Official Publication of the Texas Professional Photographers Association, Inc.
VOLUME 51 - #3 April/May 2016
Magazine Editor
Bill Hedrick, M.Photog.Cr. 1506 E. Leach St. Kilgore, TX 75662 903-985-1080 Editor@cablelynx.com
Executive Director
Doug Box, M.Photog.Cr P.O. Box 1120 Caldwell, TX 77836 979-272-5200 dougbox@aol.com
Printing by
Complete Printing & Publishing 1501 W. Panola Carthage, TX 75633 800-964-9521 www.CompletePrinting.com
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ON THE COVER Margaret Bryant, of Carrollton, Texas, created this image for a client. Margaret explains, “People ask me all the time how I managed to get the dog (Lola) and cat (Bruno) to lie together. The truth is that it was no trick. They were best buddies!” Margaret Bryant is a Master-Craftsman and CPP and is a seven time PPA Photographer of the Year Medalist and two time GIA finalist. She has specialized in photographing pets since 1998 and is one of the speakers for Summerfest ‘16.
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The Way I See It
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Official Photographer of Texas
A Message from TPPA President, Steve Kozak
Meet Wyman Meinzer by Bill Hedrick
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Welcome to Texas School ‘16
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Spotlight: Deanna Duncan
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Establishing Yourself as a Professional
19
Summerfest ‘16
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Spotlight: David Edmonson
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Your Pathway to Success
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The Magic of Photo Restoration
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Julianne Kost at Texas School ‘16
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Basic Daylight Photography
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Guild News
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April 24-29 by Don Dickson
“Pure Class”
The Challenge by Don MacGregor
June 26-29 in Conroe, Texas by Steve Kozak
“Sisters”
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What TPPA Has To Offer
Featuring Catherine Dybala by Bill Hedrick
4 Presentations on April 23rd by Don Dickson
“Sunny 16 Rule” by Tony Corbell
What’s Happening Around the State
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The Texas Professional Photographer is the official publication of the Texas Professional Photographers Association, Inc. Acceptance of advertising or publishing of press releases does not imply endorsement of any product or service by this association, publisher, or editor. Permission is granted to similar publications of the photographic industry to reprint contents of this publication, provided that the author and this publication are credited as the source. Articles, with or without photographs, are welcomed for review for inclusion. However, the editor reserves the right to refuse publication, or if accepted, the right to edit as necessary. For more information, visit www.TexasProPhotoMagazine.com. Send all communications, articles, or advertising to: Texas Professional Photographer, 1506 E. Leach St., Kilgore, TX 75662. Phone (903) 985-1080, or Editor@cablelynx.com.
TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
April/May 2016
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2016 TPPA Executive Council President Steve Kozak l
Steve@stevekozak.com
All I can say is, “Wow!”
5323 Fig Tree Ln., Grand Prairie, TX 75052 (972) 601-9070
Vice-President Trey Homan l
Trey@ehoman.com
17222 Classen Rd., San Antonio, TX 78247 (210) 497-3809
Treasurer Tammy Graham l
Tammy@locationsphotography.com
3300 Joyce Drive, Ft. Worth, TX 76116 (817) 300-0780
Secretary Ross Benton l
Ross@StudioBenton.com
1876 Nacogdoches Rd., San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 804-1188
Councilman-at-Large Jenny Rhea Eisenhauer l
photographybyjennyrhea@hotmail.com
12218 Old Stage Trail, Austin, TX 78750 (512) 626-3309
Councilman-at-Large Randy Pollard l
Randy@1-annimaging.com
54 Superior St., Victoria, TX 77905 (361) 570-8326
Chairman of the Board Stephanie Ludlow l
Stephanielonghorn@yahoo.com
205 N. Mays, Round Rock, TX 78644 (512) 246-0063
Executive Director Doug Box l
DougBox@aol.com
P.O. Box 1120, Caldwell, TX 77836 (979) 272-5200
Texas School Director Don Dickson l
Don@DonDickson.com
1501 West 5th, Plainview, TX 79072 (806) 296-2276
Magazine Editor Bill Hedrick
T
he 2016 edition of the Texas School of Professional Photography has seen what may be its highest registration numbers in its 41 year history. That is a sign that professional photography is alive and well. Smart photographers know they must invest in themselves in order to take their skills and their business to a higher level of success and that Texas School is the place to be. Let me throw this number out there, $8.55. That is the approximate cost per hour you pay in tuition to attend over 76 hours of classes, hands-on photography, networking, meals, trade show, and evening entertainment. This is possible because of our wonderful Texas School sponsors! Most of you know that these great companies go above and beyond to ensure you have a wonderful time and help keep your costs down to attend by providing all of the evening meals, entertainment, liquid refreshment and tons of free prizes, gifts and more! You can’t afford to stay home! If you have not registered for Texas School, you still can! Visit www.TexasSchool.org and get into a class! We are also thrilled that registration is now open for TPPA Summerfest. Last year was our first time at our new summer home at La Torretta Resort on Lake Conroe. We heard nothing but high praises and great buzz about the event and the new venue. But just wait until you see what we have in store this year! Of course, we have an amazing line up of speakers and programs that simply knock your socks off! But we have also added to the family friendly features of this outstanding event by providing, not one, but TWO evening meals for the entire family. We have also managed to get the entire Mediterranean Pool reserved for Summerfest attendees only from 10pm to midnight for all three nights! This is a great way to relax and catch up with old friends and meet new ones.
l
Editor@cablelynx.com
1506 E. Leach St., Kilgore, TX 75662 (903) 985-1080
PPA Councilors
Room rates at the resort are still only $109/night for a suite and that includes FREE admission to the Aqua Park for the entire family when you book your room by June 1st. Check out Summerfest details in the center of this issue, and register at www.tppa.org/summerfest.
Gabriel Alonso (Ft. Worth), Brad Barton (Grand Prairie), Doug Box (Caldwell), Don Dickson (Plainview), Cris Duncan (Lubbock), Walter Eagleton (Denton), Elizabeth Homan (San Antonio), Trey Homan (San Antonio), Fonzie Munoz (Corpus Christi), Randy Pollard (Victoria), Cliff Ranson (McAllen). To contact any of your PPA Councilors, you may obtain their phone numbers from the TPPA Membership Directory or visit the TPPA website at www.tppa.org Complete financial information on Texas Professional Photographers Association is available to any TPPA member by contacting Doug Box, Executive Director, P.O. 1120, Caldwell, TX 77836 dougbox@aol.com.
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April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
If you are not a member of Texas PPA, this is my personal invitation to you to join! Email me personally at Steve@SteveKozak.com or call 972-601-9070.
TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
April/May 2016
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“I’d rather go out to places that are less-seen, if they’ve been seen at all.” Wyman Meinzer
by BILL HEDRICK
photo courtesy Ford Motor Company
B
ack in 1999, Ford Motor Company was looking for something that depicted their new Ford F-150 series pickups. They wanted to emphasize the truck’s toughness, quality, integrity, and authenticity. What developed was a unique relationship with the King Ranch, a sprawling 825,000 acre empire located near Kingsville, Texas. The ranch itself was representative of all those things that described Ford toughness. But Ford knew that the images required to make their point was not something to be left to some fashion photographer in New York City. They needed someone with not only the skill and talent to produce their imagery, but someone who had lived the life... Texas style. It was most fortunate that they found Wyman Meinzer, a unique individual who was born a cowboy on the Texas plains and a great photographer with an eye for everything Texas. For over 30 years, Wyman Meinzer has been a professional photographer. He was raised on a 27,000 acre ranch near the small town of Benjamin, Texas, and understands the life of ranching. After high school, he began studying wildlife biology at Texas Tech University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management. During this time, Wyman got to “use” his first real camera for a class assignment to collect photographs and data on wild species. When he had to turn in the camera to the professor, he went right out and bought another one. From that point on, his photographic education consisted of a great deal of trial and error.
