Issue 271
Darren Jew's Highest Scoring Print
May 2019
JOURNAL
CONTENTS 6
A Message From The AIPP Board Our new president Melissa Neumann pens a message not just from her, but on behalf of the whole AIPP Board.
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AIPP National Board - Meeting Summary The following summarises the outcomes of the April 2019 AIPP National Board meetings, as compiled by Steve Wise.
Cover
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AIPP Treasurer's Report - May 2019 Sara McKenna delivers the AIPP National Treasurer's report for the January to March 2019 quarter.
Darren Jew APP.L M.Photog. IV AIPP AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2018 AIPP AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
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AIPP's Revamped Admin Team Louise Bagger has been extremely busy over the past year, organising the new streamlined national office and while there is still plenty to be done, she is now ably supported by a great admin support team!
AIPP JOURNAL is the official newsletter of The Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP). Editor Peter Eastway B.Ec CPA APP.L FNZIPP Hon. FNZIPP G.M. Photog. 1 P.B. Hon. FAIPP FAIPP Disclaimer The information provided in the AIPP JOURNAL and associated publications is made in good faith, but is general in nature. Neither the editor, the publisher or the AIPP accept responsibility for or will be under any liability for any recommendations, representations or information provided herein. The AIPP JOURNAL presents information, opinions and suggestions for subscribers to evaluate in coming to their own decisions in the light of their own individual circumstances. The information should not be relied upon without readers first obtaining independent advice from their own financial and legal advisers. Unless otherwise noted, all articles are written by Peter Eastway. Publication The newsletter is published 10 times a year – monthly with November/ December and January/February being combined. The AIPP JOURNAL newsletter is published by Pt 78 Pty Ltd, ABN 75 003 152 136, PO Box 351, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097, Australia. Phone: (02) 9971 6857; Fax (02) 9971 6641. E-mail eastway@betterphotography.com Quietly celebrating 27 years of publication.
AIPP Membership Contacts www.aipp.com.au admin@aipp.com.au PO Box 244, Kerrimuir, Victoria 3129 Phone 1300 685 334
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Mark Zed, Epson SA PPY Winner Now retired from the APPA Awards Team, Mark Zed has been putting his efforts into his own entries - as the South Australian results show!
ISSUE 271 / MAY 2019 26
Liam Carroll, Epson NT PPY Winner A portfolio of four remarkable portraits by Northern Territory photographer William (Liam) Carroll has earned him the title of AIPP Epson NT Professional Photographer of the Year 2019!
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Why We Need To Charge A Full Time Rate Chris Shain APP AAIPP Hon. LM reflects on our changing profession and why now more than ever it's important for both full and part time professional photographers to charge a full time rate.
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Australian Success @ WPPI 2019
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NAB Video Report from Las Vegas!
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Superannuation Is Simply Essential!
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Are you paying enough superannuation for yourself? No matter your age, now is the best time to look after yourself for the future! AIPP National Treasurer Sara McKenna has some great suggestions!
What Makes An Award Image? Many years ago when APPA began, this would have been considered a good example of professional practice, but today, with so few photographers shooting in the studio, Silver Awards can be won with studio lighting, simple composition and some clever presentation.
At the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) awards presentation this year in Las Vegas, Australian photographers and AIPP members were regularly seen receiving the top awards on stage!
Darren Jew: Nature Photographer What makes a great nature photograph and to what extremes do nature photographers go in their quest for the ultimate image? The AIPP Journal catches up with Darren Jew APP.L M.Photog. IV.
The National Association of Broadcasters conference takes place in April every year in Las Vegas. It is one of the biggest conferences for the broadcast industry in the world. Lee Herbet reports on the 2019 event.
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Epson's Printer Range - from $1995! While photography has changed dramatically with the digital revolution, the photographic print remains one of the most profitable ways to sell your work for many studios.
Platinum Sponsors 3
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CHALLENGE YOURSELF! ENTER THE 2019 AIPP EPSON STATE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS April to June this year. Get ready now! Entry details and dates can be found at http://stateawards.aipp.com.au
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NEWS
A Message From The AIPP Board Our new president Melissa Neumann pens a message not just from her, but on behalf of the whole AIPP Board. What a crazy ride the last year and a bit has
our goals and over the next few months, we
been, but what an exciting time to be part of
will finalise the five By-laws and the work of our
the AIPP.
Constitution Committee will be complete.
I’m a strong believer in finding the up-side of
This has been a mammoth effort by those
any situation and we have been given a gift. We
who have been involved in this Committee,
have been given an opportunity to have a good
putting into place a strong structure that the
look at what the AIPP is and what it is here for.
Institute can work within.
The Institute is about to evolve into
something never before experienced by our
You will be kept informed about this process
via email, so keep an eye out for it.
members and it’s because we can now clearly
6
see the future directions.
WE LOVE INPUT!
The Institute can’t run without input from its
Our vision can only be achieved because we
know we have a positive, creative and inspiring
members and we're so grateful that we have a
community of members who have been
passionate, creative community, willing to reach
incredibly supportive.
out and give us feedback.
We are listening.
FINISHING THE BYLAWS
Our volunteers around the country are the
Our Councils and Committees are working on
ones who are helping us implement changes
all sorts of things that are helping us to achieve
that will to bring the focus back to delivering
Platinum Sponsors Gold Sponsors Trade Partners ATKINS PRO LAB
ATKINS PRO LAB
APVP Sponsors
Advancing Professional Photography.
For Everyone. 7
NEWS
value to our members. We have had a great
ways to support our regional members – we
turn-out to a number of in-person and online
also have a group looking into online delivery of
events around the country recently, with more
events for our regional and rural members.
to come.
Dan O'Day is taking on marketing as his
In John Swainston’s Presidents message
portfolio. As mentioned, he is starting with
in the April AIPP Journal, he mentioned the
social media, but we all look forward to seeing
general concepts of our strategy.
what’s coming in that space.
Steve has been doing a great job as part of
Number one in our strategy is better
communication to our members. You will
the Awards Committee and keeping all of the
start to see updates on Facebook as things are
Board on track as our Board Convenor. With the
changing.
Awards season just kicking off, there is a lot to
do.
For instance, last week we did an update
on Facebook about Dan O'Day’s plans for Instagram, as one example of what you will start
THANK YOU EPSON!
to see.
We are so grateful to Epson as our major
sponsor for the State Awards. We could not run
We also have a big project currently
underway to change our website and back-
the State Awards without them.
end management system, so we can better
communicate, help and support our members.
team that make the actual events all come
Trying to get information to those that want it
together. These two are an example of the
has been an ongoing issue and we are about to
incredible, hardworking staff that we now have
embark on a regular update via email that will
in place. They work hard, get the job done and
give you a quick overview of what we are all up
are excellent role models.
to.
While we are on the Awards subject, Bruce
Sue Lewis and Carla Mahony are a dynamic
Pottinger is working on the trade show and
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BOARD DOINGS!
how we can better look after our sponsors. The
There is lots happening, so let me give you a
APPA Trade Show is going to be excellent, but is
quick run down on what your Board members
a big beast to organise.
are currently working on…
doing really great things and has increased
David Simmonds is working on mentoring
The Nikon Education Partner Incentive is
and has secured a member discount for the
the student numbers in the SA/NT Epson
Ballarat Biennale. He is also investigating better
Professional Photography Awards, for a start.
•
Lynn G ail APP
NEWS
Sara has had her hands full, setting up an
I’ve been working on how to better
improved chart of accounts that will deliver
communicate with our members as well as how
excellent detailed data so we can better
to build better relationships with educators and
understand and see the financial situation of
students.
the Institute.
we have all the right contacts at all the colleges
In the last 12 months the biggest changes
We are doing an audit currently to ensure
have been in the way money is allocated in the
and universities so we can communicate better
Institute.
with them.
