Northern District Newsletter

! Affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America !

VPPA NORTHERN DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

June 2015

Governor ~ Kathy Kupka, FP Lt. Governor ~ Barbi Barnum, CPP Secretary ~ Andrew Clark Treasurer / Newsletter ~ Jim Sanders, FP

Simple DSLR Video for Photographers Andrew Clark ~ Mike Patch “When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.

~ Albert Einstein

Camera manufacturers are increasingly putting video recording capabilities into their digital SLR’s. Smaller cameras, large sensors, awesome low-light performance, broadcast quality and massive lens ranges offered, makes them appealing to a whole new breed of filmmakers, as well as photographers. DSLR’s are being used to film whole seasons of TV shows as well as feature films.

Dabbling with the video on your camera? Shooting HD video with a DSLR? Don’t know where to begin? Not sure you understand the benefit of video in a business that relies on traditional photography? Video can be a “strange new world” and you may be passing up some good opportunities. They can be used to create Behind the Scenes videos to market your studio, tell the story of your high school senior in their own words, explain the relationship between a pet and their owner, or show the progression of time in nature or an architect build with time lapse.

There is a great opportunity to expand your service offerings by including video. Without a doubt, shooting video with a DSLR can be complicated; but you can achieve beautiful, creative results by following some simple guidelines. We’ll answer all your questions, from choosing resolution to editing software options. If you’re a newcomer to ‘HDSLRs’, then this is for you: a class that cuts through the jargon and explains how to get started with high-definition video.

Monday, June 15

1:00 - 4:00

Culpeper County Library ~ 271 Southgate Shopping Center ~ Culpeper

The True Value of Digital Images

by Katie Garlock Forget Mac vs PC or Nikon vs Canon. In my opinion, the real issue in the industry today is prints vs digital. Our attempts to explain to clients the aesthetic and archival importance of professional prints often go unheeded, and the phrase 'we really just want digital' can make our blood run cold. JUST digital? You mean complete and total access to and control over my Work? JUST digital?

What is a photographer to do? Refuse? Sell? Include with session?

Do today's consumers really prefer digital, or are they just trying to get as many images as they can for the lowest price? Is that so bad? Don't we all appreciate a deal? Can we even maintain a business if we decline?

After much trial and error, I have come up an answer that works pretty well, at least for me. When a potential client says they 'just want digital', I smile and explain that I am happy to sell digital images. (Images, not files) Each one is enhanced and fully printable, so NATURALLY, they are more expensive than individual prints. (At this point, clients generally nod and repeat, "Naturally.")

How much more? Everyone has to make their own determination. We would all like to make a decent living, and stay in business.

Realize then, that when someone asks how much you charge, that they are really asking what you believe your time and talent are worth. If you tell them, "Not very much" they will believe you. Good luck changing their mind down the road.

As for me, I explain that digital images start at $200 each, and go down to free, depending on their order. Once I have established a value, clients look at my work a bit differently. Instead of being just another overload of snapshots on their hard drive or phone, each image matters.

True, some people are bargain hunters, and decide to go to the $150 shoot and burner. That's ok. Sometimes a t-shirt from Target or a decent hamburger at Burger King is all you need.

However, sometimes you want beautiful clothes and a fabulous meal at a fancy restaurant. I am happy to work with those who appreciate custom work and personal service. They are content to pay boutique prices.

And they also appreciate a deal. As the orders go up, I am happy to match the order with bonus digital images. Five of the ordered images with a $1000 order, Ten with a $2000 order. Go to $2700 and every image you order is included on the drive. Perception of value increases quickly.

Clients often bump up to the higher level just to get additional images, actually saying "this is a great value." I deliver beautiful portraits and albums, and they also have digital backups. I am happy. They are happy. Win win.

2

There is just something uplifting about belonging to a group…

What a terrific world we photographers live in today. Pretty much anything we want to know is just a mouse click away. With websites, ebooks, podcasts, blogs, Facebook groups and all else; there are seemingly endless information resources.

Booray Perry in his article, “The Benefit No One Talks About” elaborates on one of the best reasons to join your local affiliate and I’ll quote Booray here.

“One day I turned around and realized, I have a lot of friends. That's the benefit of joining your local PPA affiliate that no one ever talks about. And for me; it's the best benefit of them all.”

And then there are the in-person resources — schools like East Coast, MARS, and the Texas School. The PPA hosts our largest convention… Imaging, USA. Go each year if you can.

Virtually every state has an affiliate organization of the PPA. The Virginia Professional Photographers Association is Virginia’s PPA affiliate organization.

The VPPA has been an on-going organization for professional photographers since 1898. Now that’s pretty impressive!

I think Booray is saying it just right. (If you’re intrigued by the name, Booray, it’s Cajun.) What we have here at home and using Booray’s term is FELLOWSHIP. Just think about it. What would the differences be to you and your business if you were going it alone — if you belonged to no local association. Yes, you would still have your clients. Business would hopefully be good. But being a member of an association where your peers are also your friends and contact can be on a regular basis can and does make a difference. Do this. Think about things that have helped you in ways large or small that are a direct result of knowing others in the VPPA. If this is an easy exercise, you are in the right place.

3

The Benefit No One Talks About

By Booray Perry I had just finished shooting a sunset beach wedding and was walking across the parking lot to my truck when I noticed another photographer loading her gear into her minivan. She stopped what she was doing, walked over and introduced herself.

"I'm Carol," she said, "Have you ever heard of the Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association?"

"Sure," I said, "I've been to a couple of meetings."

"Really? I don't remember you."

"It was a while ago."

"You should come back, it's a great organization."

I had heard about TAPPA a year earlier and had gone to a couple of meetings just to check it out. It was a little awkward for me to suddenly be in a room full of people I didn't know. It was obvious that a lot of the photographers in the room had known each other for a long time. They were laughing and joking and seemed so at ease with one another. I sat by myself, pretending to be very interested in something on my phone. I felt intimidated because I didn't know anyone, didn't know if I was good enough to be there.

After running into Carol in the parking lot I thought I might give it another try. She seemed nice and really enthusiastic about the association, so I went to another meeting. This time, the president of the association noticed me and came over to introduce herself. She was bubbly and engaging and she made me feel welcome. The best part was, she made me want to come back again the next month.

After a couple of more meetings I began to evaluate whether or not being in the association was worth my time.

What's in it for me? I wondered. What could they teach me, what could I learn? Like a lot of photographers, I was focused on trying to grow my business and worried that someone else would take my business from me. I decided to change my approach. I wasn't going to go to the meetings anymore because I was hoping to get something out of it. What would happen if I just went to meet people and didn't care about impressing anyone or guarding my secrets (trust me, there are no secrets). What would happen if I just made friends?

That was three years ago and I've barely missed a meeting since.

4

I meet a lot of photographers and every time I meet someone new I encourage them to come and join TAPPA. There are lots of great reasons to join the Professional Photographers of America and plenty more to join your local affiliate. The problem is that I think people don't talk about one of the very best reasons to join. It's not the education, it's not the competition, it's not really the networking.

It's the fellowship.

After World War II, a generation of Americans returned from the war. They had been in the military for years. They had been in regiments, battalions, units, platoons... they were always being put into groups. So, when they came home to the states, they joined groups. The Elks Lodge, the Masons, the Lions Club... after World War II there were hundreds of social clubs. Everybody was a member of at least one. Ralph Kramden of "The Honeymooners" was a member of the Raccoon Lodge. Fred Flintstone was a member of The Loyal Order of Water Buffalo.

But not anymore.

Now, we get all of our social interactions online. Facebook is the new social club. In some ways that's a good thing because it's better to have an online social club than no social club at all. But it's also a bad thing because people just don't join anymore. Especially young people. I know because I never join anything. I hate to commit.

After three years in TAPPA I have dozens of friends who are photographers. I went to Imaging USA for the first time this year and met even more photographers. Here's what I notice: My Facebook friends who I've actually met in person interact with me a lot more than the people I've never met. There's a connection. There's value in faceto-face interaction.

