How to Add Your Facebook "Fan Page" Link to the New Profile

If you're like me, you love Facebook. It's a great tool for business, not to mention keeping up with friends and family who are scattered across the globe.

Like so many technology-related items, Facebook is constantly evolving. Much to the chagrin of some users, Facebook began rolling out the "new profile" the past December. In an effort to make some areas more "user friendly", a few key items were changed or eliminated.

One such change was the addition of a "Company Page" when you completed the "employment" section of the profile. Some users seamlessly transitioned into existing employer pages, while others had difficulty linking to their existing business "Fan Page". For many, the visual of the generic briefcase was as far as they could get.

To end this frustration, Social Media expert and blogger Ching Ya created a workaround. Although the process has a few steps, it took me about 15 minutes to complete the change and successfully link my existing "Fan Page" to my personal profile.

If you're among those who need to perform this workaround, follow the instructions at Ching Ya's Social Media Blog.

http://www.wchingya.com/2010/10/official-facebook-page-employer-link.html

Happy Facebooking!

- 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

Stock20; Great Royalty Free Music for Website and Slideshows!

As professionals in the media industry, we often have need for great music for our websites, slideshows and other endeavors. However, as much as we like it, it's not legal to use popular music (ie: the stuff you have on your CDs or hear on the radio) on any product we produce unless we have an ASCAP or BMI license, or have paid for reproduction rights.

If you're like me and have ever attempted to do that, you know what a complete runaround and hassle it can be. Ugh.

Enter the music professionals at Stock20. Stock20.com creates high quality music for media production. If you create a free account using the link below, they will give you one free song. Best of all, their music is highly affordable. Stock20 even offers discounts when you purchase entire collections.

Here's one last tip: Until this Wednesday, February 9th, Stock20 is offering their entire catalog of music on disk for just $249. That's over 170 songs, each song in a variety of lengths. You read that right . . . no more editing a song, or having it cut out in a spot that just isn't right. You'll get 7-10 tracks of each song in a variety of times. One more reason I love these guys.

Since there have been questions about this type of thing recently, I wanted to toss out a solution. When I received the sale notice in email today, I had to pass it along.

Even if you don't need all of that music, go ahead and get your free song just for visiting Stock20's site. One caution . . . there are so many cool tunes, you could spend all day listening!

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE SONG

Vote For NILMDTS to receive this generous donation!

Ok friends . . . I need 2 minutes of your time. Please click the link below and cast your vote for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. We are in the running to receive this donation from "The Mommies Network"; it would mean a great deal to our organization and the service we provide . . . hurry, voting ends Saturday, February 5th!

If you'd like more info on Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, please check it their website. I am a volunteer photographer for this very worthwhile organization that provides photographic services to families suffering the loss of a child.

Your vote does count!!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

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

An Open Letter To Photographers From Northern Light President, Mike Aulie

Feb. 2, 2011

Greetings!   As your Northern Light President, I hope to see all of you at the convention Feb. 26-Mar. 1 at Breezy Point.

However, I have another event I would like you to consider.

An Appeal to Do Something for Our Troops

Sometime later this spring, some 750 troops from the Midwest are scheduled to be deployed for overseas duty.  They will be at Cragun's on Gull Lake with their families for workshops and some fun on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26 and 27. (Yes, that is the first two days of the convention.)

Last summer, we made a contact with people involved in planning and suggested that we might be able to provide several stations manned by professional photographers to take family portraits and provide them with a free 5x7.  At that time, no date had been set...until now.

Cragun's is located on Gull Lake, about a half hour drive from the convention site at Breezy Point on Pelican Lake.

Basically, it would work like this:  We will have four shooting bays with lights and backgrounds already setup. Photos would be taken between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. It would flow sort of like prom pictures - taking an ID image using  a whiteboard and then 3-4 shots of each family - no breakdowns or extras.

We would like to have a number of photographers involved that would be willing to work shifts of 2-3 hours.  They would need to bring their own camera and flash cards which would be returned to them as soon as the images are downloaded. It would be good for each station to have one or two assistants to help register and pose the families.

If you're coming to the convention (or even if you're not) and would be interested in helping out with this project, please email me at sothers@integra.net by this Friday, Feb. 4th. We need to know if we will have enough photographers to make it work, or we will have to cancel out.

Because several people will be busy getting the convention going, I am also looking for a project manager that could coordinate and oversee this event.  Let me know if anyone is willing to take this on.

As I mentioned, it looks like we have the lights we will need (dual umbrellas for each station). However, it has been suggested that we use some sort of backgrounds with flags or patriotic themes.  If you have such a background that could be used for the weekend, please let me know that as well.

I know that it is inconvenient for this to fall on the same weekend as the convention, but it is one way for us to give back to our troops for the all that they give and do for us.  And, while it may be inconvenient for us, it is much more inconvenient for them to be separated from their families for a year or more including the holidays.

Please let me know if you are willing to help.

Mike Aulie
Northern Light President
218-829-6249
sothers@integra.net

Register for Convention

David Grupa Named NILMDTS February Volunteer of the Month

 

David Grupa
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Volunteer of the Month
February 2011

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Volunteer of the Month for February is David Grupa from Maplewood, Minnesota. David has been a NILMDTS photographer since 2006 and is also a Membership Application Committee (MAC) Member.

David was nominated by Area Coordinator Sheri Wegner for his continued dedication to taking sessions and serving as a continuous reminder that this truly does help families. For example, this past Christmas Eve David took 3 NILMDTS sessions.

"It took most of his day at two different hospitals. He was called for one, sent on a second and took the third because he was already at the hospital for the 2nd session so a different photographer was spared. That was pretty remarkable," stated Wegner.

Mary Louise Delano, Area Coordinator and MAC member, says, "David has always been willing to help me out if I needed technical advice, needed to talk about an applicant or just to chat. He is a true asset to NILMDTS."

Additionally, Vicki Zoller, Area Coordinator and MAC member, says, "Being a part of NILMDTS has allowed me to make some amazing new friends all over the world. David is one of those! We both serve on the MAC team and his expertise in photography, professional demeanor and great sense of humor help to make our tasks easier and certainly more enjoyable. It takes commitment to run a studio/business, to teach, to volunteer as a photographer, as well as a MAC member, and still bring quality to all those tasks! Not many are capable of that, but David is! Congratulations David on VOM. It is well deserved and definitely earned!"

From our headquarters office, "Thank you David and all of our other wonderful volunteers who helped families in need during the holidays. We know this means that you are away from your own families and guests and we so appreciate you taking the time to help others. The heart to serve, commitment to the NILMDTS mission, and dedication by our volunteers over the holidays is remarkable!"

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, IRS EIN# 77-0656322.
All proceeds go directly into the operation of this organization to help parents who are experiencing an early infant loss.

©Copyright 2011 NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP