Popularity: 54% [?]

by Vanessa Ard, CPP

With April 15^th here, you’ve probably already made time to gather all your receipts and are done scrounging for additional deductions to help offset the taxes on the massive profit you earned last year photographing naturally gorgeous people with perfect hair, great skin and pearly-white teeth. At this point, you’re either patting yourself on your back for another year of stability and growth or you’re still re-working the numbers because you’re convinced that the digits at the bottom of your spreadsheet ought to be black and not red.

Before you put your books away, you might want to take the opportunity to do some analysis so that the rest of 2010 is better for you than last year. Here are a few simple suggestions that can do nothing but help you:

1. Accept the fact that the photography business is just that – a business. The fact that we get to titillate the right side of our brain is just a bonus to what we do to make a living.
2. PPA members: Compare your numbers against PPA’s Benchmark Survey recommendations to see where you stand. http://www.ppa.com/benchmark/ This is a very eye-opening experience if you’ve never done this before.
3. Honestly assess your financial weak points and come up with a plan to turn them into strengths.
4. Using last years figures along with your first quarter tallies, come up with a reasonable budget for the remainder of the year – and stick to it! Carefully consider the ROI (Return On Investment) for every purchase you make in your business. Just because the latest and greatest software or gadget is being shoved in your face does not mean you NEED it to make more money.
5. Brush up on your marketing and sales techniques for increased revenue. I don’t care what people say – your art does not sell itself.

The Maryland Professional Photographers Association mission statement includes advancing photography “in all its branches, as both an art and a profession.” We often indulge our senses with improving the art of our photography while neglecting the professional side of it. Do yourself (and the industry) a favor and spend some time this month to look at your numbers.

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If you’re a photographer for a living, chances are that you appreciate a good challenge. We deal with the challenge of making a living doing what we love. We are challenged with wearing so many hats within our own companies. We face the challenged to balance our professional life with our personal life. The list goes on and on.

I’d like to give you a win-win “challenge” that isn’t even really all that hard. Are you ready for it? Here it comes… *Drum roll*

I challenge each and every one of you to bring a professional photographer friend to our next meeting on March 17^th.

Did you know you could even do that? Yes, non-members are allowed to attend up to 2 meetings as your guest before they’re expected to join. This month’s meeting is a print competition which is a pretty enticing event for someone who hasn’t had the opportunity to see live judging and critiques. This competition’s judges, Dennis Kelly, Eric Stoner, and Don Engler are sure to impart valuable wisdom and we’d be selfish to not share the experience with our photographer friends.

Perhaps you know someone who is just an aspiring professional… That’s okay! We have a membership for them! Maybe you know a student who is looking to learn outside of the classroom and get connected with seasoned professionals. We have a membership for students too! Maybe your studio’s art consultant would like to see someone else’s work for a change. We have a membership just for them! It might even be a good opportunity for you to invite someone that you want to meet – a local “Facebook Friend” with whom you’ve bonded over photography. Invite them!

Now I’m not saying that you need to pressure your guest to sign up on the spot. I just challenge you to bring them, introduce them to your MDPPA friends, and let them see the value of membership for themselves. Enjoy a friendly evening sharing one of the perks of your membership!

I look forward to seeing you and meeting your guests on the 17^th! (By the way, I hear this year is going to be a great year for friendly competition!)

Popularity: 25% [?]

What a sensational beginning to 2010 this past month has been! I saw many of our MDPPA members converge at the PPA Convention in Nashville in early January and then we hosted our own Annual Convention and Print Competition at the end of the month. Seeing our members come together to learn, have fellowship and ultimately improve our craft is incredible! We’re working together to raise the proverbial bar in professional photography and the photography business so that consumers will have the best products and services available – all while earning a respectable income doing so!
As the Convention Chairperson, I spoke with many of our members during the convention about their impressions of the seminars. Several members confirmed what I suspected – something was different. Yes, this was a short convention compared to previous years; yes, we had no formal tradeshow, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I felt a buzz amongst our members that I haven’t felt during my relatively short time as a member. I saw members taking the time to assist other members who needed an extra boost. I saw friendships forming. I saw happy and sad tears after the print competition, both of which will lead to even better work in the future! I saw some newer members taking an interest in helping out. Talking with some of our veteran membership, I learned that back in the MDPPA’s hay-days, there was this same feeling, albeit with a lot more membership.
I’m so excited to start the year off this way! Folks, let’s bring back the glory days! There are a lot of opportunities for personal and professional growth in this wonderful organization. If you have an idea or a suggestion, by all means, tell a board member or drop me a note so that we can discuss it at the next board meeting. We want your feedback and ideas. This organization belongs to all of us, so let’s work together to make it the best it can be!

