Print Competition - or Print Education?

It's that time of year when photographers everywhere are preparing images for Print Competition. It's really a lot less about "competing" with others, however. It is a lot more about the inner challenges you make with yourself and the educational value it holds for you in your photographic career.

When I entered my first competition nearly 30 years ago, I picked my 4 best selling images from that year, made 4 16x20 prints and sent them off to PPA. I even included the extra fee so they would send me the critique; I wanted to hear how good I was.

When I received the case back from them some months later, I was shocked to learn that my highest scoring print was a 68. 68!?!? (Remember, you're shooting for 80 and above; anything below 70 gets put back in the case and doesn't even get displayed!)

I wasn't very happy. I popped the tape into the player to hear the critique and the judge's voice said something about "I'm not sure how much experience you have in this . . . while these are probably images the clients enjoyed, they're not at all what we are looking for in professional competition."

I was PISSED. "Screw them. The first ribbons I want are green ones with dead presidents on them. Who cares about print comp, anyway."

Fast forward to a year from then. A friend of mine drops by the studio because he had invited me to go along to the meeting of the local PPA Affilliate. "Oh, and it's print competition; bring some prints!" he says (as he's pulling prints out of frames on my wall.)

So . . . I go along to watch this. As I'm watching, one of the judges says to the others "If we're just handing out ribbons, we're doing ok, but if we're trying to help the makers prepare for PPA competition, we're not helping anyone by being lenient with our scoring."

Guess whose prints came up next? Yup - mine. 73, 71, 70. I listened to the comments, but knew I was done entering. Forever. This print comp thing sucked.

The next day I'm putting my prints back on the wall and the judges' remarks are still going through my head.

"The lighting is too flat and broad."
"Her hand looks like a claw."
"Cropping on this is too tight."

I had a session that afternoon, so I loaded a 220 roll instead of a 120. (For those of you who never shot film, that means I used a 2g card instead of a 1g. )

I used the first 10 frames to do the session the way I normally would have and the second 10 frames to do what the judges said (mostly just to prove those bastards wrong.) When the film came back from the lab later that week, I looked through the images and was stunned . . . the second set looked so remarkably different, I never even showed the client any of the first 10.

It completely changed how I handled every session. My old "style" was no longer . . . it just didn't have the same impact. Images I would have shown the client in the past were now ending up in the reject pile . . .their only purpose was to show me what I'd done wrong and how to correct it.

Take the time to look at the work of others who have been successful in print competition. The link below will take you to a few galleries of various makers' work that did well in competition.

http://mnppa2.com/main/members/galleries/

As Travis Gugelman says "If you want to be fat, eat what fat people eat. If you want to be successful, do what successful people do."

Good luck!

(BTW - I lied when I said I was done entering . . . I received my Master of Photography Degree in 1998.)

- David Grupa

It's Actually More Expensive to NOT Join PPA Groups.

So . . . I'm back after an awesome weekend at the Northern Light Regional Convention.

Not only do I love the learning opportunities presented at these events, I love the camaraderie and fellowship that I get to share with my colleagues from the 3 state area. That experience is second only to serving on the board of directors; planning and putting on awesome events such as this really get my blood flowing.

Since this is a place for photographic education, I would be remiss if I didn't seriously suggest that you take the next few minutes of your life to check out your state's PPA affiliate associations and inquire about membership.

I know, you're thinking "dues are too expensive."

PPA pays the premium on $15,000 in equipment insurance as a part of my membership dues. MNPPA will pay for the hosting of my Wordpress website on their server and offers special member events that are included in my membership. TCPPA has monthly gatherings and even picks up the tab for dinner.

What benefits does your Facebook group offer? (I mean, other than sucking the life out of your productive time . . . )

You don't need another toy for your camera. You need education. Invest that money in yourself.

What are you waiting for?

You can find your nearest affiliate group at the link here:
http://www.ppa.com/community/affiliates/affiliate-directory.php

Let me know if you have any questions; I'm happy to help!

- David Grupa

Copyright Alert - Action Required!

The software company Teorex www.theinpaint.com has introduced an inexpensive retouching program called "InPaint". While this in itself is not a bad thing, the website is advertising the software as a way to "remove logos and watermarks" from images.