First it was about returning money to states
A regular Q&A Zoom (online meeting) is also
to be able to bring events to members and now
being developed for students and those new to
its all about making the accounts easier, simpler
the industry.
and more detailed for the future.
and I will tell you more about that next issue.
Sara has a financial report in this month's
Specialist accreditation is being researched
AIPP Journal if you want more info about that.
Sara is also heading the group working
THE PRESIDENCY
on online delivery of events for our regional
Just on a personal note, I would like to thank
members.
everyone who reached out and welcomed me into the role of President.
GREAT NEW STAFF
received and it is a great honour.
Louise has been busy inducting new staff
I was overwhelmed by the support I
and being involved in the IT project. She also
stepped in to help as COJ (chair of jurors) at the
better govern the Institute and this has helped
recent SA/NT Epson Professional Photography
us develop an excellent ability to create robust
Awards.
discussion around topics and to listen better to
each other while also being heard.
Louise has been an incredible asset to guide
The Board recently had training to help us
and develop our admin casual pool. We have
It also helped us to find better ways to listen
a great group of staff who are now starting to
to what our members are saying and this in turn
take the day to day pressures off of the Board
will mould the direction of the Institute.
and run the operational side of the Institute.
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This is still a work in progress, but the team is
JOHN SWAINSTON
working together really well and we are getting
We have one less pair of hands on the Board
excellent feedback on their performance.
now that John Swainston has stepped down.
NEWS
He is remaining on the Constitution
Everyone and anyone who gives us a
Committee to see that project through and is
helping hand.
planning his next trip OS, I believe to finish his
book.
at an event and go up to start a conversation,
I want to send out a big thank you to John.
to those who spend hours of time making
John led us through a difficult time as
sure there are great events and experiences for
From those of you who spot someone alone
an Institute and we appreciate his time and
members – you are the heart and soul of the
dedication to getting the foundations of the
Institute.
Institute strong and ready to build on.
We also apricate his faith in our team to keep
NOMINATE FOR COUNCIL
moving in the right direction.
It is you that keeps us on the Board energized
and wanting to do more.
John, you have been a valuable member of
the team and we will miss your advice, but we
Our Councils are an extension of the Board
know you're only a phone call away.
and we plan to be more inclusive with them moving forward, with regular Zoom meetings
TIP OF THE ICEBERG
to keep them up-to-date.
We have come a long way in a year, but we still
have a very long way to go.
things as well, so we thank all of you for your
time and dedication to keeping the Institute not
And we now have a much better idea of
Our Committees are all working on different
how to get there.
just alive, but forward-thinking and thriving.
Would you like to be part of what happens?
It's going to be a bit organic as we find out
what works and what needs to be improved.
nominations will soon be open for our Councils,
What I have mentioned above is only the tip
If I have inspired you to put your hand up,
of the iceberg of what is on the Board's agenda.
so please give it some thought.
They are some of the short term projects, but
we have a longer term focus and we will keep
but just know that we appreciate all that you
you informed as we go.
do.
We can never thank our volunteers enough,
We will be seeking input and feedback from
members as we work our way forward. The Institute takes many people to keep
Melissa Neumann APP.L M.Photog.
it moving, so in closing I want to give a huge
National President
thank you and shout out to all our volunteers.
melissa.neumann@aipp.com.au
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NEWS
AIPP National Board - Meeting Summary The following summarises the outcomes of the April 2019 AIPP National Board meetings, as compiled by Steve Wise. IT SYSTEM
who have in the past been strong supporters of
Further discussions regarding future strategies
the Biennale.
in terms of Membership and how these
strategies would be integrated into the AIPP IT
opportunities that exist, based on past AIPP
System.
support and David's involvement with the
Biennale for over a decade, for a strong
Louise Bagger and Sara McKenna (with the
There was discussion about the
help of Robert Coppa) have been doing a lot
relationship between the Biennale and the
of work in the background to tighten up our
AIPP, with outreach to new members and the
future IT processes, with Melissa Neuman and
possibility of AIPP speakers during the event in
Dan O’Day delving into the current needs of
the future.
our Membership – all with input and further
discussion from the rest of the Board. Some
relationship moving forward is planned.
The offer was taken up and a strong working
exciting times ahead for the AIPP.
BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BIENNALE
REGIONAL MEMBER BOARD REPRESENTATION AND PORTFOLIO
TAGS
David Simmonds explained that there was an
David has offered to be a conduit between the
AIPP Management
offer for AIPP Members to become ‘Friends of
Board and the regional Members, requesting
Biennale’ for 50% off the normal price ($45).
to move forward with a Regional Membership
portfolio.
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The more Members who took up this offer,
the better the AIPP exposure within this event.
The Board agreed with this and welcomes
An email to Members about this is planned to
David’s input into the membership experience
go out – especially for the Victorian Members
for our many regional members.
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NEWS
ADMIN STAFF UPDATE
AIPP TEXT MEESSAGES
Another addition to the AIPP's administration
Sara informed the Board that reminder
sees a team of six helping keep things up to
texts were being trialed at state level and
date for Members – keeping the wheels turning.
these seemed to be working well. This is an
Louise noted that everything was working
inexpensive exercise and shall be a good
well at this stage and that the Admin Team
communication asset moving forward.
now have phones and have started taking and
BYLAWS AND COUNCIL ELECTIONS
receiving calls via the 1300 number.
Melissa followed up on the new bylaws that
SPONSORSHIP
need to be signed off by the Board and put out
Bruce Pottinger informed the Board that nearly
to the general membership for feedback, before
all new sponsorship agreements are in place,
voting on them at a general meeting. She also
running along the calendar year rather than
reminded the Board that Council Elections
the financial year. This ensures State awards
would be happening soon. Sara suggested a
and APPA are included in the same year and
role description pack needed to be compiled
simplifies the process.
for those joining State Councils and that she
had started work on this document.
The floorplan for APPA with the judging
areas and trade booths is close to finalisation and will be signed off soon.
LAST MEETING AS PRESIDENT FOR JOHN SWAINSTON
MARKETING
As it was John’s last official Board meeting,
Bruce reinforced the importance of a strong
John was collectively thanked for his service.
marketing plan for the AIPP. The AIPP will have a
Steve Wise thanked John for leading the
trade booth at the Aperture event in June and
AIPP during two tumultuous years and Dan
will need new marketing material to hand out.
concurred, saying he had many friends who
had commented on John’s ability to lead during
Dan stated that marketing is 70% of what
the AIPP should be doing and John concurred
difficult times.
that marketing was critical. Louise suggested
Dan had a great deal of experience in marketing
their vision for the future. John reiterated that
and that he should head up a Marketing
he was available to the Board whenever they
Portfolio. Dan said he would love to take this
needed information from him.
opportunity on board .
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John congratulated his fellow directors for
•
C r a i g Tu r n e r - B u l l o c k
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NEWS
AIPP Treasurer's Report - May 2019 Sara McKenna delivers the AIPP National Treasurer's report for the January to March 2019 quarter. Since taking on the role of Treasurer in
accolades revealed earlier this year. (We are also
December, I’ve had the pleasure of working
attempting to recover some of this.)
through the way the AIPP keeps records of our
The running expenses of the AIPP are
finances, overhauled our bookkeeping system,
being carefully refined and we are looking at
and have taken inventory of our assets.
areas we can be more lean with spending to
be able to give more back to our members.
Registers of assets, including serial numbers
and value, have been taken and we are able
You’ll note, from the opposite pie graph, our
to better see where our finances stand as an
IT Infrastructure expenses are high for this
Institute.
financial year. We have very excitedly invested in a new Client Relationship Management system,
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EXPENDITURE
including a website rebuild, intending to be
The total cash balance has improved this
implemented within the months post-APPA.
quarter, but we have a lot of costs coming up.
clever move for our “virtual office” experience,
Our biggest spending months are ahead
The investment in the new system is a very
with the Awards Season and the prospect
automating more yet ensuring our members
of re-awarding over $28,000 in cash prizes
are cared for more exceptionally than in
and trophies in place of the disqualified
previous years.
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NEWS
MEMBERSHIP INCOME
family and an excellent professional support
On the opposite page is another graph showing
network.
a month-by-month breakdown of membership
income, comparing 2017, 2018, and 2019 to
members involved in what the Treasury of our
date.
Institute looks like. These are the key areas I’m
I highly believe in transparency and keeping
currently working on and my AIPP Treasury
COUNCIL TREASURY
priorities:
Over the financial year, as the new Board
• Sponsorship - creating meaningful, live reports
implements many changes and improvements, the most exciting for Councils has been the
• Awards - State Budgeting - at 100% complete;
allocation of a portion of membership funds to
• Awards - APPA Budgeting - at 98% complete;
aid in events directly for AIPP members.
• Council Asset Register - at 95% complete;
• National Asset Register - 95% complete;
These funds are based on a percentage
of membership income and the number of
• New Chart of Accounts - at 100% complete;
members per State/Territory. Each Council has
• Move the accounts to MYOB online - at 50%
just received their third of four annual fund boosts and are planning wonderful events benefiting members, often supplementing ticket prices or funding events completely.
The total amount allocated to the Councils
complete; • Reporting - to make reporting ideal, accurate and visually easy for the Board to read; • Accessible information and transparency – to move every spreadsheet and budget online to
for this financial year is $70,000.
a Google Drive doc for multiple access points
– at 80% complete;
Your local AIPP Councils each have council
Treasurers working hard to bring the greatest benefit to members with the finances available to them.
Since 1 July 2019 your Councils have
collectively organised and hosted 86 events plus many breakfasts and coffee catch ups.
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for the Board - at 75%;
More events are being broadcast online
• Budget Forecasting - Final 18 month projection - at 100% complete; • Projects - IT project budget - at 100% complete; • Projects - IT surprise extras budget - at 60% complete; • Paper Trail and Succession Planning –
live for our regional members than ever before
showing actual financial value, reporting and
and a feeling of inclusiveness, community and
forecasting for the AIPP that anyone can step
learning is growing. Again we are feeling like
in to and continue on - 80% complete.
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NEWS
AIPP's Revamped Admin Team Louise Bagger has been extremely busy over the past year, organising the new streamlined national office and while there is still plenty to be done, she is now ably supported by a great admin support team! The AIPP Administration Support Team has
administration, Marie-Elizabeth works
been through a few changes lately and the
predominately with overall membership
Board thought it was high time we formally
support, including renewals and general
introduced you to this fab crew of people.
communication coming from both members
and members of the public. You would be
Each team member has been delegated a
specific area of operation which ensures that
amazed to know the sheer volume of incoming
our members will receive the highest level of
emails and phone calls the AIPP receives on a
support by maintaining consistency.
daily basis – and the variety of subject matter is
mindblowing!
Notwithstanding this, each team member
will, over time, be trained across all facets of the
More recently, Marie-Elizabeth has been
Institute's admin support.
focusing on catching up with member certificates – this has been a massive task.
MARIE-ELIZABETH
Marie-Elizabeth Pyke is based in Melbourne and
to the AIPP storage unit each time orders are
joined the admin team in October 2018. Marie-
received for print cases.
Being in Melbourne, she also makes the trip
Elizabeth is an AIPP Student Member, studying
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for her Advanced Diploma in Photography at
CHRISTINE
Photography Studies College and she loves pet
Christine Hadden is another Melbourne based
photography.
admin team member and also an Accredited
member of the AIPP who specialises in
With experience in the area of executive
newborn and wedding photography. Christine
joined us at the same time as Marie-Elizabeth
has been a welcome addition to what can
and her main focus has been working through
sound like an onerous task, but it’s actually quite
assessments and accreditation.
rewarding.
Vikki’s friendly and down to earth manner
For many, this is their first voice contact with
SHERYN
someone from the AIPP admin team and Vikki is
Sheryn Ellis (Qld), Vikki Siliato (Qld), Matt Palmer
always ready to help answer your questions and
(Tas) and Sue McKay (SA) are our most recent
help you through the renewal process.
team additions in the last couple of months and
have each tackled their roles with enthusiasm
achievement level, Vikki shoots weddings and
and great encouragement.
a mix of commercial photography, backed up
with many years of graphic design experience.
Sheryn is also your voice on the end of the
An Accredited member with her Associate
line for assessments and accreditation.
An Accredited member herself, Sheryn has
MATT
taken on this task with Christine and I think
Matt brings a multitude of talents to the admin
it’s safe to say that she is thoroughly enjoying
team. He is a voice of calm and reason and takes
getting in touch with members who pass their
great care to help members through some
assessments.
more trying matters.
It’s not always smooth sailing though. There
Helping out with general member
are those who do not pass and Sheryn has
communication and membership renewals,
already spent many hours chatting to members
Matt also has a background in graphic and web
about their options and getting the best
design which will be drawn upon from time to
outcome for all concerned.
time.
Sheryn has achieved her Associate awards
Matt is an Accredited member and has
level and shoots families and portraits in her
achieved his Master of Photography. As a
photography business.
photographer, he creates beautiful fine art landscape work.
VIKKI Vikki loooves to chat, so what better task to
SUE
tackle than getting on the phone and chatting
Sue is an Accredited member with a focus in her
to members about their upcoming membership
own business on sport and event photography.
renewal. I mean, how could you say no!
She comes to us with many years of high level
21
NEWS
executive administrative support, including
their Epson State Awards – please make her feel
corporate governance work and management.
welcome.
Sue has been tasked with working
alongside Bruce Pottinger who holds the
CARLA
Board sponsorship portfolio. She will provide
Last but by no means least is Carla Mahony
assistance with sponsorship liaison and
who works as admin support for the Awards
communication.
Committee.
Sue will also work on our membership
renewals communication.
already had cause to either email or call Carla
for help with your awards queries and of course
I would now like to introduce you to
Melbourne based Jenny Barnett.
entries!
Carla has volunteered as a member of the
JEN
APPA Event Team for the past four years and
Jenny, or Jen as she prefers, is brand new to the
hence brings to the table a solid prior working
world of photography and indeed the AIPP. She
knowledge of all things awards.
impressed the interview panel with her clear,
concise and calm communication manner.
support, she was transferred across to the
Awards Committee to provide much needed
With over 14 years of administrative and
Initially employed with us as member admin
customer related experience, we were in no
support, taking over from Kim Harding.
doubt that Jenny would be a great fit for the
virtual admin team.
meetings as the minute secretary.
Jen has jumped in head first and is super
Carla also attends our National Board On behalf of the National Board (and I know
excited about getting to know the AIPP and our
you will all join us), we welcome you all to the
members. Many of you will get to ‘meet’ Jenny
AIPP Virtual Admin Support Team.
for general membership communication and
membership renewals.
say hi and welcome them in person.
If you see them around at an event, please
Being another pair of feet on the ground
in Melbourne, she will also help with sending
Louise Bagger APP AAIPP
out print cases and member certificates. Our
National Vice President
Victorian members may even get to meet Jen at
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I am in no doubt that many of you have
•
Hilary Hann APP M.Photog. I
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AWARDS
Mark Zed, Epson SA PPY Winner Now retired from the APPA Awards Team, Mark Zed has been putting his efforts into his own entries - as the South Australian results show!
TAGS AIPP E ps o n S ta te Pr in t Awa rd s
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As past Chairman of Jurors and a stalwart
that I became a member. Since then I have
member of the Awards infrastructure for many
volunteered continually on state councils,
years, Mark Zed APP M.Photog. has spent his
national teams and committees for just over 14
new-found free time working hard on his own
years, before stepping away from my volunteer
photography, picking up the AIPP Epson SA
roles a couple of months ago.
