Professional Photographer March 2009

©Julie Klaasmeyer

MARCH 2009 | WWW.PPMAG.COM | $4.95

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save? How much could you N MERIDIATED QTY

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.29 .99 1.39 2.49 4.99 3.99

10 X 20 11 X 14

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4

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1

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Nick Didlick on location at the Great Wall in Beijing using a Nikon D700™ and a Lexar Professional UDMA 300x CompactFlash card.

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P ROF E S S I ONA L

EDITORIAL

director of publications

CAMERON BISHOPP [email protected]

One hot issue

senior editor

art director/production manager

JOAN SHERWOOD [email protected]

DEBBIE TODD [email protected]

10 YEARS AND COUNTING

features editor

I have to tell you, you’re holding a pretty exciting issue of PP. In it,

LESLIE HUNT [email protected]

manager, publications and sales/strategic alliances

we mark the 10th anniversary of the Hot One Awards, our annual

editor-at-large

review of the best products of the past year. Much has changed since the 1999 Hot One Awards. Reviewing those first winners in each category is a step back in time to an era when digital was in its infancy. Tied for Best Professional SLR were

KARISA GILMER [email protected] sales and marketing assistant

JEFF KENT [email protected]

CHERYL PEARSON [email protected]

technical editors

circulation

ANDREW RODNEY, ELLIS VENER, DON CHICK

MOLLIE O’SHEA [email protected]

the Kodak Professional DCS 330 and the Nikon D1. The DCS 330, which sold for about $4,500, boasted 3-megapixel resolution, while the D1, at $5,580, featured a 2.74-megapixel CCD sensor with 2,000x1,312-pixel resolution. This year we have another tie for best digital SLR (priced under $1,000), the Canon EOS Rebel XSi and the Nikon D90—the more powerful, more precise, lower-priced progeny of their digital forebears. Some things haven’t changed so drastically. Adobe Photoshop 5.5 earned the top spot in the Retouching Software category, Successware Pro in the Studio Management Software category. In a remarkable coincidence, Dean Collins’

MANY THANKS TO OUR 2009 HOT ONE JUDGES Shawn Barnett Trista Blouin Jeff Dachowski Jim DiVitale Tim Grey Mark Levesque Bryan Linden Garrett Nudd Sarah Petty Vicki Popwell Allison Rodgers Jeff Rodgers Dane Sanders David Schwartz Ellis Vener Geoff White Liliana Wright Pete Wright Judges did not vote in categories in which they had any professional or personal affiliations or partnerships.

4 • www.ppmag.com

1999 instructional videos won a Hot One, and this year the award for best DVD educational resource goes to “3 Dimensional Contrast,” Software Cinema’s update of one of the late Collins’ training videos. That’s a testament to the timeless value of his comprehensive instruction on light control. This year’s Hot Ones were our biggest ever, drawing more than 325 product entries from 180 companies. That’s a daunting pile of reviewing and judging to do, and for that we have to sincerely thank our 18 judges, a team of independent practicing professional photographers (see box). And of course, an old school huzzah to our tireless Hot One editor, Jeff Kent, for all his hard work in researching, writing, cajoling, organizing and pleading. He’s got it down to an art form. Cameron Bishopp [email protected] Director of Publications

director of sales and strategic alliances

SCOTT HERSH 610-966-2466; [email protected] western region ad manager

eastern region ad manager

BART ENGELS 847-854-8182; [email protected]

SHELLIE JOHNSON 404-522-8600, x279; [email protected]

editorial offices

Professional Photographer 229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303-1608 U.S.A. 404-522-8600; FAX: 404-614-6406 Professional Photographer (ISSN 1528-5286) is published monthly subscriptions

Professional Photographer P.O. Box 2035, Skokie, IL 60076; 800-742-7468; FAX 404-614-6406; email: [email protected]; Web site: www.ppmag.com member services

PPA - Professional Photographer 800-786-6277; FAX 301-953-2838; e-mail: [email protected]; www.ppa.com Send all advertising materials to: Debbie Todd, Professional Photographer, 5431 E. Garnet, Mesa, AZ 85206; 480-807-4391; FAX: 480-807-4509 Subscription rates/information: U.S.: $27, one year; $45, two years; $66, three years. Canada: $43, one year; $73, two years; $108, three years. International: $39.95, one year digital subscription. Back issues/Single copies $7 U.S.; $10 Canada; $15 International. PPA membership includes $13.50 annual subscription. Subscription orders/changes: Send to Professional Photographer, Attn: Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 2035, Skokie, IL 60076; 800-742-7468; FAX 404-614-6406; email: [email protected]; Web site: www.ppmag.com. Periodicals postage paid in Atlanta, Ga., and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Professional Photographer magazine, P.O. Box 2035, Skokie, IL 60076 Copyright 2009, PPA Publications & Events, Inc. Printed in U.S.A. Article reprints: Contact Professional Photographer reprint coordinator at Wright’s Reprints; 1-877-652-5295. Microfilm copies: University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Professional Photographer (ISSN 1528-5286) is published monthly for $27 per year by PPA Publications and Events, Inc., 229 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 2200, International Tower, Atlanta, GA 30303-1608. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, Ga., and additional mailing offices. Acceptance of advertising does not carry with it endorsement by the publisher. Opinions expressed by Professional Photographer or any of its authors do not necessarily reflect positions of Professional Photographers of America, Inc. Professional Photographer, official journal of the Professional Photographers of America, Inc., is the oldest exclusively professional photographic publication in the Western Hemisphere (founded 1907 by Charles Abel, Hon.M.Photog.), incorporating Abel’s Photographic Weekly, St. Louis & Canadian Photographer, The Commercial Photographer, The National Photographer, Professional Photographer, and Professional Photographer Storytellers. Circulation audited and verified by BPA Worldwide.

CONTENTS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER MARCH 2009

Features 54

10TH ANNUAL HOT ONE AWARDS Our 10th annual Hot One Awards recognizing the year’s best products

70

JULIE’S REVOLUTION

Julie Klaasmeyer builds a successful business for all the right reasons By Jeff Kent

80

DIAMONDS . . . FOREVER

PPA’s Diamond Photographers of the Year earn honor of a lifetime Compiled by Jeff Kent IMAGE BY DON CHICK

CONTENTS

92

CALENDAR

97

PPA TODAY

114

GOOD WORKS

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER | MARCH 2009 | WWW.PPMAG.COM ©George Steinmetz

Departments C O N TA C T S H E E T 16 George Steinmetz reinvents

aerial photography by Lorna Gentry 20 Eric Mull: The sky’s the limit 21

2009 cover contest underway

22 PPA member wins portfolio review

at IUSA with Anne Geddes

PROFIT CENTER 25 What I think: Neia Frank 26 Trademark 101, Part 2:

The value of registering trademarks by Samuel Lewis 32 Managing & hiring people

by Tamara Lackey

THE GOODS 35 What I like: Sam Gray 36 Kiss of light:

Accent lighting for portraiture by Don Chick 42 Pro review:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II by Ron Eggers 46 Software:

16

Raster image processors by Andrew Darlow 50 Pro review: Imagenomic Portraiture 2

by Don Chick

George Steinmetz flies a motorized paraglider over Africa to capture images unlike any

others. His aerial photographs show areas of the continent that were previously inaccessible,

ON THE COVER: Julie Klaasmeyer puts her heart— and her imagination—into child and family portraiture. Her creativity spilled over into a second business, a joint venture in crafting themed props and specialty items for other photographers.

including the Empty Quarter, with a climate and landscape Steinmetz compares to Mars. Cover image retouching by Versatile Studios New York.

8 • www.ppmag.com

CA M

YO UR IT W IN C PERF ECT SYN

H

N OW

A! R E

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MICHAEL GAN M.Photog.Cr., CPP [email protected]

Professional Photographers of America 229 Peachtree St., NE, Suite 2200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1608 404-522-8600; 800-786-6277 FAX: 404-614-6400 www.ppa.com

2009-2010 PPA board president *RON NICHOLS M.Photog.Cr., API [email protected] vice president *LOUIS TONSMEIRE Cr.Photog., API [email protected] treasurer *DON DICKSON M.Photog.Cr., CPP [email protected]

legal counsel Howe and Hutton, Chicago

PPA staff DAVID TRUST Chief Executive Officer [email protected] SCOTT KURKIAN Chief Financial Officer [email protected] CAMERON BISHOPP Director of Publications [email protected]

chairman of the board *DENNIS CRAFT M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP, API, F-ASP [email protected]

DANA REEVES Director of Marketing & Communications [email protected]

directors SANDY (SAM) PUC’ M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI [email protected]

SCOTT HERSH Director of Sales & Strategic Alliances [email protected]

RALPH ROMAGUERA SR. M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API, F-ASP [email protected]

WILDA OKEN Director of Administration [email protected]

CAROL ANDREWS M.Photog.Cr., ABI [email protected]

COREY B. SHELTON Director, Web Strategy & Development [email protected]

SUSAN MICHAL M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI [email protected] TIMOTHY WALDEN M.Photog.Cr., F-ASP [email protected] DOUG BOX M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API [email protected] DON MACGREGOR M.Photog.Cr., API [email protected]

12 • www.ppmag.com

industry advisor KEVIN CASEY [email protected]

LENORE TAFFEL Director of Events/Education [email protected] BING ZENG PPA China Managing Director [email protected] SANDRA LANG Executive Assistant [email protected] *Executive Committee

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After 5 years of sharing my prots with a commission-based proong company, I nally said ‘no more.’ I now have that money to invest back in my own studio. And that, of course, means more for both me and my clients. David Salomone (PickPic’er since November 10, 2007)

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46: Top industry honors awarded to the D3 and D300. 0: Competing cameras that even come close. *

Over 45 Million NIKKOR® Lenses Produced.

D3 AMERICAN PHOTO: Editor’s Choice, “Camera of the Year” in the Pro DSLR category - June 2008 CAMERA PRESS CLUB (Japan): Camera Grand Prix 2008 Award & Best Camera Award Rank #1 - May 2008 EISA (Europe): European Professional Camera 2008 - 2009 TIPA (Europe): Best D-SLR Professional in Europe 2008 CNET: Editors’ Choice Award - August 2008 CNET CHINA: 2007 IT Product Excellence Award ENGADGET.COM: Editors’ Choice Award 2007 & Readers’ Choice Award 2007 JAPAN CAMERA (Japan): Camera of the Year 2007 - 2008 #1 Digital Camera AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER (UK): Product of the Year Award 2008 High End Digital SLR Category DIGI MAGAZINE (Hong Kong): Digi Annual Award in 2007 “The Best Top Class DSLR” IT 168 (China): 2007 Product of the Year Innovation PC MAGAZINE (China): 2007 Outstanding Product PC HOME (China): 2007 Outstanding Product

D300 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY: “Camera of the Year” Award - December 2007 CNET: Editors’ Choice Award - January 2008 AMERICAN PHOTO: Editor’s Choice - BEST BUY for Pro DSLRs - June 2008 CAMERA PRESS CLUB: Camera Grand Prix 2008 Awards - Rank #2 - May 2008 TIPA (Europe): Best D-SLR Professional in Europe - April 2008 DPREVIEW.COM: “Highly Recommended”- January 2008 IMAGING-RESOURCE.COM: Dave’s Pick - February 2008 LAPTOP MAGAZINE: Editors Choice - January 2008 MACLIFE: Editors’ Choice - April 2008 PCPHOTO MAGAZINE: 2008 Editor’s Choice Awards - December 2007 TRUSTEDREVIEWS.COM: Editor’s Choice Award - February 2008 DIGI-MONO STATION (Japan): Digital Product of the Year D-SLR Division - 2007 PHOTOXELS.COM: Editor’s Choice 2008 - Advanced DSLR Since the beginning of 2007, our D3 and D300 cameras have collected an unprecedented array of honors from around the world – 46 to be exact, many of which are listed above. Now, it’s your turn to find out what makes these two D-SLRs so special. Learn more at nikonusa.com Upload, organize and share your pictures online at mypicturetown.com “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Digital SLR Cameras, Two Years in a Row, Tied in 2008.” Nikon D Series received the highest numerical score among digital SLR cameras in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2007-2008 Digital Camera Satisfaction Studies tied in 2008. 2008 study based on 8,099 total responses measuring 8 product lines and measures opinions of consumers who purchased a digital camera in the previous 12 months. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in June-July 2008. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com SM

*Among Digital SLR cameras with an MSRP of $1,960.00 to $7,999.00 announced as of August 2007. D3 and D300 are registered trademarks of Nikon Corporation. ©2008 Nikon Inc. TM

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CONTACT SHEET What’s New, Cool Events, Interesting People, Great Ideas, Etc.

Adventure + photography George Steinmetz reinvents aerial photography BY LORNA GENTRY

All images ©George Steinmetz

“If you want the picture, you do what you have to do,” says George Steinmetz, an award-winning photographer based in Glen Ridge, N.J., who was recently named one of the top 10 adventurers of 2008 by National Geographic Adventure magazine. Getting the best shot possible often requires Steinmetz to be both inventive and brave. In November 2008, Steinmetz published his first book, “African Air” (Abrams), a collection of spectacular aerial photographs made over a dozen years. He’d been photographing Africa for nearly 30 years, but it wasn’t until

file sizes with Canon are so huge, with

Abrams this fall. Situated mostly in Saudi

1996 that Steinmetz began photographing

plenty of grain, that if I want a panoramic I

Arabia, the region also extends into areas of

the continent from small airplanes. The

just crop the original. It’s almost like

the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.

speed and limited flexibility of the planes

shooting medium format,” he says.

didn’t allow him to get the pictures he

Steinmetz has been a National Geographic

Flying his paraglider through the Empty Quarter enabled Steinmetz to go places pre-

envisioned, so Steinmetz figured out how to

magazine photographer since 1987, and is a

viously unreachable. “It’s one of the most

bend air transportation for photography: he

regular contributor to GEO magazine. In

extreme climates on the planet, like Mars on

learned to fly a motorized paraglider.

2006 he received a grant from the National

Earth.” And it’s not just the terrain that’s

Science Foundation to photograph Antarctica.

harsh. “At one point in Saudi Arabia, I was

disassembled form fits into three duffle

These days he does two to three long-term

chased by a Jeep with a machine gun

bags. A 65-pound motor in a backpack

photography projects a year. He’s been photo-

mounted on the back,” he recalls.

connects to a single-seat harness that’s

graphing deserts for several years, and is

attached to a soft, curved wing akin to an

working on a book on the vast region known

aerobatic parachute. It’s a slow—about 30

as the Empty Quarter, to be published by

The aircraft is so compact that its

mph—relatively quiet and steady craft that can dip as low as 50 feet above the ground and soar as high as 6,000; Steinmetz feels safest at 200 feet. To steer, he pulls on Kevlar brake lines and leans in the desired direction. An altimeter and a GPS device are strapped to his thighs, a radio inside his helmet. Onboard storage capacity is limited to two zipped pouches attached to the harness, so Steinmetz’s camera gear is minimal. He carries a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and two lenses, a 24-105mm f/4 standard zoom and a 16-35mm f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom. For most of his career he used film, but he’s hardly nostalgic. For one thing, digital means traveling lighter. “I used to travel with two bodies, one of them a panoramic. But the

To see more of George Steinmetz’s photography, visit his website: www.georgesteinmetz.com. Lorna Gentry is a freelance writer in Atlanta.

JB & DeEtte Sallee | Sallee Photography International Photographers of the Year (PPA) 2006, 2007, 2008

7E!RE3ALLEE0HOTOGRAPHY 7E!RE0ASSIONATE We find so much passion during bridal portrait sessions. When you are given ample time with a woman that is looking the best she has ever looked, in the most exquisite dress she has ever worn, there is inspiration as an artist to create something unique and artistic for her. Our ideal client is the person that loves every creative idea we offer, is open to anything at the drop of a dime, and that expects something more from us than we have ever given anyone else. These are the clients that drive us to be artists. 7E!RE)NSPIRED We love to travel with any spare time that we have. JB is embarking on a twentycity Photoshop tour starting in March, meeting photographers from all around the country. We have found that by taking ourselves out of the grind of everyday life we see the world around us in a different light. We come home refreshed and inspired with new ideas to take our work in different directions. We enjoy helping other professional photographers “Shoot Better, Design Faster, and Love Life!”