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April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
April/May 2016
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voted Wyman as Outstanding Alumnus in 1987 by the Department of Range and Wildlife Management at Texas Tech. In 2009, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas Tech in recognition of outstanding achievement and dedicated service. Along with these honors, Wyman has written 24 large format books and his images of Texas have appeared on more than 250 magazine covers throughout the United States.
After graduation, Wyman spent the next five years as a professional predator hunter on the rolling plains of West Texas. It was during this time that Wyman honed his photographic skills that have literally brought him fame and fortune. His insatiable need to photograph “everything Texas” and to get “just the right shot... with just the right light” developed into a career like none other. Wyman credits Texas Tech professors with allowing him “to prove to myself that my talent lay dormant within.” Eventually, Wyman Meinzer transitioned into a research associate for Texas Tech and soon began teaching a senior-level course on Special Problems Photography at the university. His peers took notice of him and
However, it was in 1997 that Wyman Meinzer received one of the most prestigious recognitions anyone could ever hope to receive. It was in that year that he was named State Photographer of Texas by George W. Bush and the 75th Texas State Legislature. Then, in 2011, he was inducted into the Texas Heroes Hall of Fame, an honor designated for “remarkable individuals and wondrous characters who, through their leadership, creativity, example, and hard work, keep the pioneer spirit alive and help keep Texas, Texan.” Others who received this honor before him include the consistently outrageous fringe politician Kinky Friedman, highly decorated Bandera cowboy Scooter Fries, and late rodeo legend Toots Mansfield. Wyman admits that, to this day, he is still trying to digest this “tremendous honor.”
Wyman Meinzer during photo shoot at the King Ranch for Ford Trucks.
His photographs of Texas invariably show scenes that you won’t find in a travel guide. In an interview with the Abilene Reporter-News, Wyman explained, “You never see it all. Even after 30 years, wherever I travel, I see something new.” That is because he steers clear of the regular beaten path and looks for things that other photographers miss. To make his point, Wyman claims that he’s “never left a footprint” on the trails at Big Bend. “Why go there to shoot, after all, when that landscape has been so well-documented?” To Wyman Meinzer, the greater challenge lies in the unknown. As he puts it, “I’d rather go out to places that are less-seen, if they’ve been seen at all.”
It was with this background that Wyman was selected by Ford to highlight their F-series trucks against the rugged backdrop of the iconic King Ranch, an association that now spans over 15 years. “King Ranch is a legacy,” explains Wyman. “It’s one of the best in Texas, if not America.” With his authentic photo representations of life on the King Ranch and the Ford series pickups, Wyman utilized his own cowboy background to show the Ford trucks in real life situations. “King Ranch vehicles are made to kick butt, to get in the brush and dunes and mud holes,” he explains. “We tried to present them in conditions you’d actually see on a ranch.” In all, Wyman has done three photographic assignments for Ford at the King Ranch. One was celebrating the 15th anniversary of the King Ranch Series trucks and two more in conjunction with the American Quarter Horse Association. Along with his “uniquely Texas” photography, Wyman loves hunting with rifles and pistols, bow hunting, aviation, and wood work. He is a rugged individual who possesses a keen eye for art in its purest form.
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April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
April/May 2016
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Ross Benton
Doug Box
William Branson III
Carl Caylor
Tony Corbell
Bry Cox
David Edmonson
Hanson Fong
Beth Forester
Dan Frievalt
Joel Grimes
Jeff Gump
Russ Harrington
John Hartman
Julia L. Kelleher
Britney Kirby Fullgraf
Steve Kozak
Don MacGregor
Sandra Pearce
Sandy Puc
Thom Rouse
James Schmeizer
Marilyn Sholin
Richard Sturdevant
Woody Walters
Mike & Suzy Fulton
Trey & Elizabeth Homan
Gregory & Lesa Daniel
Laurie Klein & Kyle Klein Perler
John Wilson
Steve Winslow & Sophie Lane
Cris & Deanna Duncan
Gary & Kathryn Meek
Billy Welliver & Mitch Daniels
Janice Wendt
Jamie Hayes & Mary Fisk-Taylor
EXPERIENCE TEXAS SCHOOL T
he 523 room Intercontinental Hotel has agreed to a room rate of only $121, so more people will be able to stay at the host hotel. Online registration for the 2016 Texas School began on January 3rd and many classes booked in only a few seconds. But the good news is that there are still some openings left in several classes, although they are going fast! If you’ve never experienced Texas School, you’ve missed out on one of the best learning experiences available to photographers in the world. There are 36 classes covering every topic imaginable and all are designed to help your business grow and be successful. In addition, we are going to repeat the Big Texas Shootout where every student will be able to practice what you have learned in class and compete for prizes and cash. Last year, we gave away over $50,000 in prizes.
An added bonus is that Julieanne Kost, Adobe Photoshop expert, will be there on Saturday, April 23, for an all-day seminar! Anyone can attend but you get a discount if you are registered for Texas School. Learn more about this on page 45. As everyone knows, the photography industry is changing. You have to be on top of your game. Texas School offers everyone the best education in the country and at the most affordable prices. Along with classroom instruction, there is a fun and exciting social life at Texas School with parties, meal events, entertainment and an impressive trade show. Another good reason to attend is that all evening meals will be FREE, thanks to our many sponsors. Mark your calendar for April 24-29 and come and see what the “Texas School Experience” is all about.
Registration Form and More Texas School Information at www.TexasSchool.org 10
April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
“Pure Class” was made by Deanna Duncan, of Lubbock, Texas. The image was designed to reflect the elegance of the 1920’s. Set in the historic Hotel Garza in Galveston, Texas, the inspiration for the image came from the structure of the portico. The graceful lines and symmetry created a beautiful frame for the bride. Deanna’s goal was to create something uniquely feminine and reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour portraiture and this is reflected in the pose. She augmented the ambient light coming from the overhead cans with an umbrella held above and slightly to the side of the girl. Speedlites were used behind her to create further separation of the subject and the background. Iso 500 70mm f5.6 at 1/5 second.
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April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
“Today everyone and everyone’s cousin thinks they are a photographer based on their purchase of a decent camera and going to one of the traveling road shows that promise to make you a master photographer in three hours (especially if you buy their cd as well). Anyone can point a camera at a subject and laugh and put it on motor drive.” Don MacGregor
The key things that separate true master photographers from the weekenders is simple. Professionals don’t just snap away. They start with a vision or concept and then articulate the composition of the people (including elements that create foreground, middle ground and background). They create casually elegant posing showcasing the subjects best features. They control the lighting on the subject in a flattering way that also defines ALL the elements in the subject. The last and likely the most important component is an understanding of expression and the subtle differences in clients faces.
by DON MACGREGOR
P
rofessional photographers have a vision which has the qualities that establish respect for the craft and, of course, the compensation that goes with it. Ask yourself what you would be willing to pay “professional” dollars for a CD of images of everyone hugging or jumping up and down on a couch (with limited enhancement) or a finely crafted portrait (printed) that contained the key elements that great photographers include. Family groups are the most profitable product we offer and a perfect opportunity to showcase professionalism. Clients will recognize the effort and talent required to create a portrait that will last a lifetime.
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April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
The group portrait on the page to the left is sharp edge to edge as everyone is equidistant from the film sensor. A string tied to the tripod was stretched out from left to right to insure everyone was approximately the same distance from the camera position. The lighting is backlit with the right amount of fill that looks real yet defines peoples features and holds detail in the highlights and shadows. Natural light for the scene was 1/250@ f8. Flash (at camera position so no unnatural shadows were created) was brought in at just under f8. With our natural eye looking at this scene we would be seeing the subjects a little darker as our eyes compensated for the bright scene behind the family. There is a foreground, middle ground and background element. Now look at the posing… there are triangles all over, each family is basically grouped together and each person looks natural and real. Most important is that everyone has equal representation in the image… no one is hidden behind another. The group of four (above) also contains most of the key elements. There is a strong sense of depth yet the family POPS. The light control on the faces is natural and flattering (purely natural sunset light with the sun just setting on the horizon line). The two groupings are equidistant from the camera position. The posing (carefully designed) looks natural and most importantly… everyone looks great. TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
April/May 2016
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The exciting thing here is the story. During the session I saw that father/son and mother/daughter had unique relationships. As a portrait designer, I realized an opportunity to showcase a memory that is real and would last a lifetime with the family. The family group of four people on the previous page (bottom) again contains the elements that define professionalism. This portrait has a strong sense of depth. The posing of the people is flattering and believable yet has a design element that showcases each person (not one person covering up another person - that is a key quality). Note how the rocks frame the family and follow the lines of their bodies. This is the kind of planning needed to establish a portrait that is not a “snapshot.” It was heavy overcast (the sky was dropped in during post production) and the eyes were blocked up yet the whole scene looked very good. Lots of detail in the highlights and shadows. Flash was introduced from camera left to create a gentle main light. A hard main light would not look “right” in this situation. The flash is approximately 1/2 stop greater than the ambient. The other critical quality that I feel is the most overlooked is Expression. Too often photographers tend to just shoot rapidly and not pay attention to the kind of expression that showcases peoples personality and is flattering. DEFAULT smiles rarely have a relaxed quality that stands the test of time. In larger groups… that’s ok as the faces are small. In individual portraits (especially head and shoulders like the examples on this page) it is so crucial to pay attention to peoples expressions such that they are relaxed. The eyes convey a strong message and the face itself is relaxed and not stressed with character lines or unflattering qualities. Notice how you engage with the “soul” of the these people rather than their features. A very exciting opportunity is children’s photography. Virtually everyone jumps straight to default smiles with kids yet the innocence of a child and the timeless quality seen here immediately raises the perception to a PORTRAIT, not just a “picture.”
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Now the exciting part …Texas School. Instructors are chosen for Texas school based on their depth of knowledge, experience and understanding of the kinds of skills described here. They are all committed to sharing the kind of knowledge that will help everyone establish a much higher standard of skills and artistry and we all know that leads to “Professional Compensation and Respect.”
Don MacGregor, M.Photog.Cr.CPP,MPA,F/PPABC/A is from Vancouver, B.C., but is a true Texan at heart. A regular instructor for many years at the Texas School of Professional Photography, Don opened his studio in 1974 and specializes in wall portraits and wedding work. To learn more about Don MacGregor and his class, go to TexasSchool.org and sign up for a week of intensive study under one of the finest portrait photographers of our generation who is committed to the pursuit of excellence. April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Modern Maternity & Newborns BREE ADAMS Arlington, Texas by
STEVE KOZAK President TPPA
Monday 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm Sponsored by Sweetlight
W
e are so excited about Summerfest 2016! Last year was our first Summerfest and we knew from hearing all of the buzz that Summerfest was a hit. That is why we have put together an even bigger event that is sure to inspire your photography - and put a smile on your family’s face.
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ewborn photography is the hot niche but how do you connect with expecting moms before their newborn session? Bree Adams has grown from an $85 a disk weekend warrior to an Award Winning full-time profiting photographer in a short amount of time. Her marketing strategies, skill set and vision has her studio growing rapidly. Bree will share her journey, marketing strategy and the reasons clients are willing to pay the price. Even if you’re not specializing in newborns or maternity, Bree’s marketing strategy can still apply to you!
The fun begins when you pull into the La Torretta Resort. This world class resort features an 18-hole championship golf course, a luxurious spa, organized activities for the kids, mini-golf, a teen “hangout” and more. But the big attraction is that awesome water park right there at the resort! Water slides, a “lazy river” and a very wet playground are just few of the ways to cool down. The resort sits among the piney woods on the shores of Lake Conroe, so bring your boat or your jet skis and dock them right there at the hotel. You can read more about La Torretta at www.tppa.org/summerfest.
Bree started her niche in 2012 and opened a full studio in 2013 specializing in newborns. She added high fashion maternity in 2014 to take her studio to the next level. She was the first CPP to submit images and pass with all newborns. Her first year in print competition was 2014 at SWPPA. -PPA Magazine cover April 2015 - Cover of SWPPA 2014 -TPPA 2015 -Best artist trophy non master - Best Album - Second highest Case score - Texas Top Ten -SWPPA 2015 4/4 - best portrait of a child 3rd place - SWPPA 2014 4/4 and IPC Platinum medal - SWPPA 2014 Best Album and First time high print case -TPPA 2014 4/4 and Best Album -Best first year Dallas PPA.
Of course, Summerfest is loaded with photographic education with programs and hands-on workshops by some of the industry’s top image makers. Our speakers are committed to your success! We have formatted the programming so that there is less sitting and more doing. Summerfest also features the TPPA Annual Image Competition. The competition is live so you can watch as our panel of PPA judges review and score both digital images and prints. Enjoy seeing the top images on display and join in the fun Tuesday evening as the awards are announced. After a full day of learning, enjoy evenings with friends sitting by the pool or on the banks of Lake Conroe with a fishing pole in hand. There is a coffee shop, food grill, sushi bar and piano bar just a few steps from the pool. At the end of the day, your family will enjoy plenty of room in your beautifully decorated suite! That’s right – every guest room at La Torretta is a suite! Just staying in the room is a vacation in itself. So, if you think all of this is impressive, just take a look at the program lineup....
Practical Tips For
Successful Pet Photography MARGARET BRYANT Carrollton, Texas
Monday 7:30 am - 9:00 am Tuesday 7:30 am - 9:00 am
W
hether you are just starting pet photography or you have been doing it for a while, everyone can use suggestions on how to make their job easier. Margaret Bryant has 18 years as a pet photographer and gives tips on everything from handling, posing and lighting, to marketing and selling. It’s not just people photography with furry subjects. Find out the differences and have more success with your pet photography. Margaret Bryant is an award winning photographer who specializes in photographing dogs and their people. Her style is simple, original and authentic and often shows the humor and whimsy of dogs. Starting her business in 1998, Margaret has specialized in dogs and their humans from the very start. Margaret is knowledgeable about dog breeds, dog behavior, dog training and dog sports. She shares her knowledge with others with speaking, teaching, private coaching and writing. She gives back to animal community by creating the annual Weimaraner Rescue of Texas calendar; raising cash for local spay neuter clinics with her Bow WOW Sessions, and from time to time photographing animals at the City of Dallas Animal Shelter in hopes of making the animals more adoptable. Professional development is important to Margaret and she has earned her Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from PPA. She is also a Certified Professional Photographer. Margaret has been a PPA Photographer of the Year medalist seven times, a PPA Grand Imaging Award finalist twice, and has several images in the PPA Loan and Showcase Collections, not to mention the cover image for this magazine.
The Portrait Photographer’s Guide To Commercial Photography
Creative Senior Photography
CRIS DUNCAN
Lubbock, Texas
DOMINIQUE HARMON & BARRY NELSON Monday 7:30 am - 9:00 am Tuesday 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Lubbock, Texas
Monday 7:30 am - 9:00 am Tuesday 7:30 am - 9:00 am
S
tarting their successful photography business 10 years ago, Barry Nelson and Dominique Harmon focused their business from the very beginning on the lucrative senior market. Barry and Dominique have been named one of the top senior photographers in the country by Senior Photographers International. Both promise to inform and entertain by sharing details about the quick rise of their business and how it was the senior market that allowed this to happen. Learn the ins and outs of senior photography and marketing. Barry and Dominique will lay out in detail how to go after the senior market and how to profit from it.
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oin award winning portrait and commercial photographer, Cris Duncan, for some of the “rules,” techniques and pricing procedures of commercial photography... table-top products, food and architecture, along with editorial ad-copy. Commercial photography is a very lucrative and volatile market. Not only is the capture and design different than portrait photography, so is the pricing and delivery of products. Before venturing into this field, you must be prepared and this program will help you get started. Cris will discuss various lighting techniques for commercial projects, design theory, composition and output, along with proper capture. Learn what to ask a prospective client to help you be prepared and price the job accurately.
Program Content includes: iSeniors, THE most lucrative market you can pursue iMarketing to the Senior iThe rockstar treatment iThe importance of being different iComposites are HOT iSelling to the Senior iThe referral program iThe importance of social media to the senior iPrice it right iProducts that Seniors want
CjDuncan Photography is regarded as one of the top studios in Texas. Cris is a Master Photographer, Certified Professional Photographer and a Photographic Craftsman. Since turning pro in 2002, he has photographed Presidents, Vice Presidents, dignitaries and countless others. Cris has worked for such companies as Stephen Joseph, Adams Golf, Frito-Lay and Bayer CropScience and been honored to photograph numerous weddings, portraits and commercial assignments of great people all over this land. Cris is the recipient of top awards and honors including the Grand Imaging Award/Commercial Category, 3 time PPA Photographer of the Year and a multi-year Texas Top 10 recipient. Garnered with best portrait, wedding and commercial trophies from both TPPA and SWPPA, Cris and Deanna have become respected educators and leaders in the photographic community. He is the founder of Find Your Focus photographic education and a PPA approved CPP instructor. Sponsored by Miller’s Professional Imaging and ProFoto
Boudoir Out of the Box
Barry Nelson, M. Photog. Cr., CPP, ASP and Dominique Harmon, M. Photog Cr.., CPP, ASP are owners of Captivated Images in Lubbock, Texas. Barry and Dominique have been featured in the April 2014 Professional Photographer Magazine as well as being PPA Diamond Photographer of the Year 2015 and Platinum Photographer of the Year 2015. They are multiple award winners including the Fuji Masterpiece, American Society of Photographers District Medallion, as well as many PPA merit and loan images.
Face First:
MEGHAN GARNER
Confessions of a Headshot Photographer
Wednesday
Orlando, Florida
GARY HUGHES
Bryan, Texas
8:30 am - Noon
Tuesday 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Sponsored by BWC Lab
Sponsored by PPA Charities and WHCC
T
o be successful, Boudoir cannot be treated as a more sensual version of standard studio portraits. Your client experience from beginning to end must be tailored specifically to achieve the end result you’re looking for, and that’s where this class will help you. We’ll cover how to use dramatic light to tell a sensual story, and how to interact with clients in a way that helps them feel safe and results in emotive and vulnerable imagery. Instruction will be done with a live model to demonstrate technique, and hands-on shooting time will be incorporated. I live in a world of fabulous fine art boudoir imagery where champagne flows freely and anything is possible, so I often find myself saying utterly inappropriate things in public because I’ve forgotten how real people behave. My go-to drink is a Hendricks martini with a twist. And I’m an unapologetic workaholic - helping clients tell their story, whether by photographing them, educating them, or mentoring them - is what gets me up in the morning and keeps me going all day. I love my life!
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oin one of the foremost headshot photographers in the industry as he shares the secrets of how he and his wife and partner, Julie, have created a thriving photography business by standing in the shallow end of the pool and working an under served market. Learn marketing and pricing strategies as well as some of the techniques Gary uses to create his signature images. From beginner to expert, this program will educate, entertain and equip every attendee to take advantage of this exploding market in professional photography. As the child of photographer parents, it is ironic that Gary’s professional life included everything but photographer until life led him back to the path he was ultimately destined, photographer. In 2008 he and his wife founded Hughes Fioretti Photography and, in the years since, have grown their business by making a name for themselves as THE place to get headshots in Central Florida. Aside from running a studio in Orlando, FL, Gary is also in demand as a photography educator and travels often, teaching his methods to photographers all over the world. His main focus as an instructor is to empower photographers to create the type of business that sets them free to live the kind of life they want. Gary’s work has been featured in Professional Photographer Magazine and he has been a speaker for Imaging USA and Creative Live.
CPP Summer Camp
EVOKE: Capturing Emotion in Images
GARY & KATHY MEEK
FRANCIE BALTAZAR STONESTREET
Monday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Monday 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Kingwood, Texas
T
exas PPA supports the value and benefits of the PPA Certified Professional Photographer program. Professional credentials are not just handed out. They are EARNED. Photography credentials are no different, and any Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) can tell you that… “There’s a lot of effort that goes into preparing for the CPP exam alone (let alone the image submission review), and that’s why the Certification Preparation Class is so important.” Join Gary and Kathy Meek as they spend the day reviewing and going over some of the highlights of the PPA Certification test specifications. Math formulas and color theory are often some of the harder things for some to grasp but they will explain it in a way anyone can understand. No one day program can adequately prepare you to take the exam. However, if you have been working on the material and need to brush up on some key elements, this class is for you. If you have never considered taking the CPP test, this class will give you some insight and some understanding of what it takes to prepare for PPA Certification.
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he more emotional a portrait is the more it stirs our senses. When an image evokes an emotion it captures us and creates a feeling within in us. Images which evoke emotion and tell stories will sell themselves. In today’s digital age many can take a pretty picture, but it takes skill and experience to create an image with emotional impact. Francie loves photography and loves teaching it as well. She is quite passionate about her craft and is anxious to share what she knows with others. Her philosophy about the profession of photography is that, if we lift up one person, we are all lifted up. In today’s rapidly changing world where new photographers are coming in every day, Francie truly believe there is room for everyone who is serious about their work and strives to become better through learning. To her, being a part of that process of helping others while doing what she loves is bliss.
Gary and Kathy Meek have the ability to explain these technical concepts from their extensive experience. They’ve taught preparation classes like this (the CPP exam) since about 1991. They know their stuff. Sure, Gary would be the first to tell you when he doesn’t know something…but he’ll follow that statement up with, “But we’ll find out.” And you will, too.
How Commercial HDR & Panorama Imaging Can Increase Your Revenue Stream STEPHEN THETFORD
The Artist Within KIMBERLY SMITH Muskogee, Oklahoma
Tuesday 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Sponsored by Miller’s Professional Imaging
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Tuesday 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
s photographers, we create art that is meaningful and touches the lives and hearts for generations to come. But sometimes we are so focused on the technical aspect, that we forget to add in the artistic, the personal, the emotion. In this class, Kimberly will discuss how to become more artistic and to see things from a different view. You will learn different ways to jump-start your creativity and where to look for inspiration beyond photography. Successful photographers must be technically proficient in photography and be confident in what they do so they can be free to add the rest. While some photographers are left-brained and others are right-brained, those who are a little of both will stand out among the rest. Join Kimberly and learn how to bring to light your artist within.
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Kimberly J. Smith began her photography career in 2001 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. With no formal training, she stepped out on faith, purchased her professional equipment, and began taking classes. Photography soon became a passion and she quickly learned that creating beautiful portraits and art was what she was meant to do. She is a Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, and a PPA Affiliated Juror. In 2014, she became a Certified Professional Photographer and recently received her Master Artist degree and Imaging Excellence at Imaging USA. Kimberly truly believes in life-long learning and that every competition and every journey has pushed her to become a better, more creative photographer. Judging, competition and photography is her passion, and her family is her love.
