEPPA Convention, checklist, of sorts, to think about. which arrives March 26-29. I hope to see all of you in Athens, GA.
1. HOTEL RESERVATION Do this immediately. The information is on this page, directly beside this column. 2. REGISTER FOR THE CONVENTION Go the www.4seppa.com website and pre-register. It’s free!!! Yes, I said free. If you wait until you arrive in Athens. there will be a charge. 3. CHARIOT RACES Does your state have its team together? If not, why not? This event is just for fun and to get to know the SEPPA membership. Get your team together and register!! 4. JOYCE WILSON MASTER CLASS This master class is a first-time feature for the SEPPA convention. Space is limited and registration is required. There is a separate fee for this course and the spaces are filling quickly. Don’t get left out! 5. PRINT/IMAGE COMPETITION Prove yourself! Show other SEPPA members what you have and prove it to yourself. This year, you can enter digital or traditional prints. Check out the link on the SEPPA website.
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It’s not too early to start making your hotel reservation for the 2011 SEPPA Convention. The host hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn. Room rate is $125 per night. The hotel is a simple crosswalk away from the Classic Convention Center. Their direct number is 706-353-6800. http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=AHNDTGI
thePages southern exposure january 2011
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Shop Showcase
AcademyProductions White House Custom Color Pro Photo Millers PhotoFlex Little Dreamers Designs CCI Lab
Attend 7 12 17 21 32
2011 SEPPA Convention Maryland PPA PPNC Convention 2011 SEPPA Convention
Learn 6 10 18 22 46
Suzette Allen Clusters Victoria Kelly
Lists: Get Organized
Cheri MacCallum
Painting a Landscape: Part 3
Cover Artist Don Fields
SEPPA CONVENTION TALENT
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“Morning Solitude” by Roger Hammons
Kevin Newsome Q&A
Shooting Stadium Suzette Allen
Jamie Hayes Karen Goforth Mary Fisk-Taylor Kevin Newsome Janet Boschker Richard Sturdevant Janel Pahl Victoria Kelly
Joyce Wilson Michael & Tina Timmons
Kevin asked for your questions, and did he ever get them! Kevin lets loose with the an all new video. YOU WILL LOVE THIS VIDEO!!! We, at Southern Exposure, hope you will enjoy “A Few Moments With...”. This month, STUMP: PART 2. (Click on the title, STUMP: PART 2, and you will be linked to the video.)
Saturday Evening In the Courtyatrd
Show Your State Pride!! Each state is onvited to participate in the 2011 Chariot Races. Custom create your own state chariot . Get a red wagon and fix it up! The creation is completely up to your team. Each state team will consist of a rider and 4 Puller-Pushers! Contact Tom McCollum, SEPPA Executive Director and Register now! It’s complimentary! State__________________________________________ Team Rider___________________________________ Four Member Push Team_____________________ ________________________________________________
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Sunday, March 27 4:30pm to 7:00pm
Bambi Cantrell vs. John Woodward This is the live program you have to see! This isalways the livewanted program you have Two master photographers always wanted to see! photographing live, in front of an audience. Two master photographers photographing live, in front of an audience. A panel of judges. A host. A secret prop. Only one reignAsupreme as theprop. best. A panel ofcan judges. host. A secret Only one can reign supreme as the best. You get a front row seat to this exciting event. This will be like nothing you have everto seen a photographic convention. You get a front row seat thisatexciting event. This will be like nothing Bambi Cantrell andever Johnseen Woodward will go head to head in battle as you have at a photographic convention. theyand show you all the knowledge theyto have. John Woodward a mystery guest will go head head in battle as You will be inspired, willknowledge be captivated the energy. they show youYou all the theybyhave. You’ve just gotbe tocaptivated be there! by the energy. You will be inspired, You will You’ve just got to be there!
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!!! LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!!!
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What? That’s quite a claim! It’s true! Ever since my lab Bay Photo came out with the Thin Wraps, my customers have loved them! photo 02 Now it is my standard treatment for my Signature Prints, with upgrades to Canvas or Gallery Wraps. They just have such a polished look! THEN they came out with CLUSTERS & SPLITS! Wow--Everyone wants to figure out how they can do a cluster. There’s something magnetic about a grouping of images that tells a story! (See Photo 01) http://www.bayphoto.com/catalog/splits_clusters.htm
So here’s my dilemma: lots of times they want to see a visualization of what it looks like, so I would fire up Bay’s ROES program (turn off the prices option) and show them in ROES how cool they look by dragging in the images. And that worked some of the time, but a lot of times they needed a different arrangement or needed to turn one image to the other orientation. Hmm. Nuthin I could do about that. (See Photo 02)
photo 01 10
So Here’s my solution: Photoshop to the Rescue!! I made a document that shows a wall, 5’ tall by 7’ wide (the size over a couch) and placed colored placeholders of all the sizes of images found in the clusters and composed my groupings--TO SCALE! It is so great to be able to visualize with! Then I can use the clipping mask, which is ridiculously fast, to populate to show them their cluster design! (See Photo 03) Or better yet, have an arrangement mocked up before they see their proofs! (See Photo 04)
photo 03
photo 04
Here’s why it’s so cool: Well, I called Bay Photo to ask what my options were to change a cluster if my customer needed a different version, and the sizes are not changeable, but the orientation IS, if I put it in the notes (and drag in the images in ROES shown sideways). COOL! Now I can rearrange according to my customer’s needs and custom order! So now I can open up any one of my 21 layouts and the sizes are already set--I can rotate or reorganize as needed and it works like a CHARM! (See Photo 05)
photo 05
Suzette Allen continues on page 14. You may contact Suzette at: suzette@suzetteallen.com
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Suzette Allen continued...
