ppgba bulletin sept. 2014

© Lily Dong, 2014

September 2014

B U L L E T I N

The

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The Bulletin 3September 2014

This month’s cover named ‘Rapture’ was created by Lily Dong, was the highest scoring image in the Illustative category for July this year and the print of the month.

Lily tells us, “I created an image titled ‘Girl on Fire’ last February, and loved it so much, I decided to create another image that gave off the same feeling.

Rapture was a composite of a young lady, whom I met at a ballet performance. She is not a ‘dancer’ but is taking dance lessons. We photographed the session, and got many great shots, but I didn’t do anything with the raw images, until 2 days before the competition, when inspiration struck. I use a lot of fabric in my images, because I was a bridal gown designer for 12 years and I have a big stash of fine silks still. Got to put them to good use!”

The Bulletin is published by the Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay Area, Inc., (PPGBA), a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association. PPGBA is an affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America.

The Bulletin StaffEditor/Art Director: Lise SmithAdvertising: Julie Olson [email protected] and comments are invited; publication is subject to editorial approval. Editor reserves the right to edit all manuscripts for brevity and/or clarity of content. Articles are the opinion of the author and do not represent the position of PPGBA. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited contributions. Submissions will not be acknowledged or returned unless they are accompanied by SASE. Deadline is the 25th of the month. Submissions may be emailed to [email protected]

2014 PPGBA Officers and BoardPresident: Joe ValenzuelaVice President: Paul SalcidoTreasurer: Alex TsangSecretary: Nano VisserDirectors: Serena Hartoog (‘14); Wayne Miller, CPP (‘15); Mischa Purcell (’14); Denny Weigand (‘15)

CommitteesCompetition: Serena HartoogFour Nights: Wayne Miller, CPPMembership: Denny Weigand & Alex Tsang Programs: Paul Salcido, Joe Valenzuela,Webmaster: Wayne Miller, Cr.Photog., CPP, Certification Liaison 2014

PPGBABusiness Manager: Fred English, M.Photog.Cr.PO Box 5583San Mateo, CA 94402T: 650/[email protected]: Julie Olson M.Photog.MEI,[email protected]

Golden Gate SchoolCo-Director: Martha [email protected]

Michelle Edmunds AP Michelle Edmunds PhotographyLafayette925/[email protected]://michelleedmundsphotography.com

Joshua Irber AS San [email protected]

Jose “Selit” Rapadas APC UNIT One Photography StudioSo. San Francisco650/[email protected]

New MembersCover Story

A ...... ActiveAS ...... AspiringC ...... Commercial

P ...... PortraitSTU ...... StudentSUS ...... SustainingW ...... Wedding

*New Members Key

In This Issue...Program This Month . . . . . . . 6 - 8Print Comp Last Month . . . . . . . . 9Steampunk . . . . . . . . . . . 10 - 11PPGBA 2015 Elections . . . . . . . . 12 Year-End Competition . . . . . . . . 13Meeting Last Month . . . . . . . 14 - 15Board Report/PPA International Judging . . . 16PPGBA October . . . . . . . . 18 Increased Profitability . . . . . . . . 22 Buyer’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . 23Calendar/Unclassifieds . . . . . . . . 24

In This Issue...Program This Month . . . . . . . 6 - 8Print Comp Last Month . . . . . . . . 9Steampunk . . . . . . . . . . . 10 - 11PPGBA 2015 Elections . . . . . . . . 12 Year-End Competition . . . . . . . . 13Meeting Last Month . . . . . . . 14 - 15Board Report/PPA International Judging . . . 16PPGBA October . . . . . . . . 18 Increased Profitability . . . . . . . . 22 Buyer’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . 23Calendar/Unclassifieds . . . . . . . . 24

4September 2014 The Bulletin


Common interests. Last week during our monthly board meeting, representatives from PPA affiliates, Professional Photographers of Santa Clara Valley (SVPP) and Northern California Professional Photographers (NCPP) met to discuss our common

interests. Our organizational structures are pretty much the same to support our members of professional photographers. We all offer a monthly speaker with image competition and occasional workshops. Local vendors and corporate sponsors sustain us and provide additional support. We had come together to meet and share how we are to support and grow our membership in these times of increasing demands of our life and the availability on the internet, websites, that provide free educational photo related techniques and business processes. No need to travel or drive to meet in a central location to get similar information. The biggest plus that came out was the socialization and common interest that was shared. One member recounted the support she received when breaking her leg, she could not perform her duties as a wedding photographer, she was able to reach out to other members to cover her previously booked weddings. Even I was asked and gladly supported a fellow member to cover a special event, because of his mother’s passing.

