The Official Newsletter of the Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videographers, Inc.
January 2008
Officers and Board
Troy Miller
569-9646
Charles Steele
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From the President
Jack Bohlka (For this month’s column, I am printing the text of my speech at the December Holiday Banquet. This will hopefully set the tone for a great 2008!) Good evening, and thank you all for being here tonight. As I stand before you, I am happy to say that IEPPV is stronger than ever. Our membership continues to grow; we are financially solvent; the quality of our programs has never been better: our workshops, seminars, monthly programs and studio shares continue to provide valuable learning opportunities for all of our members. We have one of the most vibrant, most active and strongest Associations in the state of California. Our membership is populated with the most creative photographers and videographers in the business; and we enjoy a warmth and great fellowship that is the envy of others. None of this would be possible without the effort of our Board of Directors, other leaders in IEPPV, and because of every one of you. I want to take a moment now to acknowledge and thank Doug and Donna Jirsa for their tremendous leadership in 2007. They got us off to a great start, and much of what was achieved this year is due to the foundation that they laid for us. So what’s ahead in 2008? Our theme for the new year is: “Connecting the Pixels: Work Smarter, Not Harder.” There will be four areas of concentration in 2008: 1. Better business practices to make us all more successful and put more money in our pockets. 2. Digital software to make life easier - and workflow to make our lives less hectic. 3. The technical side of photography including lighting, posing and so on, to free us up to be more creative (get the technical stuff mastered so we don’t have to think about it during a photo session). 4. Word of mouse marketing (not word of mouth, but word of mouse!) There is huge potential in internet marketing with websites, blogs and email. Let’s see how we can tap into that to create more business opportunities for us. We are fortunate to have money in the bank. But we are not going to just sit on the money. Rather, the money will be used to bring the best speakers, workshops and resources to our members. For example, in our 2008 Budget, our Board of Directors has doubled the amount we are going to spend on our lending library! That’s a direct benefit to all of our members! You and I know that sharing our knowledge and ideas is the best way to improve our own business! We all benefit from the exchange of information. Ansel Adams shared everything he knew with everyone! Photo locations, technical information, lighting, and so on. He even told us all how he achieved the gorgeous tonality in his prints ( “The Zone System.”). He wrote books about it, and you can still buy them today. Did he keep secrets to himself? No! Losers are the people who are afraid to share information because they think someone will steal their ideas. They don’t share anything because they are insecure with their work. But honestly, there are not very many “new” ideas left. Besides, photography is about creativity, vision and inspiration. You can have fancy ideas, great locations and perfect light, but without inspiration and vision, you have a snapshot, not a photograph. So in 2008 we will keep fostering a culture in IEPPV where we freely share ideas and help one another. We know that our competition is not other photographers (there are plenty of clients for everyone). Rather, our competition is Nordstrom’s or Disneyland, or wherever else people choose to spend their disposable income. The challenge for us is to help people see the value of what we do as photographers. Because IEPPV is so strong, we also have a responsibility to bring other photographers into our circle so that they can learn, elevate their art, and adopt sound business practices. This is a two-way street: potential members will have much to share with long-time members, too! Invite other photographers you know who are not now members of IEPPV. Ask them to come to the Open House in January - a perfect introduction to IEPPV. Invite other photographers to any of our other events in 2008! Individual dots on a page are insignificant unless they are connected together to make a picture. Individual pixels in an image are meaningless until they come together with other pixels to create a beautiful image, becoming greater than the sum of the parts. Individual photographers, joining together in IEPPV, are much stronger, more creative, and smarter than left to themselves. Tonight we celebrate and affirm that truth. And we will keep affirming this in 2008. We need each other in the current challenging marketplace and uncertain economy. Let’s do it together! Let’s bring all the pixels together in 2008! Thank you.
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November Meeting “Digital Roundtable”
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IEPPV MEMBERSHIP!
IEPPV is a not for profit organization that depends on the members to provide financial support through the payment of dues. For all of us who are members, this organization provides an outlet for our “creative juices”, through print competitions, a way to share ideas and connect with other professionals in our chosen field, and a way to continue to educate ourselves and grow our businesses. This can only be accomplished through your continued support. Beginning in May of 2007, we had a change in the position of Membership Chairperson. Due to this change, reminders for the payment of dues did not go out in a timely fashion. Invoices have been handed out or mailed out to those members needing to bring their membership current for 2007. In addition a decision by the Board of Directors has been made to move all membership renewals to January 1 with the month of January being the “Grace Period” to get your annual dues in for the discounted rate of $96.00. After that date dues will go to the $120.00 rate for the remainder of the year. Invoices for 2008 dues will be sent out in December to all current members. A large part of our budget depends on the prompt payment of membership dues. Please take a moment to bring your membership current by sending a check along with a copy of the invoice you received to: IEPPV c/o Cathy Nisbet 12421 Mesa Grove Dr Riverside, CA 92503 You may also pay via Mastercard or VISA by putting your number, expiration date, and your name as it appears on the card.
If you have any questions regarding this matter or are not sure if you have outstanding membership dues, please see me at the November meeting or call me at 951-354-6958. We are looking forward to another banner year for IEPPV! Thank you for your continued support!
Steele verizon.net
Charles at steelephoto@
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Western
States PPA Regional and PPC State Print Competition is only two weeks away!
Are you a Certified Professional Photographer? If so, here’s an extra incentive for you to enter! PPC will be presenting the first ever award from PPA for the highest scoring image from a CPP, both State and Regional. NOW is the time to start getting your images printed ready to enter the competiton. PPA seals will be awarded to PPA members and there are sixteen category awards for PPC members, as well as “New Horizons” award from Bay Photo for the highest scoring image for a first time entrant, a Canon 30D body (donated by Canon, in addition to the Regional Canon Prize) for the PPC Photographer of the year, Top ten Photographer awards, judges ribbons, PPC President Award, Kodak State and Regional Gallery Awards, Fuji Masterpiece State and Regional Awards and PPC Fellowship merits. These can only be yours IF you enter! Judging will be at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in San Diego on January 29th and 30th, 2008 ALL entry forms, deadlines and rules are on line at www.prophotoca.com Don’t delay, start your entries NOW!
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