MAY 1, 2013 !
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EDITOR’S NOTE
PPGH Member benefits - I got one this week. Thank you Krystina. She passed a job onto me. That is what the PPGH is here for. Members are ready to step up and fill in for Kim Christensen you when you are unable. We are a group of professionals that you can feel confident about someone filling in for you without any worries. So get involved with the guild - volunteer, get to know your fellow guild members you never know you may get a member benefit. Work! Plus I have gotten several jobs from people using find a photographer link on our PPGH website. So update your profile! Post Images to the Member Gallery! Get your name & Images out there. Publish or Perish! Carol Andrews article is a must read! So “I am going into Photography” Now what? This month we will welcome Mike Marvins with a program “How to get your images published.” The May 21st meeting will be back at The Black Labrador Pub. Mike will demonstrate how having a book will set you apart and lead to exhibits, sales all from your personal photo library. A must see! Plus get your images ready for the Mini- Workshops May 9th “An Evening with the Masters” Bring up to 10 prints or your laptop and have individual time with the master photographer. The Master Photographers will critique your photographic skills getting you ready for PPA print contest in July It is limited registration so register early. Plus don’t forget to enter image competition. Image competition is a fabulous way to learn from a Certified Professional Photographer. cheers, Kim 2 PAGE !
MAY 1, 2013
Members Birthdays
Diana Simone*a
May 5th
Sarina Eckhardt
May 8th
Kimberly Hartz,CPP May 8th Kelly Goodman
May 10th
Susan Busch
May 11th
Candace Byers,CPP
May 11th
CrisDe Reddenhase, CR.
May 12th
Deni Lathrop
May 13th
Don Carico
Richard Rowland
May 17th
May 27th
Expectations: “We all have them. The PPGH exceeds those expectations. PPGH gives every assignment 110% effort in maintaining the highest quality expertise available through our members.”
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The Professional Photographers Guild of Houston 2013 Officers and Directors MAY 1, 2013
President
Chairman of the Board
Greta Jacobs Mee, CPP
Curley Marshall, CPP
Vice President Viewfinder Editor Kim Christensen
Executive Director
Tom Hathcock Email
Secretary Robert Brayton, CPP Membership Director
Karen Butts Email Teri Whittaker, CPP Treasurer Director at Large
Michael Martinez Email
Director at Large
Director at Large
Aileen Harding, CPP
Kim Hughes
SPEAKER EVALUATION FORM AVAILABLE ONLINE If you didn't get a chance to complete an evaluaDon form for the January or February meeDngs you at-‐ tended you can now fill it out online. Logon to the PPGH website with your password and go to the members only secDon. Your feedback allows us to create be*er programming for you! Thank you in advance. 3 PAGE !
INSIDE !
MAY 1, 2013
Features 8
President’s Message Greta Jacobs Mee, CPP
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Mini-Workshop Report Sharon Chandler
12-18 PPGH Mini-Workshops by Aileen Harding, CPP
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Sports Photography by Kim Christensen
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Creating Clarity for your business by Carole Andrews-Jensen,M.Photog.
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IN MEMORY Mike Hi!, Past President
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Looking Your Best by Alvin Gee,M.Photog.,Cr.
29-49 Members’ Image Gallery by PPGH Members
48-49 New Members by Karen Butts 4 PAGE !
Wazzzup Sho!y Photo by: Ke!y Wi!is
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MAY 1, 2013
All Photos by: Orpha Labohm
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MAY 1, 2013
May Meeting
The May program will be a frank panel discussion on pricing your photography. We will have panelists who specialize in a wide variety of photography businesses. Some of these business models include sports and events, weddings, portrait studios (home or retail based), corporate employees and journalism. Learn different approaches to pricing your work at this highly informaDve meeDng. Come prepared with quesDons or send them in advance to greta@lakewoodphotography.com.