There is value in meeting to help support and discuss our common interest and get quality solutions and advice on business and customer issues. It is reassuring that our problems are not unique to us and someone else had similar issues and could offer a solution. We also accepted the fact that the way we do and did things for the past 40+ years was not relevant to what we photographers want and need from our organizations today. The PPGBA board will be holding a special strategic planning meeting this month to review our budget as well as how to develop our structure to meet your needs and also combine and share with PPSV and NCPP alternate ways to make our organizations more viable and valuable to you our members. We admit that we do not have all the solutions and resources to bear on this task. I am asking you our “customer” to send me a note via email ([email protected]), to offer your time or ideas to the officers and board of PPGA, to make our organization relevant to your needs and workflow.

Your President

President’s Message


Program This Month

Continued

PPGBA’s September 18 speaker is designer, author and noted trainer Janine Warner. Her program is titled, Scream Smarter: Budget-friendly marketing ideas for photographers, artists, & designers

In an increasingly oversaturated advertising market, the best way to break through the noise is by combining a well-optimized website, a well-executed social media strategy, and a dash of traditional media magic.

In this PPGBA event, Janine will share cutting-edge web design strategies and search engine optimization techniques specific to photographers and creative professionals.

She’ll showcase great social media designs (complete with templates for the top social sites) and offer tips for building a loyal and supportive following.

And she’ll wrap up the evening with insights about the power of ‘earned media.’ A former journalist and editor herself, Janine will explain why press releases are ignored and share insider tips for how to effectively pitch your stories (and your images) to magazines and newspapers.

About the speakerJanine Warner’s best-selling books and

videos have won her an international following and earned her speaking and consulting engagements around the world.

Her skills as a “techy translator” helped her land her first book deal in 1996. Since then, she’s written more than 25 books about the Internet, including Web Sites For Dummies, Social Media Design For Dummies, and every edition of

Dreamweaver For Dummies.She’s also created more than 100 hours of training

videos for top online learning companies, including CreativeLIVE, Lynda.com, and KelbyOne.

Janine is the founder of DigitalFamily.com, a full-service interactive design and training agency that offers web and mobile design, content strategy, and internet marketing services.

Program highlights:


Continued

A popular speaker

at industry events, from

Photoshop World to Internet

World India, Janine has also

taught courses at the University

of Miami, University of Southern

California, and served as a

guest lecturer at more than 20

universities in the U.S. and Latin

America (she speaks fluent

Spanish).

She is a member of the TV

Academy’s Interactive Media

Peer Group and has served

as a judge in the Interactive

Emmy Awards, the Knight News

Challenge, and the Arroba de

Oro Latin American Internet

Awards.

Learn more at www.janinewarner.com and

www.DigitalFamily.com.


PPGBA Monthly Meeting

Third Thursday, September 18th

Program begins at 7:30 pm

Networking and hors d’oeuvres 7:00pm

Image competition

follows the speaker’s presentation

Album competitons occur 3 times yearly

April, July, and October

Location:BEST WESTERN PLUS/Grosvenor Hotel380-S. Airport Blvd., S. San Fran cisco. For directions, please call the hotel at: (650) 873-3200 or go to:

www.grosvenorsfo.com/hotel_maps.htm

Please no electronic devices or private conversations during the speaker’s

presentation. Please be courteous and step outside the

meeting room.

PPGBA members – no charge

Non-members –* $25. at the door

ASMP, APA and Students with current school I.D. – *$15. at the door

*

Fees subject to change


PPGBA Print CompetitionMembers can submit up to 3 digital submissions per member, per month (with a maximum of 40 total entries per month with members 3rd submissions dropped if over 40)!! There will be a nominal fee of $5 to enter the print competition for each digital entry. Please bring CASH for the $5 submission fee.

Your digital submission should be formatted:

• As a .JPEG

• Adobe RGB 1998

• Longest dimension should be 4000 pixels

• A resolution of 200ppi

• There is no need to include any kind of matting or boarder as the system will include one if needed

• The submission should be named the title of the print

• Submissions should either be emailed to [email protected] including your name, title of the print, and category NO LATER then 5pm the evening prior to the monthly meeting OR be brought to the print comp sign table on a USB drive no later then 7pm the day of the meeting.

• Please make sure you are submitting your FINAL EDIT as there is only one submission per member.

• Finally, even if you email your image before hand you must still be present at the judging and check in and out at the print comp table for your score to be official. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me.

• It is not the responsibility of the Competition Committee to make sure your submissions comply with the requirements.

Upload your Competition ImageYou may submit up to 3 images for competition. Bring your images to the registration table with $5 for each digital entry. Please review the information from http://ppgba.org/competition/entry-rules/ before you submit the images.

We recommend you upload the images in advance to PPGBA's Google drive. To submit it, please follow this link (the link will vary each month).

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzZ_k2g3qKzKaU5xNW1mNXV5Nm8&usp=sharing

Please note, you need to have a Google Gmail account in order to access the link above. When you click this link, you need to click “add Drive” on the top right hand corner and then “Open in Drive” in order to submit the image/s.

Look for the folder name that corresponds to the category you want to enter. Then bring the fee to the registration table on the date of competition.

Any more questions, please contact Serena Hartoog, PPGBA’s Second Vice President & Print Competition Director at [email protected]

August 21st

JudgesDenny Weigand, Michael Garcia, Nano Visser

Print of the monthGirl in my Dream - by Wayne Miller in the Illustrative catagory

WeddingBlue RibbonLuis Espinosa I love youRudy Pollak Moment in Time

Portrait Gold RibbonWayne Miller Lexy LovestruckBlue RibbonSerena Hartoog Gypsy PrincessLuis Espinosa I’m going to make her an offer she can’t refuseSerena Hartoog Intensity of ExpressionLeda Mast Misty

IllustrativeGold RibbonLily Dong Emerge and See Rudy Pollak Your BrotherWayne Miller Girl in my DreamBlue RibbonRudy Pollak A different LookJoe Valenzuela Bee ZLily Dong Got waterLuis Espinosa Late for dinnerLeda Mast Mother To BeWayne Miller Smoking Hot BrideSerena Hartoog Standing Before Nature With ChildLily Dong To all my fansLeda Mast Tummy Time

Month after next, November is People's Choice Physical Print CompetionBring a 16X20 or larger print for judging


What:

Steampunk Workshop hands on photo shoot

Where: Oakland Central area (near Coliseum). Exact location will be emailed to participants

Free parking on street, not close to public transportation.

When: Saturday Sept. 20th.

Time: 10:00am-4pm

Cost: PPGBA members $99 Plus (**$50 deposit refundable with 5 images per model)= $149 sign up fee.

Non-members $139 Plus (**$50 deposit refundable with 5 images per model )=$189 sign up fee.

**$50 deposit will be refunded when 5 images per model are received.

Sign up Starts Aug 1st at: http://ppgba.org/workshop/sept-20th-steampunk-workshop-hands-on-photo-shoot/

Limited to 20 Photogs so sign up fast.


Steampunk WorkshopNow is your chance to get some great Steampunk images for your portfolio and help the models build their portfolio.

Our goal is to have a 3-4 photographers per model so everyone will have a turn and get plenty of shoot time.

What is Steampunk you ask? Steampunk refers to any of the artistic styles, clothing fashions, or subcultures, that have

developed from the aesthetics of Steampunk fiction, Victorian-era fiction, pseudo-Victorian, art nouveau design, and films

from the mid-20th century.

Location: This location is as cool as it gets for this type of shoot: industrial, machinery, pop art, graffiti, props, and the

list goes on and on. Exact location will be emailed to participants.

10:00-10:30am Mandatory: Introductions, safety precautions and then we will have some lighting demo and tips.

*All participants will be required to attend the safety briefing and sign a liability release.10:30-1:00pm Team up and photograph the models with your own gear (cameras and lighting).