Are we to the Photoshop part yet?? hahaha Ok-- so here’s the HOW-TO: photo 06
Step One
Create a “wall” that is 60” by 84” (5’x7’), which means a new document 60”x84” at 100 dpi (bigger makes a monster). Why? A typical couch is 7’ long and there’s about 5’ from the top of a couch to the ceiling in standard 8” tall rooms. (You COULD get creative and add the couch to scale and make it 8x8!) Having the inches set on the ruler lets you look at the rulers anytime to see the actual scale of the cluster on the wall as it’s arranged.
photo 07
Step Two
Make a new layer for each “thin wrap” size, then use the marquee to make it the actual scale. Choose the marquee, and set the options on the option bar to FIXED SIZE and choose, say 12x18” in the fields. When you click on the document-there is a 12x18! You can’t make it bigger or smaller, it shows it the actual scale based on that document (wall)! (See Photo 06)
Step Three
Use the paint bucket to fill it with any color. (That was a stretch coming up with a different color for every size offered! ha!) (See Photo 07)
photo 08
Step Four
Add a layer style to make it look realistic with a small bevel and a drop shadow to make it look like it does on the wall, with the image floating just out from the wall. (bevel & emboss: 18 px, drop shadow: 30 dist,20 size, 37% opacity) (See Photo 08)
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Step Five
For each layout demo document, you copy the file and toss out the ones you don’t need, leaving just the image layers of the sizes you need and you can arrange them as you like. Here’s the Stairclimber layout for the Douglas family, but their stairs went up the other direction AND their family portraits were all horizontals--this was much better! (See Photo 09)
photo 11
The other thing I love about the Clusters is when it is time to rearrange or move to a different house or make room for new pictures, the groupings can be split up or rearranged in other places! In this arrangement, the 3 kids pictures could easily make a cute vertical strip on any small wall and the big images can be in a wide tryptic over a couch next time instead of the stairs. I love variety and moving stuff around makes things fresh and exciting to me--I assume there are lots of people like that, including my customers! (See Photo 10) Just make yourself a folder for Clusters and Splits and put these docs in it for quick access when you are doing sales and you can populate and arrange on the fly--or even better, you can prep an arrangement beforehand and only need to modify on the fly. You need to be fast at clipping mask so practice up so you are speedy when you show your customer! Here’s my video on how to do it, in case you need a refresher: http://www.suzetteallen.com/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=14
photo 09
photo 10
CONVENTION HOTEL RESERVATIONS It’s not too early to start making your hotel reservation for the 2011 SEPPA Convention. The host hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn. Room rate is $125 per night. The hotel is a simple crosswalk away from the Classic Convention Center. Their direct number is 706-353-6800. http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=AHNDTGI
Victoria Kelly
I am the queen of lists...they are all sizes, all colors and cover everything from my studio life to when to pick up my kids from lacrosse practice. My “hot tip” for you this month is how to keep your lists organized--yes, I know, it’s sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Several months ago I realized that my lists were taking over my life. The system that I had used for years just wasn’t working for me anymore and I needed to revamp my process. I started doing some research into software solutions that would make my compulsive list-life a little easier and settled on “OmniFocus” for both my Mac and my iPad. OmniFocus is built on the principles of “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. (Yes, there’s a book. It’s titled “Getting Things Done: The Art of StressFree Productivity”) I’m certainly not going to go into a lot of detail here, but the biggest eye-opener for me was the notion that I can work on multiple projects ALL AT THE SAME TIME by having my tasks (or lists!) put together a little differently.