Part 2 of the program will be a “hands-on” demonstration of how to process HDR images, stitch multiple images together into panoramas and drop in needed elements to produce the look that your clients want. Using raw images that Stephen will provide, he will show you how to do it yourself on your own computer. Stephen has been photographing professionally for almost 15 years. During that time he has earned Certification from Professional Photographer of America, (1995), PPA Master of Photography Degree (1996) and PPA Photographic Craftsman Degree (1998). He has received numerous awards for print competition including the coveted “Kodak Gallery Award” and the “Fuji Masterpiece Award.”
ring your computer for this hands-on program which will inspire landscape and scenic photographers as well as those who wish to increase their revenue stream through commercial imaging. Using equipment and skills you already possess, Stephen will show you how to create images with impact! This program will provide you with ideas, technical understanding and practical applications that will give you the confidence to open up a new product line in commercial images for your portrait clients, or take your landscape and scenic images to a whole new level.
Schedule of Events Sunday, June 26 8:00 AM
Image Competition Committee Meets - Ibiza
9:00 AM
Deadline for Hand Carried Print Cases - Ibiza
9:00 AM
Registration Desk Opens - Convention Center
11:00 AM
Judges Lunch - Restaurant
10:00 AM
Registration Desk Opens - Convention Center
9:00 AM
Deadline for Hand Carried Print Cases - Ibiza
10:00 AM
Image Competition Boot Camp - Vigo
11:00 AM
Judges Lunch - Restaurant
Image Judging - Americas Ballroom 1 and 2
Noon
1:30 PM
Explore your TPPA Membership - Americas Ballroom 3
2:00 PM
Image Competition Boot Camp Resumes - Vigo
2:00 PM
Image Judging Resumes - Americas Ballroom 1 & 2
6:00 PM
Dinner - Sponsored by the Vendors at the Lakeside Villa
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Meet the Vendors - Convention Center
7:30 PM
Image Competition Committee Meets - Ibiza
10:00 PM - Midnight
TPPA Poolside at the Mediterranean Pool
“Practical Tips for Successful Pet Photography” - Margaret Bryant - Americas Ballroom 3
8:30 AM
Registration Desk Opens - Convention Center
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM “Evoke: Capturing Emotion in Images” - Francie Baltazar Stonestreet - Americas Ballroom 1 9:30 AM - Noon
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
“Practical Tips for Successful Pet Photography” - Margaret Bryant - Americas Ballroom 3
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CPP Exam - Vigo
8:00 AM
Past Presidents Breakfast - Restaurant
9:00 AM
Registration Desk Opens - Convention Center
9:30 AM
Past Presidents Spouses Breakfast - Restaurant
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM “Face First - Confessions of a Headshot Photographer” - Gary Hughes Presented by WHCC and PPA Charities - Americas Ballroom 1 11:30 AM
Working Lunch: Marketing 1 on 1 Mentoring - Americas Ballroom 2
12:00 PM
Lunch
12:00 PM
TPPA Board of Directors Lunch and Meeting - Cannes
1:30 PM
General Membership Meeting - Americas Ballroom 1
2:00 PM
Image Competition Committee Meets - Ibiza
“The Artist Within” - Kimberly Smith
Presented by Millers Lab - Americas Ballroom 2 6:00 PM
Group Photo - Convention Center Lobby (Be there EARLY! Photo will be snapped at 6 pm)
6:15 PM
Awards Dinner Buffet
7:00 PM
Awards Presentation - Americas Ballroom 2 and 3
9:00 PM
Print Case Pick Up - Ibiza
10:00 PM - Midnight
TPPA Poolside at the Mediterranean Pool
CPP Summer Camp - Gary and Kathy Meek - Americas Ballroom 3
11:30 AM
Working Lunch: Portfolio and Image Mentors - Americas Ballroom 2
12:00 PM
Lunch
12:00 PM
TPPA Annual Golf Tournament (MUST Pre-Register... contact Steve Armstrong)
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
CPP Summer Camp Resumes - Americas Ballroom 3
2:00 PM
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “The Portrait Photographer’s Guide to Commercial Photography” - Cris Duncan presented by Millers Lab and ProFoto - Americas Ballroom 2
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
“Creative Senior Photography” - Dominique Harmon & Barry Nelson - Americas Ballroom 1
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “The Portrait Photographer’s Guide to Commercial Photography” - Cris Duncan Presented by Millers Lab and ProFoto - Americas Ballroom 2 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “Creative Senior Photography” - Dominique Harmon and Barry Nelson - Americas Ballroom 1
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM Photoshop Theater: “Commercial HDR and Panorama Imaging” - Stephen Thetford - Americas Ballroom 1
Monday, June 27 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Tuesday, June 28
Working Lunch ends
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM “Modern Maternity and Newborns” - Bree Adams Presented by Sweet Light - Americas Ballroom 1 6:30 PM
TPPA Family Fun Night - Villa
10:00 PM - Midnight
TPPA Poolside at the Mediterranean Pool
Wednesday, June 29 8:00 AM 8:30 - Noon
Pick up Print Cases - Ibiza “Boudoir Out of the Box” - Meghan Garner
Presented by BWC Lab - Americas Ballroom 1 12:00 PM
End of Event Check for Schedule Updates at TPPA.org
23rd Annual TPPA Golf Tournament - Monday, June 27th To Pre-Register, contact Steve Armstrong at 512-892-7911 or email: saphoto@austin.rr.com
Summerfest is a Hit... Here’s Why! La Torretta Resort and Spa
This resort is a family vacation destination on Lake Conroe. The resort features an 18-hole golf course, 12,000 square foot spa, fitness center and an impressive water park. Bring your boat or jet skis and dock them right at the hotel! The Aqua Park is home to La Torretta Lake Resort’s multiple pools featuring an elegant heated upper pool with an infinity edge that cascades down into a 6,400 square foot Mediterranean pool. Other pools include the Breeze Buster pool, Lay-Z River™ Rapids and the Splash Scape pool with an in-water playground, and the Pollywogs pool for the youngest of water lovers. This Texas resort offers the best way to beat the Texas heat. Dining options include the Coco Cove Poolside Grill, the Yoi Sushi Bar and the Lakeside Restaurant and Bar, just to name a few! There is a piano bar, a coffee shop and the Energie Lounge. Check out the many dining options at the La Torretta website: www.latorrettalakeresort.com. The kids will be thoroughly entertained at the Aqua Park, but when it’s time for some dry fun away from the pool, the activity options read like a novel. There is an arcade, miniature golf, and movie nights by the pool. They will enjoy putt-putt, a teen hang-out with video games, making s’mores and other organized activities and games throughout the day lead by the La Torretta staff.
Meet the Vendors
Join us at the TPPA Villa on Sunday night for dinner courtesy of our Summerfest vendors. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and your cooler with your favorite beverages. Then head over to the conference center to meet the vendors and check out the great deals and specials.
Family Fun Night
After a hard day of water slides, golf, hanging out in the lazy river, going to the spa and learning photography, you and your family are going to need to find something fun to do! That is why we have put together the TPPA Family Fun Night! You and your family are invited to join us at the TPPA Villa on Monday for an evening of fun, food and fellowship! Bring your lawn chairs and your coolers – we will supply the “fixins” for an old fashioned summer picnic on the shores of Lake Conroe. Admission to the TPPA Family Fun Night is included with your registration and includes the picnic meal. There will be games and fun and surprises for everyone. The fun starts at 6:30 PM.
Awards Presentation
Join us on Tuesday at 6:15 pm for an evening of surprises! We will begin with the children’s awards for the Kids Foto Kontest. Every kid who participates will be recognized and we will announce the winners from each category. The excitement continues as we announce and unveil the winners from the TPPA Annual Image Competition. Tickets to the event are only $27 and include a buffet dinner. Kids tickets are only $17. This will be an event to remember. So, make plans to attend and bring the entire family! Every guest room at La Torretta is a suite! The room rate for TPPA Summerfest attendees is an unbelievable $109 per night. As an added bonus, if you book your room by June 1st, you will get your La Torretta Resort Fee (normally $30) ABSOLUTELY FREE with your stay at La Torretta! Don’t miss out on this huge money-saving offer. Register now and reserve your suite at www.TPPA.org/summerfest. Just staying in your suite is a vacation in itself.