President’s Message This month I want to talk about the support we give each other in the guild. My grandfa-‐ ther passed away just before our last meeDng. It was not a big surprise since he was almost 95 years old. But it certainly caught me off guard how much Dme away from the studio and from Guild duDes I would need in order to deal with visiDng him in the last days, grieving, a*ending the funeral, spending Dme with the family and se*ling his estate. Life events like this don't happen that oben but when they do how do you handle your work responsibiliDes? Good neighbors bring food over in Dme of grief. Who shoots your event at the last minute? I can answer that one...your friends in the Guild! I am so thankful that I have good photographer friends who are happy to lend a hand when I could not a*end my work commitment. And I am so very thankful to those who took Dme out to send cards and flowers in support. I am very thankful to all of my Guild family. The best way to build those guild friendships is first and foremost by a*ending meeDngs and networking with your fellow photographers. And the second best way is to get involved and work alongside fellow guild mem-‐ bers. How be*er to know who you can ask for help in those Dmes you just can't be everywhere at the same Dme. Very recently we were saddened to learn of the passing of former ExecuDve Director and Past Presi-‐ dent of the Guild, Mike Hill. Mike was one of the first ones to call me upon my elecDon as president to offer his support. I have seen him at several meet-‐ ings this year and he always had a big smile and kind words. He will be missed tremendously. I would love to see a big show of support for Mike in the coming days: to his family, his close friends in the Guild and to him in saying good-‐bye. We will up-‐ date you all with funeral details once they are known
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MAY 1, 2013
"e Professional Photographers Guild of H%&on Present 2013 Mini-Work'op Programs
Mark These Dates On Your Calendar May….9th “An evening with the Masters“ June...23rd “Seeing the Light” with Curley Marshall, CPP July....21st "Fine Art on a Shoe String: CreaDng Heirloom Newborn and Children's Portraits With out Breaking the Bank" with Karen Bu*s Aug....25th "Off Camera Flash, My Way" Melanie Hall,CPP Sept...26th "The Business and Art of Pet Photography" Kim Hartz, CPP Oct.....24th “Packaging Your Personality” with Cindy Crofford, CPP Nov....14th “Children…From Consult to Finished Prints” by Buz Marvins, M.Photog,CR. Mini-‐Program Commi*ee Members: Aileen Harding, CPP, Chairman, Lori Bailey, Tom Hathcock
Be sure to register for the opportunity to get inside the heads of some of our most famous and talented members!! From hands on Basic Studio LighDng, to Edgy OCF, to Award Winning Dog Images, to Fine Art Chil-‐ dren's Portraiture, to CreaDng a Client Experience, to Children's Portraiture from Start to Finish and topping it off with an Evening with the Masters...this is going to be an incredible year. These workshops are designed to be an inDmate experience where all your quesDons are answered and you walk away with exciDng new tools in your toolbox so be sure to register early because there will be limited seaDng.
Learn more about each workshop on the following eight pages. Logon to http://www.ppgh.org enter your password and register for these specialize workshops.
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BasicLighting, Part 1 By:Sharon Chandler A great group of PPGH members met on April 7th for a mini-workshop on Basic Studio Lighting. Our primary goals for the workshop were one, to learn the steps for setting up and metering studio lights to achieve a 3:1 lighting ratio, two, to recognize broad and short lighting and three, to review masculine and feminine posing. Aileen Harding, CPP, led the workshop and started the afternoon with a slideshow of her work, including her four loan print images. It was interesting to hear how Aileen started her photography career as a mostly self-taught “mom with a camera”, but by furthering her education through workshops such as Texas School, Imaging, and other PPA events, she is now a Certified Professional Photographer specializing in senior portraiture. Aileen continued the slideshow by showing examples of short lighting and broad lighting from her own work, pointing out the brightest sides of the subject’s face to identify the lighting. She then took portrait lighting to the very basics; a diagram defining the two types of light used in creating the 3:1 ratio … fill light and main light.
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MAY 1, 2013 Aileen talked about the fill light generally being placed behind the photographer so that the light illuminates both sides of the subject’s face to bring light to some of the shadow area. She then moved on to the brighter
and C-shape posing for males. Aileen demonstrated both pose types and Curley Marshall was kind enough to demonstrate some of the more popular female poses as well! A great group
main light as the primary light source and showed how it gives dimension to our subject. We discussed the placement of the main light to the side of the subject, generally anywhere from a 45 to 90 degree angle. We had some laughs during our review of Sshape posing for females
discussion followed as Curley joined Aileen to walk through the process of creating a 3:1 lighting ratio. They stressed the importance of remembering that the fill light contributes a unit of light to both sides of the face, not just the shadow side. Aileen gave an overview of using a light
! meter and then we moved on to the fun part, the hands-on practice. We were fortunate enough to be in a great downtown warehouse-area studio (thanks to Sofia van der Dys Photography) that allowed for two shooting station setups. We reviewed how to position the two lights and pointed out the change in contrast based on the position of your subject to the main light. Then we had a demo of metering the lights separately and then together to ensure your ratio of main to fill was correct. The best part of the workshop followed as we all worked in smaller groups to meter our lights and take photos for review. We experimented with adjusting our shutter speeds and calculating different ratios to create new looks. One set-up used a softbox and the other umbrellas, so we had an opportunity to try both. Although this workshop was a great review for me in studio
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MAY 1, 2013
lighting set-up and metering, the highlight was truly the opportunity to meet and work with PPGH
members in a small and comfortable environment. There were photographers of every level at this workshop and it was great to see
people helping each other out, lending each other light meters and pocket wizards and assisting each other through the metering process. Aileen did a wonderful job of educating us on the basics of lighting and then providing a great handson format to actually apply that knowledge! I’m looking forward Part Two of the Lighting series to be taught by Curley Marshall on June 23rd. Hope to see you there!