Now, every month when I go to a meeting, I look to see if there's anyone new sitting at a table and that's immediately the table I want to sit that. I want to meet them, I want to talk to them and I want them to feel welcome. There are photographers who have been shooting since I was in elementary school and yet there they are, every month, meeting new people. They have a fuller and richer life because of it.

So, if you haven't joined your local PPA affiliate, do it. Set a goal for yourself that you're going to meet someone new every month. Go to the meetings, go to the picnic, go to the Christmas party. Do something with people who share your interests. Do something with photographers.

And, if you don't have a local affiliate, start one. Kevin Newsome started TAPPA in his studio back when they had this thing called, "film" and he's still there every month. When I got a chance to bid on a big event job, I called Kevin for advice. When I needed to hire some extra photographers to work the gig, Kevin told me who to call and what they would expect. When I decided to start competing, Kevin helped me pick out my images.

5

At Imaging USA I ran into a TAPPA member on the first day, around lunch time. When I said I was going to eat lunch by myself, Melissa said, "I've already eaten but I'll go sit with you." Suddenly I wasn't all alone in Atlanta.

My affiliation was there.

When the "Photographer of the Year" asked me to lunch, I thought, This is great! I'm really making friends! Then, over bread and pasta he asked me to photograph his wedding. It's the only wedding I've ever worked where I knew a lot of the guests. They were fellow affiliate members.

When one of our members had a robbery at his studio, he had more replacement equipment than he needed within 24 hours. When a member called me from a wedding and said he was feeling sick, I volunteered to come take over. I recently called a member just to chat on a long drive back from a gig and he said, "I'm on vacation and I usually don't answer my phone but I wanted to make sure it wasn't a photography emergency."

I can pick up the phone and call any one of a dozen photographers... just to talk. I couldn't do that three years ago. I was all alone in the wilderness.

One day I turned around and realized, I have a lot of friends. That's the benefit of joining your local PPA affiliate that no one ever talks about. And for me; it's the best benefit of them all.

Booray Perry is owner/operator of Booray Perry Photography in Tampa, Florida. He is a Bronze Medalist in the International Print Competition, Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), Photography Craftsman, Wedding /Event Photographer of the Year 2012, 2013, 2014 and a featured speaker at Imaging USA 2015. His podcast, “Photobomb” can be heard on iTunes, Buzzsprout, and Pocketcasts.

This essay was originally posted on Booray Perry’s blog and the PPA in August, 2013. http://boorayperry.com

6

End of Summer Seminar August 30 ~ September 1

Fredericksburg Hospitality House Hotel & Conference Center 2801 Plank Road Central Park Fredericksburg

Education ~ Print Critique Fun & Fellowship

7

Scott Kelby | Photoshop Insider

Guest Blog Wednesday — May 20, 2015

Featuring Vincent Versace!

I have come to believe that my job, why I was put on this earth, is to tell the truth and see the pretty.

My job is to walk all over the planet and allow myself to be taken by the moment and to record the truth, beauty and moments of abandon with a camera…

These are the opening words to a recent blog post on Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider. The writer is Vincent Versace. At the end Vincent Versace writes...

If you still feel the need to pre-visualize before you pick up the camera, just fantasize this: I am about to be amazed by every little thing around me.

Throughout, Vincent Versace provides delightful reading, beautiful photographs from his trips to Cuba and heaps of inspiration.

At one point he writes… Don’t worry about not taking any images, if they are there for you to take they will find you if you slow down enough to let them land on you.

Pour a cup of tea, open the link, type Vincent Versace in the Search by keyword(s) box. I think you will be rewarded with the reading and the images.

Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider | Photoshop & Photography ... scottkelby.com/ 8

Culpeper County Library 271 Southgate Shopping Center Culpeper

Monday, June 15 1:00 - 4:00

to downdown

to Charlottesville

to Fredericksburg

We are meeting at the Copper Fish for lunch ~ 128 East Davis Street downtown 11:30...

9