Make Your Room Reservations & Summerfest Registration at
www.TPPA.org/summerfest
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he purpose of this competition is to allow photographers to enter photographic images to be judged against a Standard of Excellence and to assist the entrants in preparation for PPA District or International Photographic Competition.
The 12 Elements of a Merit Image (For more information, go to www.ppa.com/ipc.) will be used in accessing each image and applying a final score. With this competition, TPPA members are also eligible for awards and TPPA Points that count toward the Associate and Full Fellowship Degrees within TPPA. Rules: 1. Entrants may submit up to 4 physical prints or digital images and one album (any event) physical or digital. Album scores are not tabulated for overall case s cores, ie: Texas Top 10 or 4 for 4. Size uploaded images at 4,000 pixels on the long side. That includes album spreads. Digital Albums must have an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998 and saved at a JPEG quality setting of 10. 2. All entries must be uploaded/registered at www.printcompetition.com. Click on “Free Registration of a New User” or simply log in if you already have an account. Album entries must be in their own zipped folder before uploading. You will then need to deliver your physical prints and/or album to the print room in the La Torretta Conference Center by 9 am on Sunday, June 28th. 3. Images/albums must be named before uploading in the following format: 001, 002, 003, 004, 005 (005 if entering an album). 4. No changes to your entry are permitted once the entry deadline has passed. No refunds will be issued after the entry fee is paid. 5. Prints must be a minimum of 80 square inches (8×10) and a maximum of 480 square inches (20×24) and a recommended thickness of 1/8th inch. The longest dimension of any print cannot exceed 24 inches. 6. The entrant’s name shall not appear anywhere in or on the face of the entry. 5. No texture or sharp edges that may damage another maker’s print is allowed. Images on metal are allowed if corners are rounded. A thickness exception will be made for metal images. 6. No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment of any kind. 7. No two entries shall be of the same subject, even if the subject is not a dominate subject in the image. This also applies to images entered while also appearing in an album of the same case. 8. Once an image has been awarded a score of 80 or above, it cannot be entered again at the TPPA Summer Seminar Print Competition. 9. For entries under the Master Artist category, guide images are recommended but not required. If an entry includes guide images, they must be included on the submitted digital canvas or mounted/included on the face of the print. Registration: Registration closes on June 26th, 9 am. Registration is $59 per case. Eligibility: 1. Entrant must have captured and created the original exposure with the exception of Master Artist Entries. For these entries, the entrant is being judged on his/her ability to combine different elements/images. The entrant does not have to be the original creator of the elements in the final image. 2. All processing, manipulation and printing or rendering, were done by the entrant or under their direct supervision. 3. The entrant has obtained and has access to all necessary releases (model or property) and agrees to hold TPPA harmless against all claims and liabilities arising out of TPPA’s display, publication and promotion or other use of each image submitted to TPPA. 4. The entrant’s name shall not appear anywhere in or on the face of the entry. 5. Entrants may enter a maximum of four entries + one event album, physical or digital. 6. No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment. 7. No two entries may be of the same subject. Includes prints, digital images, and albums.
(continued)
8. Entrant may enter a maximum of 4 images (physical or digital) and one album. 9. Entrant must enter under the following categories. PORTRAIT/WEDDING: Consists of portrait or wedding images. ILLUSTRATIVE: Consists of commercial/industrial images, scenics, pictorials, digital paintings, and similar subject matter. MASTER ARTIST: Combined/composited images or heavily artworked images. If an entry includes guide images, they must be included on the submitted digital canvas or mounted/included on the face of the print. EVENT ALBUM: Events, weddings, bar mitzvahs, portrait and storytelling albums, etc. Includes Multi-Maker Albums. iiiiiThis
year’s President’s Theme: “All You Need is Love”iiiii
Register for Seminar, Your Room, & Print Competition at
www.TPPA.org/summerfest
with Mark McCall We want to take away the fear you may have of entering photographic images and get you prepared for competition and to see you earning those trophies and awards. TPPA believes that participating in the image competition process and earning those PPA degrees help improve your chances for success and sets you apart from the crowd. We want to see you succeed! Image Competition Boot Camp runs Sunday, June 26 from 10 AM – Noon, continues from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Image Competition Boot Camp is FREE with your registration to Summerfest. Space is limited so register early!
This beautiful image is a continuation of a series done by David Edmonson of his daughters and granddaughters called “Sisters.” It was made in his studio using a single natural window light and mirrors to provide separation. David had been collecting the props and pieces for the concept. David was originally a commercial photographer. After joining forces with his son, Luke, in 2002, they both realized that commercial photography did not accomplish their goal of being able to work together, so they made the transition to portrait and wedding photography. Both are quite humble about their success and their passion for photography. “Personally,” explains David, “I see God as the author of all creativity. His light is the best light.”
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What Photographers Are Saying
About the Texas Professional Photographers Association “With the growing number of folks out there calling themselves ‘photographers,’ I know I must stay on top of current trends and keep learning better ways to do business. Surround yourself with the best and the best are in Texas PPA!” Debbie Riggs
“TPPA has been an important part of our photography business journey. Texas School and the conventions have provided us with wonderful educational opportunities and new life long friends and supporters. I look forward to the magazine and read it through every time it arrives.” Marla Horn
Texas PPA
2016 Calendar of Events
Dedicated to Serving Our Members
April 24-29
Texas School of Professional Photography Intercontinental Hotel in Addison, Texas
Join 1,000 photographers for the biggest event of its kind in the country! It’s the best education value in the country with world-class instructors and plenty of fun. More info at www.TexasSchool.org.
Membership Categories & Rates Professional Active $95 - Open to photographers and employees of photographers who sell photographic services as a business and photographers employed by a firm whose main business is selling photographs. State Law requires that all such individuals hold a Texas Limited Sales Tax permit.
Limited Associate $85 - Open to individuals seriously interested in photography and are engaged in an occupation other than photography. Student $50 - Open to full-time students preparing for a career in photography, in a college or approved vocational/technical school.
2016 TPPA Officers
Ross Benton
Randy Pollard
Secretary
Councilman-At-Large
Jenny Rhea Eisenhauer Councilman-At-Large
Tammy Graham Treasurer
June 26 - 29
Summerfest ‘16
La Torretta Lakeside Resort in Conroe, Texas Combine a vacation and a seminar at this beautiful resort on Lake Conroe. It’s for the entire family! Watch for more information in this publication or at www.TPPA.org.
Service Firm $90 - Open to manufacturers, suppliers, laboratories and businesses supplying photographers; includes one person’s membership. Staff Associate $55 - Open to individuals employed by a Professional Active or Service Firm member or the spouse of a Professional Active member. Staff Associate membership may be accepted only if employer is current member. Out of State $65 - Note: Only Professional Active members have all membership rights. Spouses of Professional Active members are exempt from dues, unless
they elect to become a Professional Active member in order to vote or exhibit prints. Limited Associate, Out of State, Student, Service or Staff Associate members may not vote, hold office or enter photographs in competition, unless a special category has been established for them.
Sept. 30 - Oct. 2
PhotoGenesis ‘16
Embassy Suites in San Marcos, Texas Join us in San Marcos, Texas, at the beautiful Embassy Suites and spend some time rejuvenating your mind and exploring your roots in photography. Watch for more information in this publication.
Steve Kozak President
Stephanie Ludlow
Trey Homan
Vice-President
Chairman of the Board
Join Texas PPA NOW at www.TPPA.org (promo code: TexasProPhoto16)
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This PPA Loan Collection image was one of Catherine’s more challenging projects. After removing scratches, she uses adjustment layers and curves to lighten and darken areas of the image. “I’m a big fan of non-destructive editing and ways of editing that can be changed at any point during the restoration,” she explains.