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“Seeing the Light”
MAY 1, 2013
In the Digital Age
Marshall’s passion is lighDng. He emphasizes that lighDng, mixed with shadows and highlights will accentuate the face by using lighDng applicaDons that include addiDve, subtracDve and reflecDve lighDng techniques. Metering the lights using the addiDve method will give you the best lighDng raDo combinaDon. He also demonstrates High and Low Key lighDng. 3:1 raDo, 4:1 raDo, and 8:1 light-‐ ing raDo are all factors in creaDng dramaDc lighDng. In addiDon, uDlizing loop lighDng, narrow/short and broad lighDng to shape the subject’s face. These types of lighDng techniques add an element of dimension to your portrait. You can master the light, but first you must learn to see the light. There are three main keys to understanding lighDng. They Curley Marshall, CPP
are light placement, the direcDon of light, and the quality of that light. When you understand how to control your lights, you will get the desired effect. Learning to see the light will take your photography to the next level. * Marshall is a premier photographer in the Houston area specializing in weddings, seniors, execuDve, and fashion photography * An award winning photographer with 23 years of photo-‐ graphic experience * Former President of the 2012 fiscal year for the Profes-‐ sional Photographer’s Guild of Houston * Photographic (CPP) CerDfied Professional Photographer from (PPA) Professional Photographers of America * Awarded “Best Portrait of a Bride” 2011-‐2012 by PPGH *Photography/Photoshop Instructor at San Jacinto College located in Houston, TX. *Member of Professional Photographers of America, Pro-‐ fessional Photographers of Texas and Professional Photog-‐ rapher’s Guild of Houston His Motto “We Have Your Image In Mind” “When you learn to see the light, you can master it.”
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In 2004, Karen attended the Texas School of Photography for the first time and studied under Darton Drake. She was so inspired by his expressive work, that she quit her day job to become a full time photographer. She is now specializing in photographing babies and children. Karen began entering print pher of the year in 2010, 2011 and competition several years ago and 2012. In 2011, her first year to was PPGH Children's' Photogracompete at the International level, two of her images received merits. In 2012, she received three PPA merits, two of those images were selected for the Showcase Book. In 2012, all four of her images merited in SWPPA's Image Competition. She was one of only seven photographers from Texas who went 4 for 4 last year. Karen has a home based studio in Cypress and prides herself on the fact that Natural Images has never
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been "in the red." To accomplish this goal and to set herself apart from other photographers, she thinks outside the box in all facets of her business, from marketing to props to packaging. She strives to bond with her clients by providing a wonderful experience during their sessions. Her goal is to create artistic images that will become treasured, family heirlooms. Attend her Mini Workshop to find out her secrets to success on a shoestring budget.
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The Business & Art of Pet Photography"
Looking to expand into pet portraits? Come learn how to tackle the business end of that venture as well as how to develop your own personal style when photographing pets. Kim will discuss everything you need to know: lighDng setups, Dps/tricks for photographing pets, creaDng a sustainable brand and markeDng campaign, pricing for profit, and sales techniques to help you sell your work.
Kim Hartz,CPP
Professional Photographer, and producing award Kim Ha!z has always winning images. viewed life differently, thanks to The images Hartz takes for her a camera given to her as a child. clients capture the unique essence of each subject, Over the years she has honed producing a true work of art that her art, specializing in pet and is both Dmeless and precious. infant photography, gaining The connecDon between pet recogniDon within the parent and pet is photography industry, earning especially poignant, and the disDncDon of CerDfied one of her favorite subjects. Most recently, Hartz’s photographs were accepted into the General and Loan CollecDon of Professional Photographers of America’s (PPA) 2012 InternaDonal Photographic CompeDDon. Her three photos Dtled “I Need My Space”, “What Do you Mean Dog?” and “Rocco”
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were among the pictures chosen to be on display alongside other photographic works from PPA’s photographic compeDDon and traveling and special invitaDonal displays.
PACKAGING YOUR PERSONALITY
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MAY 1, 2013
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Coco Chanel
“Packaging is not something that exists only in boxes, tissue paper and bags. It is in how we package our words, ourselves, our studios and basically how we package our lives. Cindy Crofford
Let’s unwrap a few ideas on how pack-‐ Cindy Crofford aging affects our photography and the look that our businesses have in our com-‐ munities. Bring your packaging and any materials that you use to make y o u r b u s i n e s s “ y o u ” a n d l e t ’ s share ideas. I have a few.
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PHOTOGRAPHING CHILDREN IN THE STUDIO AND ON LOCATION
Edward “Buz” Marvins
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Buz will speak on lighDng and posing, clothing, con-‐ sultaDon, and how he works alone on the job.