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Now, here’s my disclaimer...while I’ve read the book and adopted many of the suggestions, I had to figure out how to make it work best for ME. If you’re a user of the GTD methodology, it won’t take you long to note that I do some things a little differently. Here’s how I got started...I set aside a 3 hour block of time on a Friday afternoon and turned off every gadget (no small undertaking...iPhones, iPad, computers...) that might make an interruption. I sat down with a pad of paper, my endless lists and thought about...nothing. Whatever came into my mind went onto the pad of paper...in no particular sequence and not assigned to any particular category. Everything from “order albums - Finao” to “ortho appointment for Kevin” went onto my pad. After 90 minutes or so I felt like I had all the jumbled bits and pieces that were cluttering my brain AND my lists in one place. I was already feeling less stress! My next task was to start grouping items into categories...I made a category (or context, if you want to stick with the vernacular from GTD) for my articles for Southern Exposure, one for East Coast School, the studio, my kids/home life and “someday” projects that may or may not ever come to pass. At that point, it was relatively simple to take all the items on my pad and put them into their proper category. Now it was time to enter the data into OmniFocus. Each item on my pad went into my “Inbox” in OF. The inbox is where you enter just the item that pops into your head. No need to assign a category/context at this point, just get it out of your head and into the system!
So...my hot tip for January? Spend some time getting organized. It’s a new year with 364 more precious days. Make every one count! And, if you’re attending Imaging in San Antonio--follow me @VKPhotography. I’ll be in several booths in the tradeshow and would love to meet you, especially if you have an idea/ suggestion for an upcoming article.
Here’s what I discovered: I could INCREASE my productivity by “seeing” my projects and “stuff” from a different angle. Instead of reviewing each project separately, why not do ALL emails for ALL projects at the same time instead of in individual sessions? Or make all phone calls at the same time? I found I was spending less time spinning my wheels and more time GETTING THINGS DONE. The wonderful thing about OmniFocus is that it syncs between my Mac and my iPad using my iDisk. So whatever I update or enter on one flows to the other. If you’re wondering whether or not I gave up my paper list entirely, the answer is no. (My paper list is like my blankey.) But I use my big list in a different way. I use it as a journal of sorts, tracking daily activity and the items I need to enter into OF. I set aside time at the end of each day to enter items into OF. And I have some “me” time on Sunday afternoon to review the upcoming week and projects that need some attention. Has this made my life easier? Oh, yeah. Do I sometimes slip up and not keep up with it like I should. Well, yeah, I’m human. But having this structure in place has de-stressed me considerably and left me with more time for things in my life that were being crowded out.
Cheri MacCallum The January issue completes the current painting project. Be sure to read the November and December 2010 issues to see the first parts of this painting.
At this point we are ready to add color accents. We will be using the color wheel with the rubber stamp clicked off. You will know when this happens because the color wheel becomes vibrant. We will be picking colors from the wheel to add our accents. Here’s how the color wheel works: The outside ring is the hue or color. The triangle is value and saturation of that color. Up and down inside the triangle is the value of that color. Up being lighter, down being darker. From side to side in the triangle is saturation of the color. Left being less saturated and right being more. I will be using a few different brushes to add some highlight and color accents. First I have Artists/Impressionist. While I have my brush, I hold down the alt key on the keyboard and my brush becomes a color picker just like in Photoshop. In the color wheel you see what you sampled, in this case it’s a medium toned yellowish green (image_17). I don’t want to change the hue or color (outside ring), but I do want to lighten it, so I move the cursor inside the triangle up a little. I put a few strokes just to pop a few highlights here and there (image_18,19, 20). I then switch to the Den’s oils/ oil brush luscious to add some straight line highlight accents (image_21).
image_18 image_19
image_17
image_20
image_21
image_23 image_24
Now it’s time to add some color accents. I’m going back to the Den’s oils brushes only this time it’s “oil brush messy”. Again, while I have my brush, I hold down the alt key on the keyboard and my brush becomes a color picker just like in Photoshop. This time we have a dark greenish yellow (image_22). This time I do want to change the color and lighten it just a tad. I move the cursor in the ring around to a bluish purple and move the cursor in the triangle up and right a little to lighten and saturate the color (image_23). I will lower my opacity to around 15 and brush a little of the bluish color into some of the shadow areas of the image (image_24, 25).
image_25
image_22
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Cheri MacCallum continues on page 24.
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Cheri MacCallum continued... Next it’s time for blending. At this point I will close my “retouched” image. The only thing open is the painted file. I’m going clone theforpainted image it “paint_02.” Nexttoit’s time blending. At and this rename point I will close my I“retouched” go to file clone source to make sure that the “paint” is image. The only thing open is the paintedfile file. checked. click on the the painted “paint_02” fileand to make sure it’s active, I’m goingI to clone image rename it “paint_02. then click ctrl M. I go to file clone source to make sure that the “paint” file is checked. I click on the “paint_02 file to make sure it’s active, I’m first going to use Den’s oil brushes/oil brush blender. I’m then click ctrl M. using this brush for larger more “chunky” blending (image_ 26). For theDen’s smaller smootherbrush blending I’ll use I’m first going to use oiland brushes/oil blender. I’m oils/thick wetbrush camel,for alllarger in clone mode on the color wheel. using this more “chunky” blending (image_ 26). For the smaller and smoother blending I’ll use oils/thick wet camel, all in clone mode on the color wheel. When I’m done with all the work in Painter, I open the image in Photoshop. While painting sometimes some tonal values get flattened andthe I find that doing some more When I’m out donea little with all work in Painter, I open thecurves image levels and While some sharpening will give some the image pop inorPhotoshop. painting sometimes tonalsome values get before printing. flattened out a little and I find that doing some more curves or levels and some sharpening will give the image some pop before printing.