7EARE!RTISTS. We offer 2.5” Gallery Wraps from Miller’s. They sell themselves. On the wall in our gallery, we have nothing but Miller’s Gallery Wraps. They give the statement that we are artists, and they allow our work to speak for itself.



7E!RE$IFFERENT Our style is best described as “different.” Every bride we work with is unique, and every shot we take is different than the last. We have developed a dramatic look and a colorful style that not only brides love, but more importantly, that we enjoy creating. Pushing ourselves to create that magical image or story albums for our clients. 7E!RE-ILLER´S Our lab is Miller’s Professional Imaging because we Expect More.

%XPECT-ORE

To see how DeEtte and JB use Miller’s to grow their studio, please visit www.millerslab.com/Sallee. For more information on the Sallee Photoshop Tour, visit www.iPhotoshopPeopleTour.com.

CONTACT SHEET

The sky’s the limit Eric Mull turns his perspective sideways to photograph America’s tallest building l BY JEFF KENT Skyscrapers are part

Using a medium-format Fujifilm GX617

of the American

panoramic camera turned on its side, he

identity. From the

made two images in black and white, and

Empire State Building

later made a 5-foot print of one of them.

to the Transamerica

When he hung the print in his living room,

Pyramid, tall soaring

he thought, “That’s it. That’s my book.”

buildings have defined

Mull got a list of the 50 tallest buildings in

the skylines of

the United States and began traveling

American cities for

around to photograph them. He stuck with

more than a century.

the vertical orientation of the panoramic

Though the world’s

camera to create unique images that

tallest building now

capture the full majesty of the skyscrapers.

looms abroad,

“Ninety percent of the panoramic images

America will forever

I’ve seen are horizontal,” says Mull. “I

hold sway as the

wanted to do a panoramic book that was

home of the

different, and the vertical format offered

skyscraper.

that opportunity. The challenge was

The mystique of the nation’s skyscrapers intrigued Cleveland-based

finding a subject matter that worked well in that format. Skyscrapers were perfect.” The project was a departure from his usual work as a fashion and editorial

photographer Eric Mull enough to create a

photographer. Instead of directing

new book about our tallest towers. Over

everything, Mull enjoyed the challenge of

the course of a year and a half, he traveled

photographing inanimate subjects that he

to 17 different cities to photograph the 51

couldn’t pose, in environments he couldn’t

loftiest buildings in the United States. His

change. “My day-to-day business is people

images document nearly 100 years of

photography,” says Mull. “I control the

architectural achievement in urban America,

situation, the lighting, the clothing and the

including the 1913 Woolworth Building in

posing. I have to make all the decisions. It

New York and its Manhattan neighbor, the

was a refreshing change to deal with just

2007 New York Times Building. The

what you’re given to work with, to adapt to

images crisscross the country, from the

the environment, rather than trying to

Aon Center in Los Angeles to Hancock

control the situation.”

Place in Boston, and they showcase the

Self-published and funded entirely by Mull,

work of architects such as I.M. Pei, Cesar

American Skyscraper is available for purchase

Pelli and Philip Johnson.

at www.theamericanskyscraper.com.

Fascinated with city skylines since his youth, Mull came up with the idea for the book after photographing the Empire State Building during a 2003 trip to New York.

20 • www.ppmag.com

For more on Eric Mull, visit www.ericmull.com.

All images ©Eric Mull

©Heather Smith

2009 cover contest underway Professional Photographer’s second annual cover photo contest begins March 1 Beginning March 1, 2009, you’re invited to

releases on file from any subjects pictured in

submit photographs for a chance to have

the image.

your image featured on our cover. Just one

Prizes will be awarded to second-, third-,

talented photographer will see his or her

fourth- and fifth-place winners, and as

image published on the cover of a 2009

many as 25 entrants will receive prizes and

issue of Professional Photographer.

an honorable mention.

We’re looking for an image that is representative of the work you sell to your

HOW TO ENTER

clients—portraits, weddings, commercial,

Go to www.ppmag.com to enter and for

sports, events, etc. Images will be judged on

official rules. Only digital files uploaded at

technical and artistic merit.

www.ppmag.com will be accepted. Mailed

Due to the more than 50,000 entries received last year, entries for this year’s contest will be limited to one image per entrant. All work submitted must be previously unpublished and original, with written

GO TO G.COM .PPMA WWW ER T TO EN

print images and e-mailed electronic images will not be accepted. Specifications: Submit low-resolution

not be more than 250k. A high-resolution, print-

images only, in standard digital formats

quality version (300ppi at 9x12 inches)

such as JPEG, TIFF and PDF. Images

must be available for each image. The

should be 525x700 pixels; file size should

submission deadline is June 1, 2009.

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 21

CONTACT SHEET

Lessons in simplicity

airfare to Phoenix for Imaging USA, two

PPA member wins portfolio review at IUSA with Anne Geddes

at first,” says Frank. “When I finally under-

nights hotel stay and a 45-minute portfolio review with Anne Geddes. “I didn’t believe it stood that I’d won, I was so excited that I actually started to scream on the phone!” In Phoenix, Geddes and Frank ended up talking for nearly two hours. “Anne reinforced many of my beliefs about the pressure we photographers place on ourselves with respect to technology,” says Frank. “She talked about how the simplicity of a good image can get lost because you are so focused on trying to keep up with technology. Photography is not about that. We tend to lose our perspective because we’re so worried about techniques and products. The best images are created with our eyes and our hearts, not Photoshop or top-of-the-line cameras. To create beautiful images, we need to empathize and

©Dan Steinhardt

connect with our subjects.” Geddes discussed some of the technical details relating to Frank’s images, but the conversation kept coming back to vision, a Epson America contest winner Neia Frank sits with Anne Geddes during Frank's one-on-one portfolio review at Imaging USA 2009.

photographer’s unique and personal gift. “Anne stressed how important it is to be original and to never, ever stop dreaming,”

When you speak with Neia Frank, you can’t

rapher Anne Geddes. “The page just came

says Frank. “It is so important for a photog-

help but notice her incredible enthusiasm for

up in front of me,” remembers Frank. “It

rapher to have a vision, she told me. You have

photography. Born in Brazil, the Coral

said, ‘Would you like to win a portfolio review

to be confident always. You need to find

Springs, Fla., resident discovered

with Anne Geddes at Imaging USA?’ I thought,

your niche, follow it, and believe in yourself.

photography as a 27-year-old mom with a

yes! I have never had a portfolio review. To

That’s how you find success.” —Jeff Kent

new baby. Smitten by her young son, Frank

have one from someone who shares my love

started photographing him obsessively, creat-

of photographing babies would be fun!”

To see more from Neia Frank, visit www.neiaimages.com.

ing surprisingly artistic images with a simple

Sponsored by Epson America, the contest

point-and-shoot camera. She decided to pursue

called for photographers to submit their

the art more seriously, and enrolled in seminars,

websites for consideration. Out of the total

sought online education, and eventually opened

pool of entries, 300 sites were randomly

a humble garage studio on the side of her town

selected for consideration. A judging team led

home. As word spread about her striking

by Helen Yancy, M.Photog.M.Artist.MEI.Cr.,

imagery, Frank expanded into a house that she

Hon.M.Photog., CPP, F-ASP, and the PPA

converted into a proper studio. In 2004, she

Print Exhibition Committee then selected a

officially launched Neia Fine Art Photography,

grand, first, second and third prize winner

a high-end, low-volume portrait business.

from that group.

Last fall, while researching business insur-

Last December, an Epson representative

ance on PPA.com, Frank came across a contest

called Frank to let her know that she’d won

for a portfolio review with famed baby photog-

the grand prize, which included roundtrip

22 • www.ppmag.com

“She talked about how the simplicity of a good image can get lost because you are so focused on trying to keep up with technology. ” —NEIA FRANK

zenfolio meets mpix.

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Business, Marketing and Sales Strategies

What I think Neia Frank combines passion with cool-headed business savvy What do you wish you knew when you were first starting out? I wish I’d known more about the business and marketing aspect. Those elements required so much of my time in the beginning. Well, they still do today! What was your big break—the turning point? The turning point was at my first photography class with New York photographer Ross Whitaker. He called me up in front of a full classroom to discuss the images I had shot for a class assignment. I was so nervous, but he told me I needed to get a website and start selling my work. That was a big confidence booster. What are you doing to keep business going in a slow economy? Staying involved in the community and networking, and I just joined my local chamber of commerce. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned about running a photography business? From the creation of my work to its delivery, customer service is everything. IMAGE BY NEIA FRANK WWW.NEIAIMAGES.COM

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 25

PROFIT CENTER

SAMUEL LEWIS

Trademark law 101, Part 2: Determining if it’s worth the time and money to register your trademark.

The value of registering trademarks

your trademark in order to begin using and acquiring rights to the trademark, only those with federally registered trademarks are permitted to use the registration symbol. Under certain circumstances, the unauthorized use of the registration symbol could

Last month we looked at trademarks in

presumptions, including that the registration

actually prevent you from registering the

general, and how to clear one for your exclusive

is valid. It also presumes that the trademark

trademark. If you have any questions about

use. The next consideration is whether or

has a secondary meaning (e.g., the ability to

the proper use of the registration symbol,

not to register your trademark. Unlike many

identify a given source of goods or services),

consult a trademark lawyer.

countries, in the United States, you are not

and can therefore function as a trademark.

required to register your trademark in order to

This is particularly important if you ever need

your application for registration is pending,

begin using it, or to acquire rights to it.

to enforce your trademark rights. Without this

you can use the trademark (TM) or service

presumption, the trademark owner is respon-

mark (SM) symbols. These symbols are most

and acquiring rights to a trademark without

sible for proving that the trademark can be

commonly used by companies that have filed

even realizing they’ve secured them. Wedding

protected, the cost of which can far outweigh

an application for registration. They may also

photographer Shannon Norton, owner of

the cost of registration and related fees.

be used when the owner of the mark is aware

In fact, many businesses end up using

• REMEDIES. The owner of a federally

Model Bride Photography in Lehi, Utah,

If your trademark is not registered, or if

that the mark is so descriptive of the goods

discovered she had what’s commonly referred

registered trademark may also recover

or services it represents that the application

to as “common law” trademark rights, or

greater damages in any action for

is likely to be rejected. However, with enough

rights that the law recognizes even if the

infringement, sometimes as much as three

use, advertising, marketing and protection,

trademark has not been formally registered.

times the infringer’s profits or damages.

even a descriptive term can become protectable.

She got a call from the owner of the trademark “Modelbride” demanding that she rename her business. The owner of Modelbride wanted to be the only studio to come up in online searches with the words “model” and “bride.” With the assistance of PPA, Norton was able to claim established trademark rights to “Model Bride,” and preclude further confrontation. While common law rights may be suffi-

Unlike many countries, in the United States, you are not required to register your trademark in order to begin using it, or to acquire rights to it.

cient, there are significant advantages to obtaining a federal registration. These include: • CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE. Federal

• THE RIGHT TO USE THE

There is one minor exception to the

trademark registration provides notification

REGISTRATION SYMBOL ®. The

general rule that U.S. trademark rights are

to anyone else in the country who wants to

appropriate use of the registration symbol

acquired through use, referred to as an

begin using the same or a confusingly

® commonly used to signify that the trade-

intent to use or ITU trademark application.

mark is registered; if nothing else, this

a good-faith intent to begin using a trade-

registered trademarks undergo an examina-

precludes any claim of “innocent infringe-

mark, the opportunity to formally clear the

tion process, the registration includes certain

ment.” While you do not have to register

mark for registration, and to establish priority

similar trademark to yours. • PRESUMPTIONS. Because federally

26 • www.ppmag.com

(

) is often misunderstood. The symbol is

The ITU application allows a business with

PROFIT CENTER

over those who would seek to later adopt the same or a confusingly similar mark. The ITU application does require proof of actual use before the trademark can be registered. Is a federal trademark registration for you? In order to answer that question, you need to decide: 1. If you’re using a trademark to identify your studio;

Schmeizer’s trademark (left) and the mark he discovered at a tradeshow (right).

2. if you’re devoting money and resources to advertising and promoting the studio identified by the mark; and 3. if your services involve interstate commerce.

matter to her attorney. This experience was

The application fees for a trademark are

enough to show her the worth of taking the

$325 per class of goods or services, or $375

time and trouble to register her trademark.

if you file a paper application instead of the

The last question can be complex. If

online form. If you have all of the materials you need to file your trademark application,

or if your work is being published outside of

THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AND TRADEMARK MAINTENANCE

your area, odds are that you’ve engaged in

Obtaining a federal trademark is fairly

online, you can take advantage of the

interstate commerce. If you’ve answered

straightforward, but it can take eight to 12

simplified TEAS Plus application, which

“yes” to all of the questions, you’re likely to

months, provided everything goes smoothly.

costs $275 per class. If you use the

find that the application and maintenance

Before you begin the trademark application,

simplified TEAS Plus application, select

fees are insignificant in comparison to the

you need to prepare a JPEG or PDF file

Photography Services from the preset list.

ability to protect the investment you’ve made,

showing a specimen of your use of the trade-

and will continue to make, in advertising

mark. Generally, it can be an image of your

tion, it will be assigned to a trademark

and promoting your business. That’s especially

flyer or advertisement. If the trademark

examiner, who will review it for complete-

true if a competitor tries to benefit from the

incorporates any sort of design in addition

ness and determine whether the trademark

advertising and marketing that you have done.

to or other than words, you’ll also need to

is confusingly similar to other registered or

Silvia Boozell, owner of Cara Mia Studio

prepare a JPEG or PDF file containing the

pending trademarks. If there are problems,

in Diamond Bar, Calif., discovered the value

trademark alone. These files are necessary

the examiner will begin an “office action,”

of trademark registration when a photographer

for various sections of the application.

formally identifying the problems and giving

you’re advertising outside of your local area,

in San Francisco starting using the name

For an online registration, select the

and you’re comfortable with registering

At some point after you file the applica-

the applicant the opportunity to respond.

“Cara Mia Photography.” The appearance of

application for registration on the Principal

a second business named “Cara Mia”, in the

Register, www.uspto.gov/teas/teasplus.htm.

Boozell got a call from a trademark examiner.

same industry and within proximity of

The application fees for trademarks are

Since the term “studio” is descriptive, the

Boozell’s studio, resulted in confusion in the

based on the number of classes of goods or

examiner explained that Boozell could not

marketplace. Says Boozell, “During one of

services included in the application. Various

claim exclusive rights to the word. Boozell

my phone calls with [the San Francisco-

types of goods or services are divided into

agreed to amend the application, and the

based photographer], she even admitted

different classes. Classes 1 through 34 relate

examiner entered an amendment containing

that she had received calls for my studio.”

to goods, classes 35 through 45 to services.

the necessary disclaimer for the term “studio.”