Professional Photographer of the Year. He also
won the Commercial category.
as an industry body, but for me it’s the sense
"I am a commercial photographer who
of community and the friendships I have
shoots a variety of work. Architecture and
found that keep me here - being part of
interior fit-out/styling shoots are my favourites,
an organisation that advocates on tax and
but I also love a great industrial challenge.
copyright policy is just the icing on the cake."
"However, like most commercial
"I continue to believe the AIPP is valuable
Mark said he felt a deep sense of pride
photographers proficient in studio lighting,
and fair amount of disbelief when he was
I often find myself shooting anything from
announced as the winner!
products to politicians.
off for over 8 years, I know how much amazing
"Lately I’ve been dedicating time to shoot
"As a former state and national COJ on and
for myself, as I needed to regain the love of
work makes it into the PPY judging room, but
photography and find fun in it again. It has
then fails to take out the accolade. It is not a
been a joy to get back to the basics, taking a
decision that I have ever seen the judges take
formalist approach to produce simple, honest
lightly and I am both honoured and grateful
architectural and landscape images, without
that they saw something in my work that stood
any of the heavy Photoshop work much of my
out from the other category winners.
previous awards work has relied on.
"I joined the AIPP because I had to, as my
to step back and take more time out for me. It’s
employer and mentor had delegated to me
a lovely start to my time as a member of the
the role of SA Treasurer and it was only proper
AIPP without holding any volunteer roles."
"This win tells me it has been the right move
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AWARDS
Liam Carroll, Epson NT PPY Winner A portfolio of four remarkable portraits by Northern Territory photographer William (Liam) Carroll has earned him the title of AIPP Epson NT Professional Photographer of the Year 2019!
TAGS AIPP E ps o n S ta te Pr in t Awa rd s
26
Liam (as he signs his name) is the one and same
I am continuously seeking to improve
William Carroll from William Carroll Photography
my photography skills and photography
in Darwin, N.T. And Liam is no stranger to the
knowledge. For instance, the prints I produce
winners' circle, having been awarded 2018
today are far superior to the prints I produced
AIPP NT Illustrative Photographer of the Year,
three years ago."
the 2017 AIPP NT Portrait and Illustrative
Photographers of the Year, the 2016 AIPP NT
Professional Photography Awards because I
Documentary Photographer of the Year and the
am on a journey of improvement and the AIPP
2015 AIPP NT Illustrative Photographer of the
awards system is one of the best processes to
Year.
do that.
But this is his best year yet because he's won
Continued Liam, "I enter the Epson State
"When I won this year's awards, I
both the portrait and the illustrative categories,
reflected on my fellow colleagues who so
alog with the big one: the AIPP NT Epson
desperately wanted to win a category. I have
Professional Photographer of the Year 2019.
always considered it is about the journey of
Liam's AIPP journey began when he joined
improvement and not the destination. When I
as a member in 2014. His says his photography
don’t win, I try to take feedback on objectively
business centres on corporate work, events
and not get attached or emotional. It’s a process
and portraiture, but a quick look at his website
for development and I have always tried to have
shows he is multi-talented, working in both
this mindset.
filmmaking and painting as well!
achievement in fulfilling my journey of
"I joined the AIPP because I have a great
"On a personal level I have a sense of
desire to follow my passion of photography and
improvement
the AIPP is not only the leading institution in
Australia, but possibly the world.
simply mean communicating it with my fellow
colleagues and clients." Congratulations, Liam!
"And I am still a member because
"Darwin is a small market, so the win will
27
EDUCATION
Why We Need To Charge A Full Time Rate Chris Shain APP AAIPP Hon. LM reflects on our changing profession and why now more than ever it's important for both full and part time professional photographers to charge a full time rate. Reading social media, the font of all
need to be because his clients value what he
contemporary knowledge, you’ll find
does. But that’s his worry: he is concerned that
photographers boasting about how little they
other photographers, members of the AIPP, are
have charged, about how cheaply they can
not valuing what they do for people.
do a job, how inexpensive they are. Cheap.
Inexpensive. Little. This doesn’t paint our
minutes to take, doesn’t mean it’s worth 5/60ths
profession in a very promising light.
of $200 an hour. And just because you have a
“Just because a photo only takes five
salary earning $200,000 in another job, doesn’t
TAGS Busine s s
HOW DO WE BUY?
mean your work as a photographer is less
Let’s swing the light around and imagine
valuable.
we were looking for a doctor, a lawyer or an
architect. Would we be interested in hiring the
just like a full time photographer, the answer is
cheapest doctor, or would we prefer someone
because what we do is worth it and our pictures
who was skilled? And if we hired the least
are valuable."
“When people ask why they should charge
expensive architect, what are our expectations
28
for the resulting house?
WHAT WE DO IS VALUABLE!
“It’s economics. Professional photographers
The AIPP’s Chris Shain is also concerned
about the trend. He’s not so worried about
need to understand that what we produce for
photographers undercutting him – he doesn’t
people and businesses is valuable. And when
29
EDUCATION
they work as a photographer, they should
and then spend literally millions of dollars on
respect themselves and the profession they
advertising! How does it make any sense to
choose to work in.
quibble over $50 or $5000 for a photo shoot,
“Respect your skills and value them.
when they are spending $500,000 or even
“You don’t have to charge a lot if you don’t
$5,000,000 on the media?
want to, but you should be charging what it is
worth to that particular client. It’s only natural
understood how much their clients were
that if you’re shooting for another business,
prepared to spend on media, on the website,
they will want to pay as little as possible. If they
on Facebook or printing, then maybe they’d put
can get your work for $50, then maybe they’re
a higher value on what they produce. A poor
making a whole lot of money at your expense.
photograph can make an advertising campaign
ineffective; a good photograph can multiply
“If you want to do a job really cheaply or as a
It doesn’t. And if photographers better
favour, then maybe you don’t charge anything
its value exponentially. We create the valuable
at all. Lawyer Colin Golvin used to explain that
currency of this era – digital content – and so
there are benefits other than money. If you’re
we need to value what we do!
not going to charge money, put restrictions on how the photos can be used or use the fact you
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE CHEAP!
did the job to market your business.
By example, Chris mentioned a cheap stock photograph that has been used in
30
DON'T BE EXPLOITED
Australia by both political parties. In an ABC
“There are many examples of big corporations
report by Alex Tighe, Michael Workman and
paying next to nothing for a photograph and
Stephen Hutcheon, the authors follow how a
then making lots of money out of it. Why
photograph of a lady in a purple dressing gown,
do you personally need to support a large
looking at a bill she needs to pay, has been used
corporation?”
extensively in advertising campaigns for several
years. Talk about unimaginative! Talk about
One aspect of business that many
photographers don’t fully appreciate is how
cheap –the photo cost just $40 to use!
much money is spent on the advertising
(See https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-
and marketing campaigns which use our
03-03/$40-stock-photo-becomes-the-face-of-
photography. The business or organisation
liberals-campaign/10849480)
might negotiate hard with the photographer,
paying as little as $50 for a photo or a job,
being produced that people no longer respect
Continued Chris, “There is so much content
•
Lauren Starr APP AAIPP
31
EDUCATION
it, but I’d contend that as photographers,
worth, but you don’t need the cash, why not
we bring a lot to the table, whether it’s for
take the higher price and give it to charity?
advertising or family portraiture.”
Don’t devalue the profession just because you don’t understand it.