1:00pm-1:30pm Break water and snacks provided.

1:30-4:00pm Shoot again with models.

4:00pm Workshop over time to pack up and out the door by 4:15pm.

What to bring: Camera, Lens, lighting equipment, reflectors, props if you want.

Model releases and images for the models.

**Each photographer will sign a promissory agreement that they will provide each model they shoot with a minimum of

Five (5) images: 900px longest size ) a small watermark in corner is ok. You must send theses images in within 10-days

by 9-30-2014 to a link that PPGBA will provide at the workshop.. When the images are received for each model you

will receive a model release for the use of the images and your $50 deposit refunded. No deposit refund after 9-30-2014

midnight.

If the models want larger copies or prints they can contact the photographer.

Casting call we need models and MUAH for this event. Please contact Wayne at [email protected] or call 925-330-8737 for details


Elections Coming in Octoberby Zee Bezabeh

Along with the approach of the Fall season, comes

election time for PPGBA’s board and officers. There are

several opportunities for you to get involved and learn

more about how we run the association. Together we can

make things even better. If you’re interested in serving,

please contact me at zee578 (at) aol.com and I can let you

know about the positions available.

Also, any active member can nominate you “from the

floor” at the September 18 general meeting. The elections

will be held by ballot at the October 16 meeting.

Each Board member has different duties that

require a minimal amount of time, but each must make

a commitment to come to the board meetings. They are

usually held at 4:00 p.m. on the day of the regular monthly

PPGBA meeting.

The duties vary, but some examples are:

• greeting guests and members at monthly meetings

• transporting the name badges to the meetings

• help with online communications (website, social

networking, etc.)

I encourage you to consider running because the

extra time you invest will reward you well, both in new

challenges plus the great friendships you will make with

your fellow board members. The only requirement for

serving as a Board member is that you must be an Active

or Additional Active member and have been a PPGBA

member for more than one year.

Director positions are 1 or 2 year terms, and officer

positions are one year terms. If you are interested and

have the time to add your input to PPGBA, we invite you

to run for the Board. We are all volunteers so we do not

get paid, but this is a great way to gain new experience as

well as give back to your fellow members and our industry.

Please consider joining the board, to get started, or if you

have any questions, please contact Nominations Chairman

and Past President Zee Bezabeh at [email protected]. The

deadline for applications is September 10. If you would

like to contribute be don’t feel you’re ready to run for the

board yet,

ask President Joe Valenzuela [email protected]

about other volunteer positions within PPGBA.


Year-End CompetitionIt’s that time of year again to start preparing for the year

end competition! How do you participate? First, enter monthly competitions. There are just two judgings left (September, October), so it’s time to start now if you have not already done so! REMINDER: There will be no competition in November due to our annual trade show night.

The more entries you have, the more opportunity you have

to win! (Plus, you receive extra chances in our annual drawing for a seminar scholarship for each entry you submit throughout the year).

If you did not enter at all or much this year, please start

planning ahead for a successful 2015 and get involved in this great process to refine your technique.

At our annual awards celebration early next year, several

talented members will receive year-end plaques for their photography. You could be a winner, too! You may submit up to five entries for the year-end competition. YOU MUST FORMALLY SUBMIT YOUR 5 IMAGES TO THE PRINT COMPETITION DIRECTOR FOR THEM TO BE INCLUDED in the year-end judging. These submissions can be any image you entered since the beginning of the year that scored at least a 74. You must be a current PPGBA member as of December 15, 2014.

To enter, all you need to do is email ([email protected]) by

December 15 and list which five (titles, please and month entered if you can recall that) that you’d like to enter. There will be no re-edits of any submissions; we already have each file for all of the digital entries. If the images you’d like to submit for the year-end were physical prints then you’ll need to resubmit those same prints (showing the PPGBA entry sticker on the back) either at the November meeting or December social on or before December 15.

Here are the other rules for the year-end competition:

First, second and third place awards may be awarded in the categories: Portraits, Weddings, Illustrative, and Commercial. The top portrait image as selected by the judges will be awarded the Ted Gurney trophy.