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Bill Hedrick
“Many people don’t know what can be done for the image and to see a picture restored to its original condition when they thought nothing could be done, is most rewarding.” Catherine Dybala
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April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
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hoto restoration takes a lot of patience as well as a good working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, according to Catherine Dybala. “A lot of my Photoshop knowledge has come from simply sitting down and experimenting with the software... using all the tools and filters, going through the menus, and doing ridiculous things to images to learn what can be done to them,” she says. It was in college that Catherine began her career as a photographic artist. After buying her first camera, she was introduced to Photoshop as a means of editing her own images. “I was fascinated by the capabilities and possibilities in photo editing,” she explains. In fact, she was so fascinated that she decided to go into photography instead of pursuing her degree in meteorology. Soon she went to work for her in-laws, Joe and Addie Dybala, at Dybala Photography in Fayetteville, Texas. “They have been in the business for over 30 years and were a great resource as I learned photography and Photoshop. Joe gave me an initial Photoshop lesson that got me hooked and I learned more from him as I took over the studio’s photographic art side,” says Catherine. “Eventually I took a reputable Photoshop class to see if I was missing some techniques from being self-taught but I found I knew almost everything that was being taught except for using layer comps.”
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Catherine began entering print competition at the TPPA Summer Seminar in Kerrville, Texas, in 2005 although she did not enter any restorations until 2008. Her first restoration entry was an image that Joe had provided for her in college to help him provide an estimate for the client. Although the customer decided not to spend the money required for the job, Catherine decided to restore it anyway. “I was quite shocked when it received a trophy for Best Restoration at the Summer Seminar that year.” Over the years, Catherine has had restorations accepted into the PPA Loan Collection (2009 and 2015), has won Best Restoration at the TPPA Summer Seminar (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015), has won Best Electronic Imaging in the General Exhibit at the TPPA Summer Seminar (2010 and 2012), and has won Best Restoration and Best Electronic Imaging in 2015 at the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston in the Masters category.
The image of the little girl and cat (below) was faded from sunlight and required a complete recolorization. Color is added by using color balance adjustment layers. The face had several different adjustment layers (tan base, red and yellow additional colors) to blend and make the skin more realistic.
Much of the reward and satisfaction from the often timeconsuming restoration projects, according to Catherine, is being able to look at the before and after of what she’s done and to see the reactions of people when they pick up their finished images. “Many people don’t know what can be done for the image and to see a picture restored to its original condition when they thought nothing could be done, is most rewarding. I’ve had many customers break down and cry.” The stories associated with photographs brought in by customers could fill a book. “I’ve had customers bring in an image that was the only one they had left after a disaster. Others have had fires that destroyed their entire home and the only image they could get out of the ruins was badly burned and water damaged. They’ve brought them in after floods and hurricanes. Then there are those who have old photos that were improperly stored and have been eaten by silverfish. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to give back to people their precious images and memories that they thought were ruined.” For those wishing to try their hand at photo restoration, Catherine has some sound advice. “You should know your own limits. Be prepared to turn away work that is beyond your skill to give a good result. Restorations can be extremely time consuming and some that I’ve done for competition have taken 20 to 30 hours to complete. Also, don’t under-quote a job. You need to get enough for the job to pay for your time. It’s always better to over-quote and come in under budget... customers love refunds! So, under promise and over deliver.”
Cathrine used adjustment layers again on the image below to bring the color back to life. “The background and foreground would have taken a lot of work to fully restore, so to save time I replaced them with similar pictures of bluebonnets (with client permission), she explains
On the other hand, there are times when you are tempted to be “too perfect” as she explains. “It’s a good idea to restore an image back to its original look, imperfections and all. This can be hard when we’re so used to making everything perfect in Photoshop. Imperfections are actually a part of older images and you should not take away that charm unless it is requested by the client. It can feel a bit strange to restore an image and fix power lines in the background, but it keeps the image and the customer’s memories attached to it a little more authentic.” (continued on page 16) TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
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A good scanner is an important tool for doing photo restorations. “The better the scan, the less time it will take to restore an image,” says Catherine. “A lot of older scanners will show wrinkles and give highlights and shadows to cracks, making them more visible. Even the texture of the paper shows up.” Her choice for scanning today is the Epson V600. “It lights the image very evenly and gives a much better starting point, especially with wrinkled and textured paper.”
Google images is awesome for photos like this one (above), to see what the colors should be,” explains Cathrine who was not present when the customer picked up the finished image. However, he called her to say that it “looked better than the original.”
Catherine also scans an image at 300% to 400%, making sure it is larger than what the customer wants printed. If the image happens to be larger than the scanning bed, she will take multiple scans with overlapping areas and combine them in Photoshop using Photomerge. “Spend some time playing around with the scanning software and use the settings that offer you the most options,” she adds. “They will usually have an easy mode but it can sometimes clip highlights or over darken shadows. Using the professional mode gives you access to tools that you can use to adjust the scan manually.” Catherine has developed several interesting techniques for restoring older images that have a silver shine. “The best way I’ve found to deal with the problem is to scan the image in full color and use Replace Color in Photoshop to darken just the blueish shine. It doesn’t always work. But when it works, it works wonderfully,” she adds. “Replace Color can also be useful if blotches on black and white or sepia images happen to be a slightly different color than most of the rest of the image.” Another technique is to look at the individual color channels when dealing with this situation. “Often, one channel will show more of the blotching than others. Put a Channel Mixer Adjustment Layer on the image and check the ‘monochrome’ box. By decreasing the most damaged channel percentage and increasing the others, you can lessen the damage.”
The image of the two boys (below) was retrieved from a dropped frame with shattered glass. One piece of glass was stuck to the print and could not be removed. To restore the stripes in the shirts, Cathrine used Photoshop’s Content Aware Healing Brush.
Textured images that have a regular pattern such as a honeycomb can be removed using the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) filter in Photoshop. “It’s a strange process but there are tutorials online and the results can be amazing.” Half-tone images are another challenge but Catherine explains that some can be improved through the use of the Dust and Scratches filter. “Speaking of which... Dust and Scratches is a very useful filter for any area that doesn’t have too much texture. Even if some selections need to be made, it can still save time over manually fixing areas by cloning or using the Healing Brush.” In addition to her work for Dybala Photography, Catherine also does contract restoration work for other photographers as well and it is enough to keep her quite busy and she has a host of happy clients to attest to her talent, her artistry, and her genuine concern for restoring a part of their world. It’s been 12 years since she decided to restore memories instead of forecasting the weather. But the Texas Professional Photographers Association and all of those grateful clients who have witnessed what she does will tell you in a minute that she made the right choice. The Weather Channel’s loss is our gain!
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ulieanne Kost will be coming to the 2016 Texas School of Professional Photography on Saturday, April 23rd, for a full day seminar on Photoshop and Lightroom. The full day seminar is open to everyone for the low price of $97. But if you are attending Texas School in 2016, the price for the full day is only $47. This seminar is on Saturday, the day before Texas School actually begins. To register for this event, go to TexasSchool.org.