image_26
image_26
Here we have the finished painting of the scene from Cades Cove So…go through through your your landscape landscape photophotoCove (image_29). (image_29). So…go graphs…or better yet, travel to some new places and pick a few images to create a new vision. Happy painting!
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Cheri MacCallum is the owner of Art By Cheri where she specializes in the painting, fine art printing and finishing of commissioned portraits for professional photographers. Cheri is a regular speaker and workshop instructor on “Painting Portraits in a Digital World
The SEPPA Board of Governors, at the annual meeting in Franklin, TN, approved the all new SEPPA Degree Program. The Southeastern Photographic Fellowship is now a reality! You can earn your new SPF Degree in two categories. The orange ribbon will be with a concentration in print credits. The purple ribbon be with a concentration in service to the organzation. Both options will be completed with education and or service credits. You may also, achieve both Degrees separately for a purple and orange ribbon. SEPPA will post the Credit Chart and submission forms at a later date. Be sure to check back. All events, beginning April 1, 2010 will be eligible to submit for credit.
Saturday, March 26 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Photoshop Fashion
Accessorizing Photoshop for Efficiency and Style
Photoshop, of course, is the ultimate digital imaging tool … let’s call it our “basic black dress”. Gotta have it, can’t live without it. And we will explore all the amazing fashionable updates with CS5 like Content Aware Magic and the awesome new Mixer Brushes! It will paint and smear pixels just like Painter! CS5 is certainly sporting a totally updated silhouette these days! But even though Photoshop is pretty fashionable on its own, what about accessories? Just like dolling up your basic black for evening or sport, we can add a lot of functionality and style to Photoshop with great complimentary programs like Lightroom, and plug-ins like NIK and Topaz….how about speedy composite tools like Album DS? Or add retouching speed with Portraiture! This stylish class will take you through the core features of Photoshop CS5 and ALSO teach you how to integrate Lightroom , Album DS and Nik/Topaz plugins for not only speed and efficiency , but some really cool and stylish “looks” to keep you in the limelight with your imagery! We will learn how to make design accessories like brushes, templates, and overlays, and then how to streamline your workflow with the add-on software selections. Of course we will add to your fashion sense with some great techiniques to create PinUp-style paintings, high fashion looks and soft elegant touches, perfect for kids and moms too!
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SUZETTE ALLEN Suzette Allen has quickly become a well-known instructor, teaching others how to master the tools of Photoshop. After years of graphic design work and working as a retoucher at a photo lab, Suzette is quite adept at the skills needed for efficiency, creativity and great composition. Pair that with her natural teaching style, and you have a winning combination! Suzette has been a professional portrait photographer for 25 years and has been teaching digital imaging for 9 years. She has been an international speaker for Photographic Conventions, as well as a teacher at many of the PPA affiliated schools. She is the recipient of the Fuji Masterpiece Award for Digital and Commercial Photographer of the Year for California in 2002. She is currently the “Photoshop Expert� on ShootSmarter.com, a resource site dedicated to helping photographers thrive in the Digital world. Suzette is best known for her patient and down-to-earth teaching style and extensive knowledge of Photoshop with an intense focus on efficiency.
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sunday, March 27 7:45 am - 9:15 am
The Glamour of Photographing Women As professional photographers we all have a passion for photography. A desire to create beautiful images for our clients to enjoy, love, treasure and ultimately purchase. However, as individual artists we should all have something that we love to photograph, love to mold and create into artwork and art pieces that will grace our personal galleries or the interiors of our clients’ homes. For me, creating glamorous images of women is my personal passion.
From romantic to sensual, fun to flirty, intimate to pin-up, Jamie will take you on a visual journey into the intimate world of glamour photography. The art and study of the female form and the journey of creating beautiful portraits and illustrations of women has become an extremely profitable and rewarding product line in his Richmond, Virginia, studio. Jamie will demonstrate lighting and posing techniques ranging from simple one-light setups to elaborate multiple light masterpieces. This program is packed full of images detailing the entire process of Glamour Photography. Don’t miss this opportunity to study with one of our industry’s top photographers and successful business owners.