Nevertheless, the second photographer has

The usual classification for studios is services

When the application has been cleared,

refused to discontinue use of Boozell’s

in class 41. The description of your services

there’s one more critical step. All trademarks

trademark, so Boozell turned over the

can be as simple as “photography services.”

approved for registration are published in

28 • www.ppmag.com

For example, after filing her application,

the Patent and Trademark Office’s Official

(see p. 28), he decided that it wasn’t worth

Gazette. After publication, other businesses

pursuing the matter through a lawyer.

have 30 days in which to challenge your trade-

Even in difficult times, however, Silvia

mark application. If there are no challenges,

Boozell and others view enforcing trademark

you will receive the formal registration

rights as a means of safeguarding the

certificate from the Patent and Trademark

investment they’ve made in marketing and

developing a reputation in the industry. � Samuel Lewis is a board-certified intellectual property law specialist and a partner at Feldman Gale, P.A., in Miami and a professional sports photographer. You can e-mail him at [email protected] or [email protected]

Office. The registration is good for 10 years, and renewable in successive terms. To keep the registration active, the trademark owner must periodically file certain documents and pay certain fees. Between the fifth and sixth year after your registration is

Lighting Systems For Digital and Film Cameras

issued, you’re required to file an affidavit confirming that you, the trademark owner,

Portable Power

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are still using the trademark. The affidavit filing fee is currently $100 per class. If you want to renew the registration, you must file a renewal application with the appropriate fee between the ninth and 10th year after the

Stands

registration is issued.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION When you’ve obtained a trademark registration, use the registration symbol (

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®) with

your trademark. It helps ensure competing

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businesses know you own your trademark. Take care to use the trademark properly—use the registration symbol only when you use the trademark as an adjective rather than a noun. It’s important to police your trademark. You should attempt to find any infringers, then make an effort to prevent continuing

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infringement. It might require a consultation with a trademark lawyer, who might be able to resolve the matter easily with a welldrafted letter, or help you pursue litigation.

Soft Boxes

Some photographers might decide that the cost of formalizing and enforcing trademark rights outweighs the benefits. When James Schmelzer, M.Photog.Cr., of Elite Photographic Studio, in Michigan, discovered another studio using a similar trademark

Visit our website

w w w. s p e e d o t r o n . c o m 310 South Racine Avenue • Chicago IL 60607 • call us: 312.421.4050 fax: 312.421.5079 • e-mail: [email protected]

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 29

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WHCC proofs are economical, delivered quickly, and can be bound together. Bound proofs are great add-ons and allow your clients to show off your work.

Album Prints WHCC’s Album Print program gives you the exibility of ordering some or all of your page layouts as full spreads without paying a price premium. Order your album prints as full spreads or as individual sides and send them to your album manufacturer to assemble.

Finishing Services Traditional mounting substrates include matboard, styrene, masonite, and foamboard. For a more contemporary mounting option, order Standout. With its thick, nished black edges, Standout comes ready to hang without a frame.

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White House Custom Colour is a full service, professional photographic and press printer. In addition to the showcased products on these pages, we offer a full line of photographic prints printed on Kodak Professional Papers. For a complete view of our products and services visit our website, www.whcc.com

Rep Cards 2x3.5 Rep Cards are great for studio marketing pieces and high school seniors. They are business card sized and are available in small quantities. All of our press paper options are available – standard, linen, watercolor, and pearl.

Stickers WHCC stickers are a single sided press printed product printed on sticker material with a split liner for easy removal. Stickers are available in increments of 50 in three different sizes, 2x3.5, 4x5.5, and 5x7. Popular uses of Stickers include return address labels, studio packaging, and gift tags.

Bookmarks

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Press Printed Bookmarks are available in the traditional 2x7 size or a larger 2x8.25 size. Available in increments of 50, bookmarks can be at or creased. Turn your bookmarks into a folded business card, gift tag or appointment card by having them creased so they fold in half.

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PROFIT CENTER

TA M A R A L A C K E Y

When your work grows too big for one person to handle, what options do you have for hiring some help?

Managing & hiring people

PPA WEBINAR

HOW TO INTERVIEW, HIRE AND MANAGE EMPLOYEES IN A PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO TAMARA LACKEY AND LISA WALTER

As a full-time photographer, one of the

preference, associate photographer. You

more difficult parts of the job is managing a

must also consult with a tax professional to

schedule to allow for both an optimal

determine whether to pay the photographer

balance of work and home life and optimal

as an independent contractor (who is respon-

revenue. You have to control the scheduling

sible for filing his or her own income tax

of all appointments, consultations, shoots

reporting) or as an employee of your company.

and meetings, keeping an eye on upcoming events and availability. With weddings, you usually book just one for a given date. With portraits, there are only so many sittings you can photo-

Here are several models for getting help with the demands of your business, ranging from types of outsourcing to bringing another photographer into your studio. • You hire a photographer per event, such

graph in a day or week. There are finite

as a wedding or portrait session, to capture

limits with both.

the images, which he hands over to you. You

When you reach the point where you’re

can compensate this person in one of three

Noon (EST), March 30

Most photographers can relate to the pace of busy studio life. There is so much to do and, eventually, many business owners realize that they must either outsource their work, hire some help, or do both. If you are at the point in your business where it makes sense to hire, or you are seeking new ideas for interviewing potential candidates, retaining current employees or just looking to manage an associate-based business in a current, innovative way, join these two studio owners as they describe how they’ve built a successful, profitable business model.

getting multiple requests for a given date, or

ways: pay a flat fee for the job; pay at an

you have to turn away business because of

hourly rate; or pay a percentage of the

scheduling conflicts, it’s time to stop and

income generated by the job. You book the

evaluate your strategy. Could hiring another

job, calculate and issue the invoice(s), and

photographer help you capitalize on your

take ownership of the images. You would

marketing dollars? Would you rather stay

then be responsible for editing the images

(typically), which you, the business owner,

small or go big?

and designing and delivering an album or

handle. Her responsibilities include dis-

additional orders. You own the client

cussing the details of the event coverage or

relationship.

portrait sitting with the client, performing

When you do decide to hire another photographer, you’ll need to decide how you’ll employ his services and designate an

• You hire a photographer to fully manage

Visit ppa.com to register.

the photography, and editing the images.

appropriate job title. Among the titles

a job that you’ve booked through your busi-

routinely used are stringer; second shooter;

ness. The photographer is responsible for

client communication, and possibly add-on

contract photographer; assistant; and my

handling the client, excluding the invoicing

sales, as specified in your agreement. In this

The photographer is responsible for all

case, you could compensate the photographer with a commission or possibly a

TAX ISSUES CAN BE COMPLEX; CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR When you hire someone, that person will be either an employee or a contractor. That status affects the taxes, liability, benefit costs and many other areas of your business. The IRS may apply many different criteria to determine whether that individual is an employee or a contractor, depending on the circumstances and the occupation. It’s a complicated matter. Improperly classifying someone whom the IRS considers an employee as a contractor can result in stiff penalties. It’s important to consult a competent tax advisor prior to making a decision.

32 • www.ppmag.com

salary plus commission arrangement. • You hire a photographer for a specific position in your business at a specific rate of pay. This person is very much associated with your brand. You determine how much responsibility you want him to assume, including client relations. Typically, this would be a photographer who has a

relationship with clients, more than merely

beyond your expectations, it’s also con-

an event or session shooter who hands over

sidered a good problem to have.

the images to you. Compensation would

There are all kinds of options to consider

typically include bonuses as incentives or

in creating a compensation structure for

augmentations.

having another photographer in your

• You hire a photographer to work for

business. Consider profit sharing, sales

commission based on a percentage of the

bonuses, marketing and referral kickers and,

sales revenues she generates. Commissioned

of course, a combination of benefits. The

positions are appealing for motivated go-

most important consideration is finding

getters who prefer not to have a ceiling on

another photographer who will be an asset

the amount they can earn. The upside for

to your business without monopolizing your

the studio owner is that there is less respon-

time in managing him. �

sibility in paying commission than in managing cash flow to cover a fixed compensation. A perceived downside is that you may end up delivering a higher payout than you originally planned with a fixed compensation. But, since that would mean your commissioned photographer was successful

Tamara Lackey runs a successful associatebased studio in North Carolina, with an emphasis on portraits, weddings, and editorial work. Her newest book is “The Art of Children’s Portrait Photography” (Amherst Media). Visit her site for details about her upcoming seminars, www.tamaralackey.com.

“Among the titles routinely used are

stringer; second shooter; contract

photographer; assistant; and my preference,

associate photographer.”

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 33

GO T PPMA O G.CO TO EN M TER

©Heath

er Smit

ENTRIES & JUDGING: We’re looking for an image that is representative of the work you sell your clients—portraits, weddings, commercial, sports, events, etc. Images will be judged on technical and artistic merit. Helping Professional Photographer magazine editors choose the best entries will be guest judge Helen K. Yancy, M.Photog.M.Artist.MEI.Cr., Hon.M.Photog., CPP, F-ASP, Hon. F-ASP, the chairman of PPA’s Print Exhibition Committee.

winner will be awarded prizes from our cover photo contest sponsors, Bogen Imaging, Canon, Eastman Kodak, Emotion Media, and White House Custom Colour. Prizes will also be awarded to second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-place winners, and as many as 20 entrants could receive prizes with an honorable mention.

DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF ENTRIES RECEIVED IN 2008, ENTRIES FOR THIS YEAR’S CONTEST WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE IMAGE PER ENTRANT.

HOW TO ENTER: Go to www.ppmag.com to enter. Only digital files will be accepted. Print images and e-mailed images will NOT be accepted. Upload your electronic images to www.ppmag.com.

PRIZES: In addition to landing the cover of a 2009 edition of Professional Photographer, the

SPECS: Submit low-resolution images only, in standard digital formats (.jpg, .pdf, etc.).

Images should be 525x700 pixels; file size should not be more than 250k. A high-resolution, print-quality version (300ppi at 9x12 inches) must be available for print publication. OFFICIAL RULES: Go to ppmag.com for complete rules. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MONDAY, JUNE 1

IMAGE RESIZING TUTORIAL AT PPMAG.COM We would like to thank our sponsors:

h

Professional Photographer

P R E S E N T S

Products, Technology and Services

What I like Sam Gray prefers hands-on control with top-notch tools What’s the best equipment investment you’ve ever made? I’m thrilled with my switch to the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II. Little thing, big difference … I started using a new lightweight 12x12-inch soft box on my camera flash when working outdoors. I power it with a Quantum Qflash T5d with a FreeWire remote trigger. I can control the light output up 3/stops or down 2/stops simply by twisting a switch. The speed and creative light control are great for working with fast-moving children. Has a piece of equipment ever changed the way you approach photography? I have been printing my own work for years now, and I especially enjoy working with the Epson Stylus Pro 4800 and 9800. Using these printers gives me creative control that I can’t get working with a lab. What’s the one piece of equipment you simply can’t live without? My laptop loaded with TimeExposure ProSelect. This cross-platform presentation, sales and workflow software lets me project portraits at 70 inches, with music, and then size images to actual size for selection by the customer. This is what wins the heart and opens the wallet. IMAGE BY SAM GRAY WWW.SAMGRAYPORTRAITS.COM

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 35

THE GOODS: LIGHTING All images ©Don Chick

Though a simple lighting setup will do, going the extra step adds extra punch, drama and dimension.

Figure 2

B Y D O N C H I C K , M . P H O T O G .C R . , C P P

Kiss of light ACCENT LIGHTING FOR PORTRAITURE

Properly executed accent lighting can add so

uses a portable full-length mirror, the

much dimension and drama to a portrait.

framed kind that you’d mount on a wall or

Depending on your main light modifier, adding

door. The mirror is so efficient at reflecting

accent lighting can be as simple as positioning a

light that he has to carefully feather or angle

reflector behind the subject to redirect the main

the reflection to get the desired amount of

light back into the scene and onto your subject.

light falling onto the subject.

Early in my career, I wanted to get dimen-

Another option is a 42x72-inch Larson

sionality in my images. I adopted a simple

Reflectasol made with metallic silver fabric

lighting setup: for the main light, I mounted

($330). I’ve used one for years with excellent

large reflector works well with a medium to

a 4x6-foot Larson soft box on a studio strobe

results. In Figure 1, the lighting diagram shows

large soft box attached to the main light. With

unit; for a fill light, I used a 42x72-inch

the accent light in a starting position. If you

a smaller reflector, you need a powered light

Larson Reflectasol reflector. Placed close to

desire more light on the face, including the

to get the light onto the subject (Figure 3).

the background, the main light sufficiently

bridge of the nose, move the reflector toward

lit the background, eliminating the need for

the camera position. If you want the accent light

The one I’ve used most often is a reflector

separate lighting. I placed the subject close

to highlight only one side of the subject’s face,

with a set of barn doors attached (Figure 4).

to the background as well.

position the reflector further behind the subject.

A 7-inch reflector (7AB/R) comes standard

Portraits I made in this basic setup were successful enough in print competitions to

The Reflectasol (Figure 2) frame folds up for convenient transport and storage. A

be accepted into the PPA Loan Collection.

with strobes from Paul C. Buff. The four-way barn doors (LMBD4) cost an additional $49. This setup has worked well in my small studio,

My clients, too, raved about their portraits,

Accent, Reflector

but I began to want even more drama and

but because it’s such a small light modifier and I place it so close to the background, it

dimensionality. However subtly, my personal style was beginning to coalesce. Fast-

There are several options for accent lighting.

doesn’t spread the light vertically as much as 4x6 Soft Box

I’d like in some instances. When I want the

forward to today. Now I’m using a

light to cover more of the subject, I use a

background light, a hair light and an accent

14x48 Larson Soft Strip ($299) with an egg

light, my favorite light by far. I enjoy the

crate ($195) attached (Figure 5). The egg crate

dimension and sense of shape and form that

constrains the light spread both horizontally

this kiss of light brings to the portrait.

and vertically, yet provides sufficient

If you’re using a large light modifier on

coverage for any portrait. You can use a soft

your main light, the easiest way to add

box without an egg crate or louvers, but to

accent lighting to your setup is to use a

avoid lens flare, I advise flagging the camera

reflector that efficiently bounces light into

from any stray light.

the scene. A photographer friend of mine

36 • www.ppmag.com

Figure 1

The accent lighting options above are

THE GOODS: LIGHTING

The portrait of Patrick (Figure 6) clearly shows the effects of a subtle accent light on the left side of his face (camera right). The

Any size Main Light

telltale signs are the extra light on the left side of his temple and his fingers, and the Accent, Strobe and Soft Box

subtle extra on the folds in the left side of his shirt. The accent light in this image was accomplished with a 42x72 Larson Reflectasol. In my view, with an accent light, less is more. If the first thing that catches your eye in an image is the accent light, it’s too strong. Accent light should be a member of the supporting

Figure 3

cast rather than the star. The late Don Blair likened accent light to garlic—a bit makes a dish delicious, too much is ruinous.

meant to be set on the opposite side of the

Experiment with all of these methods,

subject from the main light. Sometimes it’s

then compare the results in your images.

desirable to place accent light on the same

You’ll know when it’s right for you. �

side as the main light, and sometimes dual Figure 5

accent lighting—on both sides of the subject —is best. It depends on how you want the final image to look, and how the lighting

Accent Light contribution

will express your personal vision. Also, how much time and effort are you willing to invest in creating complex lighting setups? It takes an additional strobe and light modifier to add a light on the same side as the main, but that little extra light may be all you need to take your image to the next level.

Figure 4

38 • www.ppmag.com

Figure 6 Model: Patrick Hoar

You make important financial decisions every day, but today’s economic uncertainties may have you second-guessing everything about your business. Now more than ever, you can’t afford to be uninformed.

Photo

© Visio

© Lim

n Photo

elight

graphy

© Eric

John

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Photo

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Turn to PPA and Studio Management Services (SMS) for the resources and information you need to sustain your business through these tough times. Our primary goal, as a non-profit association, is your financial health and success. But don’t take our word for it—read what these professional photographers are saying about how SMS has changed their business:

KIMBERLY WYLIE K IMBERLY WYLIE PHOTOGRAPHY DALLAS, TEXAS PPA member since: 1997

SMS helped us make sure the studio was set up for success, including the technological aspects of operations and the budget. Having the help and guidance of SMS saved us thousands of dollars in prevented mistakes.

AMBER MC ADOO ALLISON & JEFF RODGERS A LLISON RODGERS PHOTOGRAPHY OLIVE BRANCH, MISSISSIPPI PPA members since: 2002

SMS will change the way you view your business, creating a vision for the business you really want to have. Being part of SMS and having attended the 3-day workshop has taken us to the grown-up phase of our business.