I have already spoken with PPA's Copyright and Legal Dept, but am encouraging ALL of you to write a letter to this company to ask them to stop advertising their program essentially as a way to violate copyrights.

My letter to Teorex is posted below.

Their email is support@theinpaint.com or teorex@op.pl ; if you are a PPA Member, I would also recommend CCing Maria Matthews of PPA at copyrightdefense@ppa.com .

Thanks for your help, but PLEASE REMEMBER: 

The software itself is not the problem, it's the manner in which they are marketing it. If you choose to write a letter, please make sure to keep it polite and professional. This will get us a lot farther than threats and trash-talk.

- David Grupa

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Teorex Software
March 8, 2012 
RE: InPaint

Good Morning - 

Your website (www.theinpaint.com) was brought to my attention this morning by a concerned colleague. After reviewing the site and your software, I was disappointed to see that you are promoting it as a way to remove logos and copyright markings from images.

"Remove undesirable objects from still images, such as logos, watermarks, power lines, people, text or any other undesired artefacts.”(sic) 

Professional photographers rely on watermarking their images with copyright or studio logos to prevent online image theft and illegal use. By advertising your software as a way to remove these markings, this is essentially encouraging the practice of copyright infringement.

The screenshot page (http://www.theinpaint.com/screenshots.html) actually shows an example of how to remove such a watermark from a photograph.

While I understand that your software in and of itself can be a helpful product for manipulation of images, I am asking that you simply remove references to "removing logos and watermarks" from your products description, along with any images or screenshots that depict your product being used in this manner. This will still allow you to demonstrate the qualities of your product without encouraging and profiting from copyright infringement or other illegal activity.

Thank-you for your understanding and cooperation.

Respectfully,

David L. Grupa, CPP, M.Photog.Cr., AFS-MNPPA

CC: Maria Matthews - Professional Photographers of America - Copyright & Legal Affairs

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Beat the Competition By Outperforming, NOT Underpricing - Part 2

In the first part of this article, I talked about how so many of us got into the industry because of our love of photography and the desire we had to create beautiful images with our cameras. It was so completely enjoyable, we may have even thought we'd do it for free! (Sadly, by under-pricing, many photographers do work for little or nothing.)

While desire, energy and passion are great, those qualities alone will not be enough to make you a successful photographer or run a profitable business. You must set yourself apart from the competition. Many photographers realize this, but few actually understand what it means.

In this segment, let's discuss how to put some distance between you and the other photographers who are competing for the same dollar. Since we know don't want to slash prices (and profits) to achieve this, we have to find better methods. Not surprisingly, almost all of them are centered around education.

Last time I talked about some of the biggest mistakes I made, so this time (just to prove that I wasn't a total idiot) I'll share some of my best decisions.

1. Become an active member of professional associations.
   This is easily the single smartest and best thing I ever did; my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner in my professional career.
   
   - Why it was a great move: Membership in professional associations - specifically PPA and my state and local affiliate groups - provided me with the resources I needed to position myself as a professional studio. Especially now, in a market where every digital SLR owner prints 250 free business cards online and brands him / herself as a "professional", membership in PPA and affiliate groups add an extra level of credibility and accountability to you as a professional.
   
   
2. Take full advantage of the opportunities offered by these associations.
   When I said to become an "active" member, I mean get involved. It does you minimal good to pay the dues and not take advantage of the benefits, educational and networking opportunities that these memberships offer.
   
   - Why you should "go for it all": This is where I really started to blossom. When I began attending meetings and seminars, not only did I learn from the presenters, but it seemed I learned equally as much from my own colleagues who were in the very same room. Here were the very people I was thinking were my "competition" sharing their own tricks and secrets with me, the new guy! I couldn't figure it out. After accepting an invitation to visit a nearby (within 2 miles of my studio!) colleague, I asked why they were sharing all of this information with me. His both response surprised me and stuck with me to this very day. "If I help you learn the proper way to run a successful business, we're not really competing with each other. We're just raising the bar for photographers everywhere and showing the public what they can expect from a professional studio." No matter which group I got involved with, my experiences were similar.
   
   
3. Challenge yourself by entering print competition.
   I know, you're thinking "I don't need to enter print competition. Why do I care what another photographer thinks? My work is just fine!"  The truth is, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard this, I'd be wealthy. (And that's just from my former business partner!)
   
   - Why you should enter: The truth is, participating in print competition IS scary, but it will ultimately make you a better photographer. Seeing the work of other photographers and hearing the critiques of experienced professionals will give you ideas and background on what makes a great portrait. Seeing the actual image and listening to the reviewers' commentary often drives home the need to step outside of your own comfort zone. Print competition has challenged me to stretch my personal limits and has made me a better photographer.
   
   
4. Roll up your sleeves and get involved.
   A number of years ago, a photographer friend was telling me about a new member in their group who had come to him with the complaint about the group being "cliquey". The member went on to tell him "I really don't know what to do . . . it's almost as if there's a secret password to get to know people." My friend smiled and replied "Well, there is sort of a secret phase. To meet new people, walk up to anyone who's busy and say "How can I help?"
   
   - Why you want to do this: Did you ever notice how some people walk? They avert their eyes downward or only look straight ahead as they walk. While they end up getting to their destination, they often miss all of the wonderful experiences around them along the way. The same is true for your involvement with any group. Roll up your sleeves and help take down equipment after a seminar. Don't worry about making a long-term commitment or being elected president. Simply hang around after the meeting to help put away chairs, roll up cords, whatever is necessary. I guarantee people will learn your name and you will instantly become better acquainted with a greater number of people.
   
   If the group goes out afterwards, join them! Grab a bite to eat, or have a soda or a drink and join the conversation. Some of the best learning experiences happen outside of the actual classroom and who knows . . . you may even make a new friend or two. Some of my closest friends are people I've met through professional photographic associations.
   
   
5. Step outside of your comfort zone by pushing yourself to achieve new heights.
   Become a Certified Professional Photographer. Work toward a PPA degree. Set a goal of creating one new image per session by not following the same "mental checklist" you always use.
   
   If you're feeling really adventurous, single out one area where you feel really proficient and participate in a discussion or <gasp> give a program on that subject.
   
   - Why?: Why not? it's all about learning, growing, paying it forward and setting yourself apart from the crowd.

David Grupa, CPP, M.Photog.Cr., AFS-MNPPA owns David Grupa Portrait in Maplewood, MN. A true believer in the power of professional associations, he is a Past-President of both the TCPPA and MNPPA and serves PPA members in Minnesota as a Councilor. In his desire to "pay it forward" in the photographic industry, he founded Camp David Photographic Education. www.CampDavidPhoto.com

Get Involved in Your PPA Affiliate Groups; You Won't Be Sorry!

If you're a regular reader, you're already aware of my belief in what professional associations do for your business. My active membership and continued participation in these groups has also enhanced my personal life as well, creating some amazing relationships and friendships.

Every year, the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) takes time to honor those who volunteer their services and efforts in the name of bettering the organization. In 1958, PPA created the National Award to recognize and thank these individuals whose support for photography goes far beyond normal expectations or contributions.

Last week during the 2011 Northern Light Convention awards, I was honored with the PPA National Award from the Northern Light Association. (That's PPA President don Dickson and Northern Light President Mike Aulie presenting the award to me.) It is a very humbling experience to be publicly presented with such an award simply for doing what you love. To stand with those who have received the award before me - people who I respect for what they do and have meant to me - is an unforgettable experience.

I truly encourage each of you to dig a bit deeper and get involved in your own PPA Affiliate group. If you're not a member, join today! (CLICK HERE for a list of PPA Affiliate Groups in your area.)

If you are already a member, I'm going to share 4 simple words that will open doors and get you a bit more involved without making any huge commitments. Arrive a bit early to help set up, stay a few minutes afterwards to help clean up or any little job along the way and I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked.

It worked for me.

- David Grupa

A Camp David Minute; PPA's Studio Management Services Get You On Track!

We are already over a month into 2011; during the past 4 weeks many of the conversations I've had with photographers revolve around getting their business started on the right foot. Marketing, pricing, selecting a business model and setting up the accounting and bookkeeping systems for a business are things from which many photographers shy away. Being the creative type, we don't always gravitate toward the numbers and often end up running the business based on the current balance in the checkbook.