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JAMIE HAYES
M. Photog., Cr. CPP ABI API It all began for Jamie at the age of 13. He never imagined that saving S&H Green Stamps would lead him to purchase a Kodak 110 camera and this would define his life’s path forever. That camera with its fancy new flash cube extender would lead him on an incredible journey into professional photography. Jamie photographed his very first wedding at the age of 15. He had to get a ride from a family member but did not want his bride to know, so he had his uncle park down the block and walked the remaining two blocks to the church. Twenty five years, two former employers, hundreds of weddings and thousands of sessions later, Jamie and his business partner, Mary Fisk-Taylor, have created one of the most creative and lucrative home based studios in the Richmond, Virginia, area. Jamie considers himself very lucky; most people consider him to be extremely talented. He was blessed with a fine eye for detail, an imagination bigger than life and an ability to create images that have been named some of the best in the country. His name is constantly at the top of the list for highly accomplished professional photographers but the real reward is the smiles and tears that he consistently brings to his client’s faces when he delivers their beautiful portraiture. Jamie gives credit to all of the wonderful friends and mentors that have encouraged and taught him along the way. He truly believes that becoming a member of PPA so many years ago was the beginning of his photography education and brought him to the point where he is today. Jamie’s appreciation for the education led him to the PPA Business Instructor program back in 1999. Ever since then Jamie and his business partner Mary have been lecturing across the country at many National and Regional conventions as well as week long schools. Receiving his Craftsman degree in 1998 and his Masters’ in 1999, Jamie has enjoyed many awards for his work including the Kodak Grand Gallery Elite, Kodak Gallery Awards, Fuji Masterpiece Awards as well as many entries into the PPA Traveling Loan and General Collections, three-time Virginia Photographer of the Year and numerous Best in Show awards. In 2002 he received a perfect score of 100 at SEPPA regional competition and had all four entries, 2 wedding albums and 2 prints, one of which was only a few of the newly accepted team coverage wedding albums, accepted into the PPA Loan Collection. Jamie and Mary are both proud members of the Society of XXV, a by invitation only world renowned portrait artist group.
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Sunday, March 27 7:45 am - 9:15 am
Stimulus Package
Market, Market, and Market Some More!
There is so much talk about how bad the economy is. It has made us all fearful. At some point, we’ve all wondered about the future of our photographic industry. In 2008, we decided we were going to set some goals and go after them. We set our goal at $1,000,000 in sales. We fell short, however we recorded 2008 as being our best year ever! Not too bad in a struggling economy, huh? The best part is that we’ve maintained that amount of sales the last two years.
Come and learn how we stayed focused and persistent to reach our goal. First, we will cover marketing on a budget. We’ll share how to get customers in the door, using the tools you already have. Then, learn how to continue marketing once you get them in the door. Learn all about free marketing to entice your clients to return again and again. Not only do we have to be talented photographers, but even smarter business people. Turn off the tube, quit listening to the negative media and get your “share” of the stimulus package!
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KAREN GORFORTH Karen, Goforth, originally from Connecticut, moved to Kannapolis, North Carolina, in 1980. She soon started her photography business, Irresistible Portraits, out of the basement of her home. Now, celebrating her 20th year, the business has bloomed into a boutique style professional photography studio in the heart of Kannapolis. Irresistible Portraits offers a unique experience that sets it apart from its competitors. Karen holds the degree of master craftsman and is certified through the Professional Photographers of America. She uses her photographic talent and keen sense for marketing to keep up her thriving studio. But not every image is made with intentions for profit. Karen and her staff have founded a non-profit foundation, Focused on a Cure, to support local breast cancer research. Photographing breast cancer survivors and fundraisers are another way for Karen to share her talent and help her local community.
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Sunday, March 27 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Be prepared to be entertained and educated. Mary Fisk-Taylor owns and operates an extremely successful portrait and wedding studio in Richmond, Virginia, with her business partner, Jamie Hayes and is just crazy enough to open a second studio last year. The new studio focuses on a more fresh and fun approach to children’s photography and high school seniors. She is the mother of two very busy children and a member of Volunteers Anonymous! In March, Mary will discuss the need for balance in your life, creating and maintaining a studio image and her best marketing strategies. She will share with you her journey into this crazy business of photography, the struggles of being a Super-Woman and the truth about Success!