MC A DOO PHOTO A RTISTRY Benton, Arkansas PPA member since: 2006

Studio Management Services has, without a doubt, changed both the quality of my business and the quality of my life. With SMS I have learned how to make smarter business decisions that have resulted in fewer sessions but higher sales, translating into more time with my family.

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BUSINESS BASICS 2-day workshop for beginning photographers

March 2 Zero to Hero Rebecca & Mike Zoumberos March 16 Blog. Facebook. Twitter. The Trifecta of Online Viral Marketing Jeff & Allison Rodgers March 30 Hiring & Managing Studio Employees Tamara Lackey April 13 Designing the Perfect Projection Room Ron Nichols

SMS 3-DAY BUSINESS WORKSHOP

May 16-17 Ann Monteith & Mary Fisk-Taylor Chicago, Illinois

March 23-25 Carol Andrews & Julia Woods Atlanta, Georgia

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Learn more about the one-on-one consulting and financial services available exclusively to PPA members through Studio Management Services. Call Beth Moore at 888-851-0405, or e-mail [email protected].

Professional Photographers of America | www.PPA.com | 800.786.6277 | [email protected] the world’s largest non-profit trade association for professional photographers

THE GOODS: PRO REVIEW

The long-awaited successor to the 5D makes a big splash with HD video capture and extended ISO settings. It’s also fast and affordable. BY RON EGGERS

The workhorse gets moving CANON EOS 5D MARK II

Photographers have been anticipating a

ISO sensitivity of any Canon DSLR, up to ISO

which is a benefit, but if you’re filming a

successor to the Canon EOS 5D, one of

25600 (H2) with a custom function setting.

moving subject, you’ll notice a slight pause

Canon's most popular digital SLRs, for a

What truly sets apart the 5D Mark II is

in the clip and the sound. Not limited to

couple years now, and finally the wait is

its HD video capture—30 high-definition

short clips, the video function will capture

over. The EOS 5D Mark II fits right between

frames per second at 1,920x1,080-pixel

extended sequences of broadcast quality for

the entry-level professional EOS 50D and

resolution. Press the shutter button and the

nearly a half-hour; video files are limited to

the high-end 1D/1Ds models. It’s just about

camera will capture a full-frame, 21.1-

4GB per clip. The camera also supports

everything photographers have been waiting

megapixel still during the video capture.

audio, with a built-in microphone as well as

for, and at a very affordable price.

There will be a pause of about 1 second in

an external microphone jack.

The 5D Mark II is designed around a 21.1-

the video and sound, as the last video frame

At first, it feels a little awkward shooting

megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with

captured is repeated while the still frame is

video with a digital SLR, but not for long.

5,616x3,744-pixel resolution. It has the highest

being captured. The screen doesn’t go blank,

The Live View LCD screen displays the video during capture. As with stills, the

All images ©Ron Eggers

camera’s high ISO capability allows you to shoot video in situations where formerly it wouldn’t have been practical. The quality of the captured video is excellent, even captured in very low light. You can play your video directly on a high-definition TV through the camera’s HDMI output. It’s important to use high-speed CompactFlash cards with video capture, and of course the 5D supports UDMA-compliant CF cards. With a slow card, the camera just can’t move the data off of the sensor into the buffer then onto the card fast enough to

Look for more coverage on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II video capabilities from wedding photographer David Jay in Web Exclusives at www.ppmag.com.

42 • www.ppmag.com

THE GOODS: PRO REVIEW

This image, exposed for 1/100 second at f/7.1, ISO 6400, shows how well the Canon EOS 5D Mark II handles noise at the upper end of its native ISO range.

support the HD video resolution and frame rate. It is possible to capture video sequences at a resolution of 640x480 on slower cards or when there’s no need for HD. The camera’s native ISO ranges from 100-6400, with expanded ISO sensitivity settings L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600. In my tryout, the electronic noise was acceptable even at the highest native ISO. I shot a scene lit with only a strand of colored lights and the firelight from the hearth; at ISO

Sophisticated signal processing incorporated

a one-stop difference between the center

3200, the electronic noise was remarkably

with optimized processing algorithms also

and the outer edges of the frame. Lenses

low, even in the darker areas. Beyond the

speeds throughput. Testing confirmed the specs’

have improved, but fall-off can still be a

standard ISO range, noise became more

JPEG capture rate capability of 3.9 frames per

problem. When enabled, Canon’s

troublesome. At H1, the noise was notice-

second. I could take 24 raw images in 10

illumination correction adjusts the exposure

able, and worse at H2, particularly in the

seconds, getting off 15 frames in the first 4

so that the center and edges of the frame are

textured fireplace wall. Still, these are areas

seconds before the capture rate slowed down.

evenly exposed. With some of the newer

in which you’d expect to find considerable

The 5D Mark II has something called

Canon lenses, correction data is detected

image degradation, yet the noise level is

“Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction,”

automatically. It can also be input manually

remarkably low for such a high ISO setting.

which solves a problem that has always

through the bundled EOS utility software.

The camera’s DIGIC 4 image processor

plagued photographers: lens fall-off. In the

The 5D can be fitted with an optional wire-

controls noise well, and it also handles

early days of 35mm photography, with some

less file transmitter, the WFT-E4A. It lets you

analog-to-digital conversion at a full 14 bits.

lenses on the market, there was as much as

connect to a wireless LAN access point for

specs:

secure image transfer. Images can be grouped in-camera and sent in entire folders. The WFT

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

SENSOR: Full-frame 36x24mm CMOS sensor IMAGE PROCESSING: DIGIC 4 image processing engine RESOLUTION: 24.6-megapixels (5,616 x 3,744 pixels) VIDEO: 1,920x1,080-pixel maximum resolution at 30 frames per second, MOV format METERING: 35-zone TTL full-aperture metering AUTOFOCUS: TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor, user-selectable nine-point AF system with six assist points ISO RANGE: 100-6400 (expandable from ISO 50 to 25600) SHUTTER SPEED: 1/8,000 second to 30 seconds; up to 3.9 fps LCD: 3-inch Clear View 920,000-pixel/VGA LENS MOUNT: Accepts all Canon EF lenses WIRELESS FILE TRANSMITTER (WFT-E4A): Optional PRICE: $2,699. 44 • www.ppmag.com

doubles as a vertical grip. When the unit is attached, the camera can write to both the internal storage card and an external drive. Interchangeable focusing screens are optional. The 5D greatly advances Live View capability. For precise framing, the image displayed on the LCD can be magnified 5- or 10X. There are multiple Live View shooting modes, including Quick, Live and Face Detection AF. It’s a little cumbersome to focus and shoot with Live View, but sometimes being able to frame on the LCD comes in handy. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is an exceptional camera, particularly at its $2,699 MSRP. �

THE GOODS: SOFTWARE

What is a RIP, and what can it do for your workflow and output quality? Sophisticated raster image processors maximize print control.

COLORBURST comes in at least seven different configurations, but the ones favored by photographers are designed primarily for Epson Stylus Pro printers: X·Photo, X·Proof and X·Proof Plus (Mac only). These three

B Y A N D R E W DA R L O W

RIPs 101

include SpectralVision Pro software to perform

RASTER IMAGE PROCESSORS

linearization and build custom ICC profiles when used with an X-Rite spectrophotometer (sold separately). Linearization helps keep printer output consistent over time,

Inkjet printing revolutionized the way photog-

up multiple images on one sheet to conserve

and improves transitions from highlight to

raphers produce exhibition prints, proof

paper. RIPs usually control the printer as

shadow in all colors, and is especially useful

books, albums, cards, portfolios, promo pieces,

well, giving it specific instructions, like how

for making black-and-white prints even-toned.

competition prints and many other projects.

much ink to use for a specific paper, print

ColorBurst gives users hundreds of

A RIP, or raster image processor, is usually

quality settings and whether or not to cut

“environments” and ICC color profiles for

software-based and converts digital data

the paper when the job is complete. And

free, so you don’t have to make every profile

into a format that a printer or other device

RIPs are not limited to inkjet printers.

from scratch. An environment is where

can understand. Printer drivers are a type of

Many devices, including pro lab machines,

you make adjustments to ink limits, includ-

RIP, but the term RIP is generally used to

use some type of RIP to print files.

ing individual ink channels, and other

describe software applications designed to

To help you decide whether a specific RIP

parameters.

enhance the printing process in various ways.

might be right for your workflow, we’ve listed

Photographers want to make quality prints

some of the most popular RIPs designed for

lengths than standard print drivers, a good

efficiently and consistently, and a RIP helps

pro photographers, and described their major

feature for outputting panoramas and

do that. If you are perfectly happy with your

functions. We’ve also included a few RIP-like

ganging multiple images. A print queue

current workflow and the quality of your prints,

applications that are popular for their flexibility

makes it easy to reprint jobs without having to

it may not be worth the investment to purchase

and affordability. Prices vary considerably

reprocess or resend the files. Pantone

a RIP. If not, you may be surprised at how

depending on the product’s features and the

licensing allows users to match spot colors,

much a RIP can do for you, especially if you

kind and make of the printer they’re made for.

and SWOP certification enables photog-

use a wide variety of papers or other media.

RIPs are complex, and you should thor-

Many RIPs provide tools for a better

oughly read the maker’s information and do

workflow, such as the ability to easily gang

tests with trial downloads before buying one.

46 • www.ppmag.com

The RIP allows you to print much longer

In the ColorBurst X·Proof Plus configuration, you launch SpectralVision Pro software to create a profiling or linearization target.

Photo ©Andrew Darlow

raphers and designers to produce contractquality prints. Another ColorBurst product, the ColorBurst Edition, is available as an addon bundled with all Epson Stylus Pro printers ($200 to $1,000). It has most of the features described above, except the ability to create your own custom output profiles for specific media. You can run a linearization for specific media, however, which is a powerful feature. There’s also an upgrade path, which allows you to pay only the difference—or close to the difference— between the cost of the Epson Professional RIP and one of ColorBurst’s full-featured RIPs. Price: $500 to $3,000, depending upon features and printer width. www.colorburstrip.com

This ImagePrint 7 layout and workspace shows the file browser, Image Properties for Step and Repeat and Image Scale/Placement, and the color management window.

COLORBYTE IMAGEPRINT 7 includes a

through a Border Browser, easy-to-use

constantly looks for the best way to nest

host of features, and Version 8 is scheduled

black-and-white toning and split-toning

images to save paper.

for release by March. ImagePrint is available

capability, and a feature called Dynamic

for Mac and Windows systems in full and

Contrast Matching that improves contrast

features and printer width; comes with one

desktop—some functions run in demo

and helps produce more vivid prints. Gray

year of support, minimum.

mode—versions. It supports a number of

profiles are provided for black-and-white

www.colorbytesoftware.com

printers, including Epson, HP and Roland

prints, reducing the use of color ink.

(check site for specific models). ImagePrint’s Phatte Black system for

This application also allows you to print

Price: $500 to $3,000 depending on the

ERGOSOFT STUDIOPRINT V.2008,

longer lengths than with standard print drivers.

a Windows-only application, is one of the

swapping between matte black and photo

Layouts include image nesting, tiling and

three high-end RIPs from a company that’s

black ink eliminates ink waste while retaining

sports, wedding and school packages, all with

garnered more than 30 best-in-quality awards

image quality on a number of Epson Stylus

savable settings. The Best Fit option auto-

from the digital printing industry over the last

Pro printers. The Print Through Application

matically arranges images for the most efficient

three years. Altogether, the applications sup-

(PTA) feature allows you to print from any

paper usage. Images with different working

port more than 100 printer models; StudioPrint

application to the ImagePrint RIP.

spaces, such as sRGB and Adobe RGB

is the one best suited for photographers.

Free output profiles for many papers are available for download, eliminating the cost

(1998), can be placed on the same page. ImagePrint 8 will feature text capabilities

The JobComposer interface displays the controls for scaling, cropping, duplicating,

of a spectrophotometer. The company often

such as transparency, alignment and drop-

rotating, tiling and other functions. Picture-

creates profiles upon request at no charge,

shadow control. You’ll be able to add

Package, with fitting options to control the

and you can create your own as well. Unlike

backgrounds from pictures and generate

scale, makes package setup easier. PrintClient

other RIPs, ImagePrint provides profiles for

frames and borders. Cut marks will be

gives you details about the print job, includ-

various lighting conditions, including

visible with additional controls. Version 8

ing its progress, the elapsed and remaining

tungsten, daylight, cool white fluorescent

will also introduce a new spooling interface,

print time, the number of copies, amount of

and mixed light.

adjustable columns, new sorting controls,

media consumed and required, as well as

job archiving, and a new shuffle feature that

the current print speed in square meters per

ImagePrint 7 offers Artistic Borders

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 47

THE GOODS: SOFTWARE

hour. This application also enables longer

profiles for 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-color ink

Profiling software for StudioPrint sells for

print lengths than standard print drivers.

configurations can be generated with

about $1,800. �

ErgoSoft’s optional ColorGPS Profiler

www.ergosoftus.com/studioprint

Precise density linearization, ink limiting controls, even on individual ink channels,

module (spectrophotometer required).

and the ability to choose from different

The Multi Core CPU halves the time

screening options help produce better

required by the previous version to RIP data.

smoothness and print quality

Price: $900 to $9,000 depending upon

(spectrophotometer required). Custom ICC

NOT QUITE RIPS

Stylus Pro 3800 Portrait Edition printer and about $2,200 for the Epson Stylus Pro 4880 (both include the printer). www.epson.com www.expressdigital.com

These three options are not RIPs, but have some similar features.

48 • www.ppmag.com

QIMAGE Qimage batch printing and processing software allows for printing images longer than most standard drivers allow. It works with many printers, including wide-format, and pricing does not change based on size. It handles image nesting and tiling (ganging up of multiple images) and also has sophisticated sharpening and upsizing capabilities that can really improve the look of printed images (especially at larger output sizes). Price: $35-$90 (multiple versions available). www.ddisoftware.com/qimage

QUAD TONE RIP Quad Tone RIP is an effective way to produce black-and-white prints on many Epson printers (up to 44-inch ). It can be run with Epson inksets, or dedicated black-and-white inksets such as Piezography Neutral K7 from Vermont PhotoInkjet (www.inkjetmall.com). One of its strongest features is that it can use less color ink to produce better quality prints compared with a standard printer driver. It can also achieve a variety of tones, from cool to warm, that can be saved for later use. When compared with newer Epson K3 ink printers such as the Stylus Pro 3800, 4880, 7880 and 9880, the differences with Quad Tone RIP may not be as apparent. Price: $50. www.quadtonerip.com

Photo ©Roy Harrington

EPSON PORTRAIT EDITION SERIES Epson Portrait Edition is a Windows-only hardware/software solution aimed at the wedding, portrait and event photography markets. It’s not labeled as a RIP primarily because it uses Epson printer drivers (integrated into the customized software). The software portion is a customized version of ExpressDigital Darkroom Core Edition workflow software, which includes the ability to create custom print packages, proof sheets, album layouts, calendars and themed layouts. Users can catalog images by customer, sitting, event, date or location, make non-destructive edits such as color adjustments and red-eye removal, and sell print packages in-house or online via a customized online storefront. Credit card and check processing capabilities are built-in, as are copyright and password protection options. Users can print automatically to as many as four Epson printers, and although the software is bundled with either the Epson Stylus Pro 3800 and 4880, it can also support the Epson Stylus Pro 7880 and 9880 for 24-inch and 44-inch printing. Price: about $1,500 for the Epson

printer width and type. Optional ColorGPS

Andrew Darlow is a photographer, educator, digital imaging consultant and author of “301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers” (Thomson Course Technology). For more information, visit www.imagingbuffet.com.

The Quad Tone RIP can make better black-and-white prints than standard drivers and provides toning control with Curves and Blending options in its Print dialog box.