On a final note, I’d like to personally thank our Print Competition Judges: Robert Golding, M.Photog.Cr., F-ASP, A, Hon. F-ASP, Tony Christiana M.Photog.Cr., Patricia A. Hansen, M.Photog., Cr., MEI, CEI, FP, Rich Martin, M.Photog, Cr. Keith E. Lewis M Photog Cr., and Bob Kahn, M. Photog. Cr. CPP for their outstanding efforts in critiquing and judging all of our entries! Our work can only improve through the help of these people and those like them willing to give back! Also, thank you to Jill Bochicchio for procuring our judges as well as Nizam Mohamed and his Print Committee for doing an outstanding job keeping the competition rolling.

I would also like to take a moment to thank our speakers James Roy M. Photog Cr. CPP, John Stein, Photog. Cr. API, EA-ASP, CPP, and Bob Kahn, M. Photog. Cr. CPP for their well-received seminars! Of particular note, John Stein graciously donated his entire sponsorship fee back to the MDPAA, Bob Kahn came to us at no charge aside from his travel expenses and James Roy gave us a deal we couldn’t refuse. We could not have had this convention without their generosity!

We also owe a debt of gratitude to our fabulous sponsors and the companies who generously donated items for our raffle. Our Platinum Level sponsors were Nations Photo Lab and PWD Labs. Our Bronze Level sponsor was Pexagon. Raffle donations were sent from Adorama, Alien Bee, Allied Photographic, Animoto, Bob Kahn, Boudoir Divas, Capri Album, CPQ, DWF, Gary Fong, GNP, Graphic Authority, GW Moulding, H & H, Hanson Fong, Identity Kitchen, James Roy, More Photos, Not So Perfect Tins, PWD Labs, Penn Camera, Pexagon Technology, Pictobooks, PPA, Rice Studio Supply, Simply Canvas Simply Color Lab, Successware, and WHCC. (After the convention we received raffle items from Michael Redford and SWU which will be rolled into our monthly raffle drawings in the coming months.) I’d also be remised if I didn’t extend a hearty “thank you” to John Stein for getting the sponsorships as well as Pam Long and her Raffle Committee for working so hard to get the awesome prizes!

One final “Thanks” and then I promise I’m done… I think it goes without saying that Sandy and Ed Buxton did an amazing job with the Hospitality Suite! If you were there on Saturday, then you’ll remember that they managed to feed everyone during the snow storm so we wouldn’t have to venture out into the streets. Well done!

Of course there were many others, including everyone on the Board of Directors, who were responsible for making the convention a happy one! I’m looking forward to next year’s Convention already!

Popularity: 25% [?]

As you have read, David Corry has resigned as Chairman of the Board after faithfully serving our organization for years. Fortunately, he is not leaving the organization, so we will continue to benefit from his experience and insights. Thank you, David, for your dedicated service!

In recognition of the outstanding job that John Stein has done as President this term and of his legacy of sustained service to the organization in many different capacities, the Board of Directors has appointed him Chairman of the Board for the 2010 term.  In accordance with our bylaws (Article 7, Section 3.B), I have assumed the position of President, filling the vacancy in that office that John’s appointment created.  Previously elected as a Board Member at Large, Mike Busada has been appointed to fill the position of 1st Vice President.

While I am relatively new to the organization and lack the extensive experience of prior past presidents, the new Board of Directors combines seasoned veterans and energetic newcomers, all of whom are dedicated to the organization and work well together, so I am excited to serve as President and am confident in the future of the organization.

The new Board of Directors is starting off with a positive attitude, an open mind (collectively speaking), and a zeal to lead our association. We are fortunate to retain the wisdom of some of our veteran leaders (John Stein, Steve Clark, and Charity Reed), and we will continue to listen to input from all of our members – our past leaders and our newer membership alike.

This is your organization just as much as it is the Board’s. Let’s work together to make this a great year!

Popularity: 28% [?]