One of the great things about being a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is that your membership dollars are hard at work for YOU, the member photographer! Taking advantage of the Studio Management Services (SMS) program will put you in touch with the right people who will be able to guide you through the steps to operating a successful and profitable studio.

New Hampshire photographer Jeff Dachowski is a mentor for the SMS program and we chatted briefly during Imaging USA.

To learn more about PPA's Studio Management Services, visit the website.

www.PPA.com/studio-management-services

A Camp David Minute; Put The Power Of Numbers Behind Your Business!

Most of us are very similar in our studio operation, running sole-proprietor operations and doing much of the work ourselves. What if you could have the power of an entire organization behind you to offer educational opportunities from the best in the business? What if that same organization offered the ability to measure the quality of your work against other photographers across the globe?

Add to that discounts from major industry vendors, and representation in Washington DC covering areas such as Copyright and Health Care, along with an award-winning industry publication and you have the oldest, strongest member-owned photography association in the world. I caught up with the CEO of the Professional Photographers of America, David Trust, at Imaging USA.

Personally, I've been a PPA member for over 30 years and consider it the best investment I have ever made in my photographic career. Because of the people I've met and the friends and contacts I have made, I have taken my business to a new level.

Learn more about membership at PPA.com!

www.PPA.com/joinPPA

A Camp David Minute; Become a Certified Professional Photographer

Why Become a Certified Professional Photographer?

Your clients bring their taxes to a Certified Public Accountant and trust their automotive repairs to an ASE Certified Mechanic. Doctors, dentists and attorneys all passed certification exams before they could practice.

In this flood of new photographers, it is Certification that can set you apart from your competition!

Studies show that more consumers understand the term "certified" than any other designation. With it comes a degree of trust that not only leads a consumer to believe that the final product will be high-quality, but is an assurance of competency that will distinguish you from others not holding this important credential.

Using the Certified Professional Photographer logo on your business cards, website and marketing materials boldly identifies you as a photographer who has met the requirements for Certification and upholds the Standards of Conduct.

I chatted with the Professional Photographer Certification Commission's Heather Smith during Imaging USA. Watch our interview here:

Becoming a Certified Professional Photographer require you to complete 3 steps:

• Declaration of Candidacy
• Certification Exam
• Image Submission Review

The Declaration of Candidacy is your first step towards becoming a Certified Professional Photographer. Once you've declared your candidacy, you will have three years to successfully complete the two additional requirements: Image Submission Review and the Certification Exam.

The Certification Exam and Image Submission Review may be completed in any order — one may submit images for review before taking the written exam. If you do not complete all requirements during the three year period, your candidacy will end. You must re-apply, pay the appropriate fee, and re-start the process.

All Certified Professional Photographers must adhere to the Standards of Conduct for Certification, as outlined on the PPCC Website.

Certification Exams and Image Submission Reviews are scheduled periodically throughout the year at a variety of locations. Check the PPCC Website for dates and times.

www.CertifiedPhotographer.com

 

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Odds are you're as geared in to Social Media as the rest of the photographic community. You love your Facebook status, sharing photos online and tweeting your status to your loyal followers.

Since it's #FollowFriday (in Twitterspeak), why not give your favorite people some extra love by following them on Twitter? Add us to your Twitter feed and stay updated on all things new and exciting in the industry. You may even learn a few new tips and tricks to make your workflow (and life) go more smoothly!
Camp David Photo
Facebook www.Facebook.com/CampDavidPhoto 
Twitter @DavidGrupa

Kirsten Holscher - First Things First
Facebook www.Facebook.com/FirstThingsFirstCoach 
Twitter @FTF_Coach

NPC Lab (Northwest Professional Color)
Facebook www.Facebook.com/NPCLab 
Twitter @NPCLab

Professional Photographers of America 
Facebook www.Facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=2265674235 
Twitter@OurPPA

ImagingUSA 
Facebook www.facebook.com/ImagingUSA 
Twitter @ImagingUSA 

Northern Light Professional Photographers Assn 
Facebook www.Facebook.com/NorthernLightPPA 
Twitter@NorthernLightPP

All the links below are clickable . . . so take a minute to follow and like!

- David

Revisiting ImagingUSA - Part 3

Of course, the culmination of ImagingUSA is the Award and Degree Ceremony on Tuesday evening. Here, photographers from across the globe are honored for their achievements in an Academy Award-style presentation.