Discover how Vincent uses Genuine Fractals in his daily workflow at www.ononesoftware.com/GFVV Come see us at Photoshop World Booth #: 315 © 2009 onOne Software, Inc. All rights reserved. onOne Software is a registered trademark of onOne Software, Inc. The onOne Software logo and Genuine Fractals are trademarks of onOne Software.

THE GOODS: PRO REVIEW

The powerful new version of Imagenomic’s Portraiture plug-in for Photoshop makes short work of difficult retouching problems. BY DON CHICK, M.PHOTOG.CR., CPP

Hey, good lookin’ PORTRAITURE 2

With Portraiture 2 by Imagenomic in your

I tested the software on extreme opposite

digital workflow, not only will you spend less

examples of skin quality. One of the images

time retouching images, you’ll also see

features a young woman with few blemishes,

improved quality in your final portraits.

who had applied makeup prior to the sitting,

Current Portraiture users will be impressed

and whose portrait would need little retouching

with the dramatic enhancements in the new

(Figure 1). Another image features a high school

version, which is free for registered users of v. 1.

senior with oily skin and acne (Figure 2).

The number of control sliders in the new

Figure 2

Using only the default presets on the first

interface was a little intimidating at first, but

portrait enhanced the skin to a dream-like

the design is attractive and contemporary

appearance. As you work, Portraiture 2

with a neutral color scheme, and the controls

allows you to preview the effects in real

are logically grouped.

time. Clicking on the preview window

Figure 3

toggles the image back to the un-enhanced ©Don Chick

version. You can also set up a split-screen preview to view horizontal or vertical orientations of the before and after images. It’s great for zooming in and panning around to see the result of the applied effect in various areas of the image. With such powerful software, it’s easy to over-do it, so

Figure 4

you’ll want to examine the preview carefully before finalizing your adjustments. The young man took a bit more

Figure 1 Model: Erica Snyder 50 • www.ppmag.com

minimum investment of time (Figure 4). The Portraiture skin tones mask is a

preparation to get the best results. In this

powerful feature that allows you to pick the

extreme example, the smoothing preset

mask color and view your selection in real

improved the look of the skin dramatically,

time. You can add colors to the masking set

but it didn’t eliminate the most severe

with the Expand Mask Color eyedropper,

blemishes (Figure 3). The best method for

which will expand the image area that’s

removing those blemishes was to apply the

affected by your enhancements. Move the

Healing brush in Photoshop before using

eyedropper around the image and view the

Portraiture 2. A little prep enabled the plug-

mask preview to quickly make a very

in to believably enhance the image with a

accurate selection (Figure 5). Use cmd/ctrl-Z

welcome to the Family

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THE GOODS: PRO REVIEW

Figure 5: The skin tones mask allows you to designate the area of the image that will be affected by the retouching.

to undo the selection if you’re not pleased with the results. You can display the mask in either black or white. I usually prefer white, but it really depends on the overall key of the image. The enhanced Output panel in Portraiture 2 presents these options: current layer, new layer or new document. My preference is a new layer. By also checking the create transparency mask box, I got a layer that contained only the parts of the image modified by the plug-in, rather than a duplicate of the entire layer with the enhancements. The colors in my earth-tone background were identical to a few of my subject’s skin tones. By outputting the Portraiture 2 enhancements on a separate layer, I could apply a 1-pixel red stroke to

create and save an unlimited number of

the layer to visually indicate the enhanced

your own custom presets, organize them

pixels, and erase the areas in the image layer

into categories, and add descriptive notes for

where I didn’t want to apply enhancement.

each one. You can view them as text or as

Before I had the Portraiture plug-in, to

thumbnail previews of the effect, which is

touch up a portrait I would begin in Photoshop

especially helpful for making quick selections

and remove all blemishes, then duplicate the

(Figure 6). You can import and export presets,

layer and apply a Gaussian blur. Then I’d

back them up to a safe place, and share them

erase the eye, eyebrows and lip area. Finally,

with other Portraiture users. What a bonus!

I would blend the opacity of the layer until

Portraiture 2 can interface with Lightroom.

the effects were believable. I compared the

By downloading and setting up actions and

results of this method to a file enhanced by

droplets provided on the Imagenomic web-

Portraiture 2. Gaussian blur affects the

site, you can export files directly from Light-

entire layer, so areas of the image that are in

room to a designated folder, with each of the

sharp focus will be blurred too. Portraiture 2,

images enhanced by Portraiture 2. You can

however, enhances the image yet maintains

easily retouch images prior to the client viewing

the sharpness. Skin detail remains, yet the

session, shortening a once time-consuming

skin tone evens out and blemishes disappear.

task. (An Apple Aperture-compatible

Portraiture 2’s new Enhancements can really make a difference, with controls for sharp-

version was in beta testing at press time.) I am highly impressed with Portraiture 2,

ness, softness, warmth, tint, brightness and

but to maximize the benefits you must invest

contrast, and the ability to apply them selectively

the time to watch Imagenomic’s online video

to the mask area alone or to the entire image.

instruction, read the documentation, and learn

Portraiture 2 comes with generic presets, and with the new presets manager, you can

52 • www.ppmag.com

the features. You’ll reap big returns in the long run. �

Figure 6: Viewing the presets as thumbnails speeds the selecting.

Hot stuff OUR 10TH ANNUAL HOT ONE AWARDS RECOGNIZING THE YEAR’S BEST PRODUCTS

The Hot One Awards turn 10 this year. That’s a full decade’s worth of recognizing the best and brightest gear in the photographic industry. Those 10 years span from the days when film still ruled to the maturation of digital technology. The 10th anniversary Hot One Awards are our biggest ever, drawing more than 325 product entries from 180 companies. The entries were so diverse, addressed so many different needs, that we’ve had to rethink the way we classify the products. Not every tool works for every photographer, but with such a mass of choices, there’s something for everyone. All 18 of our Hot One judges are independent, practicing professional photographers, who were selected for their expertise and knowledge. None is an employee of

Professional Photographer. As always, we asked the judges to make their selections based on the products’ overall quality, innovation, design, performance and value for the price. That last one’s important. Professional photography is a business, after all, and the affordability of the necessary products is a relevant concern. The most sexy and pricey item isn’t necessarily the right choice. We hope you’ll find the information in these pages useful. Peruse, learn, and maybe even invest in something new for your business. After all, a 10th anniversary doesn’t come around every day! Jeff Kent Hot One Editor [email protected]

10 TH ANNUAL HOT ONE AWARDS

CAMERAS DIGITAL SLR UNDER $1,000

IT’S A TIE! Canon EOS Rebel XSi In the EOS Rebel XSi, Canon combines prograde technical innovation with point-and-shoot ease of use. This camera features Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View function, powerful DIGIC III image processor, new 3-inch LCD monitor and a revised 12.2megapixel CMOS sensor. Supported memory cards include SD and SDHC. The standard kit comes with the new Canon EF-S 1855mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens with Optical Image Stabilizer. Price: $799.99 with lens. www.usa.canon.com Nikon D90 The Nikon D90 brings a new level of versatility to this category. Inspired by Nikon’s flagship DX-format DSLR, the D300, the D90 has Nikon’s exclusive Scene Recognition System, advanced exposure control technology

that automatically assesses shooting conditions. The D90 is the first DSLR to incorporate HD video capture. Using Nikkor lenses, photographers can create 720p video (1,280x720 pixels) in the camera’s D-Movie mode. Users can also apply a variety of effects and distortion control. The camera’s CMOS sensor provides excellent color reproduction and low noise across a broad ISO range. Price: $999.95 body only; $1,299.95 with 18-105mm VR lens. www.nikonusa.com

DIGITAL SLR $1,000 TO $3,000 Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon’s update to the popular EOS 5D captured the judges’ hearts in this ultra-competitive category. The EOS 5D Mark II has a 21.1megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor with a DIGIC 4 image processor and an ISO range of 100-6400. The camera supports Canon’s Live View shooting and HD video capture (1,920x1,080 pixels), and shoots up to 3.9 frames per second in still-image mode. To go with the full-frame sensor, the EOS 5D Mark II has a new viewfinder that displays 98 percent of the actual frame. Price: $2,699 body only; $3,499 with 24-105mm lens. www.usa.canon.com

MEDIUM-FORMAT DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEM Hasselblad H3DII-50 Armed with a Kodak 50-megapixel 36x48mm sensor, the Hasselblad H3DII-50 edged out some strong competition from Leaf, Mamiya and Phase One to win the Medium-format Digital Camera System category. The H3DII-50 combines the features of an integrated DSLR with a large sensor format (more than twice the size of typical 35mm-style DSLR sensors). This fourth-generation Hsystem camera sports improved functionality, better sensor cooling, a more intuitive user interface and a bright, 3-inch display. Photographers can choose an eye-level or waist-level viewfinder, and combine automated and tilt-shift functions for excellent versatility. Compatible with a range of HC and HCD lenses. Price: $27,995. www.hasselbladusa.com

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 55

10 TH ANNUAL HOT ONE AWARDS

LENSES

MEDIUM-FORMAT LENS

AUTOFOCUS LENS

Phase One 80mm f/2.8 Phase One has launched a new series of lenses for its high-quality, medium-format digital cameras. Of the series, which includes 28mm, 80mm, 45mm, 120mm, 150mm and 75-150mm, it’s the 80mm f/2.8 that captured this year’s Hot One Award. Included in the standard Phase One 645 camera package, the 80mm f/2.8 has an auto/manual focus ring for one-touch selection of auto or manual focus mode. This precision lens affords sharp edge-to-edge image focus with a 2.3-foot minimum focus distance. It can also be used with the 60.5megapixel Phase One P65+ for extremely sharp, high-res image capture. Price: $1,250 for lens only. www.phaseone.com

AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G Our judges have consistently awarded Nikon for innovation and craftsmanship in the Lenses category, and this year’s no different. When used with an FX-format DSLR, the newly engineered AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G prime lens virtually replicates the visual perspective of the human eye. This compact lens comes with Nikon Silent Wave Motor technology and the ability to focus as close as 1.5 feet. The lens’s innovative optical formula works with Nikon Super Integrated Coatings to help correct sagittal coma flare and coma aberration. The rounded diaphragm opening and nine-blade aperture make out-of-focus background elements appear significantly more natural. Price: $439.95. www.nikonusa.com

MANUAL FOCUS LENS The Lensbaby Composer lens and Optics Swap System It’s hard to remember a Hot One competition when a Lensbaby product didn’t win an award. Since bursting onto the scene, Lensbaby has consistently impressed our judges and readers alike, and so does the new Lensbaby Composer. This manual-focus lens is built on a ball-and-socket configuration for smooth selective focus, ease of use and precision. As with all Lensbabies, the Composer allows you to sharply focus on a focal sweet spot with graduated blurring to the edge of the frame. With the Lensbaby Optic Swap System, photographers can change out lenses quickly and easily for a variety of creative effects. Price: $270. www.lensbaby.com

56 • www.ppmag.com

STANDARD ZOOM LENS Tamron AF18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 VC Di-II Tamron easily captured the Standard Zoom Lens category with the first 15X zoom lens, the AF18-270mm f/3.56.3 VC, which delivers wide-angle to ultra-telephoto coverage in one package. When converted to 35mm format, the lens’s angle of view is equivalent to 28-419mm (it’s not designed for use with sensors larger than 24x16mm). The AF18270mm f/3.5-6.3 VC comes with Tamron’s proprietary tri-axial Vibration Compensation (VC) anti-shake mechanism, which substantially reduces the effects of camera shake. At 3.8 inches long, the lens weighs 19.4 ounces, light enough to use in a variety of applications. Price: $599. www.tamron.com

TELEPHOTO LENS Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM Built for on-the-go portrait and landscape photographers, the compact Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM brings superlative Zeiss glass to a portable package for rangefinder cameras. Almost entirely free of distortion and adjusted for field of curvature, this lens delivers imaging quality equal to the other models in the ZM line. With a minimum camera-to-subject distance of only 0.9 meters (just under 3 feet), it’s versatile, and the all-metal mount and sturdy construction make it suitable for adverse conditions. Price: $877. www.zeiss.com

TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS Sigma APO 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG lens Sigma is billing the APO 200-500mm f/2.8 as the world’s fastest 500mm lens. Our judges certainly picked this one in record time, citing features such as motorized zoom and autofocus, and the lens’s status as the only 500mm zoom with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. Compatible with 35mm, full-frame DSLRs and APS-C type digital cameras, the APO 200500mm f/2.8 has an apochromatic design with extremely low dispersion glass elements. An LCD panel provides easy viewing of distance and zoom setting information. The lens even comes with a dedicated 2X teleconverter, which amps it up to 4001000mm f/5.6. Available with Canon, Nikon and Sigma camera mounts, the APO 200-500mm f/2.8 comes with a battery, charger, hood and case. Price: $34,000. www.sigma-photo.com

10 TH ANNUAL HOT ONE AWARDS

WIDE-ANGLE LENS

LENS FILTER

Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/21 Zeiss captured a second award with the Distagon T* 2.8/21, a wideangle lens with excellent color control for shooting highcontrast images without color fringing. Equipped with Carl Zeiss T * antireflection coating, the Distagon T * 2.8/21 provides exceptional results in nearly any lighting condition. It offers close focusing to 0.22 meters (0.72 feet). Available with a variety of bayonets, it works with both analog and full-frame DSLR cameras. Price: $1,750. www.zeiss.com

Tiffen Digital HT Hi-Trans Titanium Multi-Coated Filters Sporting a Hi-Trans double-sided titanium multicoating, Tiffen Digital HT filters are extremely hard, durable and scratch-resistant. They come in Digital Ultra Clear, Haze 86 (with 86 percent UV absorption), Circular Polarizer, 812 Warming, ND 0.6, ND 1.2, Soft/FX 3, Star 4 Point 2 and Color-Grad ND 0.6. Sizes range from 52to 82mm. Each filter comes with its own distinctive soft pouch for storage. The filters’ titanium coating reflects less than 1 percent of the light hitting the surface of the filter. Price: $49.95-$219.95. www.tiffen.com

DIGITAL STORAGE MEDIA MEDIA CARD Lexar Professional UDMA 300x 16GB CompactFlash For the third year in a row, Lexar captured the Media Card category, this time with an upgrade of last year’s awardwinning Professional UDMA 300x CompactFlash card. The new UDMA 300x has a 16GB capacity—lots of space for large image files. The capacity was enough to fight off strong challenges from two varieties of the SanDisk Extreme III CompactFlash cards. All told, the judges preferred the Lexar card’s sustained read/write speed of 45MB per second, its impressive reliability and the complimentary inclusion of Lexar Image Rescue 3 image recovery software. Price: $349.99. www.lexar.com

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WIDE ZOOM LENS Tamron SP AF10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di-II Featuring an unprecedented zoom ratio of 2.4X, the new Tamron SP AF10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 lens impressed our judges with its advanced optical system, which compensates for the effects of light variance caused by zooming. Designed exclusively for Canon and Nikon DSLRs with APS-C size image sensors, the SP AF10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 provides a 35mmequivalent focal length range of 16-37mm. It has a 9.4-inch minimum focus distance across the entire zoom range. It’s maximum magnification ratio of 1:5 at the 24mm semi-wide-angle setting is the best in this class. Price: $499. www.tamron.com

MEDIA CARD READER Delkin ImageRouter The Delkin ImageRouter is a four-slot, USB 2.0 CompactFlash card reader with a built-in powered hub. Our judges liked the ImageRouter’s time-saving ability to simultaneously transfer data from four CompactFlash cards to a computer in an automated file-management process. With four UDMA-enabled CompactFlash cards inserted, the ImageRouter has a read transfer rate of 29MB per second, and a write transfer rate of 27MB per second. The powered hub enables you to daisy-chain two units for the simultaneous transfer of up to eight cards. Price: $129.99; $229.99 with BackupandBurn software. www.delkin.com

PORTABLE HARD DRIVE AND DISPLAY Epson P-7000 Designed for location work, the Epson P-7000 enables photographers to view thousands of images sans computer. The

P-7000 features a 160GB hard drive, speed up to 35 percent faster than previous Epson displays, and a bright 4-inch LCD monitor. Images look sharp and accurate, thanks to Epson Photo Fine Premia technology and a four-color filter system in the LCD. The user-friendly interface allows you to zoom-in on images, confirm histogram data, and create custom folders and slideshows. Price: $799.99. www.epson.com

PRINTERS

FILM

DYE-SUB PHOTO PRINTER

COLOR NEGATIVE FILM

CANON SELPHY CP770 Almost too cute for professional photography, the SELPHY CP770 is nonetheless a capable

Kodak Ektar 100 Kodak has continued its long line of impressive films with Ektar 100, an ISO 100, high-saturation, almost grainless, color negative film. Kodak markets Ektar 100 for nature, travel, fashion and product photography, when the emphasis is on color. Ektar 100 incorporates Kodak Vision Motion Picture Film Technology to achieve its extremely fine grain. Our judges particularly liked the film’s top-notch enlargement capacity for scanning and printing. Price: $4.50 (may vary by dealer). www.kodak.com

dye-sub printer with a 2.5-inch high-definition LCD monitor that can be angled for viewing ease. Available in apricot and white, the SELPHY CP770 has an optional Canon NBCP2 battery pack that makes the compact printer completely portable ($79.99). The CP770 supports Canon’s IrSimple feature, a high-speed infrared wireless communication standard for printing images from mobile phones, PDAs and other handheld digital devices. Price: $149.99. www.usa.canon.com

with Vivid Magenta ink to produce a wide color gamut. The R2880 also offers three levels of black for excellent gray balance and tonal range in black-and-white output. The printer features Radiance Technology to optimize the mixing of individual inks to improve color transitions and reduce grain. Price: $799.99. www.epson.com automatic document feeder. The printer uses Epson Ultra Hi-Definition Claria ink. Price: $299.99. www.epson.com

INKJET PRINTER $500 TO $1,000

INKJET PRINTER LESS THAN $500 Epson Artisan 800 The Epson Artisan 800 impressed our judges with its bevy of intuitive, automated features at a low price. The Artisan 800 features a 3.5-inch tilt LCD and a 7.8-inch touch panel that illuminates only the necessary buttons for each task, helping users easily select, copy, enlarge, rotate, crop and print photos directly from the printer. Considered an all-in-one unit, the Artisan 800 includes a 4,800 dpi scanner, fax, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, media card slots and 30-page

Epson Stylus Photo R2880 Incorporating the same technology as the Epson Stylus Pro printer line, the 13-inch Epson R2880 delivers eye-catching quality and functionality for a more modest price. The R2880 uses Epson UltraChrome K3

INKJET PRINTER $1,000 TO $5,000 Epson Stylus Pro 7900 The 24inch Epson Stylus Pro 7900 professional inkjet printer has a MicroPiezo TFP print head that prints at 2,880x1,440dpi with variablesized droplets as small as 3.5 picoliters. The print head implements accurate dot shape and placement to greatly decrease print time—almost half the time of previous models—while optimizing photographic

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10 TH ANNUAL HOT ONE AWARDS

quality. Based on high-density pigment chemistry, the Stylus Pro 7900’s UltraChrome HDR ink technology offers new orange and green inks and works with Epson’s AccuPhoto HDR screening technology to deliver improved black density and the widest color gamut ever from Epson Stylus Pro printers. Price: $3,995. www.epson.com

INKJET MEDIA

MATTE PAPER

CANVAS

Magiclée Brand Verona 300 Rag The judges picked Verona 300 Rag matte paper for its clean, sharp image reproduction

Hahnemühle Monet Canvas 410gsm With a special coating for fine-art printing, Monet Canvas is a 100-percent cotton canvas for professional printers. This natural white and OBA-free canvas offers maximum aging resistance, an extremely large color gamut and ©Manfred Kriegelstein

INKJET PRINTER OVER $5,000 Epson Stylus Pro 9900 The Stylus Pro 9900 ably rounds out Epson’s trophy case in the inkjet printer category. Like the Stylus Pro 7900, Epson’s newest 44-inch professional inkjet printer features a MicroPiezo TFP print head, UltraChrome HDR ink technology and AccuPhoto HDR screening. The Stylus Pro 9900 also joins the Stylus Pro 7900 in offering the Epson

high color density. Our judges liked the canvas’s detailed color and gray tone reproduction. Price: A3 20-sheet box $74.76; 17”x39’ roll $136.67; 60”x39’ roll $494.74. www.hahnemuhle.com

GLOSSY PAPER

SpectroProofer, which uses an X-Rite ILS20 spectrophotometer for accurate color measurement, and the ability to automate almost any color management process. The Stylus Pro 9900 has an automatic media rotary knife cutting system, a spindleless roll paper holder mechanism and Epson’s new automatic nozzle check technology. Price: $5,995. www.epson.com

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and exceptional color gamut. The paper’s smooth finish yields vibrant color and welldefined black and gray tones. Magiclée designed the 300-gram, 100-percentcotton rag paper specifically for fine-art applications. The paper’s water-resistant coating is free of optical brighteners. Verona 300 Rag can be printed on dye, pigment, thermal and piezo printers. Price: Varies by size; 17”x10’ roll $51. www.magicinkjet.com

LexJet Prime Gloss SUV LexJet Prime Gloss SUV is a 10-mil, true photo-quality paper developed for solvent

FINE ART PAPER

and UV-curable printers (SUV). For long-time users of SUV technologies, the true photoquality of Prime Gloss SUV opens up a range applications, including fine-art reproduction, tradeshow graphic displays, corporate and retail décor, and point-of-purchase signage. Price: 23 cents per square foot. www.lexjet.com

Moenkopi Japanese Washi Designed for digital photography, Moenkopi by Moab is a type of traditional Japanese paper that’s been in use for more than 14 centuries. Moab makes Moenkopi Japanese Washi from sustainable fibers such as kozo (mulberry) and hemp. The environmentally friendly Moenkopi

trio—Unryu 55, Kozo 110 and Bizan 300— incorporate kozo fibers picked from live shrubs that continue to grow after harvest. The handmade, sun-dried Bizan 300 is naturally deckled on all four edges. Price: $19.98-$389.98, depending on size. www.moabpaper.com

SEMI-GLOSS/LUSTER PAPER Sunset Fine Art Satin SUV by Hahnemuhle LexJet and Hahnemuhle teamed up on the

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES BOOK “The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets From One of the World’s Top Shooters” Billed as a “book with one foot on the coffee table and one foot in the classroom,” Joe McNally’s new volume from Peachpit Press combines large, vivid images befitting any art book, with practical education, insights and pro tips. McNally distills his experience photographing for Fortune 500 companies and magazines—such as Sports Illustrated, Time and National Geographic—into an informative guide. He illustrates his concepts, gives real-world lessons, and shares behind-the-scenes stories. Price: $54.99. www.peachpit.com

Sunset Fine Art Satin SUV, and the result is a Hot One Award-winning paper. Sunset Fine Art Satin SUV allows users of solvent and UV-curable printers the first viable opportunity to enter the high-end décor and fine-art market. With exceptional image clarity, the paper has a texture similar to traditional fiber papers. Sunset Fine Art Satin SUV is made without optical brighteners, which prevents yellowing and color shifting over time. Available in 36-, 54- and 60-inch widths. Price: 88 cents per square foot. www.lexjet.com

DVD or CD

ONLINE WORKSHOP

“3-Dimensional Contrast: Principles of Photographic Lighting” The educational DVD “3-D Contrast” illustrates the concepts of legendary lighting

Café Joy Pioneered by award-winning photographer and marketing guru Sarah Petty, Café Joy is a membership service that brings cutting-edge marketing education to your home. The Café involves a monthly program that guides photographers through manageable tasks aimed at building a profitable studio.

expert Dean Collins as used in videography as well as digital photography. Collins created the original version in 1991 to teach photographers how light and shadow could be manipulated to create depth in a photograph, the representation of a 3D subject in a 2D plane. This DVD adapts those concepts for 21st century technology and modern digital imaging. Price: $59. www.software-cinema.com

Membership in Café Joy includes templates, graphic elements, promotional ideas and more. The Café also has a members-only section, The Pantry, where there are specials on educational webinars. Well-known photographers—Café Joy’s “celebrity chefs”— provide valuable insights. Price: $199 membership fee, plus $35 per month. www.thejoyofmarketing.com

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LIGHTING EQUIPMENT CAMERA FLASH Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Nikon captured the Camera Flash category with its latest addition to the Creative Lighting System, the SB-900. Judges lauded the impressive wizardry of the new Quantum Qflash TRIO, but the SB-900 scored the victory with its improved features and price. The SB-900 boasts a simplified interface, easy firmware updates and advanced wireless i-TTL capability. The flash’s innovative design permits the Xenon flash tube and reflector system to move independently for a zoom range of 17200mm. The unit even recognizes fluorescent and incandescent filters and automatically adjusts white balance accordingly. Price: $499.95. www.nikonusa.com

LIGHT MODIFIER ExpoImaging Ray Flash The Ray Flash ring flash adapter for hot-shoe flash units replicates the lighting effects of traditional studio ring flash units. The adapter modifies light through internal lightshapers that evenly distribute light around the lens for a shadowless effect. Portable and lightweight, the Ray Flash uses the camera’s TTL metering

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capability. The unit gets all light from the flash, so it contains no electronics, flash tubes or cables. Price: $199.95. www.expoimaging.net

LIGHTING ACCESSORY LiteShaper Panel Kit Our judges selected the LiteShaper Panel Kit for its ability to shield the camera lens

full-power recycle in 0.9 seconds. When power levels are reduced, the Pro-8 can handle 20 frames per second for 1,000 flashes an hour. With a flash duration of 1/12,000 second, the pack has the shortest duration available. The Pro8a’s new generators deliver accurate output to +/- 1/50-f/stop and color temperature stability of +/- 40K from flash to flash over the entire power range. The digital user interface can be adjusted over a 10-f/stop range, from 5 watt-seconds to a full 2,400. Price: $10,999. www.profoto-usa.com

SLAVE/TRIGGER SYSTEM from flare and control spill light from other sources, plus its collapsible aluminum frames that you can bend into shape time after time. The panel enjoyed the kit’s versatility, including soft box masking to create a strip, a small box or barn doors. The LiteShaper Panel Kit includes four LiteShaper Panels, LiteShaper Arm, gooseneck and stand. Price: $225.00. www.liteshaper.com

POWER PACK Profoto Pro-8a Air When it comes to flash generators, speed is king—and, well, power too. The Profoto Pro-8a Air has both in abundance. With a recycling speed almost twice as fast as its predecessor, the Pro-8a can accomplish a

Paul C. Buff Cyber Commander The Cyber Commander takes the radio slave to the next level. In addition to basic triggering capabilities, Cyber Commander offers complete control of supported studio flash units. It contains a built-in flash meter that allows photographers to adjust lights and group exposures in familiar camera f/stops, all from a color LCD display. Cyber Commander uses 16 operating frequencies and 16 unique

lighting channels, in any combination. The display provides a bar graph for viewing all 16 channels simultaneously so you can monitor and tweak flash power, modeling light intensity, camera f/stops and power. The compact Cyber Commander can be hot-shoe mounted or handheld. Price: $179.95. www.paulcbuff.com

lighting system, complete with EL-SKYPORT built-in radio remote control and Eye-Cell auto pre-flash detection. Operating at 250watt-seconds and 500-watt-seconds, respectively, the lights feature proportional adjustment of the modeling lamp, variable

f/stop steps, automatic temperaturecontrolled ventilation, multi-voltage autodetection at 90-270 volts and a rubberized handgrip with built-in fuse storage. Price: $509 and $638. www.elinchrom.com

STUDIO LIGHTING SYSTEM Elinchrom Style 250BX Ri and 500BX Ri Elinchrom updated the popular Style 400BX line with two new units that won over our judges. The Style 250BX Ri and 500BX Ri represent Elinchrom’s next-generation studio

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PRESENTATION CONTEMPORARY/FLUSHMOUNT PHOTO ALBUM IT’S A TIE! Cypress 5x5 Iris Book Cypress hit a home run with its 5x5 flushmounted Iris Book. This elegant book works beautifully for portraits or small, add-on wedding albums. This is a library-bound hardback album wrapped in Japanese bookbinding

fabrics. Custom-sized, matching presentation boxes are available. Price: $230 with printing. www.cypressalbums.com Forbeyon Perfect Bound Book Our other winner in this category melds magazine-style album fashion with handmade craftsmanship. Forbeyon’s Perfect Bound book comes with a hard cover intertwined with a variety of fabrics, textures and colors. Photowraps or dust jackets are also available. These one-of-a-kind books are produced with a UV coating to help preserve colors. Available in sizes from 4x5 to 12x12. Price: $34-$200, depending on size. www.forbeyon.com

TRADITIONAL/MATTED PHOTO ALBUM Leather Craftsmen 8500 Signature Edition Leather Craftsmen scored an impressive victory in the Traditional/Matted Photo Album category with the 8500 Signature Edition. The album blends the elegance and quality of Leather Craftsmen’s popular matted albums with modern touches from contemporary hingeless flush pages. The handcrafted album comes in two frame colors and four liner colors. Price: varies with size, materials and page options; starting at $162 for bind-only 5x5 book with 16 images. www.leathercraftsmen.com

Image Moments 6 Digital frames continue to dominate the Frame category. This year’s winner is the Image Moments 6, a high-resolution digital frame with a 5.7-inch VGA (640x480-pixel) digital LCD screen. Nicknamed The Executive, Image Moments 6 displays 140 pixels per inch, the highest pixel density of any digital photo frame on the market. The frame features an LED backlight for deep color reproduction and uses environmentally-friendly materials in a low power consumption design. Price: $99. www.digitalfoci.com

DISPLAY ITEM

NOVELTIES OR ADD-ONS

Cypress 5x5 Image Folio Concentrating on contemporary design, Cypress won with its 5x5 Image Folio,

IT’S A TIE!

which can be folded into a small booklet with a ribbon closure or unfolded, displayed like a frame. Cypress offers more than 18 Japanese bookbinding fabrics and Swiss ribbon accents. Slightly modified folios can hold a combination of two CD/DVDs or one disk with a print (up to 5x5 inches). Price: $38. www.cypressalbums.com

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FRAME

Emotion Media ShareItVideo Emotion Media’s Web show service, ShareItVideo, helps photographers reach hundreds of new customers through automatic slideshow integration with popular social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Photographers place an order, and Emotion Media’s designers handle all slideshow production and online posting. Emotion Media then sends out a link to the photographer and everyone on the show’s invitation list. Photographers can also use the service to embed video on their own websites and blogs. Price: starting at $25. www.emotionmedia.com

Miller’s Accordion Wallet Book The second award-winner in this category is the Accordion Wallet Book from Miller’s Professional

Imaging. These mini-books are available in two sizes, 3x3-inches and 2.5x3.5. They open to display either individual image panels or panoramic spreads. Available through Miller’s Press, the books come with your choice of 17 cover options and four paper types. They ship back to you customer-ready, usually within one or two days after ordering. Price: $5 per book, three-book minimum. www.millerslab.com

ONLINE PRINTING/ORDER FULFILLMENT SERVICE PickPic v3.3 Acquired by White House Custom Colour in January 2008, PickPic launched a new version in the fall and added a Photoshop add-on to help with image fulfillment tasks. The system offers fully branded online proofing. A one-time fee buys professional installation on your existing Web hosting account, as well as a customized color scheme and logo integration to match your main websites. Photographers can manage galleries, pricing, orders and clients through the intuitive PickPic Web Manager control panel. While the service is commission-free, photographers are responsible for their own ongoing Web hosting, lab and merchant account fees. Price: $1,249 one-time setup fee. www.pickpic.com

ONLINE ALBUM DESIGN AND HOSTING PickPic v3.3 A multifaceted product with multifaceted applications, PickPic scored a second award for its online album design tools and image hosting. Using PickPic’s interactive toolset, photographers can design albums online and post galleries of their images. PickPic’s online printing and order fulfillment service lets photographers sell individual images or collections directly to their customers. Price: $1,249 one-time setup fee. www.pickpic.com

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SOFTWARE ALBUM DESIGN Kubota AutoAlbum V3 Overhauled in the last year, Kubota AutoAlbum V3 now delivers even more punch for creating sharp, magazine-style albums in Photoshop. Updates include Dashboard for AutoAlbum, powered by onOne PhotoTools. This reengineered user interface makes it easier for photographers to access more than 500 layout templates through a powerful search field. Other improvements include recreated actions that use Smart Object technology within Photoshop for easy modification of album images. Purchase of AutoAlbum V3 includes the AutoAlbum Book, a visual reference for template selection, and expanded online video tutorials. Price: $399. www.kubotaimagetools.com

CAMERA CAPTURE/ PROCESSING Phase One Capture One Pro 4 Phase One grabbed the Camera Capture/Processing category with the latest

DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2

update of the popular Capture One software. Capture One Pro 4 streamlines the workflow and produces impeccable image quality through raw conversions. The update provides a stable yet flexible workflow solution. Capture One Pro 4 has new profiles for all supported cameras, as well as a feature that allows you to create multiple variations of an

SCANNER FILM SCANNER Canon CanoScan 5600F The CanoScan 5600F impressed our judges with its automation and versatile features. Seven EZ Buttons automate the scanning process. The new Auto Scan mode detects the original media, then scans and saves the file using the optimal settings. The scanner’s high-luminance, energyefficient white LED lamps enable scanning immediately after you turn on the power. A letter-sized color scan takes about 11 seconds. Images scan at resolutions up to 4,800x9,600ppi. The batch-scanning mode can handle up to six 35mm frames or four 35mm slides at once. Price: $149.99. www.usa.canon.com

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image, which you can save and recall. Phase One’s added Lens Plus and Focus Plus technologies help minimize fringing and chromatic aberrations. Price: $399. www.phaseone.com

Ever since Adobe Photoshop Lightroom was offered to the public for beta testing, photographers have been psyched about the software’s workflow implications. Now, with Version 2, Lightroom brings even more powerful organizational, raw processing and image editing features. The additions make importing, managing, adjusting and showcasing large volumes of photos easier and quicker. Enhancements include the new Library filter, improved volume and folder layout, multiple monitor support, a new suggested keyword feature, the new Local Adjustment brush, supplied default camera profiles, improved integration with Photoshop and much, much more. Price: $299. www.adobe.com

IMAGE EDITING Adobe Photoshop CS4 Photoshop is still the king of the hill for image editing. In Adobe Photoshop CS4, the software gets a host of new features to make image enhancement faster, easier and more creative. The new interface keeps the work area clutter-free with tab-based and self-

adjusting panels. CS4 takes advantage of the latest graphic processing unit hardware, which allows smooth panning and zooming, as well as fluid canvas rotation. There’s a new rotate view tool, a new adjustment and masks panel with on-image controls, and significantly improved dodge, burn and sponge effect tools. Price: $699. www.adobe.com

IMAGE EDITING PLUG-IN

PRESENTATION/SLIDESHOW TimeExposure ProSelect 4 TimeExposure ProSelect 4 presentation, sales and workflow software incorporates an easy selection system, slideshows with music, non-destructive cropping and effects, an image comparison feature, functionality for designing and displaying traditional matted and composite layouts, the ability to display wall portraits and layouts at exact sizes when used with a projector or largescreen monitor, a built-in ordering system that supports up to 10 price lists, and a high-res production system that produces readyto-print images

at the click of a button (pro version only). Price: $360 basic; $595 pro version. www.timeexposure.com

STUDIO MANAGEMENT SuccessWare 5.0.5 SuccessWare is a tough act to beat, winning several consecutive Hot One Awards in this category. The newest version provides users with automated photography business management practices developed by Charles Haynes, a pastpresident of PPA. The software works with both Windows and Macintosh computers. Price: $1,495 single user, $49 per month lease; $2,495 multi-user version, $79 per month lease. www.successware.net

Nik Software Viveza Taking the always competitive Image Editing Plug-in category is Nik Software’s Viveza, a tool for controlling light and color without complicated selections or layer masks. Powered by U-Point technology for direct onimage editing, Viveza enables users to adjust brightness, contrast and color in a matter of seconds. The plug-in is compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Apple Aperture. Price: $249. www.niksoftware.com

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STUDIO & LOCATION EQUIPMENT TRIPOD OR CAMERA STAND IT’S A TIE! ProMaster SystemPro Clamper Billed as the “Swiss Army knife of tripods,” the ProMaster SystemPro Clamper captured a share of the spoils in the Tripod or Camera Stand category because of its ability to clamp onto just about anything. The SystemPro Clamper has two versatile clamp legs that will attach to most solid surfaces. Price: $70. www.promaster.com

Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 Manfrotto landed the other portion of the honors in this category, earning kudos for its 190 CF 4 Section TripodQ90° with Horizontal Center Column. The four-section 190CXPRO4 tripod combines compact design, rigidity and extendibility in a lightweight body. The patented Q90° center column allows quick verticalhorizontal orientation swaps, and the integrated leveling bubble on the magnesium top plate helps you compose shots with level perspective. The tripod is made of 100-

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percent carbon fiber tubes and magnesium die castings. Price: $325. www.bogenimaging.us

BACKGROUND Denny Manufacturing CP6428 Jaffe by Dave Junion The new CP6428 Jaffe by Dave Junion is a

upper compartment includes organization pockets and space for additional accessories. There’s also an outside hatch pocket and a removable notebook sleeve. The CompuPrimus AW comes with an allweather-cover, hideaway tripod mount, side access panel and memory card pockets. Price: $349.99. www.lowepro.com

LENS AND ACCESSORY BAG

gorgeous impressionist-style background for photographers who want a durable, versatile cloth backdrop. Made from Wrinkle-Resistant Freedom Cloth, the canvas-like material holds up to the wear-and-tear of a busy studio. Available in a variety of sizes. Price: varies with size; $799 for 10x20-foot. www.dennymfg.com

CAMERA BAG Lowepro CompuPrimus AW The CompuPrimus AW dual-compartment camera backpack is made of rugged, 100percent post-consumer recycled Cyclepet, a material with high water and abrasion resistance. The bag’s ergonomic eight-point adjustable harness system distributes weight evenly, while allowing air flow to the wearer. The lower compartment has adjustable padded dividers for pro-size camera gear. The

Shootsac Shootsac by Jessica Claire is an innovative lens bag that also makes a fashion statement for on-the-go photographers. Hanging comfortably at your side while you shoot, the Shootsac will hold a variety of lenses, batteries, flash cards and other accessories.

POSING TOOL

The Shootsac offers interchangeable covers to reflect your changing style. Price: $179. www.shootsac.com

Denny Manufacturing Stone Foot Bridge Capturing the Posing Tool category is the Denny Stone Foot Bridge, a dual-purpose posing prop. One side has a classic brown brick finish and the other is a large grey stone finish. Measuring 51x16x12 inches, it serves as a bridge prop or posing wall. Made of durable, lightweight materials, the Stone Foot Bridge gives that rustic feeling that so many portrait photographers are looking for. Price: $339. www.dennymfg.com

COLOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM X-Rite i1 Xtreme The judges loved the new X-Rite i1 Xtreme, which follows the original i1XT but at a much lower price. This is a professional color management system offering the highest quality profiles in a single, allinclusive package. The i1 Xtreme provides a complete color management solution for LCD and CRT displays, RGB and CMYK printers, and digital projectors. The package includes an i1Pro spectrophotometer, ambient light measurement head, i1 Reflective Scan Target, i1Match and i1Share software,

Mini ColorChecker, and a new ruler and backup board. An optional ColorChecker SG Target helps you perform digital camera profiling. Price: $1,495. www.xritephoto.com

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 69

revolution Julie’s

Julie Klaasmeyer builds a successful business for all the right reasons

BY JEFF KENT

All images ©Julie Klaasmeyer

ust before her 30th birthday, Julie Klaasmeyer of Paola, Kan., had a premature midlife crisis. A stay-at-home mom with her youngest child bound for preschool, Klaasmeyer suddenly realized she’d need something to occupy her days. She went back to college and resolved to take

weren’t many independent studio photog-

and family portraiture. With young children

every class that interested her. She took a class

raphers near her hometown, a small rural

of her own, she found potential clients every-

in photography and found her inspiration.

community south of Kansas City, so it wasn’t

where she went—children’s stores, PTA meet-

long before she acquired a few paying clients.

ings, play groups, youth sporting events and

Klaasmeyer bought an old Mamiya RZ67 from her family’s portrait photographer and

She was still defining her style, but

other family-oriented functions. After about

started practicing on friends and family. There

Klaasmeyer wanted to specialize in child

a year, Klaasmeyer was ready to add a 1,000-

One key to Klaasmeyer’s business growth is the unofficial program she affectionately dubs “spokesmoms.”

square-foot studio to her house, taking a big step forward in her professional development. That was over eight years ago. Now Klaasmeyer is a busy pro with a growing national reputation. She’s a respected speaker on the pro photo lecture circuit, and she’s just been awarded her Master of Photography degree from PPA. This month, Klaasmeyer is moving into a new 7,000square-foot retail studio, with a children’s clothing, furnishings and accessories boutique up front. She has a full-time salesperson and two part-timers. She also runs a subsidiary business called Design Revolution with her sister-in-law. How does Klaasmeyer account for so rapidly becoming a successful businesswoman and respected artist? Foremost, she says, was that she got into professional photography for the right reasons. “There’s a big difference between a mom with a camera who just rolls up her garage door and takes 8x10s for $10, and someone who makes a real investment in the art,” she says. “I never got into this for the money; I was always inspired by the art. I think that’s made a big difference in terms of growing a successful business.” Klaasmeyer does little marketing, yet she draws clients not only from town, but from Johnson County, a wealthy southern suburb of Kansas City about 20 miles away. One key to her business growth is the unofficial program she affectionately dubs “spokesmoms.” “There are moms who come in and love what we do,” she explains. “These are the people who are excited about our work and are going to tell everyone they know about us. We always go above and beyond for them. We give them extra attention. We make them little brag books as a free bonus with their order. We may give them an additional print or two as a surprise. We feature them on our blog and Web site, because these are the types of people who will e-mail

the link to everyone they know. This unofficial

when she made a pair of angel wings for her

The partners expanded far beyond angel

program of extra service to our best

youngest child, took some pictures, and posted

wings, adding other props, outfits, greeting

customers has really paid off over the years.”

the images on her blog. Suddenly she was

cards and accessories that all coordinate

Another value add-on Klaasmeyer offers

flooded by calls and e-mails from other

together. They’ve even started a line of

clients is access to her unique props and acces-

photographers asking the source of the wings.

album templates. The coordinated sets are

sories for themed portraits. She also sells the

She called her sister-in-law and said, “Guess

designed to help other photographers sell

items through Design Revolution. It all began

what—we now have an angel wing company!”

subtly themed portraits. The year-old

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 75

business has been earning high marks from customers, so the partners took a booth on the exhibition floor of Imaging USA 2009 in Phoenix. Klaasmeyer has held onto her artistic principles though the years, and insists on maintaining the high quality of her products. She does all of the photographing and Photoshop post-production herself. She limits the volume of the work she does, holding steady at five to seven sessions a week to give each session the attention it deserves. The only major change is the growth of her sales averages. Raising prices required a healthy dose of trust in herself, her work and the advice of other photographers. “We heard so many times: Raise your prices and you’ll lose half your clients but make more money. So, about six years ago, we raised them all at once, kind of like you’d rip off a Band-aid. Some people were upset, but those were the clients who had come to us because we were inexpensive, not necessarily because they loved what we did. If you get much of your business because you’re cheap, then you end up trying to please everyone, and you’re working all the time. As you move on to those clients who truly appreciate your work, they are more willing to pay for it,” says Klaasmeyer. That appreciation is the heart of her motivation to become a professional photographer. Sure, earning a growing paycheck is good. But the real joy comes from creating something she can be proud of, and that brings joy to her clients. “To make it in this business, you really have to love what you do,” says Klaasmeyer. “I’ve always been excited by what I do. That definitely keeps me going.” �

To see more work by Julie Klaasmeyer, visit www.jklaasmeyer.com. For more on the products of Design Revolution, go to www.designrevolutiononline.com.

Diamonds

©Steve Ervin

©Mike Williams

...forever

PPA’s Diamond Photographers of the Year earn honor of a lifetime COMPILED BY JEFF KENT

he annual PPA International Print Competition is one of the largest, most competitive and strictly evaluated image competitions in the world. Of the more than 5,000 prints entered, only a few hundred photographs, digital creations and albums are selected to become part of the prestigious PPA Loan Collection. The entries go through a rigorous assessment, as the judges evaluate every weakness and each flaw. Landing just one image in the Loan Collection is a significant achievement, more than a true accomplishment. The photographers who have four images accepted earn the superlative accolade, Diamond Photographer of the Year. In the following pages, we showcase the work of the 17 Diamond Photographers of 2008.

STEVE ERVIN

MIKE WILLIAMS

“WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAMES”

“THUNDERBIRD SPIRAL”

“This image has a great deal of significance to me,” says Steve Ervin, M.Photog.MEI.Cr. “I’m directionally challenged, so it’s not unusual for me to get hopelessly lost as I wander an unfamiliar city with my camera. ‘Where the Streets Have No Names’ captures that moment when you realize you’ve entered an area you have no business being in.” The elements in this image are taken from several image files. The sky, the clothesline, the buildings and the subject—Ervin captured each of them at different times and places. He assembled the source images, then began sorting and discarding until he had the right combination. He made the composite in Photoshop, did some color correction and enhancement, then opened the work in Corel Painter to add brush strokes. Finally, he returned to Photoshop to adjust the levels and curves for the final print.

Combining his love for aviation and photography, Mike Williams created “Thunderbird Spiral” with a handheld Hasselblad 500 CM. Later, in Photoshop, he deepened and saturated the sky, highlighted the plane’s smoke trail, and sharpened the jet’s body. He used Noise Ninja for an overall cleanup. “I have photographed the Thunderbirds many times with okay results, but I usually get distortion from haze or rising thermal heat,” says Williams. “This day at Nellis Air Force Base, the early morning conditions couldn’t have been better. There was a crystal-clear blue sky and very little wind. I knew immediately that this was a special moment.”

