PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 - Day 5

We’re over halfway through the PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 promotion launched on 12/12/12. I truly hope my stories will inspire you to participate; this is not only about recognizing those who helped me along the way, but doing something good for a great cause.

PPA Charities – the charitable arm of the Professional Photographers of America – was established back in 1997 at the urging of then-PPA President Bert Behnke. In 2005, PPA Charities teamed up with Operation Smile as its charitable partner. Since that time, PPA Charities has contributed $500,000 to the organization dedicated to repairing the cleft lips and palates of children in countries where this malady would otherwise go untreated.

At a time of year when gift-giving is appropriate, we invite you to give a gift of your own to help change a child’s life. Not only is this a great cause and excellent way to “pay it forward”, but also an awesome way to honor some of the very important people who helped to shape your photographic careers.

It’s time to add another name to my PPA Charities Photo Idol list. I was probably working print crew at the Northern Light Convention in 2005 when we first became acquainted. However, it was the 1998 NL gathering when this impression was first made. I was sitting in the trade show at one of the empty tables after the show had closed, writing a postcard to my sons. Bert Behnke walked into the room after the print judging and we began to chat. He smiled at the postcards on the table and said “I like to send a card to my son when I’m traveling, too.”

Later that year, when I was on stage receiving my Master and Craftsman Degrees, it was PPA President Bert Behnke who shook my hand after Helen Yancy had placed the ribbon around my neck.

When Bert called me in the fall of 2007 and asked if I would be interested in a position on the PPA Charities board, I was very flattered and humbled. The chance to “pay it forward” in this manner was an opportunity I welcomed. He has introduced me to so many people in the industry that have become good friends.

Bert and his wife Cindy have also spoken across the country helping photographers understand not only lighting and posing techniques, but sales skills and studio procedures.

Bert is also a big Chicago sports fan, which has made for some fun rivalries over the years.

My vote today for PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 is Bert Behnke. In Bert’s honor, please vote Chicago-style (that means vote early and often!)

Cast your vote at http://www.ppacharities.com/donate_now.html

PPA Charities Photo Idol - Day 4

I hope you’re enjoying the “Photo Idol” stories and thinking about your own mentors throughout your photographic career.

I’m posting these snippets as I make my nominations for the PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012. I truly want to encourage everyone to participate, not only because it’s a great cause and excellent way to “pay it forward”, but also because it’s an awesome way to honor some of the very important people who helped to shape your photographic careers.

So . . . here’s another of my own stories. Watch for them on my Facebook page as well as on my blogs. Of course, all the vote tallies will also be shown on the PPA Charities website and Facebook pages.

Now, it’s time to reveal my fourth PPA Charities Photo Idol.

I first joined the Professional Photographers of America back in 1977, but for a number of years I was what you might call a “checkbook member”. Although I paid my dues regularly, used the logo and told clients I was a member of PPA, I never really rolled up my sleeves and did anything with the association.

Until 1993. That was the year I first ventured onto the internet. I used this new software called “America Online” and after joining, ventured into a chat group called “PPA”. It was in that group where I met Helen Yancy for the first time. Helen was the PPA President and I was just starting to get a feel of what actually getting involved with PPA associations could do for me and my photographic career. Helen encouraged me to stop standing by as a spectator and take a more active role in the groups to which I belonged. It was scary – I didn’t know anyone . . . but I went to a few local meetings and liked what I saw. After one meeting, I swallowed hard and walked up to the President to ask if there was anything I could do to help out. The rest is history.

Helen Yancy is a talented photographic artist. Many of you have taken her classes on Painter and photographic enhancement. While we know of her talents within the industry, she’s also a very giving, caring woman. I’m proud to know her and call her a friend.

When I received my PPA degrees in 1998, I asked Helen to be my “sponsor”; the individual who would hang the medallions around my neck. It was a proud moment for so many reasons . . . (but you’ll have to come back to find out the rest of the story on a different day.)

Thank-you to my dear friend Helen Yancy. Without you, I’d have never enjoyed my PPA membership to the level I have. You put a face on what it means to serve other members in a leadership role and set an example for everyone you touch. I know you already know this, but you are truly one of my “Photo Idols.”

Please vote for your own Photo Idol. Go to http://www.ppacharities.com/donate_now.html

PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 - Day 3

It’s time to reveal the third of my “Photo Idol” votes. (We’ve got 12 days of voting . . . there are lots more to come!)

By now, you’ve probably seen the PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 promotion launched on 12/12/12. I want to encourage everyone to participate, not only because it’s a great cause and excellent way to “pay it forward”, but also because it’s an awesome way to honor some of the very important people who helped to shape your photographic careers.

I’m sharing my own stories so that you know where I came from and who’s important to me. Watch for them on my personal Facebook page as well as on the studio page. Of course, all the vote tallies will also be shown on the PPA Charities website and Facebook pages.

Have you ever noticed that there are some speakers you could hear over and over again, and each time you listen you learn something new? Hanson Fong is that individual for me. His classic style of wedding portraiture and ability to flawlessly pose couples is among the best I’ve ever seen. In an age where so many wedding photographers use a “spray and pray” mentality, Hanson Fong’s ability to capture elegant, timeless images is still second to none.

He’s also responsible for a philosophy I use when purchasing equipment. So many photographers go crazy buying every latest gadget only to find them collecting dust on a shelf in a short time. I remember sitting in one of his programs early in my career, agonizing over the thought of spending $125 on an accessory. There came a point in his program when he began talking about what was in his camera case (yes, we used cases rather than bags back in the film days!) and he was talking about buying new “toys”. He seemed to look straight at me in a crowd of over 400 people and said “It’s not expensive as long as you use it. Close your eyes and write the check.” To this day, those words go through my head with nearly every purchase of photographic equipment. “It’s not expensive if you use it.”

He was always approachable and willing to answer questions. I think by now I’ve heard him speak well over a dozen times . . . and I still take something away.

Number 3 on my list of people who influenced my career is Hanson Fong.

It’s time for YOU to vote for your Photo Idol. Do it at http://www.ppacharities.com/donate_now.html

PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 - Day 2

Yes, it’s David Grupa . . . many of you know me from involvement in PPA and affiliate groups, while others just know me from places like Facebook or networking groups. Perhaps I photographed your wedding or high school senior portraits!

I hope you’ve seen the PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 promotion launched on 12/12/12, and I want to encourage everyone to participate; not only because it’s a great cause and excellent way to “pay it forward”, but also because it’s an awesome way to honor some of the very important people who helped to shape your photographic careers. As someone who has a special place in my heart for PPA Charities, this is a great opportunity to do something really great for someone else during the holiday season.

So . . . I’d like to keep the coins jingling with my own stories. Watch for them on my personal Facebook page as well as on the Camp David Photo Facebook page and blog (CampDavidPhoto.com). Of course, all the vote tallies will also be shown on the PPA Charities website and Facebook pages.

The second of my “Photo Idol” votes goes to my father, Leo Grupa. He rarely touched a camera and sometimes grumbled about having to stop the car so mom could get out and take pictures during a family vacation. As a man who worked hard to support his family over the years, he really stressed that I go to college and get a great education so I could “get a good job and not have to worry about money.” When I started a photography business in 1976, he thought that was a fairly resourceful way to make a few dollars on the side to pay my college tuition by “snapping pictures”. When I got busier photographing weddings, the auditor side of him came out and he showed me how to keep accurate records so I’d be prepared at tax time. When I quit school 2 years later to open a photography studio, he thought I was crazy to want to own a business. Yet, he supported me through the entire effort. Even though he didn’t place a high value on photographs, there was a part of him that wanted to make sure my expenses and revenues were properly aligned so I would be profitable and successful. (Although he still thought I should get a “regular job.”)

Unfortunately, dad died over 23 years ago and never got to see me receive my degrees from PPA and MNPPA. Still, I like to think he looks down every once in a while and is proud that I’ve “made it” this far.Dad, even though you would have shied away from any public recognition, your support and examples make you one of my “Photo Idols.”

Who is your Photo Idol? Share it with the world and honor them with a donation to PPA Charities. CLICK HERE to vote.

PPA Charities Photo Idol - Vote Today!

Hi Gang, it’s David Grupa . . . many of you know me from involvement in PPA and affiliate groups, while others just know me from places like Facebook.

You’ve probably seen the PPA Charities Photo Idol 2012 promotion launched on 12/12/12, and I want to encourage everyone to participate; not only because it’s a great cause and excellent way to “pay it forward”, but also because it’s an awesome way to honor some of the very important people who helped to shape your photographic careers. 

So . . . I’d like to get the coins jingling with my own stories. Watch for them right here on the Camp David Photo blog, as well as on the Camp David Photo and my person Facebook pages. Of course, all the vote tallies will also be shown on the PPA Charities website and Facebook pages.

My very first “PPA Charities Photo Idol” is my mother, Gloria Grupa. She was an artist and photography hobbyist, and it was because of her that I first wet my fingers in Dektol and “developed” a fondness for the smell of fixer. While she never pushed me to get into photography, when I became interested back in high school she was there to help me dig her darkroom equipment out of storage at my grandmother's house and set it up in our basement. She often provided gentle (and sometimes pointed) critiques of my work; while we all want to hear praise and positive commentary, she was straightforward with me when I needed to hear those words as well. At a point when so many people sugar-coat their words to protect another's feelings, mom was honest without being harsh. She made me realize that I need to be serious about my work and the techniques I employed. Even as a hobbyist, she took pride in the pieces she created and wanted them to be finished properly. Today, it's something I keep in mind with every portrait session.

Mom died the past September 28^th after a long battle with cancer, but through it all she maintained a positive attitude and remained fiercely independent. 

My first vote goes to Gloria Grupa. Thanks, Mom, for all you did for me over the years. You are truly one of my “PPA Charities Photo Idols.”

To vote for your Photo Idol, go to http://www.ppacharities.com/donate_now.html

PPA Charities' #CelebrationofSmilesDay is a Win/Win for your studio!

Ok, photography friends . . . now that I'm back from another awesome ImagingUSA, I've got something really cool to share with all of you PPA Members!

What if I told you that I learned of a simple promotion that will drive clients to your door, old and new? Would you be interested?

What if I told you this same promotion will put you in a positive light with all of your clients, because you're doing something that benefits something dear to all of us - children? Have your ears perked up yet?

Finally, what if said promotion is practically turn-key; all you have to do is put your name and phone number on the materials and send them out in order to get started? Are you with me?

Good!

Coming April 21st, PPA Charities will kick off our first-ever "Celebration of Smiles Day". As a PPA Member, you can join with PPA Charities (the philanthropic arm of Professional Photographers of America) to promote “Celebration of Smiles Day.” This national fundraising effort will benefit Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

On that day, participating photographers will offer the gift of an individual portrait session and a desk-size portrait in exchange for a $24 donation to Operation Smile. This donation represents one tenth of $240, the amount needed to help fund a single surgery.

The time to get involved is RIGHT NOW.

• For your donation of $25, PPA Charities will send you a Celebration of Smiles Day Marketing Kit, complete with a 36 page marketing guide that takes you through the entire promotion in a step-by-step process to help you plan, market and execute this promotion in your studio. You will also receive a disk containing promotional elements and materials to help you prepare marketing pieces as you contact your clients and prospects.
  
  
• Your studio name and website link will be placed on the www.CelebrationofSmiles.com consumer website.
  
  
• You will also receive weekly "timeline" emails you you'll be able to stay on track with your marketing and promotional efforts.

So . . . what do you need to do to get involved?

It's all pretty simple. CLICK HERE to register and you'll receive the marketing kit in the mail! 

Still need more details? Find them at PPACharities.com

Not a PPA Member? (You need to be one to participate . . . ) It's easy - join now! www.PPA.com/join

Even if you don't have a studio, you can partner with a location for some great traffic.

Register for Celebration of Smiles Day today!

- David Grupa

Save the Date - Chicks Who Click Scheduled for June 23-26, 2011 in Scottsdale!

You're tired of the ice and snow, but a getaway right now just isn't an option. You want to refresh and rejuvenate your mind, body and photographic skills, but the big-convention thing is just too exhausting.

The perfect solution for you is PPA Charities' Chicks Who Click Conference in Scottsdale, AZ. The girls love this because it's an intimate setting without the hurry and hustle of grabbing a cab and rushing here and there. The guys are also figuring out what the girls know - that its a great conference for everyone, just with a catchy name! It is open to ALL photographers and is a really awesome event.

Chicks Who Click is held at the stunning Firesky Resort in Scottsdale, AZ where there will be ample opportunity to relax and learn from some of the best in the business, including Vicki Taufer, Sam Puc', Jen Hillenga, Ann Montieth, Cindy Behnke, Jennifer Hudson, Carol Andrews, Kay Eskridge, Bridget Jackson, Mary Fisk-Taylor and more!

Of course, there will be some fun involved as well; after all, you're here to learn and refresh. Join us for a Sunrise Shootout, Girls Night Out, Breakfast Meet and Greet, and the Sponsors' Boutique. Take advantage of amenities like the pools, the spa, and some great shopping.

Best of all, this is run as a fundraiser for PPA Charities, so all profits are used within PPA Charities and help us in our efforts to support Operation Smile. 

It is a small event, with a maximum attendance of 250. Visit www.PPACharities.com for more info and to register today!

- David Grupa

PPA Charities T-Shirts Available!

For the past few years, PPA Charities has sold commemorative t-shirts during ImagingUSA. These limited-edition shirts sell quickly and have become a collectible item.

If you didn't get your shirt at ImagingUSA (or didn't attend), here's your opportunity to support PPA Charities and Operation Smile.

Here's the San Antonio edition:

Sizes available in the San Antonio shirt run from Small to XXL in both traditional crew neck and women's v-neck cuts.

If you'd like one of last year's "Rockstar" shirts, check these out:

 

Sizes available in the Rockstar shirt are limited. Choose from Small crew neck, or M & L women's v-neck.

Finally, there are just a few of the long sleeved "Photographer" tees left.

Available in XL and XXL; crew neck only.

These shirts are 100% cotton and are superb quality. Price is just $20 each (add $5 for shipping.)

Make your check payable to PPA Charities and mail to:

David Grupa

PPA Charities

1994 Duluth St

Maplewood MN 55109-3415

651.748.8779

Make a Year-End Donation to PPA Charities

With the end of the calendar year and Imaging USA just around the corner, PPA Charities is preparing their annual donation to Operation Smile. The check will be presented on Saturday, January 15th as a part of PPA Charities' Celebration Event, kicking off Imaging USA 2011.

We still need your help. We are only 66 smiles short of matching last year's amount; it cost just $240 to save a smile and change the life of a child forever. 


As many of you are aware, I serve on the PPA Charities Board of Trustees. Both Dave Johnson and I have had our heads shaved to raise money for this very worthwhile cause. We, as photographic artists, have been given an incredible gift. We are fortunate enough to make a living doing something we truly enjoy. It's time to pay it forward.

As an Operation Smile studio, your clients will know that not only are they enjoying your creative artistry, but they are also working with a caring and compassionate business person. If you could donate $5 from every session you photographed, it would only take 48 sessions to change the life of a child. At $10 a session, it would only take 24 sessions! (How many sessions do you do? How much per session can you set aside for this worthwhile cause?)


Please click the link below to make your donation to PPA Charities and have it count toward our total for 2010 (and toward your 2010 tax deductions!)

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR DONATION

Thanks for your help!

- David Grupa