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Mary Fisk-Taylor
M. Photog., Cr., CPP, ABI, API
Mary Fisk-Taylor has been a member of the Professional Photographers of America since 1999. Along with her business partner, Jamie Hayes, they operate a high-end wedding and portrait business in Richmond, Virginia. Hayes & Fisk the Art of Photography is a home-based studio located on almost one acre of beautiful gardens and they have successfully created one of the most sought after Portrait and Wedding studios in their area. In 2009 Mary developed the concept of a fresh and fun new studio in the Richmond area. With the help of her family, most importantly her mom and sister, Real Life Studios was opened in Midlothian, Virginia. Real Life Studios is best know for their high school senior portraits as well as the funky children and tween imagery. Real Life also has an entire Event and Party division which gives the studio a constant and steady revenue of new clients and income year round. Mary was very pleased and honored to have received her Master of Photography, Craftsmen of Photography and Certification of Professional Photography in just three short years!!! This was quite an accomplishment for her both personally and professionally. Mary was named Photographer of the Year in 2007 and has won Best Wedding Album of the Year in Virginia several times. Nationally she has placed albums in the top five. She has won numerous Best in Show awards, Kodak Gallery Awards, Fuji Masterpiece Awards, Loan Collection prints and albums. Mary is also a recipient of the prestigious Virginia Award, which honors photographers for their commitment and dedication to their state association, and the business of professional photography.
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Sunday, March 27 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Executives A Market Ignored
The landscape of our industry has evolved dramatically in recent years. More and more, professional photographers are fielding calls from potential clients who need the digital file for commercial purposes. In the film days, this was classified as a commercial job and rarely did portrait photographers even bother with it. The most any executive would purchase would be a single print to be used for business purposes. It was hardly worth the time. Today, executive portraiture has become a product line that a good, quality portrait artist can count on for a steady revenue stream. It is still classified as a “commercial job” in that we are turning over the digital files along with a “user license” for them to make prints at their leisure for commercial purposes. Kevin’s program will shed light on how the executive market has helped his business get through the slow times in our economy and how this huge profit maker can be marketed effectively to create a revenue stream that keeps on giving.
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KEVIN NEWSOME With more than 30 years as a full time professional photographer specializing in executives, seniors, children and family portraiture, Kevin Newsome might be considered one of Florida’s most experienced image artists. He’s a past president of the Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association (2003), the Florida Professional Photographers (2001), and the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association (2008-09). His book, Children’s Portrait Photography – A Photojournalistic Approach, was published by Amherst Media.
Monday, March 28 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Find Your Niche in the Children’s Market Little people require a special blend of psychology, deception and silliness. Maternity, babies, toddlers, tweens & teens – we’ll cover the ages and uncover the mysteries of photographing little people. Nurture creativity Find your style – Explore possibilities …. are all themes of this program. Variety. Consistency. Quality. Whatever your chosen style of photography, these elements must be present in your work if you are going to survive. Lighting. Composition. Presentation. Set yourself apart as a professional in the studio and on location. Creativity. Style. Technique. Refine your craft, elevate your images, and rewards will follow. Janet will share what has worked to develop her distinctive style and build a strong referral business.
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JANET BOSCHKER Janet Boschker began her career in professional photography in 1983 as a wedding photographer at a leading studio in Charlotte, NC. As a single mom of 3, she juggled career and family for 11 years before starting her own NorthLight Photography in 1994, specializing in young children and their families. Her involvement on state and national levels led to the PPA Master of Photography in 1995 and the Craftsman in 2000. 2006 brought PPA International Affiliate Judge status and led to judging engagements on the state, regional, national and international levels. It continues to be her pleasure to be invited to judge, speak and share her experience in the hope that it will be helpful to another’s journey in the incredible field of professional photography.
Recent Accomplishments 2005: 1st Place Children SEPPA 2007: 1st & 2nd Place Children, 1st Place Women, 2nd Place Groups, NC Photographer of the Year 2008: SEPPA Distinguished Award, NC 2nd Place Children
PPA Photographer of the Year 2006 – Silver; 2007 – Platinum; 2008 – Silver; 2009 – Gold: 2010 - Silver Janet was Director of the East Coast School for the last three years and is a past president of Professional Photographers of North Carolina. She received the National Award at the 2009 PPNC Convention.
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Monday, March 28 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Live Free, Shoot Hard and Create Art: Using Composites to Rock your Clients Enter into a world where photography has no rules, where the ordinary can become extraordinary, and creativity has no bounds. Richard Sturdevant specializes in the art of composites to create wonderful vivid images that tell a story. No matter what type of photography you create, composites can add a whole new dimension to your style. Richard will show you how he uses composites to create stunning works of art for his portrait clients, commercial clients and award winning competition prints. He will take us on a journey through his creative thought process from start to finish. This program will inspire you to think like an artist and how to use the camera and Photoshop as paintbrush.