If you enter any individual category five or more times during

the year, your top scores will be totaled and the highest average score wins the Top Photographer Award for that category. You do NOT need to submit anything for the Top Photographer awards, the scores will be tabulated from the monthly competition results. The Album Maker of the Year is also calculated from top scores from the monthly competitions.

The Photographer of the Year Award is open to any member

who submitted five or more entries during the year, and will go to the highest average score. You do NOT need to submit anything for the Photographer of the Year award, the scores will be tabulated from the monthly competitions.

Contact PPGBA Competition Director Serena Hartoog

([email protected]) if you have other questions.


Meeting Last Month


Olivia Bee


Board Report PPA International JudgingThe PPGBA July 17 Board of

Directors meeting was held at the

Best Western Plus Grosvenor Hotel

in South San Francisco.

A Steampunk workshop will be

offered for September 20. The

location in Oakland will cost $200.

We need help with models and

makeup/hair artists.

A motion was made and passed to

resume using MeetUp to promote

both monthly meetings and

workshops.

A motion was made and passed to

offer photo walks. There will be

a $5 sign-up fee for the walks

(to reduce no-shows) and every

attendee must sign a liability

waiver.

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.

*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.

WWW.PPA.COM/INSURANCEACTIVATE YOUR POLICY TODAY!

$15,000 EQUIPMENT INSURANCEINCLUDED FREE WITH YOUR PPA MEMBERSHIP.*

Congratulations to our PPGBA members who were recognized at the recent

PPA International judging. Connie Barding’s image H20 Player was accepted

into the General Collection. Paul Tsang’s images, Cattle Run and Wild, Wild

West were accepted into the Loan Collection (Loan Collection images earn

TWO ppa merits!) and his image titled Rodeo was accepted into the General

Collection. If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know and our apologies for

leaving you out!


Ruguugueeuguuguuguugu by Auguuguugu uguugu

uguuguugu uguuguugu ugu uguuguee eeeeeeeeeeuguuguee


http://imagingusa.org/programs/sort-by-day/?utm_source=click_thru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=iusa15


PPGBA and Golden Gate School of Professional Photography present:

Storytelling and Set Design Speaker: Brooke Shaden

Friday, October 17th 9:30 – 5

Sponcored by http://www.whcc.com/

Members early special $159 by 10/1/2014, $199 late registration (if available)

Non-members early special $239 by 10/1/2014, $279 late registration (if available)

http://ppgba.org/news/register-brooke-shaden-workshop-friday-oct-17-2014/

ABOUT THE SEMINARThis class will provide you with the essential elements

of storytelling in a way that makes the art form accessible to all photographers, regardless of your specialty. Storytelling is an amazing way to connect to your clients, share your personal story, or live in a world that is distinctly different from our own. Whatever the reason, understanding how to tell a story can put you further in touch with your art. Yet at the same time we are visual people, and so we need a way to bring those stories to life.

This class will be a fun and inspiring mix of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on. Attendees will have a chance to step in and really get involved in the process. Brooke will also share her insights about art vs. photography and cultivating your personal style.

Set design techniques are invaluable to help create a niche for yourself that will differentiate your from your competition and add or enhance this valuable benefit for your clients. Using a blank space and simple lighting, Brooke will show how to design a

set to match your vision with inexpensive props and a lot of drama. Students will break out into groups to work hands on to create an amazing set and then photograph it with models.

Following the set design process, Brooke will also cover some image compositing and post-process techniques. You will be inspired to put your own, revitalized creative stamp on your work.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORBack by popular demand, Brooke Shaden is

visiting PPGBA again after her very successful presentations for us in 2012.

Brooke grew up in Lancaster PA always wanting to tell stories. From writing to filmmaking to photography, there has always been a visual influence in the way she created art. It wasn’t until her graduation from Temple University that she moved into photography, combining her love

for writing with her love for cinema to create images that seemed more like stills from movies than real-life captures. The idea of the in-between has always been a fascination, combining opposite elements like life and death against one another to create unforgettable characters. Brooke lives in Arizona with her husband and cats, and spends her time traveling for workshops, exhibiting in galleries, but mostly finding inspiration all around. www.brookeshaden.com


· •Advertising Edge· •Pricing Justification· •Peer-Validation

Certification helps to show potential clients the value in

hiring a true professional. Consumers might not know

much about professional photography, but they understand

that certification means professional-quality goods and

services. Anyone can buy a camera and take some

pictures, but a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)

designation shows clients that you are a true professional

in your field.