Saturday Program Schedule 10:00 – 11:30 Lightroom CC – The Crunchy Bits Join Adobe’s Principal Evangelist, Julieanne Kost, as she demonstrates what goes on under Lightroom’s hood when it comes to working with & combining catalogs, organizing images, working with collections and virtual copies, and saving presets and projects. Julieanne will explain the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Lightroom including how to push your edits into individual photographs, optimize your workflow, and backup your catalog(s), photographs, and supporting files. 11:45 – 1:00 Lightroom’s Develop Module – Insider Secrets! In this session, Julieanne will demonstrate the astounding capabilities of Lightroom’s Develop module. She will reveal tools that will help you enhance, refine and add stylistic effects to your images using both global and local non-destructive image adjustments. You will learn how to increase your productivity by creating custom default processing settings, using camera and lens profiles, and saving presets in order to quickly apply these effects to multiple images. If you’re looking for increased efficiency in your post processing workflow, then this is a seminar you can’t afford to miss! 2:00 – 3:30 Eight Creative Techniques for Re-energizing Your Work in Photoshop Adobe Photoshop CC is packed with features that make editing photographs easier and more powerful than ever before. With the complex demands of jobs, family and life today, the creative spark can easily get snuffed out. Learn how to get unstuck and how to craft a life that lets you tap into your inner creative genius. In this seminar you will discover the power of Adobe’s latest incarnation of Photoshop as Julieanne Kost reveals the robust new features of Photoshop CC. Be inspired to embrace personal projects as a way to fuel your creativity and make better images. It’s time to ignite and sustain your creative spark. 3:45 – 5:00 Through the Eyes of Julieanne Kost In her work, Julieanne is able to combine a passion for photography, a mastery of digital imaging techniques, and her degree in psychology to create compelling visual interpretations of her experiences. She will be discussing several personal projects including how she captured, enhanced and published images for her books: Passenger Seat: Creating a Photographic Project from Conception through Execution and Window Seat: the Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking. Julieanne will share the inspiration behind her digitally composited illustrations as well as her ongoing daily photography project using a camera phone, photography, and social media to gain insights into the relationship between events in our lives and discuss how to use simple apps such as Adobe Slate and Post to create and publish stunning, long-form narratives with your photographs. TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
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B
asic daylight exposure, also called the “Sunny 16 Rule,� is a simple approach that allows photographers to produce a correctly exposed image during daylight hours (when the sun is more than 20 degrees above the horizon), anywhere in the world and without using a meter or taking test shots. The formula is simple. Any front-lit subject or object should be photographed at 1/ISO at f/16. For example, at ISO 125, your exposure would be 1/125 second at f/16. With an ISO of 125, you could also use: 1/4000 at f/2.8, 1/2000 at f/4, 1/1000 at f/5.6, 1/500 at f/8, 1/250 at f/11, 1/125 at f/16, 1/60 at f/22, 1/30 at f/3.5, or 1/15 at f/45.
TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
April/May 2016
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Contributors: Austin - Tim Babiak; Heart of Texas - Tom Sergent; Houston - Dixie Dobbins; Brazos Valley - Sallie Gillispie
Austin Guild - The January meeting of the Austin Professional
Photographers Association was held at Precision Camera and Video in Austin. San Antonio photographer, Chrystina Straughan, presented a program on “Becoming the Hero – How to Execute Great Events and Photo Shoots.” Chrystina discussed her background, style of photography, the experience she creates for her clients and many details that have made Straughan Photography a successful wedding, event and portrait photography company. Winners of the January print competition were: Chris Davis Cina, first place; Nathan Latsha, second place; and Doc List, third place. List also won the Speaker’s Choice Award. The February meeting was held at Precision Camera and Video in Austin. Cypress, Texas photographer, Robin Janson, presented a program on “Oh No… Oh Yes! - Volume Photography.” Robin discussed his background, how he got into volume photography, the ins and outs of the volume photography business and the opportunity available for others who want to get involved in volume photography. In the February print competition, winners were: John Rogers, first place; Sherwin Field, second place; and Stephanie Shariff, third place. Doc List also received the Speaker’s Choice Award.
TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
April/May 2016
Finally, the Austin PPA recognized Carl Clark, recently retired from Pounds Photographic Labs, for his lifetime contributions to the Austin PPA. Many longtime and retired photographers made a special visit to the Austin PPA to voice their appreciation for Mr. Clark’s service and support over many decades. Godspeed as you enter your well-deserved retirement, Carl!
Brazos Valley Guild - The January meeting of the Brazos Valley Guild was a festive occasion celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. At the meeting, the guild decided to implement their own Fellowship program as well as some “socials” between regular meeting dates just to keep members connected. The program speaker, Robin Janson, gave an informative and entertaining talk on the subject near his heart… “Volume Photography.” He gave attendees insights as to how to dip their toes into this market and what it takes to become successful at it. A very special congratulations goes to our Photographer of the Year 2015, Melanie Hall! Hats off to you, Melanie, for all your hard work and creative talent! The February meeting featured Chrystina Straughan who spoke on “Becoming the Hero.” She shared her expertise on the little things that
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Contributors: Austin - Tim Babiak; Heart of Texas - Tom Sergent; Houston - Dixie Dobbins; Brazos Valley - Sallie Gillispie
mean so much to a bride on her special day. From the initial meeting to her “Photographer Emergency Kit,” Chrystina not only was a wealth of information, but also delighted everyone with her delivery! Monthly print competition winners were: Cristie Reddehase, first place; Kathy Norwood and Cristie Reddehase, tied for second place; and Kathy Norwood and Melanie Hall tied for third place.
Houston Guild - The Houston Professional Photographers Guild
Heart of Texas Guild - At the February meeting of the Heart of Texas
January Print winners in the Masters division were: Karen Butts, both first and third place; and Dixie Dobbins, second place. Winners in the Active division were: Kim Kuhlman, first place; Laura Mansur and Kim Kuhlman tied for second; and Sherry Piches, third place. At that same meeting, the guild announced their new President and Board members for 2016: Teri Whitaker, President; Belinda Higgins, Executive Director; Tom Hathcock, Executive Director; Arleen Harding, Vice-President; Laura Mansur, Director of Membership; Kevin Falcon, Secretary; Nikky LaWell, Treasurer; and Directors Orpha Garcia Labohm and Allison Carlino.
Guild, Chrystina Straughan presented her program, “Becoming the Hero.” Straughan shared many of the ways in which she provides her clients with a premium service, without really cutting into her profits. While much of her work involves wedding photography, the excellent information Straughan provided can be applied to any type of photography. Winners of the February print competition in the Professional division were: Rhonda Williams, first place; Cecy Ayala, second place; and Heather Hitt, third place. Associate division winners were: Darrell Vickers, first place; Tim Williams, second place; and Rick Duhrkopf, third place.
hosted George Dean of Roanoak, Texas, for an all day workshop in January. He also spoke at our January evening meeting and gave a great program on marketing and maximizing Sales. Georges techniques for creating the best website and utilizing various apps and software to capture clients info were outstanding.
Dr. Henry Oles Honored at Imaging USA- Founder and president of Virtual Backgrounds LLC, Dr. Henry Oles, was honored at the PPA Imaging USA awards ceremony with the presentation of the Technology Impact Award, primarily for the development of the new digital virtual background system. Dr. Oles, holder of the Photographic Craftsman degree, pioneered the development of the virtual projected background concept. He has been a well known speaker and writer as well as the developer of a variety of innovative products for the professional photographer. Last summer, Dr. Oles received the PPA National Award from the Texas Professional Photographers Association for his many developments and service to the photographic community.
Former TPPA First Lady Dies at 90 - Emily Gold was born in
Brooklyn, New York, came to Texas as a teenager, and eventually met the love of her life, Sammy Gold. The two were inseparable and never missed a TPPA event. At a time in life when most photographers would have retired, Sammy was still entering print competitions in his 80’s and Emily was always there at his side. It was a little known fact that Emily had a degree in pharmacy from the University of Texas but gave up that career to help her husband for the next 60 years. They did everything together, always together, as best friends. Through Sammy’s eyes and Emily’s finishing touches, they created lasting memories for so many people in Corpus Christi and beyond. In public, Emily was somewhat shy and private, but to her family, she was the classic Jewish mother, or as one observer commented, “a force.” In addition to her adoring husband, Emily loved and was loved by her parents and brothers, all who predeceased her, four sons and daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, her TPPA family, and the many cats who found love and food at her back door.
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April/May 2016 TEXAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER