A Publication of the Professional Photographers Guild of Florida

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January 2003

January's Program - "Custom Framing Business under $700" with Kirk Kief
 Date: Wednesday January 21, 2004
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Kovens Conference Center

The January program will take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 and will feature Kirk Kief of Palatka, Florida. Titled"Custom Framing Business under $700", Kirks program is a demonstration on how a studio can offer custom framing services, including mat cutting, all for less than a $700 equipment investment.

He will take us through the whole process: How to compute the finished size, building the frame, How to cut a Can't Fail triple mat, pricing, and even try to open your eyes to framing more than just your own work!

Kirk's been involved in custom framing for over 15 years, and he's been confronted with some real challenges. For instance, a 4' X 6' Antique Afghan that the customer wanted to be fully exposed in frame. A full size, leather Racing Suit, complete with trophies, checkered flag, photos, racing program, etc.

"Custom Framing is a wonderful way to get customers into your doors, where they can then see your portrait work," says Kirk. "It's a great way to help raise those ?valley's" that we all experience when business is a little slow.

There are a lot of folks out there with diplomas, children's art work, posters, memorabilia, etc. that they are going to get framed somewhere. "Might just as well be by you!"

When we're finished, you'll have the basics to be able to go out and start offering a whole new product line! Photoshop skills not required!!!

Kirk is currently serving as the Communications Director of the Florida Professional Photographers. Lets show Kirk some hearty PPGF hospitality.

February Program - Salon Competition

Get those print cases ready! February begins round one of our annual print competition. The competition will take place on Wednesday, February 18th. The deadline for print submissions is 7:00 pm. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Entry forms and print labels can be downloaded from the PPGF website.

How To Increase Your Profits In 2004
by Willie L. Hill, Jr.

It looks like the economy for 2004 will be vastly improved over the economy experienced in 2002 and 2003. The new year has come and we should have already updated our marketing plans for 2004. Willie Hill, the owner of Portrait Corner Studio, contributes this feature article with tips and illustrations that have worked for his studio. Click here to read the article.

 President's Message

How many of us have set goals for the New Year? I think most people do but you also need to create a path to achive them? It's nice to have a goal in mind but without a solid plan to achive your goals, most never materialize. Each year most of us want to do better then we did before.

Typically this means either growing our business, our skills, or in this day and age, our technology. The business part is really the key to the other two since this is where the resources come from to build our skills and move forward technologically. So for the New Year we should be thinking about where we get our clients from, what ways have we promoted our business, and what ways have worked for us. Do research into what works for you and try to channel resources in ways that will continue to bring in more business. Also, talk with other photographers and find out what works for them. Using the experiences of others is a big reason why we belong to the PPGF and other organizations. Professional Photography in general is a very sharing industry overall and I think that's why many of us enjoy this profession so much.

Secondly, comes improving our skills as a photographer. Professional Photography is funny in that new ideas are so rare, but we are always learning new things. It's amazing how often I hear someone come up with a new way to pose, light, use something in a photographic way and later on sees the same technique was done 40 years ago.

The bottom line is that all of us are always learning new things, or should I say learning old things and adding techniques to come up with our own unique style. So take some time and decide where you want to spend your time learning. In what areas will you gain the most out of? Carefully choose which seminars and programs and organizations you will get the most out of. Be sure to look into how you will apply new skills to your professional photography and what the returns will be.

And finally, technology is moving forward unbelievably fast. We will see new products coming at us at a rate we cannot even imagine. New cameras and such are coming that are beyond our wildest dreams. In many ways we are at the most advanced age ever in our profession, but in other ways we are no more advanced as when film was first introduced over 100 years ago. As photographers today we truly have the honor of witnessing the rebirth of photography. We are all witnessing digital photography in its infancy and we'll watch it grow. We also need to stay on top of what's new and what will work best for us. Each of our studios and businesses require something a little different. We have all developed a business that is unique and we all can make best use out of something a little different. So take the time to stay on top of what is new and select what is best for your business.

So with that I want to wish all of our members a wonderful start to the New Year and see you all at the next meeting.

Jon Laye

Modifications To The Top Ten POY Point System

At the meeting of the Board of Directors that took place on January 6, 2004, a motion was passed which modifies the way service and participation points are counted towards the Top Ten Photographers of the Year Award. The new rule limits the number of points earned through service and participation that can be used towards the Top Ten Photographer of the Year Awards. By rule, the number of points that can be counted towards the POY Award cannot exceed the number of points earned in Salon Competition. For example, if a member earns 10 points in the year 2004 in salon competition, the maximum number of service and participation points that can be used towards the Top Ten POY award is 10 points, for a total of 20 points.

Originally, the service and participation component of the POY award was added to encourage participation by the membership. Seeing a need to modify the system, while keeping the spirit of the old rules, the current Board passed the above mentioned modification.

Furthermore, a new service award category was created in the name of James Swallow, PPGF Past-President. Only points earned from service and participation will count towards the James Swallow award, with plaques going to the top three point earners.

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