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MAY 1, 2013
Sports Photography
by Kim Christensen
I enjoy shooDng sports but it does have its trials. You have to be able to anDcipate where the acDon is going to happen and capture it just at the right Dme. Knowledge of the sport you are photographing is crucial! And a bit of good luck is a bonus. Pros: You get to potenDally travel a lot You are your own boss You get to do something you love Its creaDve and sDmulaDng You get lots of opportuniDes and get to meet interesDng people You have a lot of fun. Cons: The salary not great if you are not very successful Its hard to make it big Lots of compeDDon from all lev-‐ els -‐ beginners to advanced Again the money is not good! A few things to look for when shooDng a sports
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Your background -‐ be aware of what is back there. Try to keep it clean. Your viewpoint -‐ shoot different angles or in different weather situaDons etc. Where you stand is very important. Plus know the rules of where you can or cannot stand. An example -‐ football there is a zone only for the football team and photogra-‐ phers and others on the field are to stay out of that area. Yes even photographers must obey. Basketball is usually on either side of the rim not under it but do move to get something from the stands. Sobball the umpire will need to create a dead zone for you to stand in on the field. Do your research on the rules of the sport you will be covering and be creaDve with your viewpoint. Timing is a must -‐ try to capture the peak point of acDon. Keep the ball in the photo! Yes here is where a li*le luck comes into play as well. Gear -‐ A professional camera body, with fast autofocusing abil-‐ ity and a high frame rate (usually 8 frames per second or faster), you will need two bodies. Long lens 300 mm is a good one to have as well as a 70-‐200 mm zoom. Keep a flash handy. A monopod is a Big help. Your setngs are important. The higher shu*er speeds is a must. Most sports photographers take their photos at f2.8 to blur out the background. Be aware of the light levels at the venue you are
shooDng the sport at -‐ some-‐ Dmes you will need to push the ISO up to 3200 plus or greater. Be aware of how the light changes on the field of play as you will need to change your setngs. But generally the light at a venue stays the same. Sports photography is oben done in shu*er priority mode or manual. Make sure you get faces -‐ show the drama/emoDon of the sport with the facial expression. Remember people like looking at the emoDons of the sport and the face is a good place to capture emoDon. CredenDals are a must to gain access into a venue. Make sure you have the correct one. Even at a general high school game. They do check. Pay -‐ well like I said not so good. It could be lower than $75 per game coverage or high as $300 per game or bonus -‐ higher. Do negoDate! You can sell your im-‐ ages individually as well. When selling images individually make sure you know the usage. For someone just wanDng the image for their refrigerator the fee is a whole lot different than if some-‐ one want to use it on a billboard. Check the rates for both. Plus make sure you copyright all your images!
ConDnued on Page 24
" Creating Clarity for your Business, Success is in the Details" !
MAY 1, 2013 When can I hire an employee? I can't work this many hours. I don't know where to begin, I can't focus. It just goes on and on doesn't it? Then generally escalates into frustraDon, chaos, and collapse.
Carol Andrews-Jensen,M.Photog.
Are you a professional photog-‐ rapher accustomed to hearing these phrases come out of your mouth? I am going into photography, and I don't know where to start! Help! I need to make six figures in one year, and all I want to photo-‐ graph is babies. I need more Dme.... for myself, my family, for me! I had no idea I would have to do all these different tasks all by myself. I'm an arDst, I just want to take the photos, I don't do the math. I hate to sell, I'll just post my orders online.
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Welcome, friends, welcome to the ranks and files of photo-‐ graphic entrepreneurs everywhere.....yes, there is an overwhelming amount of work to achieve in order to create, build and establish a successful business. Let's look at some of the challenges and so-‐ luDons to beginning your profes-‐ sional photography career. Today's biggest obstacles when starDng a professional photography business are oben: •
Lack of business knowledge.
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Lack of professional photo-‐ graphic skills/eDque*e.
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Lack of financial resources and Dme.
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The number one biggest mistake new photography endeavors make is the poor planning and preparaDon.
There are specific methods of plan-‐ ning, educaDon and execuDon to help guide you to creaDng a model business to serve you, and your life.
First, think of your business like building your dream home. Where is it going to be? What styles do you like, how big does it need to be to fit your needs? You must draw up blueprints, measurements, ma-‐ terials plan, an architect, a builder, a designer, landscaper.... don't for-‐ get the financing! Yes, you get to wear all those hats when building a new business from the ground up. Aaaahhhhh!! (Sound familiar?) Dedicate a notebook to keep your ideas, thoughts, and research in. This will help organize your infor-‐ maDon, to become your blueprint, or business and markeDng plan. When you see a product you like, or see a great markeDng idea, sDck it into a plasDc pocket folder in your business notebook. This liter-‐ ally is the tool to convert your vi-‐ sions and dreams into your reality. If you do not take the Dme, a*en-‐ Don and detail, you may be building a huge nightmare. You get to choose. Clarity begins with wriDng your purpose of your business, helping you develop your mission and vi-‐ sion statement for your company. From there, determine the amount of sales you must realisDcally and conDnually generate in order to create and fulfill the purposes listed above.... Products, pricing, etc, must be also created and de-‐ fined to structure sales. Aber all that, then branding, markeDng, ad-‐ verDsing and promoDons must be
! planned to launch to generate profit as quickly as possible aber your business launch. Get organ-‐ ized now. Time Management expert, Steven Covey, teaches us to "Begin with the end in mind." Start by defining the purpose of your business. Clar-‐ ify the mission and focus of your business. For example: are you a single parent, whose sole income will come from the business? Or, are you adding supplemental in-‐ come to your family’s budget? Are you entering photography for flexi-‐ bility of Dme for your family? Do you need to make $60,000/ year? Or do you need to pick up your kids everyday at three? Which fits your life's needs? Who is going to purchase your pho-‐ tography? IdenDfy your target mar-‐ ket, and create a market advantage that you can establish and own. Think of it like trying to catch fish. Ask quesDons as “What kind of fish do you want to catch?” Do you want to catch a whale, or a gold-‐ fish? If you want to a*ract whales, where do they live, what do they eat? What are they a*racted to? Who do they hang out with? Can you speak their language, and create an a*racDve environment and product that they would find appealing? Now, let s take that to a closer real-‐ ity..... For example, you want to 21 PAGE !