SUPPLY & DEMAND
However, we live in a capitalist society where
capitalist society.
supply and demand determine prices. How do
we make money in a market like this?
photographers, if you appreciate what they
do and you don’t want to ruin their business,
“Don’t put your photos into royalty free
“We’re not telling you to charge more – it’s a "But if you respect other professional
stock! Set up a rights managed account or even
then charge market rates. Charge what the
do it yourself. And you only have to sell one
photography is worth.
photo for $100 to be better off than selling 100
shots on a website like iStock.
give their work away for next to nothing, the
other party is hoping to make a lot of money
“We all like people to tell us our work
“Are photographers aware that, when they
is great. Photographers love recognition,
out of it? Would that understanding change
but unfortunately for many professional
the way they viewed the arrangement? I think
photographers, recognition is very often more
generally it would!
important than cash.”
On social media, we read stories of people
UNDERSTAND THE MARKET
who have a secure salary of $200k selling
“What’s the difference between $40 and $400
photos for as little as $50. Why would they do
for the Labor or Liberal Parties when buying a
that?
photograph to use in an advertising campaign when they spend millions of dollars on space
32
DONATE TO CHARITY
and media?
Speculated Chris, “Lots of reasons. They don’t
need the money. Because the client suggested
for nothing. Take a moral stand and support
$50? Because they are ignorant?
our profession. And you’ll rarely be credited for
“Many people selling photographs don’t
istock style photographs, so you’re not going to
understand the economics of the professional
be famous anyway!
photography world. Our photography is worth
a lot more than $50 – or whatever the cheap
It’s too late for that, but we can certainly make a
rate is. If you learn what your photography is
stand for the future.”
“So, don’t give other businesses your photos
“We can’t change the industry as it is today.
•
Brian Randall APP M.Photog. I
33
NEWS
Australian Success @ WPPI 2019 At the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) awards presentation this year in Las Vegas, Australian photographers and AIPP members were regularly seen receiving the top awards on stage! Australia and the USA have always had a close
used to influence the judging panel. Obviously
relationship between our AIPP Australian
this is an input that must be used judiciously,
Professional Photography Awards and WPPI's
but on the plus side, it can bring another
16x20 Annual Print Awards, beginning with
dimension to the judging process, especially if
WPPI's Bill Hurter and the AIPP's David Williams.
there are some less experienced judges.
More recently our contact has been
This year, Australians featured strongly
through members like Jerry Ghionis and our
amongst the award winners.
current Awards Chairman, Tony Hewitt. The
organisations have shared not only ideas and
has eight Grand Awards, which are like large
rules, but also competitors.
category wins. It also has around 37 smaller
categories, including filmmaking and albums.
Unlike APPA, there is no limit to the number
WPPI is a little different to APPA in that it
of prints you can enter to WPPI, which can be
helpful on the one hand if you're wanting to
Australia had no fewer than five of the eight
explore different avenues. However, only your
winners:
top four scoring prints will earn points towards
• Mauro Cantelmi APP M. Photog. - Wedding;
Honours of Excellence and the WPPI system is
• Rocco Ancora - Portraiture;
similar to Australia with Associates, Masters and
• Selena Rollason APP M. Photog. -
Grand Masters.
This year, Jerry Ghionis earned his second
Grand Master of Photography with WPPI. Jerry is also a Grand Master of Photography with the
Up the pointy end with the Grand Awards,
Photojournalism; • Forough Yavari APP M.Photog. - Creative; • Jerry Ghionis APP.L G.M.Photog. - In Camera Artistry. Congratulations!
AIPP.
34
Judging at WPPI is also similar with one
Opposite Page: The winning photos are from top
difference: the panel chairman while not able
left, clockwise, Mauro Cantelmi, Rocco Ancora, Sele-
to cast a vote, can make comments that can be
na Rollason, Forough Yavari and Jerry Ghionis.
35
FEATURE
Darren Jew: Nature Photographer What makes a great nature photograph and to what extremes do nature photographers go in their quest for the ultimate image? The AIPP Journal catches up with Darren Jew APP.L M.Photog. IV. Darren Jew has made a bit of a name for himself
PEOPLE AREN'T FOOD
and the denizens of the deep. His hauntingly
The AIPP Journal was lucky enough to find
beautiful photographs of whales (among
Darren at home in Brisbane because he soon
many other subjects) have helped earn him
disappears to the Kingdom of Tonga for the
the title AIPP Australian Professional Nature
humpback photography season (you can
Photographer of the Year (or equivalent title) six
find details of his whale photography tours at
times.
darrenjew.com).
His most recent success at APPA was
“Orcas are very smart and they know that
twofold, winning both the 2018 Nature
people aren’t food”, Darren explained.
category and the overall highest scoring print
award (the Ilford Trophy). Or perhaps it was
naïve statement, we thought, but Darren
threefold as the subject of his photographs
knows his stuff. “Orcas know that the food they
didn’t eat him: orcas.
generally eat is much easier to catch and more
It was a disarmingly frank and potentially
reliable, so when they’re teaching baby orcas
36
Below: Darren Jew's Highest Scoring Print, 2018 AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards, winning the Ilford Trophy. Opposite Page: The raw file before Darren's work in Lightroom. Read text for details.
37
When 38 in Norway, Darren Jew gets ashore from time to time – especially when the time includes the Northern Lights!
FEATURE 39
Photography by Darren Jew. 40
FEATURE
how to eat, they teach them to eat fish or seals,
And underwater, there’s even less light, so
not people.”
photographs like this have really only been made possible by advances in technology and
NO ATTACKS
high ISO settings!
Darren explained there are two types of orcas. The ‘resident’ orcas tend to be fish eaters, while
ON BOARD DISCOVERY
the ‘transient’ orcas are more opportunistic and
Darren lives on board a ship which travels to
will eat a larger variety of food, depending on
where the orcas are – hopefully. Once in the
what’s around.
area, they use small zodiacs to look for a pod of
orcas that is conducive to swimming with.
“But”, emphasized Darren, “there has never
been a reported attack on a person in the wild.
Ever!
possible to swim with orcas.
"The only people killed by orcas were in
“There are two behaviours that make it "One of them is when they are feeding, such
marine parks by animals that had been captive
as carouselling (that's the behavioural term) a
for decades and were probably sick of being
bait ball of herring.
told what to do!”
one place and busy at work herding their dinner
And what about the people who were eaten
"Essentially, this means the orcas are in the
in the wild and not reported, we asked? Is that
– so we can jump in and become a part of the
what happened to Harold Holt, Darren jested?
activity.
Darren’s winning 2018 photograph was
“The second is when the orca are travelling,
taken off the coast of Norway, around 300
but with no real purpose. If they are not bee-
kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
lining, you can get the boat a little ahead of
them, jump in the water and wait for them to
“I went to Norway because I heard you
could swim with Orcas. I’d seen them many
swim past.
years before in Canada, Antarctica and Western
Australia, but only from a ship and never from
they go by. It’s a fleeting photo opportunity and
underwater.
it’s how this photograph was taken.”
“My first trip to Norway was in November
"Sometimes they stop and look at you as
Darren used a Canon EOS 1-Dx Mark II with a
2016. It’s nearly winter and it’s getting quite dark
16-35mm f4 lens. Exposure was 1/200 second at
– at the end of November, there’s only around
f4 and ISO 8000.
five hours of daylight and the sun just peaks
through the mountains above the horizon.”
shoot around f8 for image quality.
“Generally for my underwater work, I like to
41
FEATURE
"This has nothing to do with the lens, rather
"While this particular photo was taken in
the way the dome port affects image quality,
a drysuit", Darren updated, "I personally have
especially in the corners. But with so little light,
changed from drysuits to wetsuits now, because
f8 as an option went out the window and I had
they offer a bit more freedom of movement."
to shoot wide open at f4!
"With a square crop, I lose the corners where
CAMERA SETTINGS
the image degradation appears from the port,
“I shoot with a manual shutter speed and
and if I shoot the composition with a bit of
manual aperture, but set the ISO to automatic
space, then the corners only have water in them
and often the exposure compensation to -1 EV.
anyway, so whether blurry or sharp, you can’t
really tell."
some don’t even have auto ISO, but these
"Not all cameras allow this combination,
settings work for me.
