Professional Photographer’s Guildof the Palm Beaches, Inc.www.ProPhotoGuild.com

Networking for Excellence in the Palm BeachesPHOTOGRAPHYN E W S L E T T E R

Monthly Meetings

When Open to Members and Visitors 3rd Tuesday of each month Dinner Time: 5:30-7:00 pm Meeting Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Location Hilton - 3505 Kyoto Gardens Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, Fl 33410Tel: 1-561-6945833 Fax: 1-561-6945829

Cost: Members: $10 Non-Members: $25 First Time Guests: Free Pay Online: ppgpb.com/payDinner Arrangements: Order from the menu at the restaurant cost. The menu has a great selection of choices.

For More Information Contact:

Rhea Lewis 561-758-5848

April 15th Program- Amy Zellmer-“Easy Promotions that Work!”Want to know how to bring new clients into your studio? Want to make more money? Then “Easy Promotions that Work!” is the program that you should attend. In this program Amy will cover several easy promotions that she has implemented over the years in her studio. She will walk you through step by step how to run them successfully to bring in new clients and make some extra money during slower times in your business. She will cover pre-planning to launch to post promotion, and she will share with you all the information you need to have a great

marketing campaign for these promos, as well as how to track your numbers.

Amy’s Bio

Amy Zellmer Cr. Photog, is the owner of Custom Creations Photography in St. Paul, MN. In business since 1997, she has learned a few marketing and promotion tricks and tips along the way. She is a Past- President of the TCPPA and active member of PPA. In 2008 and 2011 Amy was named 2nd and 3rd place Wedding Photographer of the year by TCPPA; and has also won numerous awards for her photography and album designs. In 2010 she founded My Photo Biz Coach to help inspire and educate photographers to become the Rockstar Photographer that they intend to be.

Be sure to join us on Tuesday, April 15th at the Hilton Garden Inn for Amy Zellmer’s fact filled program that is sponsored by American Color Imaging.

www.customcreationsphotography.com

www.myphotobizcoach.com

www.facebook.com/myphotobizcoach

www.facebook.com/amyzellmer

April 15th Amy Zellmer

May 20th Bill Barabosa

“Photography is a Business”

June 17th

Paul Polisena

July 17th

Guild Competition

Monthly Meetings

Open to Members and

Visitors 3rd Tuesday of each

month Unless otherwise

posted

Pay Online: ppgpb.com/pay

April 2014

Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

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President’s Message

all 2013 guild corresPondence

should go to this address:Pro Photo guild

c/o Bill BarBosa

725 north a1a ste e:102 JuPiter, florida 33477

Newsletter InformationThe PPG Newsletter is the official publication of the Professional Photographer’s Guild of the Palm Beaches, Inc. It is published as a service to its members as well as interested colleagues and suppliers. Article submissions should be provided as computer generated text document files. Photographs and other graphic files must be provided as a high res file, preferably in TIFF, High Quality JPG, or RAW format. The right to edit for content, length, or style is reserved. Information in the PPG Newsletter is taken on good faith to be accurate. Opinions and advertisements are not endorsements of the PPGPB.This organization is dedicated to the support of the professional photographic industry in Palm Beach and Martin County. Membership is open to all persons regardless of race, creed, gender or color. The PPGPB is an affiliate of the PPA and FPP. However, membership in these organizations does not constitute membership in the PPGPB. PPGPB.INC is an IRS-registered non-profit organization. Financial information is available upon request. www.ppgpb.com

President Bill Barbosa

Vice-President Newsletter

James “Jim” Stafford

Program Director Helen Haruben

Secretary Melissa Fuller

Treasurer open

Past President Rhea LewisMarketing Director

Vasi Seidman

FPP Rep

Marty Grivjack

Director Rudy Clement

Director Stacy Toeniskoetter

Adervertising Director Ray Haruben

Membership Director Peter Gorman

Director Nellie Quiros

March 18, 2014 was one of the best educational moments we have had in a while. “Print competition” was absolutely great. Yes we had a few hiccups one of the judges could not find his way to the hotel on time, so we started a little late. But once the competition started it was great.

We had 70 total images submitted and 29 of those received merits. Ohh wait what’s a merit? Well I’m glad you asked, a merit is a print that receives an 80 or above from 3 judges. The Judges are looking for 12 primary elements:

1. Impact

2. Technical excellence

3. Creativity

4. Style

5. Composition

6. Presentation

7. Color Balance

8. Center of interest

9. Lighting

10. Subject Matter

11. Technique

12. Story Telling

You might be asking your self, “Why should I compete” well in my opinion I compete for 2 reasons

1. To receive recognition from your peers that you are advancing in your craft as an artist.

2. Each time I compete It teachers me, my weaknesses as an artist and if I have a weakness, I can’t properly charge a premium or even be able to compete against other photographers as our clients are looking for the best artist and not typically the cheapest artist.

As you compete and start earning your merits at the local level and then take them to the State level, (FPP) Florida Professional Photographers and then to the District or National level, you will be able to advertise your self as an “AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER” and in time you will have earned your Photographic Degrees.

Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

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Here are the Photographic Degrees you can earn:

At FPP we are able to earn:

The FSA (Florida Service Award) is green

The FED (Florida Education Degree) is red

The FDPE (Florida Degree of Photographic Excellence) is light blue

The FDAE (Florida Degree of Artistic Excellence) is gold

At the National Level (PPA) you will be able to earn:

Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.)

Master of Photography (M.Photog.)

Master Artist (M.Artist)

Also as a PPA Member you could become a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) I have recently taken my test and passed It, and I’m looking forward to submitting my images to be able to advance my self to the next level.

In next months message, I will write about what is required to receive your FPP degrees.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in April for our next fabulous program.

Bill Barbosa, FED

www.BillBarbosaphotography.com

561-704-4200

Info@BillBarbosaphotography.com

Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

Focus On YouAlicia Fernandez

As Photographers, our goal is usually to portray, through our images, the way we see the world around us.

Focusing, perhaps, on the things few people notice in day to day life. Often it is other people who are the

subject of our images. We try to capture their natural smiles, the emotion in their eyes, the love between

them. Hopeful, we are, that they will see in our final images, a side of themselves that they may not have

noticed before. Producing an images that is hard to look away from due to the interesting details and the

story that is being told.

Most photographers rarely aim the lens at themselves. I often have to sift through 500 images to find one in

which I am included. More often than not, I am only in that image because I asked a random passer-by (one

who I thought was unlikely to steal my camera) to take a photo of our whole family. 30% of those images

are out of focus and badly composed.

So I got to thinking: If I am shaping the way others view themselves through my lens, why not shape the

way I see myself? Why not try to capture the view of me from another’s perspective? Perhaps I will be able

to produce an image that shows a side of myself which I have never seen before. How would I feel about

myself when I see me through my lens?

This month’s challenge: Capture a self-portrait that shows a side of you which you yourself did not expect

to see. How can you change the way you define yourself through your images?

My name is Alicia Fernandez and I am the owner

of “PhotoSCOOP Stay in the Loop, Photography

Workshops that Educate, Empower, and Inspire… You

do the Rest!” Visit www.PhotoSCOOPStyaintheLoop.

com or call 813-922-1271 to learn more about the

workshops that we offer and the awesome team of

instructors that are here to make it easy for you to

advance to the next level.

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Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

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Photography as an AntidepressantMelissa Fuller, Secretary

It’s that time of year once again. Spring cleaning is in full effect. For some of us, it means cleaning out the closets and around the house. Maybe some of you are selling your old camera equipment and making room for the newest model. How about that New Year’s Resolution you promised yourself? 38% of Americans make the promise of losing weight while 47% have self- improvement hopes of some fashion.

Wouldn’t it be nice to “spring clean” ourselves? Eating clean and helping our bodies get back on track of proper nutrition. There are many diet fads out there as well as cleansing and exercise programs. Some are success stories and some are designed for failing. There is a saying I’ve seen numerous times: “It is easier to stay in shape then it is to get in shape”. Same applies to eating healthy. You have to give up, or go “cold-turkey”, all the junk food and bad eating habits in order to feel the positive benefits.

Here is the breakdown of Fad Diets, Cleansing list & Exercise Programs:

Fad Diets:

• The Alkaline Diet

• Baby-food Diet

• Blood-type diet

• The Clean Program

• The French-Woman Diet

• The Paleo Diet

• The Karl Largerfeld Diet

• The Pil-Sook Diet

Please take some time to do your homework on all these resources provided. I am not a doctor or nutritionist, consult your physician if you plan on attempting any of these sources to improve your health. And I must admit, the names of some of the cleanses sound strange.

Cleansing programs have been listed in order of beginner all the way thru to expert level. Here is the information provided by www.healthyliving.com

For Beginners:

Dry Skin Brushing

The 24 Hour Cleanse

The Water Fast

For Intermediate Level:

The Spring Equinox Fast

The Pineapple Lung Cleanse

The Kidney Cleanse

The Anti-Candida Cleanse

The No-Sugar Self Cleanse

Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

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Your

Ad

Here

Expert Level:

Ayurvedic Cleanse

The Raw-Food Self Cleanse

While eating right and body cleansing might work for your schedule and body type, exercise needs to be a part of the total “spring cleaning” and New Year’s Resolution promise to yourself. Here are the top exercise programs that ranked the 2014 list. I’ve also thrown in the “Top Flops” exercise programs to steer clear of. Remember to get doctors approval before starting a program for yourself.

Top 10 Workout Trends: Top 10 Fitness Flops:

High Intensity Interval Training The Shake Weight

Body Weight Training The Free Flexor

Strength Training Vibrating Platforms

Exercise + Diet Programs Sauna Suits

Functional Fitness 8 Minute Abs

Yoga Toning Shoes

Core Training Power Balance

Outdoor Activities Ab Rocket

Circuit Training Thigh Master

Boot Camp Ab Circle

*Eating a well balanced diet is always a great start. Incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Cut back on refined sugars, fried, foods high in fat content and those high in preservatives. Take care of yourself for the love of your job/hobby, PHOTOGRAPHY !!!

Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

Recharging Your Flash BatteriesMarty Grivjack, Cr.Photog.; FSA

At a recent meeting, I was discussing speedlights (camera flashes) and that inevitable topic, flash batteries. Every time this subject comes up, people roll their eyes, as it’s their biggest nemesis when shooting on location, from batteries being low to not having enough available or what to do with the old ones, and the resultant effect of any of those issues – missing the shot.

I know photographers who routinely go to the drug, department or even food store and buy a 16-pack of alkalines (~$18, or a little under $1 each) and then go do a shoot. If you do that once a month, you’ll purchase almost $200 in batteries in a year. And then there’s the disposal of them – what to do with them once you’ve partially drained them for a session? Do you push your luck and keep them in the flash for the next session, being economical and getting the most use of them? But that means, and by federal law, they’ll dog-out on you just as the baby finally smiles and mom says “oh… did you get that one???” The pit in your stomach tells the story.

That’s my case for using rechargables. Since my first days using speedlights, I was frustrated with the relentless need and subsequent cost of batteries, knowing I’d go through a set or two per wedding or session. Then they sit around on the shelf afterwards, lonely, alone and without a purpose, and I’d glance over at them thinking there still was some life left in the little cylinders, but they’re not good enough to risk using on another session. So I tried rechargables. I found a value pack of four batteries that included a quick charger (1 – 1.5 hours for a full charge of four) and I was hooked.

Now this raises the next question – how long do they last? I’ve found the answer surprising welcome – a long time. Long enough to get my money’s worth out of them, several times over.

There are a couple of types of rechargables commonly available – the older style NiCd, or Nickel Cadmium, and NiMh, or Nickel Metal Hydride, an improved design with a better life cycle and usage pattern than NiCds. NiMh are my preferred choice of rechargeable. Rechargables will be about double the cost of alkalines, and you’ll find them in 4-packs for under $10. I’ve shopped and found them for less than $7 and I’m always on the lookout for deals. Now

Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

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the trick is, of course, you need at least two sets per speedlight, charged, for a typical session. That gives you a safety net and enough power to shoot all day. You can get upwards of 200 pops from a set of fully charged batteries. If you buy one pack of four before each of the next four sessions, you’ll have a fleet of 16 batteries and will be well prepared. All you need is a charger or two. Shop for a 1-2 hour charger. They’ll cost between $15 and $29, but they’re a great investment. Do not buy the 15 minute rapid charger, as my experience with this type is, although you do get a quick charge, the rapid charger greatly diminishes the lifespan of rechargables. On the other side, “overnight” chargers that need 5-8 hours to charge just won’t cut it for the photographer on the go. You’ll always remember about your batteries the day of the shoot, and needing 8 hours to charge means you needed to remember the day before to charge them, and that just won’t happen.

My particular setup works quite well. I have three quick chargers who reside very nicely on a shelf right next to my two camera battery chargers. Utilizing a 2-hour charger means the flash batteries and my camera battery can all be charged in the same timeframe. Also, they’re all on a power strip that I can turn off after charging is complete. I do this because the power packs that the chargers use are “power vampires” that suck electricity 24 hrs a day even if you’re not charging, not to mention that they also stay “warm” and generate some heat. I’ve learned to dislike the smell of burning electronics. It’s never a good smell.

I also have a VERY inexpensive battery checker, the best I’ve found for the task, that puts a load on the battery, an important part of the test. Believe it or not, I found a little Sunbeam tester at a “dollar” store, and, you guessed it, it was…wait for it… $1. I can never fool you guys. Anyway, I have one in each camera bag and on the charging shelf. If you’re queasy about visiting the dollar store, don’t be – it’s my best source of those little button batteries too – you can get three cards (8 each) of them for the price of a pair of batteries at the drug store.

Finally, I have a routine, and that is to charge all batteries the morning of a session so that all are fresh. I place them in a zipper pouch and use as needed during my work. Afterwards, I get back from the session and charge all batteries again. This is for a reason. Recharchables have a life span. Typically, I’m able to get 8-12 months’ use from a set of batteries. I know this because I write the date of service on the battery. Ok, you can snicker. Finally, the trick is to figure out which battery has reached its lifespan, and is starting to become weak and needing to be pulled from the system. After a weekend session, I recharge them all and place them in the zipper pouch. After 2-3 days, I check all the batteries with that little Sunbeam checker. To remain part of the fleet, each cell must be with the same power capacity as its brothers. If there’s any battery that’s drained off in that 2-3 day period, it’s tossed for recycling at Anything Batteries in Jupiter (or Home Depot). And that’s the process. On average, I’m finding I toss one cell every couple of weeks. This annual cost of replenishment is maybe $60. Far less than $200 a year in batteries.

This little charge-and-check routine is very important, as it keeps that ONE weak battery from prematurely making a flash quit. All it takes is one of the four cells to drag your speedlight to darkness and miss the shot. Did you

Professional PhotograPher’s guild of the Palm Beaches, inc.

Professional Photographer’s Guild

Of The Palm Beaches, Inc.c/o carolyn lightcaP

4277 e. main st.JuPiter, fl 33458

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