RICHARD STURDEVANT Richard Sturdevant is a leading expert in photographic artistry and creative composites. His award winning work, style, and techniques have earned him high praise in the photographic industry. Richard is known for an impressive track record in print competition - receiving six prints with a perfect 100 point score in both state and regional competitions. Sturdevant’s fluid combination of photography with fine art skills stems from his original artistic roots. Prior to becoming a photographer, Richard made his living as a classic and award-winning artist and also was a national art instructor and a published subject matter expert. Using airbrush and oil, his unique but photorealistic style made for a natural transition to photography. Today his passion for painting comes alive in his creations of photographic art. As a photographic artist, Richard received the prestigious title of 2010 Southwest Photographer of the Year with SWPPA, 2009 and 2010 Texas Photographer of the Year with TPPA and 2008-2009 Dallas Photographer of the Year with DPPA. He also achieved International Gold and International Platinum Photographer of the Year with PPA in 2007, 2008 then went double Platinum Photographer of the year for Photographic Open and Electronic Imaging in 2010. From 2005 to 2009, he received 5 Kodak Gallery Awards as well as 12 Fuji Masterpiece Awards. Richard owns and operates Sturdevant Studio - a thriving portrait studio in Garland, Texas. He specializes in fine art composites, seniors, families, wedding, and commercial photography. He was featured in Rangefinder magazine August 2006 where his image “Durrel’s Run” was featured on the cover. Richard is a member of PPA, ASP, WPPI, TPPA, DPPA and is PPA Master of Photography. With over 20 years of experience as a creative artist, Richard brings a unique eye to the world of photographic education. Sharing his knowledge and experience with others in the industry is something that he enjoys. As part of his commitment to helping others learn and succeed, he has launched his own brand of educational materials to photographers, graphic designers, and artists nationwide. He believes that these materials, known as the “Sturdavinci Art Tools”, will help fellow professionals, as well as aspiring students, achieve their creative potential and improve their workflow. Turning the ordinary into the extraordinary will continue to be Richard’s goal in his personal photographic journey and as a platform for his teachings.
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Monday, March 28 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Living in Light Janel’s passion for light has affected her photography as well as her life. Creativity flows when our subjects have beautiful light skimming across them. A face, a flower, a tree in a forest or a single shell on the sand all are affected by the light. Janel’s program will inspire you to seek the light and apply its beauty to your subjects as well as your everyday life. Her teaching, woven with her life’s stories and positive outlook on life, will prove to be a breath of fresh air.
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JANEL PAHL Janel Pahl has been photographing California families for over 27 years. She designed and built a 1,000. square foot elegant home studio with a pathway to her enchanting year round cottage garden. Janel’s passion for life and people comes out in her artistic photographs, which emphasize emotion, natural light and creative composition. Eager to share, Janel has become a teacher throughout the United States, Canada, England, Ireland and Italy, mostly with her own artistic workshops, “Journeys of the Soul”. Her work has won numerous awards in PPA competitions. Along with her family portraits, Janel has pursued her fine art photography. She has signed with the world renowned art publisher Winn Devon and was their featured “artist to watch for in 2009” in Décor magazine. She has shown her work at the well known Laguna Beach Art A Fair for the past two years.
Monday, March 28 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
RockStar Seniors Victoria’s recipe for a sucessful senior business contains a few key ingredients: a dedicated staff person whose entire focus is seniors, a commitment to a strict senior timeline on the studio calendar and a network of senior moms who help spread the word. Her philosophy? Give every senior a rockstar experience to kick off their senior year and they’ll tell their friends. “We want every senior to leave our studio feeling like the star they are...from the time they walk through our door until they leave with their goody bag, they have our 100% undivided attention.” It means Victoria spends a lot of time reading...magazines, that is, keeping up with current fashion trends, colors, music and movies. “We don’t want any surprises at the preview session... the parent that accompanies the senior to the photography session leaves with a complete pricelist and homework assignment.” Victoria will take you through a typical senior year: recruiting your style crew, producing your marketing materials and more, right down to selling the senior images with ProSelect.
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Don Fields, CPP and Melissa Fields, CPP have been owners of Don Fields Photography since 1992. Together they have shot over 1000 weddings and do all types of photography from families to commercial. Don and Melissa have both served as president of Professional Photographers of East Tennessee and Don now serves on the board for TNPPA. The Mirror Maze is an image from a commercial shoot in Gatlinburg TN. The challange was to shoot the maze and keep myself out of it’s hundreds of mirrors. Other than removing myself from a few places, the image is straight out of the camera.
Note: Images chosen for the cover of Southern Exposure are first place, distinguished or other award winners from the annual affiliated judging.