MAY 1, 2013 photograph babies and you want to sell wall portraits of the families with the new babies. What age market client are you going to tar-‐ get?
Your financial goals will need to be idenDfied and established. Products need to be decided and priced prof-‐ itably, driving the methods and fre-‐ quency of your markeDng.
ExecuDves in their mid fibies, or young career professionals in their late 20's early 30's? Who are the popular ob/gyn's delivering? Where are the popular upscale medical hospitals delivering? Where are the pregnant women shopping for baby furniture? Clothing? Prenatal mas-‐ sage? Do you want people that have five kids or this expecDng their first born? (Hint: Firstborn, the emoDonal impact, and the fi-‐ nances are much stronger with the first born, than by the Dme the sixth comes along....)
Clarity through working this plan represents bricks in the foundaDon of your dream home/business. Vi-‐ sion and clarity, focus and planning, acDon and execuDon are keys to building and maintaining your busi-‐ ness of all ages and sizes. It is sim-‐ ply not an opDon, but a conDnual process. PPA consultant, Ann Mon-‐ teith, always teaches “Do it, or die!"
Can you see how to determine your first steps by posiDvely idenDfying WHO you want to photograph? You must repeat this process for each product line you with to offer, for example, high school seniors are a totally different fishpond than the baby market, and execuDves are enDrely unique market also. Clarify and write your descripDons of your IDEAL client. Will you be designing and selling large framed canvas wall prints, or custom al-‐ bums? Perhaps you will specialize in packages of portraits? What in your mind will they be pur-‐ chasing, and how much do you WANT them to purchase from you?
Find successful industry mentors and begin your study with them to learn as much photography busi-‐ ness as you can. PPA offers amazing mentors and consultants through the Studio Management Services area. PPGH has an extremely valu-‐ able Mentor Program. Most new photographers are shocked to learn that the majority of creaDng a prof-‐ itable business has nothing to do with your camera skills. Yes, there is a requirement of a specific qual-‐ ity and standards you must consis-‐ tently create and repeat daily in your photography. There must also be a consistent quality of client ex-‐ perience and customer service within your studio operaDons as well. Most importantly, there has to be a smooth daily operaDon of the business that must be designed and built to create a PROFITABLE studio. Many, many a*empt to en-‐
Andrews Continued from P 23
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MAY 1, 2013
ter this industry completely unpre-‐ pared, burning out and failing due to lack of studio operaDon and business knowledge. A structured plan executed with a well based budget might have been their key to success through this process. Once you have established the above, in wriDng, along with your mission and vision statement for your business, THEN you are ready to begin to create your plan for markeDng your business for suc-‐ cess and integrity, creaDng your spotlight to shine and serve your clientele.
Carol Andrews Jensen,
Sports Photography Continue from P21
The goal is stop the acDon but there are other techniques use to capture the photo with minimal blur -‐ a slower shu*er speed is used to show blur letng you see moDon-‐ this show moDon in your photo. Or panning where the camera pans with the subject causing the subject to be sharp and back-‐ ground to blur showing moDon as well. As Sports Photography does come with some challenges but overall it is fun capturing the moment and when it happens you get one of those yes moments in your photography. Yes and a smile. I do recommend everyone try their hand at shooDng sports photography. You never know -‐ you may have a new skill or you may gain a new respect for those who do shoot sports photography for a living. Pick up that camera go chase that ball!
Master Photographic Crabsman, PPA Approved Business Instructor If you are interested in further con-‐ sulDng, contact me at : sDngarita@aol.com
IN MEMORY of Mike Hill Graduated Angleton High School. A*ended SFA, U of T, U of H. Member of Green Beret Special Forces Joined PPGH in 1972. PPGH President in 1985. First ExecuDve Director in 1987. Served on the PPGH Board for 30+ years. Became a CPP in 1987. Operated a Studio for 20 years on Hwy 290 and West 34th St. Aerial photography City of Houston and oil rigs off of Gulf coast. ReDred from ExecuDve director in 2007 22 PAGE !
He will be missed by all his friends.
CPP Testing Information
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MAY 1, 2013
CERTIFICATION PAYS
The power of certification is universal. Many industries have certified experts who are often looked upon as better or more reliable...and photography is no different. It pays to be an expert. It pays to be certified.
Mark A. Campbell, M.Photog.Cr.,CPP, API
HOW DO I BECOME CERTIFIED?
1
Register your candidacy at www.certifiedphotographer.com.
2
Pass the comprehensive Certification Exam.
3
Pass the Image Submission Review.