Learn more about How to become a CPP by clicking here

Steps to become certified the first time:

1. Declare your candidacy. To do this, simply fill out

the candidacy form. In this step, you will also need to

pay the application $200 fee. Please note that your

candidacy won’t be officially declared until your payment

is processed. Once confirmed, your candidacy will be

valid for two years.

2. Prepare for the exam. PPA has many resources

provided to help you prepare for your CPP exam.

Take advantage of all these by visiting the CPP Exam

Resources section of the PPA website. We suggest

first downloading the CPP Test Specifications so

you know what the exam covers. Then you can test

your knowledge with the CPP Keywords, browse the

suggested reading material, review the CPP Flashcards

and take a Sample CPP Exam. You can also sign up

for a CPP Prep Class that will definitely boost your

confidence on the big day!

3. Take the exam. Once you feel confident you are ready

to take the exam simply go online and register for an

exam in your area. Remember you must register for the

exam at least five business days prior to the exam date.

Picture Identification will be required upon arrival at the

testing site.

4. The Image Submission follows the exam. You will

receive a set of instructions to follow in order to submit

your images. You can submit your images for review

up to three times without incurring any extra charges.

Should you not pass the image submission within the

first three tryout rounds, you’ll simply have to reapply

for candidacy, with a reduced cost of $100 to reapply,

earning you three more rounds of image submissions

and an additional year to do so.

5. Celebrate. Once you get your certification, give yourself

a break and celebrate! You’ll deserve it.

CPP Exams are scheduled throughout the year at local CPP Liaison

studios.

The next Bay Area CPP Exam will be held on on Jul 26, 2014 at 2:00 pm in Clayton, CA.

Exam proctored by Wayne Miller, Cr. Photog., CPP, CPP Liaison 2014.

Any questions on becoming a CPP please contact Wayne at 925/330-

8737 or [email protected]

by Professional Photographers of America (PPA) with Bridget Jackson, CPA and PPA Business manager

In April, Bridget brought you some pretty great last-minute tax tips. Hopefully that gave you a chance to give your finances a good, stern look. Did you like what you saw? Even in the most successful businesses, you can find ways to boost profitability.

That’s where Bridget’s column comes in handy! Here are 8 helpful tips to increase your profit margins:

1. Mix it up. Increasing sales and cutting costs is on everyone’s mind. Most people think that in order to grow sales you have to increase prices. That’s certainly one way, but you can also offer add-on services and products that complement your current offerings, in turn increasing your sales average. Also, to cut costs see what processes you can automate or outsource.

2. Separate yourself from your competition. Find ways to differentiate yourself. Whether it’s entering print competitions to refine your craft or finding ways to increase your social media presence or maybe it’s becoming known for working with a specific charity. Be mindful that YOU are the differentiator in your business.

3. Streamline overhead costs. Workflow tracking and assessment needs to be done regularly to assure maximum productivity and to identify inefficiencies. Unfortunately tracking productivity is often overlooked but it’s a great way to identify opportunities to reduce costs.

4. Rent killing your business? Explore options for co-leasing a space with a like-minded business, whether that business is photography related or they attract a similar clientele. There has been also an increase in the number of owners that have brought their business in-home. Bottom line, if paying rent is sucking up your profits, find an alternative.

5. Keep them coming back. It is easier and less expensive to keep current clients coming back than it is to gain a new client. Consider a referral program to incentivize referrals. Also evaluate your client touch points and create new ways to take your customer service to a whole new level of hospitality.

6. Selling every step of the way. Selling begins with your first point of contact. Your sales strategy should be clearly defined. Anyone in the studio who comes in contact with a client is a sales person and needs to understand the businesses’ unique sales strategy as well as be well-versed on all of the session and product offerings.

7. Make it easy to buy. Keep it simple, simple, simple from the client experience to the product offerings to collecting payments. Remember the ordering appointment is not a viewing appointment. Consider incentivizing your clients to make their purchase at the ordering appointment. You can also set up a session fee structure that includes a print credit or allow for payment plans to make it easier for your client to make larger purchases.

8. Understand your cash flow challenges. Due to the cyclical nature of most photography businesses, consider promotional offerings during off-peak times, perhaps ones with charitable connections. Not only can they generate some cash flow when it’s much needed but these promotions can also increase your presence in your market. Build reserves during peak season to help smooth those months when cash flow is challenged. This way you can avoid using credit cards and incurring high interest expense charges.

Bridget Jackson is the manager of PPA Business and also a CPA. She’s helped hundreds of photography studios be more profitable and will address some common questions each month. Heed her advice folks--this lady knows her stuff!

8 helpful tips for increased profitability


8 helpful tips for increased profitability Buyer’s Guide

Action ZoneLooking for photography events and educational opportunities in the Bay Area and beyond? Here are some links to our fellow organizations with pro-grams and seminars all over the area.

San Francisco ASMP www.asmpnorcal.org

San Francisco APA www.apasf.com

Santa Clara PPSCV www.ppscv.com

Sacramento PPSV http://ppsvonline.homestead.com/

East Bay NCPP www.ncpponline.com

Please favor our corporate members and major advertisers with your business. They have shown their support for PPGBA! PPGBA does not recommend or warranty the products/services of any vendor, supplier, or manufacturer.

Albums, Frames & Mats

Philip Mauer PhotoMount

800/321-3686

www.philipmauer.com

Business Services

Stahle Law

415/617-9278

www.stahlelaw.com

Equipment & SuppliesAlan Epstein Sales

415/420-5278

[email protected]

Keeble & Shuchat

650/327-8515

www.kspphoto.com

Photo LabsBay Photo Lab

800/435-6686

www.bayphoto.com

Image Capsule

408/625-7903

www.imagecapsule.com

Workshops

Golden Gate School of

Professional Photography

650/367-1265

www.goldengateschool.org


Calendar of Events

To Place an UnClassified Ad in the Bulletin

Unclassified ads are $20 for up to 40 words for members, $30 for up to 40 words for non-members.

Each additional 40 words for $10.

Payment by Mastercard/Visa is due before publication. All ads MUST contain your name.

Help wanted or position wanted classified ads are FREE.

Editor may re-write these ads for space considerations.

Deadline is the 20th of the month.

To place an ad, send an email to:

PPGBA’s Business Manager Fred English at [email protected]

OZY Media in Mountain

View is looking for a

temporary photo editor/

researcher parttime to

halftime with potential to

lead to permanent and/

or full time for news and

culture online magazine.

Must have experience in

serious photo research.

Assigning, producing and

shooting a plus. Will be

collaborating with editors,

creative director. Team

Player a MUST with great

positive attitude. Please

email to [email protected]

UnClassifieds

Sometimes PPGBA’s meeting hotel, The Grosvenor, holds multiple events simultaneously. This situation is beyond PPGBA’s control. If you should ever have difficulty finding a parking space, please visit the front desk at the hotel and they can direct you to available parking.

September PPGBA Thursday, 9/18 at 7:00pm - Janine Warner - Marketing - Meeting BEST WESTERN PLUS/Grosvenor Hotel 380‐S. Airport Blvd., S. San Francisco http://ppgba.org/news/sept-18th-speaker-janine-warner/ October PPGBA Thursday, 10/16 at 7:00pm - Speaker - Brooke Shaden Meeting Academy of Art University, 79 New Montgomery St. in San Francisco http://ppgba.org/news/october-16th-brooke-shaden/ Seminar Friday, 10/17 - Brooke Shaden http://ppgba.org/news/brooke-shaden-workshop-oct-17/

November PPGBA Thursday, 11/20 at 7:00pm - Annual Corporate Member Trade Show - Meeting People’s Choice Physical Print Competion

BEST WESTERN PLUS/Grosvenor Hotel 380‐S. Airport Blvd., S. San Francisco http://ppgba.org/

ppgba bulletin sept. 2014

Documents

wayne miller

e t i nthewere

ppgba officers

lily dong

position of ppgba

san mateo

designer templatesthe

julie olson