42
ZODIAC ACCESS
1/200 second and the maximum aperture. All
“This is an extreme environment where you
"I figure I need to freeze the action, hence
need a high shutter speed to freeze the action –
that’s left is to crank up the ISO which can be
and the only way you can achieve this is with a
done automatically by the camera, depending
wide aperture and a high ISO setting.
on the light – and I realise I need to sacrifice a
little noise to get the image.
"I’d prefer to be using even faster shutter
speeds if I could, but there really is very little
light down below.”
Of course, I’m always keeping an eye on my
exposure, but in the end, there’s nothing else
So, Darren swims out from the zodiac with
“I find that using auto ISO is quite liberating.
his snorkel to where he thinks the whales will
I can do as I don’t have a wider aperture and
come – and waits! He was in a dry suit with a
unless I want to intentionally blur the photo, I
couple of thermal layers underneath, which he
need a fast shutter speed.”
says makes moving rather difficult because the
suit is also full of air. Think Michelin Man!
using autofocus, even with such little light.
Once in the water, he adjusts the amount
Darren uses back button focusing, so he’s “I’ve also used a 24mm f1.4 lens and the
of air in the suit and uses a weight belt to give
autofocus is much quicker with a brighter lens
him as much maneuverability as possible,
– autofocus needs a minimal amount of light to
but he says the most challenging aspect for
work properly.
photography is the 7 mm neoprene gloves. It’s
very difficult to change camera settings!
this situation is a bit limiting. Often you can’t
"However, using a fixed focal length lens in
Photographs and behind the scenes views by Darren Jew.
43
Photograph by Darren Jew.
44
FEATURE
swim fast enough to change your angle of view,
“Terrestrial photographers probably don’t
so a zoom is much better."
understand how far you need to push dehaze. A normal dehaze for me is +20, but for a
WHITE BALANCE
landscape shot, this would normally look over-
"And sometimes the animals come in really
processed.”
close and so you want something wider – those are certainly shots you don’t want to miss.”
WATERMARKS
Most of Darrens post-production is done in
Most of Darren’s image processing is done in
Lightroom these days.
Lightroom and he says the main reason he uses
Photoshop these days is to add his watermark.
“White balance is always a bit tricky. If
anything, the water is very green to the eye, but
it can be interpreted in many different ways,
photograph, not in the same corner every time.
anything from tropical blues to black and white.
For me, the watermark can become a part of
the photograph’s design.”
"I chose an almost monochromatic
“I like to put the watermark where it suits the
approach, based on what I experienced which
was cold and dark. I needed that to come across
that he has much choice if he is to capture
in the picture.”
sharp images.
In Lightroom, Darren says the dehaze slider
And Darren isn’t afraid of a little noise, not
“While you might think a noise-free outcome
is the underwater photographer’s friend.
is best, I don’t shy away from presenting photos
with a bit of noise because, for me at least, it
“Before Lightroom introduced its dehaze
filter, I used to do a whole bunch of steps to
creates a sense of reality and adds some texture.
create images that look like they were ‘dehazed’,
I’m not too concerned.”
but now I just move the slider to the right.
year, giving his orca photo the highest score of
"The addition of this tool to Lightroom made
me completely change the way I process my
Nor, obviously, were the judges at APPA last
the event!
files, because now everyone can do the same. What I used to spend hours doing is now done
ILFORD GOLD FIBRE GLOSS
in seconds. That’s what technology does, but
A Canon Master, Darren sends his 16-bit TIFF
technology also drives us to do new things.
files through a MegaRip to his Canon printer.
"While I was quite proud of the way I
His winning prints last year were produced
processed my images back then, now that
on Canon’s latest Pixma Pro 1000.
everyone can do it, I’m doing something else.
“We felt this new printer was at a whole
45
FEATURE
Opposite: Photographs by Darren Jew.
new level of quality, so we then went out and
three months of the year, beginning at the end
upgraded our large format printer to the new
of July, and then we head up to Norway for
imagePROGRAF PRO 6000.
November. Not only is this a great time for orca,
you can also see the northern lights.
“My preferred paper is Ilford Gold Fibre Gloss
because it has a really good density range and
the glossy surface isn’t too reflective.
diving instructor and so we take two boats, with
photographers swapping between the two to
"Also, the paper is nice and heavy, not that
“Jasmine has extensive experience as a
this matters when it’s framed, but I like the
get a rounded experience swimming with us
tactile feeling of a heavy paper and it doesn’t
and the whales.
use optical brightners either – so it’s stable.”
“A typical trip to Norway is one week and
costs around $9000 ex-Tronso, while in Tonga
YOUR OWN WHALE PHOTOS?
we have 8-night and 11-night programs from
So, if this photo has whetted your appetite for
$5500 to $7500, ex-Tonga.”
underwater photography and you’d like to visit
Norway or the Kingdom of Tonga, why not go
include all boat time, accommodation and food,
with an AIPP legend like Darren?
with lots of time for both shooting and post-
production.
Darren and his business partner Jasmine
Once at your destination, the photo tours
Carey (whose whale work was recently featured in Loud and Luminous) run their tour business
For more information, check out Instagram at @
together, Whales Underwater.
whalesunderwater, @darrenjew and @pxlexplorer,
or visit www.whalesunderwater.com.
“The main focus is taking people to Tonga
to shoot humpback whales. We do this for
46
47
NEWS
NAB Video Report from Las Vegas! The National Association of Broadcasters conference takes place in April every year in Las Vegas. It is one of the biggest conferences for the broadcast industry in the world. Lee Herbet reports on the 2019 event. There are four main things that you’ll probably
took up a good portion of the South Hall as you
find yourself doing at NAB.
came into it. There was a big area to play with
all their toys and an entire classroom set up
1 - Walking the show floor and getting
a hands-on look at some of the coolest and
where they were delivering hourly workshops.
sometimes strangest new gear.
Here people would have their own computers
to follow along with the trainers or you could
2 - Attending amazing training sessions and
presentations by some of the leading people in
just play around with the demo content on the
our industry from around the world.
machines.
3 - Network, network, network.
4 - Going to lots of parties, having very little
https://www.diyphotography.net/blackmagic-
Here's a good link for more information:
sleep and making lifelong friends.
davinci-resolve-16-now-comes-with-content-
There were not a lot of new cameras, but
aware-fill-style-features-for-video/)
there were lots of smaller announcements and lots and lots of clever little gadgets!
ADOBE PREMIERE
Very close to Blackmagic’s stand was Adobe
Here are some of the highlights that I saw.
who also announced some cool new features
DAVINCI RESOLVE 16
for Premiere Pro. The two headlines are content
Blackmagic announced Davinci Resolve 16,
aware fill and a new window for organising
which is available as a free beta now from their
footage. I’m most excited about content aware
website. Probably their biggest focus are the
fill and I am looking forward to seeing how
editing functions of the application. They’ve
well it works in the real world and not just with
introduced a new section in the app called 'Cut'.
demo content.
This is all about making it easier to, well, cut
48
your footage within Davinci Resolve.
ON LOCATION WITH LUMEE
One of the things that I noticed last year and
Blackmagic had an enormous stand that
Above: DaVinci Resolve releases Version 16. Below: Part of the Content Aware panel for Adobe After Effects / Premiere Pro
49
Above: Spiff-y Gear's Lumee light - slap it around your wrist. Below: The LitraPro and its new soft box attachment.
50
NEWS
more so this year was that there was a lot of
but I am super impressed.
innovation in the lighting area. We are seeing
some really great quality lights and thankfully
deck of cards that produces a silly amount of
the prices are coming down, too. There are also
light.
some clever things being done too.
One product I can see myself using a lot,
have a clear little soft box for it. I have a shoot in
once it’s available, is the Lighting Product of
Jordan in May and I am planning to use three of
the Year Winner, Lumee, from a company called
these to light my interviews, instead of having
Spiffy Gear. It’s a cinema grade light built into a
to schlep three of my bigger lights.
wrist band, like the ones that we had as kids.
as my bigger lights, but if I can get away with
So, you can slap it on your wrist and it snaps/
The Litra Pro is a light about the size of a
The new thing about it is that they now
Of course, they don’t have the same power
bends around your wrist. Now you may be
using these on the road, it will make my life a lot
thinking, “How could I use that?”. I could see
easier.
myself having four or six of them, just hanging
off my belt or even on my wrist during a setup.
net/the-litra-torch-2-0-boasts-improved-
If I need to light any small thing like the inside
waterproofing-better-cri-and-longer-battery-
of a car, a product or inside a refrigerator, I can
life/
See this link: https://www.diyphotography.
just start it up and place it.
The Lumees are also magnetic on the back,
MEETING AND GREETING
so it is easy to put them just about anywhere.
Finally, whilst gear is great, I think the most
They come in two flavours of dual daylight/
valuable things that I get from going to NAB
tungsten and a RGB version.
every year are the relationships and friends I’ve
made over the years. Even though technology
Cost should be around US$50 and they
should be available around the end of May.
has made it easier than ever to meet people
without leaving your office, there really is no
Check out more information here: https://
www.newsshooter.com/2019/04/11/spiffy-gear-
substitute for talking to people face-to-face and
lumee-wearable-led-light/
building relationships that way.
LITRA PRO SOFT BOX
And that's the best part of NAB or any other
conference of this type.
The other lighting gear I saw, and actually bought whilst at the show, was the Litra Pro. It’s
Lee Herbet APVP
not that new, I think it’s been around for a while,
lee@capture.ink; www.capture.ink
51
EDUCATION
Superannuation Is Simply Essential! Are you paying enough superannuation for yourself? No matter your age, now is the best time to look after yourself for the future! AIPP National Treasurer Sara McKenna has some great suggestions! I had an interesting conversation with a
used to be employed by someone else.”
photographer recently. We were discussing their
plans to gradually build their business and the
elsewhere..?”
importance of compensating for the quiet times
“I’m really slack - I don’t contribute to it.”
in business by making sure they put money
“This is something I’ve ben looking at doing
away from their busy season.
this year, but haven’t yet.”
It is a standard budgeting consideration.
I asked, “What about the biggest quiet
that’s enough, isn’t it?”
“I might even have another fund
“I put $1,000 in my Super fund every year…
time… when you no longer work? What do
No.
you have in place for your future? What are you
No, that’s not nearly enough.
doing with your super?”
I have to admit I was pretty surprised at the
I was met with silence.
lack of attention self-employed people give to
After a while, the reply was, “I don’t really
their future and contributions to their super
have any super.”
fund.
I DON’T REALLY HAVE ANY SUPER.
IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE While it is not a requirement for the self-
“I guess I have a few thousand dollars in an old
employed to set aside part of their income
fund, but I haven’t put anything into it for a long
for superannuation contributions, we can
time.”
still take advantage of tax-deductible super
contributions and after-tax (non-concessional)
So I started asking around my friends in the
industry. The most common response was
super contributions.
along the lines of, “I do have a super fund with
bugger-all in it… like $12k, I think, from when I
like hiding money from yourself that you won't
Putting money away for retirement may feel
This is general information only. We do not know your specific financial or legal situation and we are not providing you with advice. As such, this article should not be relied upon as legal, financial or accounting advice. Please use this article as a conversation starter with your own adviser.
52
•
J o h n A n s e l l A P P. L M . P h o t o g . I 53
EDUCATION
be able to use for a very long time.
business expense (i.e. an expense that reduces
your taxable income).
In actual fact, your superannuation is
probably the easiest investment fund you’ll ever have that you can’t cash in and spend until you
SO SHOULD WE!
are at the time in your life you’ll really need it…
when you retire.
for yourself?
Quite often, small business owners can treat
So how much super are you putting away Other considerations for your super fund
their business as looking after itself without
are the fees charged and the way your money
making sure it is also fully looking after us.
is invested within the fund. A fund with no significant, regular contributions, high fees and
54
EMPLOYEES GET IT!
poor investments will certainly not be growing
to give you backup as you age.
We really should be looking at what the
standard is for employment and structuring our
businesses to ensure we treat ourselves as we
financial support you can, starting as young as
would be expected to treat an employee.
you can – though it’s never too late to start.
This not only includes paying ourselves a
You need to give your future-self the best
Making contributions to the right super fund
wage or providing money to live on, but also
will help you plan ahead and give you a nest
putting away earnings towards taxes, insuring
egg to support you at retirement.
ourselves adequately and contributing to our
superannuation fund regularly.
period of time will accumulate a larger nest egg.
If I were an average employee I could expect
The more wealth available over a longer You can use the superannuation calculator
9.5% of my gross earnings to be contributed
on the ASIC-run Money Smart website for an
by my employer directly to my super fund
idea of where contributing to your Super fund
(the Australian Government’s Superannuation
may benefit you.
Guarantee) - sometimes more, depending on
your employer.
tools-and-resources/calculators-and-apps/
superannuation-calculator
Being self-employed, I am my own
https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/
employee! Any earnings I intend to take for
myself as my pay, I make sure I also take 10% of
about your own personal circumstances from
that from the business and send to my super
your accountant or other financial advisors. This
fund.
article is written from my experience and with
my personal opinion.
Paying employee super is a legitimate
As always, you should always seek advice
•
Sheryn Ellis APP AAIPP
55
EDUCATION
What Makes An Award Image? Many years ago when APPA began, this would have been considered a good example of professional practice, but today, with so few photographers shooting in the studio, Silver Awards can be won with studio lighting, simple composition and some clever presentation. Life changes. Nothing remains the same.
presentation.
Three decades ago, most professional portrait
photographers were shooting most of their
something that is above and beyond what we
work in a studio. Some photographers even had
do daily for our clients. It's hard to win a Silver
their lights bolted into position, so there wasn't
Award (or higher) for a head shot, unless you
a great deal of variety or imagination involved in
take the head shot to another level. Unless you
a standard studio portrait.
do something creative.
So, what happened? Bored studio
To win an award, we generally need to do
So Simone's attention to costume, make-
photographers started shooting 'environmental'
up and hairdressing have played a part in
portraits, loving the outdoor light and
elevating a standard portrait. If the young girl
outdoor life. Then digital arrived, lots of new
were in modern clothes with her hair down,
photographers entered the profession, and
would we enjoy the portrait as much, or would
copying the style of the times, ended up
it seem commonplace? Choice of subject is very
shooting environmental portraiture in available
important when entering the Awards.
light. So available light became common!
around the face suitably for a young subject,
In more recent times, professional
In terms of technique, the light wraps
photographers are rediscovering the wonderful
there are no out-of-control hot spots or
art of studio portraiture. Personally, I love studio
shadows, and the catch-lights in the eyes create
lighting and as a judge, I am always impressed
a twinkle for an enigmatic expression,
by a well crafted portrait.
composition square and simple, and it is
So I'd be up there with the judges, giving
The background is unobtrusive, the
Simone Addison a solid score because she has
all pulled together with a sepia colour cast,
taken the 'straight studio portrait' and given
rounded corners and an 'old style' matte.
it new life with her propping, costumes and
It just works!
Peter Eastway is a past chairman of the AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards and an experienced judge. However, his views are those of a single judge and our awards system intentionally uses five judges to obtain a range of opinions. This article reflects Peter's opinion only.