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER? As the leading certifying agency for imaging professionals, the Professional Photographic Certification Commission is recognized throughout the industry. This commission outlines and enforces the stringent requirements that Certified Professional Photographers must complete and maintain, proving technical competency in professional photography. WHY BE CERTIFIED? Being a successful professional photographer takes more than a camera. A Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation will help you: © i~ ~{ z w z { w y { ~w ~w { ~{ {z}{ and the talent to back up your business. © b{ y { {w x { w z ~w {z}{ w z w { cutting edge…before they meet you. © [w { }{B { y { B w z ® { { | x { D ARE YOU READY TO JOIN THE RANKS OF THE CERTIFIED EXPERTS? For more information, go to www.certifiedphotographer.com or call 888.772.2780
Professional Photographic Certification Commisision Our mission: To acknowledge and validate a consistent standard by which professional photographers can achieve and maintain a recognizable mark of excellence.
The CPP cerDficaDon test will be given on May 6th, 2013 at 11:00 am. Chris Walter Photography 5910 FM 1960 East Humble, TX 77346 281-‐852-‐7787 23 PAGE !
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Join a PPGH Committee Today Call one of the Chairmen and Volunteer
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Nomina3ng Commi5ee Tom Hathcock, Chair Kim Hartz Laura Popiel Rhonda Floyd Kevin Falcon Cindy Crofford -‐ alternate Ethics Commi5ee Belinda Higgins Sunny Arrant Cindy Crofford Kim Smith Audit Commi5ee Vickie Longoria, Chair Cesar Vargas Sheila Richards Web Commi5ee Kevin Falcon, Chair Marvin Labohm Image Compe33on Kim Hartz, Chair
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Vendor Liaison Kim Hughes, Chair Telephone Commi5ee Teri Whi*aker, Chair Aileen Harding, CPP Jennifer Heylmun Sheila Richards Tabitha Spence Amanda Beard Librarian Curley Marshall, Chair Mentor Program Francie Baltazar Stonestreet , Chair PPGH Photographer Orpha Labohm Viewfinder Commi5ee Kim Christensen, Editor Rhonda Floyd Kevin Falcon Tom Hathcock Karen Bu*s Greta Jacobs Mee, CPP
We need you on a commi-ee - It is your PPGH! Get more involved with the guild and consider joining a committee today. Volunteer, get to know your fellow guild members, and help improve the events offered to you, a member of PPGH. Sign up today get involved with your guild!
MAY 1, 2013
Procedures and Controls Teri Whi*aker, Chair Kelly Willis Melissa Dobbs ByLaws Commi5ee Alvin Gee, Chair Kelly Willis Tom Hathcock Mini-‐Program Aileen Harding, Chair Lori Bailey Tom Hathcock Sharon Chandler Vicki Longoria Membership Commi5ee Karen Bu*s, Chair Kevin Falcon Shelia Richards Tom Hathcock Kathleen Kinser Kim Smith
LOOKING FORWARD
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MAY 1, 2013
May 6th CPP tesDng for PPGH
October 24th, PPGH Mini-‐Workshop
May 9th PPGH Mini-‐Workshop -‐
“Packaging Your Personality”
“An Evening with the Judges”
with Cindy Crofford, CPP
May 21, PPGH General MeeDng
Nov. 14th PPGH Mini-‐Workshop
June 18, PPGH General MeeDng
“Children-‐From Consult to Finished Prints”
June 23rd PPGH Mini-‐Workshop
with Buz Marvins, M.Photo,.CR.
“LighDng -‐Part 2”
Nov. 19th, PPGH General MeeDng
June 29-‐13 TPPA Summer RoundUp, Kerrville
Fellowship Points due at this meeDng date
July 16, PPGH General MeeDng
December, TBA PPGH Gala
July 21st PPGH Mini-‐Workshop “Fine Art on a Shoe String: with Karen Bu*s
Monthly meeDng 3rd Tuesday of each month
July, NominaDon Commi*ee Meets
Mini-‐Workshops 4th Thursday of each month
August 20, PPGH General MeeDng
(subject to change)
August 25th PPGH Mini-‐Workshop
The Viewfinder Newsle*er deadline date 25th of
“Off Camera Flash” with Melanie Hall
each month.
Sept. 17, PPGH Annual Business MeeDng Sept. 26th PPGH Mini-‐Workshop “The Business and Art of Pet Photography” with Kim Hartz October 15th, CPP exam PPGH General MeeDng
PLAN FOR IT NOW
25 PAGE !
IMAGING USA Don’t Miss It! January 12-14, 2014 Phoenix, AZ
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MAY 1, 2013
Vendor Ad Rates Viewfinder is published 12 times a year. Members-12-Issues per year 3 Month 6 months ¼ page ad $150. $125 ½ page ad $185 $155 Full page ad $250 $225
1 year $100 $125 $150
*Member ad prices include a one-year PPGH membership. *Members may change your ad once per month *A 6’ table can be provided to show your products at PPGH general meetings. Non-Members-12 Issues 3 months ¼ page ad $175 ½ page ad $210 Full page ad $280
per year 6 months* $140 $175 $255
1 Year* $115 $140 $170
* Includes 3 ad changes(if desired). Sponsor a speaker for PPGH monthly meeting * Receive 3 months of complementary advertising Donate items for the end of the year gala *Receive 1 month of complementary Advertising
26 PAGE !
LOOK YOUR BEST BEFORE THE CAMERA !
Alvin Gee,M.Photog.,Cr. When you hire a portrait pho-‐ tographer to create your portrait, a lot of the success of the portrait can depend on you, the subject. When you schedule your portrait appointment plan on doing it first thing in the morning when you look your best and your mind is not filled with work ma*ers. For a man, his business portrait should look professional, pleasant and friendly. These portraits are first impressions to clients. A man should have his hair trimmed ap-‐ proximately one week prior to the session so it will not have a "just cut look". A good fitng suit, me-‐ dium to dark grey or blue, focuses the a*enDon to the face. The shirt should have light starch, fit well around the collar with no broken bu*ons. SomeDmes clients will bring a spare shirt on a hanger. A contrasDng neckDe that has a small dot or geometric pa*ern is good. Strips are fine as long as they are not too bold. Avoid scarf Des or ones that are too narrow or too wide. Bring a De that is three 27 PAGE !
MAY 1, 2013 inches in width. I would avoid dou-‐ ble breasted suits because the suit has a tendency to ride open at the lapels when seated. If you must schedule your ap-‐ pointment aber 12:00 noon, I would suggest shaving before your portrait session. Five o'clock shad-‐ ows are difficult to retouch from a portrait. If you always wear glasses, I would recommend having your optometrist lend you a pair of spare frames with no lens or pur-‐ chase anD-‐reflecDon lens for your current glasses. This will help re-‐ duce glare in the glasses. For the woman, the approach is much the same. The woman should schedule her appointment in the morning or right aber her appointment from the beauty sa-‐ lon. We can refer you to a make-‐up arDst who can be available to meet you at the studio to apply cosmeDcs and create a fla*ering hairstyle for a nominal fee. I emphasize hair styles because I can't change them. Make sure all flyaway hairs are sprayed in place. Allow an hour for the service of a make-‐up arDst that is well worth the effort. Clothing should be sim-‐ ple and tailored. Simple necklines with long sleeves are best. Keep jewelry to a minimum. If the bot-‐ tom of your ears show, wearing earrings, preferably 3/4 inch gold bu*on type look best. A jacket with a contrasDng light-‐colored blouse looks very professional. Pay special a*enDon to logo pins or De tacks. Make sure they are straight and right-‐side up. If you are wear-‐ ing a uniform, e.g. pilot, doctor, Ph D., make sure everything is pol-‐ ished and pressed.
If you are undecided on what to wear and have narrowed it down to two ouyits, bring them both and we will take photographs of you in each one at no extra charge. RETOUCHING Many things can be retouched or removed in photographs easily. Some things can't. If you wake up the morning of your session with a pimple on your face, just come in as usual and tell me. It's easy to remove. Anything on your com-‐ plexion can be removed, i.e. frown line, crow's feet, birth mark, neck lines. If you wake up with a real bad fever blister on your lip, do re-‐ schedule. Tell me if something bothers you about your face. I can only help you if I am aware of it. I can do a lot of correcDons through lighDng and posing. THE MORNING OF THE SESSION PracDce smiling in the mirror, then you will feel more comfortable in front of the camera. THE PHOTO SESSION Arrive a few minutes early. Check your hair, center and Dghten your neckDe so that there is not a gap between your shirt collar and De. Take a deep breath and relax. When you are being directed by the photographer, make your movements very slowly. Minor refinements separate good por-‐ traits from great ones. The session usually lasts 20 minutes. Immediately aber the session, your images will be uploaded onto a website for viewing. Each image will be slightly different. Choose the image that you like best. Remem-‐ ber, if there is anything that you would like removed, tell us. In one week aber making your selecDon,
Look Your Best cont:
! you will have the best portrait of yourself because you helped in every step of the way. PROPS Props can be used to customize your portraits. If you are a painter, you can bring your fa-‐ vorite creaDons. A collector can bring part of his collecDon. If you've recently won an award, it can be included in some of the photo-‐ graphs. We also have bookcase backgrounds for clients who want that "library" look. LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY Business portraits do not have to be restricted to the studio only. We will come to your office and create portraits at your conven-‐ ience. It is usually more cost effecDve to do more than one individual on locaDon. Recently we set up and photographed the Board of Directors and Economic Council of a local bank. There were approximately 25 people. They used the photos for newspaper ads and press releases. Last year, an oil and gas firm contracted us to do new por-‐ traits of the President and Board of Di-‐ rectors. We have been to hospi-‐ tals, college campuses, radio staDons and many of the top companies in the city to name a few.
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MAY 1, 2013
How does $15,000 of FREE equipment insurance sound? It’s yours—courtesy of PPA—when you join.*
PPA helps you protect what matters and, as a pro photographer, that includes your photographic equipment. With PhotoCare, PPA covers your premium* for $15,000 of equipment insurance. It’s just one more way that membership in PPA pays.