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Tuesday, March 29 8:30 am - 5:00 pm limited to 40 registered students
Master Class Beyond Portraiture
Are you searching for inspiration and new direction? If so this is a day you will not want to miss. Joyce will share photographic and art techniques to add to your repertoire, and help build your reputation as an artist. Demonstrations and assignments with the emphasis on creativity and concept will stretch your imagination and help you develop unique images and products for clients…competition prints that rock…and portfolio collections for gallery shows. Joyce has maintained a philosophy throughout her career of “One for Thee – One for Me”. This philosophy served her well as she was able to satisfy her client’s needs and continue to experiment and grow as a creative artist. Joyce’s enthusiasm and passion for art and her ability to teach and guide students is legendary. You will be introduced to a variety of processes: pastel fusion and oil painting on digital images…creating digital negatives for Cyanotype, Van Dyke and Polymer Photogravure…collage and acrylic transfers…hand made albums and accordion booklets, and Photoshop techniques to elevate your work to another level. Not your ordinary workshop, this day of discovery will take you on a path Beyond Portraiture into the elusive realm of fine art and new visions. Assignments to continue after the workshop day, marketing information and hand-outs will enable each student to continue experimenting and challenging themselves on their personal journey.
JOYCE WILSON Joyce Wilson is an artist who consistently produces images with creativity and imagination, and continues to surprise and delight her many followers. After a long and successful career based in Indianapolis, Joyce moved to Santa Barbara in 1996 and served on the faculty at Brooks Institute. She left this position in 2006 to concentrate on her personal work, but has recently returned as adjunct faculty to teach the popular Beyond Portraiture class. Joyce has lectured and taught at photographic conferences throughout the world for the past 40 years. She is a M.Photog.Cr. and Fellow of the American Society of Photographers and was awarded an honorary Master of Science from Brooks Institute. In 2003, the International Photographic Council honored her at the United Nations with the distinguished Leadership Award, and she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Professional Photographers of America in 2006. Joyce’s work is featured in solo and group exhibitions, and is part of the permanent collection at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the International Photography Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, and the Sherman Hines Museum in Nova Scotia. Recent exhibitions include the Rossignol Cultural Centre, Nova Scotia, Canada, Larson Art Gallery, Columbia College, MO, Ami Gallery, Indianapolis, IN, Samy’s Camera Gallery, Santa Barbara, and the Faulkner West Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA.
REGISTRATION This is a separate registration in addition to the normal SEPPA Convention registration. All registrations must be completed by February 15, 2011. Required: PPA Master of Photography Degree Call Tom McCollum, SEPPA Executive Director and provide the information listed below. Checks and Credit Cards accepted. Call SEPPA at 888-272-3711
Tuition: $89.00 per student in advance.
Name____________________________________________ email_____________________________________________ website___________________________________________ PPA Number_______________________________________
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Tuesday, March 29 8:30 am - 5:00 pm open to all seppa attendees
Creativity Revisited Heart, Mind, and Soul
As you decide to attend this program, remember that we are all unique human beings; a product of our combined life experiences. We are all born creative; some people just seem to be more artistic than others, able to open their minds to a more complete creative process.
Join Michael and Tina to unlock your hidden talents. Using audio and visual presentations we will share with you easy steps to help you re-connect with your inner child and re-establish a creative connection. This high energy program will be unlike anything you have ever experienced before, and could change your life, both in and out of photography. Bring an open mind and be included in the must see program of the year.
MICHAEL & TINA TIMMONS Michael and Tina have both been involved in photography since 1983 and joined forces in 2000, after owning individual studios. They own The Portrait Gallery and Gallery 143 in Michigan. The portrait studio specializes in family, children, high school senior portraits, and events. Gallery 143 offers customizable Fine Art Interior DĂŠcor, and services clients such as NASCAR, Hendricks Motor Sports, Drury Inns, McDonalds Restaurants, in addition to banks, hotels, doctors offices, individual businesses and private collectors. Competition printing is another service provided, with over 32 Photographers of The Year as clients.
Both are Master, Craftsman, and Award of Excellence Degree holders through PPA, and have been named Photographer of the Year within the state. They have received awards such as Kodak, Fuji, Best of Show, Judges Choice, Top Ten (both state and regional), Four for Four, ASP State and Regional Elite Award, Michigan Service Award, numerous Loan collection images and PPA Photographer of The Year every year it has been given. Michael has had four loan prints in 2003, 2008, and 2010 and Tina achieved that status in 2009. Michael has exhibited in The International Hall of Fame, Photokina in Cologne Germany, Epcot in Walt Disney, has been The MES Photographer of the Year three times, and has had four prints score 100. He has received the National Award and is a published poet and writer. In addition Michael was named a Fellow by the American Society of Photographers in 2010. Tina has been awarded the MES Illustrative Award three times and was published in The New York Times Magazine.
Michael and Tina have lectured across the United States at local, state, regional, and international conventions in addition to numerous week long schools and personal workshops. They travel all over the world sharing their experiences, while continually photographing each location to add to their fine art library. Both are International Jurors through PPA, while Michael is a Jury Chairman and the current Vice Chairman of PEC. They traveled to Korea in 2009 to judge the PPK International Regional Print Competition. Both have held numerous board positions and stay involved in every level. Sharing their knowledge with a large circle of photography
friends has become a huge part of their life.
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