56
e m u t s o c t c e j b Su g n i p p o r and p t i a r t r o p a e t a cre e c n e r e ff i d a with e h t r o f ng i h t e m . d so u a l p p a o t s e judg
, g n i t h g i l o i d u rt St e c n o c n i s p a , n o i t perh c u d o r p t s o p h t i w a d e t n e s e r p s a h t, f o s y l l u f i t u a e b . y t i l a n to e v i t o em
r u o l o c ia p e s t h e g a A lig m i e h t s s o r cast ac he textured t s e h c t e h t ma l l a s e i t d n matte a ogether. t s t n e elem
•
Simone Addison APP M. Photog. 57
NEWS
Epson's Printer Range - from $1995! While photography has changed dramatically with the digital revolution, the photographic print remains one of the most profitable ways to sell your work for many studios. A lot of AIPP members do not print their work,
using prints for marketing purposes is a great
either themselves or by a supplier. Generally
way to stand apart. Don't send people your
this is because they have never been shown
portfolio as a web link like everyone else, send
how to make or sell prints, because they don't
them a printed portfolio – a set of matted prints
see their competition using prints as a business
in a presentation box. You're much more likely
advantage, or they haven't given it any serious
to be remembered!
thought. Yet prints are an incredibly powerful business advantage.
BENEFITS OF PRINTING Epson has been sponsoring the AIPP's state
STANDING OUT!
professional photography print awards for many
In a world where everyone lives on their
years and it's fair to say the lion's share of prints
electronic screens, seeing an image in print
entered to the Awards are printed on Epson
using reflective light has been reinvented as
equipment.
something that's new, different and exciting.
And the quality is superlative!
produce prints because the process makes
them better at their craft.
Even better, you can charge a lot more for a
photograph when it is printed, compared to a
file uploaded to a server!
between a file you post on social media and
Okay, so some photographers are making
a print that survives the scrutiny of a panel
great money with digital files and no prints, but
of judges. If you can produce a Silver Award
most of the photographers in the wedding and
print or higher, you really are mastering your
portrait market making good money are using
craft, not just for printing, but for all aspects of
prints.
photography from capture through to post-
production.
In the commercial and advertising spheres,
it's a little different because of client needs, but
58
The AIPP still encourages members to
There can be a significant difference
Printing is just the last step – and perhaps
59
NEWS
the most satisfying.
allows you to check the printer status, ink levels
and perform routine maintenance tasks. It also
There's no requirement for a professional
photographer to own a printer. There are
includes a number of handy help screens to
many bureaus and labs around the country
remind you what you need to do!
that produce high quality prints for reasonable
prices. In fact, the services provided by labs
pigment inks, which deliver a very high black
like Atkins Photo Lab or Black and White
density, rich colours and great contrast on a
Photographics in Adelaide, and Fitzgerald Photo
range of media types. It produces the quality
Imaging in Perth, include everything you need
needed to win awards at APPA.
to produce a finished product you can sell to
your clients. That might be your first step – to
and new cartridges cost around $79 each. The
discover how prints in mattes and frames can
P800 ships with a set of 64 ml starter inks to get
transform your sales and presentations.
you going.
There are nine 80 ml ink cartridges on board
Some photographers continue to use
service bureaus and labs to print their work,
PAPER OPTIONS
even though they have a printer of their own
The P800 has several paper feeding options
installed at their home or studio. And other
so it can handle a range of media types and
photographers do all their own printing
thicknesses.
because, once you're set up, it's very easy to do.
favour for their APPA prints are generally put
So, assuming you don't have a printer yet
For instance, the art papers many entrants
and you're interested in improving your craft,
through a front feeder, the design of which
where do you start? Maybe your starting point
keeps the printer’s footprint (desk space) in your
is producing your award entries yourself and
studio much smaller.
testing the water, so what printer should you
buy?
17” roll support, so you can make prints
17-inches by one metre or more.
Epson's SureColor P800 is the answer.
60
Inside, the P800 uses Epson UltraChrome HD
The P800 can also be fitted with an optional
The printer when open and operating
EPSON SURECOLOR P800
measures 684 mm (W) x 963 mm (D) x 550 mm
The SureColor P800 prints up to A2 size
(H) and weighs around 20 kg.
with 2880x1440 dpi resolution. Operation is
straightforward with a 2.7” LCD screen offering
You can choose USB, Ethernet or connect
keypad and gesture navigation that in turn
wirelessly with an automatic Wi-Fi setup, even
One neat feature is a choice of connections.
61
62
NEWS
if you’re not working in an area with an existing
Lightroom, etcetera.
network. The P800 has a Wi-Fi Direct feature
which means no router is required – and no
of the P800 with similar features (but no
cables either!
roll feeder), so if space in your studio is at a
The SureColor P600 is a smaller version
premium, this model is still able to produce
EPSON PRINT LAYOUT
your award prints, with a maximum print size of
You can also print to the P800 from your iPad,
A3+.
iPhone, tablet or smartphone using Epson iPrint software or Apple AirPrint.
GETTING BIGGER
At the other end of the Epson range are the
The P800 comes with Epson Print Layout
software, a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop,
larger printers such as the SureColor P5070,
Lightroom, and Nikon ViewNX. Images can be
P6070, P8070, P10070 and P20070
printed individually or several can be ganged
up on a single sheet for economy, either
(1118 mm) printer that supports a wide range
borderless or with a choice of border sizes and
of roll and sheet based media and features a
styles.
PrecisionCore MicroTFP print head with Variable
Sized Droplet Technology.
The Epson Print Layout software also offers
For instance, the SureColor P10070 is a 44"
an advanced gallery wrap function which
produces output that is suitable for mounting
aqueous ink for quality colour and premium
onto a frame, and it also allows you to adjust
B&W output that is consistent, predictable and
the colour and density. (However, we would
durable.
suggest that colour and tonal adjustments here
are unnecessary if you are using a good paper
extra-large capacity for extended operation
profile.)
with a low cost per print due to the new
PrecisionCore printhead and reduced running
The way to print consistently is to set up
It uses Epson UltraChrome Pro all-pigment
The SC-P10070 ink cartridges feature an
your computer, monitor and printer so they
costs.
all work together – using monitor and printer
profiles.
cut sheets as well as an optional Auto-Take-Up
system for continuous roll to roll production.
This means that the print is exactly the same
The printer ships with an output bin for
as what you see on your monitor, so if there’s a problem with the print, rather than adjusting
For further information, please visit
the printer, you adjust your file in Photoshop or
www.epson.com.au
63
“The best book on photography you will ever buy!” Peter’s Mother-in-Law
SPEC
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AIPP
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’
Peter Eastway
The Nεw Trαdition “This is seriously one of the most definitive photographic books I have seen in the last 25 years. It belongs on every photographer’s bookshelf and will change the way you view your own photographic journey!” Tony Hewitt, AIPP Grand Master of Photography In The New Tradition, photographer Peter Eastway presents a series of
The New Tradition has been lavishly produced, sparing no expense in its
100 photographs that traces the progression of photography from film
preparation, printing and binding. Measuring 300x300 mm with 272 pages,
to digital. For some images, he explains how the photograph was taken
the hard cover tome is destined to be a classic in photographic literature – or
and the steps involved in post-production. For others, he simply presents
at least that’s what Peter’s mother-in-law says! If you like what you see, take a
a story, an experience or an opinion on an aspect of photography. So,
chance and purchase a copy of The New Tradition.
methods and fables. This is a book written for photographers who are
RRP $120
interested in the art and craft of photography – and who are enjoying the
Special Offer! Order your copy before 30 June and we will include
ride as technology continues to open up new opportunities for creative
postage and packaging within Australia - a saving of up to $20.
expression.
Purchase the book at www.betterphotography.com in the online shop. The true beauty of photography is found in the photographic print
found in his book. You can purchase a signed, limited edition print
and to celebrate the publication of The New Tradition, Peter Eastway
and a book for as little as $345. Visit the website to see the 10 different
is making available ‘photographer size’ copies of some of the photos
prints available and to order online - www.betterphotography.com