JOIN PPA TO ACTIVATE YOUR POLICY FOR FREE! *PhotoCare Equipment Insurance is available to U.S.-based PPA Professional Active and Life members only. Policy is provided by PPA as a part of membership and includes equipment coverage up to $15,000 per year. Restrictions apply. Additional coverage is available for purchase. Insurance provided by Lockton Affinity. PPA members must activate their policy and maintain membership to receive coverage.
.com/insurance
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MAY 1, 2013
Members’ Image Gallery Pages 28-47
by:B( Marvins
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by:Da) Stevens
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by:Da) Stevens
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33 PAGE ! Oak Alley
MAY 1, 2013
Linda Simms,CPP
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Linda Simms, CPP
34 PAGE ! Linda Simms, CPP
MAY 1, 2013
Linda Simms, CPP
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MAY 1, 2013
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Carol An+ews-Jensen,M.Photo.
all ima,s by: Carol An+ews-Jensen,M.Photo.
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Dancing Shoes by:Kim Ch-srensen
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Karl S. Bal., SR.
Amanda Beard
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Amanda Beard
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Michael Ramir/
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Karen Bu0s
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Karen Bu0s
MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS
books on photography and pracDce. I am involved with Mike T Ram Photography which does a li*le bit of everything in-‐ cluding Studio, Commercial, Event, Wedding, Product, Ar-‐ chitecture and Food Photog-‐ raphy. I am also associated with Mighty Ram Photogra-‐ phy which does Wildlife, Na-‐ ture, Pets and Landscape Photography. I love photo-‐ graphing mulDple types. I can appreciate the skill and train-‐ ing that is involved in each, because they require differ-‐ ent skill sets. Michael Ramirez -‐ Student I am originally from Bryan, Texas, where my family sDll re-‐ sides. I am not married nor do I have children so photography is kind of my child. Other interests include playing sports, reading, karaoke, juggling (skill), network-‐ ing and exploring new places. While on a military training exer-‐ cise in England in 2008, a Combat Photographer let me take a few pictures with his Canon DSLR. Upon returning to the United States, I bought my first Nikon DSLR and have been hooked ever since. Between 2008 and 2011, I was as a freelance photographer, read books on photography and pracDced. In May of 2011 I began my studies at the Art InsDtute of Houston for a Bachelors of Fine Art in Photography. I conDnue to read 48 PAGE
At this Dme, my biggest influence is my mentor, John Erikkson. I have also been encouraged by my Professors at the Art InsDtute of Houston, Jim Stevens, Michael Gaffney, Gary Miller and Marilyn Cordovi and my colleagues who inspire me to produce my best possible images for class. I want to be involved in a profes-‐ sional group, the Professional Pho-‐ tographers Guild of Houston, to be a part of something bigger than myself. This guild will be another way to network and to meet new people interested in the crab of photography. I know that what I can learn from guild members cannot be gained elsewhere.
Rubi Vega -‐ Student In 2008, I decided that photog-‐ raphy is what I wanted to do, for real, this Dme. As many photogra-‐ phers do, I realized at a young age that I had a passion for photogra-‐ phy. However, because of life get-‐ Dng in the way my passion became a second priority, then a third and so on. I am a mother of four and now that they are all in school and on their way to living their lives, it's Dme I get back to my passion. My career in photography actually started when I worked for a pho-‐ tography company taking school portraits. Then I moved on to sec-‐ ond shooDng at weddings. I have recently taken on my own part Dme business as a portrait and
Quinceañera photographer. I also a*end Houston Community Col-‐ lege as a part Dme student. I be-‐ lieving learning is a never ending process and always look forward to learning from those who have mastered their field. Photogra-‐ phers I like to learn from are Lind-‐
knowledge. It started just with my scrapbook-‐ ing buddies. In my 'hands-‐on' class we would go through the basics and find all the bu*ons and dials to-‐ gether. So for over five years and more than three hundred wonderful students, I now know how to use many models of Canon, Nikon and Sony Cameras. I have now found the Dme and natu-‐ ral progression to start my own pho-‐ tography business aber having it as a hobby income for so long. Now, I have also set a goal for myself to become cerDfied through PPA.
sey Adler, Sue Bryce, Clay Black-‐ more and many, many more. Hege Leve5 -‐ Aspiring My adventure into the world of digital photography began when I bought my first DSLR (Nikon D70). I used to do film photography growing up in Norway. I loved the assignments we got, and the magic that went on in the dark room. I had just forgo*en how much I en-‐ joyed it and did not prioriDze buy-‐ ing a DSLR unDl someDme later. Aber getng to know my own DSLR (with some help from online classes), I started sharing my 49 PAGE
Israel Gonzalez Jr -‐ Associate Born in Corpus ChrisD, my parents moved me to Houston when I was six years old in 1972. I bought my first camera, a Minolta X-‐700 in 29 Psalms, CA. in 1986 and have been shooDng since then. My wife and I will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary this November. We have two smart and beauDful girls ages sixteen and nineteen, one in high school the other in college. Last year I started my first job in photography with Visual Services of Texas. We take school pictures of sports, bands, drill teams, etc. So far it's been pre*y cool. This year am looking forward to taking my photography to the next level with help from the guild.
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