It is at this ceremony where photographers receive the coveted Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degree ribbons, earned for excellence in photography and sharing of knowledge through teaching and mentoring, respectively.

Earning a degree is a proud moment in the life of every professional photographer.

After the ceremony, we party . . . because it's all over until next year!

- David Grupa

Revisiting ImagingUSA - Part 2

One of the most awesome parts of ImagingUSA is the massive trade show. Vendors from all over with some of the latest and greatest products display here!

In addition to being one of the largest photographic toy stores in the world, it's a great place to learn. There are speakers giving mini-programs in many of the booths throughout the day, while other vendors give live demonstrations of the latest camera hardware, imaging software and creative accessories. A simple walk through the massive trade show floor can take hours to complete because there's so much to see!

If you take your time and keep an open ear, you can often chat with other photographers at the booths of their favorite vendors. This is an excellent time to ask questions and find out how others are utilizing some of the new and existing product lines.

All of this combines for yet another solid reason to plan for next year's ImagingUSA. In the meantime, check out your regional, state and local associations to keep your appetite for new information well-fed!

- David Grupa

Revisiting ImagingUSA - Part 1

ImagingUSA was an incredible experience. The 2011 Event in San Antonio broke records for attendees and also featured the largest Trade Show in IUSA history!

During the course of IUSA we took the opportunity to chat with some friends and check out a number of things. Take a peek at the videos over the coming days and relive some of the fun from ImagingUSA 2011!

ImagingUSA is the place to be!

You've heard all about it. You've probably even considered giving it a shot, but for whatever reason, you're sitting home reading this on your computer screen while we're down here in San Antonio, host city for ImagingUSA 2011.

PPA (www.ppa.com) members from all over the world are gathered here this weekend to take part in what is the largest, longest running photographic exhibition under one roof. There are opportunities for education in both classroom and tradeshow settings, a huge trade show of vendors featuring photographic products of all types and of course, fellowship and fun. Three of the Camp David crew are down here this week learning new tips and tricks to bring back to our own studios.

You can see what you're missing at www.ImagingUSA.org

Professional associations are well worth your membership investment because of the educational and networking opportunities they bring. PPA is no different; this the oldest and largest photographic association in the world, serving photographers since 1869. It's member-owned, so your dues money goes into providing benefits for YOU, the member.

Want more info on PPA, or state and local organizations? Drop a note here and we'll get you pointed in the right direction!

Stay tuned for more fun from ImagingUSA and some of the phenomenal people here . . . you'll love what's coming in the near future!

Gotta run . . . early class tomorrow!

- David Grupa

Make your resolutions for the New Year, both personal and professional.

We all make New Year's resolutions. Some of them seem simple enough, while others are a bit more long-term and will require some dedication and effort.

Personally, I have stopped making resolutions unless they are realistic, measurable and attainable. This applies to both personal and professional goals!

For example, I'd like to drop 10 pounds. In order to do this, I know that I have to watch what I put in my body. Avoiding fast-food, soda and other convenience foods will help me attain this goal. For me, 10 pounds is both realistic and measurable. Simply saying "lose weight" isn't enough; I need to draw a line and know the boundary.

A number of my professional "must accomplish" items include educating new photographers, not only in photographic skills, but in the business arena as well. There are lots of newer shooters who won't make it out of 2011 because they do not charge appropriately for their product and will not be able to sustain a viable and successful business.

I am also a huge believer in Professional Associations (PPA, MNPPA, TCPPA). While there are loads of places to gain info in books or online, there is nothing that beats what one can learn in a seminar or by networking personally with other photographers. Promoting membership in these associations is another "must accomplish" item for me.

Last year was the first for Camp David; our first effort was a great success. This year we have more things planned, beginning with opening-day programs at the 2011 Northern Light Convention. We hope you'll join us in the coming year (check out Camp David Photo on FB.)

It's become somewhat of a soapbox thing for me, but we're all in this industry together. We've chosen to make a living doing something we love, so I will continue to invest more time educating photographers on doing a better job in their business, pricing and marketing skills so that all of us may continue to enjoy photography as a rewarding profession!


- David Grupa