Ervin Photography, Tulsa, Okla. www.ervinphotography.com

CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D LENS: Canon 70–200mm f/2.8 SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter OTHER GEAR: Good running shoes (just in case)

82 • www.ppmag.com

Mike Williams Photography, Salem, Ill. www.mikewilliamsphoto.com

CAMERA: Hasselblad 500CM LENS: Carl Zeiss 500mm f/8 SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop, PictureCode Noise Ninja FILM: Fujifilm Velvia 100 Professional SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 second APERTURE: f/5.6 ISO: 50

©Robert Hillier

ROBERT HILLIER

Robert Hillier Photographic Art, Saginaw, Mich. www.photoartbyrobert.com

“DREAM SAILING”

(above)

Wanting to turn a set of picturesque personal images into something with more flair, Robert Hillier, M.Photog.Cr., combined them to create “Dream Sailing.” “I could imagine sailing ships floating on the top of clouds,” he says. “In Photoshop, I chose six sailing photographs to combine into one. I set them at different sizes to give the composition depth. As I was playing with the density and contrast, I liked the darker setting, which made it look like nighttime. I added the stars and the moon from other images.” Hillier used LucisArt and Buzz 3 to add star glow and a painterly look. “If I were to dream of sailing, this is how I would imagine it—soft and quiet,” says Hillier. CAMERA: Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro LENS: Variety of Nikkor lenses Software: Adobe Photoshop, LucisArt and Buzz 3

DON CHICK

Chick Photography, East Rochester, N.H. www.donchick.com

“FARMER FRANK”

(left)

“I love to create portraits of people with character,” says Don Chick, M.Photog.Cr., CPP. “Anytime the opportunity presents itself I jump at it.” Farmer Frank is Frank Scruton, a well-known dairy and oxen farmer in the area. “My goal was to capture the spirit of Mr. Scruton in this studio portrait,” says Chick. “Frank was a great subject to photograph, very patient and helpful the entire time. I think the resulting portrait image tells the true story of his life.” An advocate of accomplishing as much as he can in-camera, Chick did little postcapture retouching in Photoshop. He removed a patch on the subject’s overalls and added the vignette to the edges. CAMERA: Canon EOS-10D LENS: Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 second APERTURE: f/13 ISO: 100 ©Don Chick

©Travis Gugelman

TRAVIS GUGELMAN

Gugelman Photography, Rexburg, Idaho www.gugelmanphotography.com

“MY SECURITY”

(right)

“Garith was adopted and brought to the United States from South Africa just a couple of weeks before this portrait session,” says Travis Gugelman, CPP. “Very timid, he wouldn’t let go of his plush rabbit for anything. We made several attempts to persuade him, but he held on. We proceeded to make this portrait, an image of simple security. It’s a reminder of childhood fears, and how they can be resolved in simple and tender ways.” CAMERA: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II LENS: Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 LIGHTS: White Lightning flashes with Larson 4x6 soft box and Larson strip lights SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS2 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 second APERTURE: f/10 ISO: 100

KEITH HOWE

Photographic Images, North Platte, Neb. www.photographicimages1.com

“IT’S LONELY AT THE TOP”

(below)

For Keith Howe, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., capturing “It’s Lonely at the Top” was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Positioned on a ridge in Gardner, Mont., Howe photographed this scene on a cold morning in January. Post-capture, he stretched the area in front of the mountain lion for a better composition. “I remember the incredible cold and the wind howling around me. I remember the feeling of being a barely tolerated visitor in a world ruled by this animal, and the adrenaline rush when I saw this image through my viewfinder. I hope all that is conveyed to the viewer—the cold, the wind and the exhilaration of sighting that powerful animal walking toward me on the edge of the precipice.” CAMERA: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II LENS: Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS3 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/800 second APERTURE: f/2.8 ISO: 100 OTHER GEAR: Tripod, insulated boots, coat, pants, gloves, face mask and a guide nearby.

©Keith Howe

©Elaine Hughes

ELAINE HUGHES

Robert H. Hughes Photography, Columbus, Ohio www.roberthughes.net

“WIRED”

(above)

“The concept for ‘Wired’ revealed itself to me on a cold, snowy day that I spent indoors in front of the computer,” says Elaine Hughes, M.Photog, CPP, “I felt relaxed, and I wanted to take advantage of being in a creative mode. An idea to combine a fractal with a photograph of a bride began to take shape.” Hughes wanted to communicate the bride’s animated emotional state. In Photoshop, she created a fractal, then combined it with the image of the bride. She applied various Photoshop effects, then used the smudge tool to connect bride and wire. “We do,” said the judges. CAMERA: Canon EOS-40D LENS: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/60 second APERTURE: f/2.8 ISO: 400

MICHAEL TIMMONS

The Portrait Gallery, Vassar, Mich. www.theportraitgallery.net

“LIGHT FROM WITHIN”

(right)

Michael Timmons, M.Photog.Cr., captured “Light from Within” in studio, lighting with a 4x6 soft box, backlighting and three reflectors around the subject. Post-capture, he manipulated the image in Photoshop and added effects from Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 and LucisArt Pro software. “I have always felt an attachment to the beautiful colors represented in flowers,” says Timmons. “The blending of shapes and color harmony that most flowers reflect is inspirational. I fell in love with this image after capture because of the intense colors and the fine detail. When we look for an image’s inner beauty, we can crop away the unnecessary elements and focus on what is truly important.” CAMERA: Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro LENS: Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 LIGHTS: Photogenic studio lights SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS3, Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 and LucisArt Pro SHUTTER SPEED: 1/60 second APERTURE: f/22 ISO: 100 ©Michael Timmons

JERRY GHIONIS

©Jerry Ghionis

Jerry Ghionis Photography Victoria, Australia www.jerryghionis.com

Pulled from one of his award-winning albums, this image by Jerry Ghionis, M.Photog., shows the wedding-day mayhem of a couple of celebrated Australian photographers who decided to include 12 children—all under the age of 10—in their wedding party. During the post-ceremony congratulations, Ghionis pulled back and waited for the magic moment to arise. “Within seconds, the little girl in the foreground had a little twirl while the bride bantered with the flower girl,” he says. “I cropped the top of the image to avoid distraction and converted it to black and white. I love that there are several stories that each viewer may interpret differently.” CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D LENS: Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 second APERTURE: f/3.2 ISO: 800

RON NICHOLS

Ron Nichols Digital Solutions Grand Ledge, Mich. www.ronnichols.com

“ROADSIDE MERCHANT” Ron Nichols, M.Photog.Cr., API, met the subject of this photograph while traveling through a remote region of Eastern China. “His skin was weathered and his smile was toothless, but his eyes sparkled with joy,” says Nichols. “He took us to proudly show us his home, a dwelling carved out of the side of the hill. Although he never spoke a word we could understand, his face told the story of his rugged life. We were amazed at the contentment of the Chinese people who lived with so little yet seemed so happy.” Nichols did little post production work on this image, just some processing in Adobe Camera Raw to enhance the detail and saturation. CAMERA: Canon EOS-1D Mark II LENS: Canon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 SOFTWARE: Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS3 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/160 second APERTURE: f/5.6 ISO: 400

86 • www.ppmag.com

©Ron Nichols

©Sam Gray

SAM GRAY

Sam Gray Portraits, Raleigh, N.C., www.samgrayportraits.com

“TIMELESS REFLECTIONS”

(above)

“While visiting a garden on the west coast, I happened upon a beautiful tree overhanging a pond,” says Sam Gray, M.Photog.Cr., F-ASP. “I stood there entranced, absorbing the scene. There were faint colors bouncing off the water, and I imagined how Monet would have painted the scene. The longer I looked, the more I began to see. The colors started to explode in my mind and burned into my soul.” About a year later, Gray set out to realize his vision, adding impressionistic effects to the image in Corel Painter X. He felt the image needed a stronger subject, so he blended in a portrait of two girls in a boat. “Timeless Reflections” was born. CAMERA: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II LENS: Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 and 24-70mm f/2.8 (for two original images) SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Corel Painter X SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 second APERTURE: f/3.2 ISO: 200

STEVEN KEMP Countryside Photographers Seymour, Wis. www.countrysidephoto.com

“HOMESTEAD PRIDE” (left) “I created this portrait on a cold winter morning,” says Steven Kemp, M.Photog.M.Artist.MEI.Cr., CPP. “Out photographing snow formations, I stopped to photograph the house because I liked the texture of the bricks in the fog. When the farmer noticed me, he stopped plowing snow, got down from his tractor, and came over to talk. He told me he’s the fourth generation to live on the family homestead, and he was beaming with pride.” Kemp captured “Homestead Pride” in the available light, then did some cropping and minor retouching in Photoshop. He removed an electric line and desaturated the green hooded sweatshirt to make it gray. He finished up with LucisArt software to enhance the brick. CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D LENS: Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS2 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/80 second APERTURE: f/16 ISO: 200 ©Steven Kemp

©Mark Garber & Jennifer Gilman

MARK GARBER AND JENNIFER GILMAN Mark Garber Studios, Springsboro, Ohio www.markgarber.com

ALBUMS This is the fifth Diamond Photographer of the Year Award for Mark Garber, M.Photog.Cr., and Jennifer Gilman, M.Photog.Cr. The Garber-Gilman photographic team uses a variety of Fujifilm, Canon and Nikon cameras. They concentrate on getting the images right at the capture stage, taking time to set the white balance and proper exposure at every event. Garber and Gilman use a storytelling design in assembling every album. “The design of the albums must be quietly powerful,” explains Garber. “We want to tell a beautiful yet simple story of the wedding day, showing the judges just enough to get them excited about the album, but not to overwhelm them.”

ROD BROWN

Rod Brown Photography Defiance, Ohio www.rodbrownphotography.com

“HORSESHOE BEND” “This image was inspired by my love of all the beauty we have on this planet,” says Rod Brown, M.Photog.Cr. “This particular site strikes the viewer with its size and grandeur.” After waiting for the perfect light, Brown selected a 75mm f/5.6 lens for his 4x5 Linhof Field Camera. Focusing under a dark cloth, he used a 1-degree spot meter to determine the proper exposure. “Photographing the landscape is so personally rewarding,” says Brown. “It humbles you and gives you a spiritual experience.” CAMERA: 4x5 Linhof Field Camera LENS: Schneider 75mm f/5.6 FILM: Kodak E100VS 4x5 Readyload Single Sheet APERTURE: f/32 ISO: 100 OTHER GEAR: Gitzo carbon-fiber tripod with an Arca Swiss ball head and 1-degree Pentax spot meter. ©Rod Brown

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Professional Photographers of America | www.PPA.com | 800.786.6277 | [email protected]

TOMAS MUÑOZ

Muñoz Photography Fort Lauderdale, Fla. www.munozphotographyonline.com

ALBUMS

(below)

“A wedding photographer needs to be able to make decisions quickly without much time for setup and preparation,” says Tomas Muñoz, M.Photog.Cr., CPP. “Knowing your equipment and understanding how to work with available light are critical skills.” For his award-winning albums, Muñoz combined breathtaking images that told a story, while making the photographic experience fun and exciting. He concentrated on consistency in the quality of the lighting throughout. Stylistically, he mixed contemporary elements with traditional ones. ©Juli Cialone CAMERA: Canon EOS-1D Mark III LENSES: Canon 16-35mm f/2.8, 2470mm f.2.8, 85mm f/1.2 , 70-200mm f/4 LIGHTS: Profoto Acute-B 600R, Canon Speedlite 580EX, Lowel id-light SOFTWARE: Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop OTHER GEAR: Tamrac cases and Westcott soft boxes

©Bruce Nelson

BRUCE NELSON

Lifetouch National School Studios, Eden Prairie, Minn.

“IRON HORSE”

(above)

Bruce Nelson, M.Photog., CPP, created “Iron Horse” to illustrate the bond between man and motorcycle. “My goal was to emphasize what is different and exciting about the bike, and to demonstrate how the relationship of the owner to the bike is also important,” he says. In Photoshop, Nelson processed the image file at several different exposures, then copied the individual files into one. Much of Nelson’s post-production work was in matching the color and saturation of the background to the paint colors on the bike. The walls in the original capture were actually white. CAMERA: Nikon D2X LENS: Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 LIGHTS: Main, Broncolor flash modified by Cinegel foil; motorcycle light, 8-foot Bowens Octobox; floor and background, bare bulb with blue gel; kicker, bare bulb with blue gel LIGHT MODIFIERS: Rosco Gel material for color and Cinefoil for controlling the light spread SOFTWARE: Adobe Photoshop CS3 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 second APERTURE: f/5.6 ISO: 100 © Tomas Muñoz

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April 25-28 C: New Hampshire PPA, North Conway, N.H.; Don Chick, 603-335-4448; [email protected]; www.nhppa.com April 26-28 S: PP of Michigan, Inn at Bay Harbor, Bay Harbor, Mich.; Scott Green, 248-318-5182; [email protected]; www.ppm.org April 26-28 C: PPA New Jersey, Atlantic City, N.J.; Leslie, 866-985-4300; [email protected]; www.ppanj.com May 17-18 C: Arizona PPA, Phoenix, Ariz.; Rick Reynolds; 623-680-1744; [email protected]; www.arizonappa.com

PPA-Approved Continuing Education Seminars PPA members receive both merits and the best published prices. April-December C/E: Oregon Photo Safaris, Dwon Guvenir, 503-999-4321; www.oregonphotosafaris.com April 18-20 C/E: Introductory Painter X for Photographers; Omaha, Neb.; John Derry, 913-669-6176; [email protected] April 26-28 C/E: Walden University, Lexington, Ken.; 859-263-2888; www.waldensphotography.com

Current Events

May 17-19 S: PP of Louisiana, Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville, La.; Dayna Ponthieu, 318-3596633; www.ppla.net

April 3-7 C: PP of Washington Western States, Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound, Wash.; Lisa Lamping, 503-861-1200; [email protected]; www.ppw.org

June 14-15 S: PPA of Pennsylvania, Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Camp Hill, Pa.; Scott Weldon, 610-641-9025; [email protected]; ppaofpa.org

August 28-31 S: PP of Oklahoma, Reed Center, Midwest City, Okla.; Ken Helt, 405-372-2670; [email protected]

April 19-21 C: PPA of Pennsylvania, Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Camp Hill, Pa.; Scott Weldon, 610-641-9025; [email protected]; ppaofpa.org

August 8-12 C: Tennessee PPA, Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, Tenn.; Ernie K. Johnson, 615-5095737; [email protected]; tnppa.com

Septemer 19-21 C: PP of Nebraska, Midtown Holiday Inn, Grand Island, Neb.; Teri Funk, 402-991-4413, [email protected]

August 15-18 S: PP of Louisiana, Westin Hotel, New Orleans, La.; Dayna Ponthieu, 318-359-6633; www.ppla.net

September 20-22 S: PP of Michigan, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville, Mich.; Scott Green, 248-3185182; [email protected]; www.ppm.org

August 21-22 C: PP of California, South San Francisco Conference Center, S. San Francisco, Calif.; Roger B. Daines, [email protected]; www.prophotoca.com

October 4-6 S: PPA of Pennsylvania, Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Camp Hill, Pa.; Scott Weldon, 610-641-9025; [email protected]; ppaofpa.org

April 19-22 C: Northern Light, Breezy Point, Minn.; Jeff Fifield, 218-722-3777; [email protected]; Nicole Bugnacki, P.O. Box 567, Ironton, MN, 56455; 763-390-6272; www.nlpp.org April 25-28 C: SEPPA, Athens, Ga.; Tom McCollum, 770972-8552; [email protected]; ww.4seppa.com

PPA EVENTS, EXAMS & REVIEWS Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has a proud tradition of providing its members with outstanding educational opportunities through its annual events, PPA-Merited classes and its PPA Affiliate School Network. Don’t miss out on the vital knowledge you’ll gain at these events! For information on PPA events, call 800-786-6277 or visit www.ppa.com. June 8-10, 2009 Studio Management Services, Atlanta August 24-26, 2009 Studio Management Services, Atlanta November 9-11, 2009 Studio Management Services, Atlanta

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January 10-12, 2010 Imaging USA, Nashville

Certification Exam May 8, August 7, October 9, 2009: Certification image submission deadlines online For a complete list of exam dates, go to www.ppa.com and click on Certification.

October 18-21 C: APPI, Decatur Conference Center, Decatur, Ill.; Jill Sanders, 309-697-9015; [email protected] November 1-2 S: PP of Iowa, Airport Holiday Inn, Des Moines, Iowa; Chris Brinkopf, 563-578-1126; [email protected]; www.ppiowa.com November 1-2 S: Northern Light/MPPA Fall Seminar, St. Cloud, Minn.; Nicole Bugnacki, 763-390-6272; [email protected]; www.mnppa.com November 6-8 C: PP of Indiana, Marriott East, Indianapolis, Ind.; Terry Bateman, 317-253-6245; [email protected]; www.ppofi.org

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2009 PPA-AFFILIATED SCHOOLS PPA members receive merits and the best-published prices. May 3-6 Carolina Art & Photographic School, Randolph Community College/Archdale Campus, Creekside Park, N.C.; Bob Henderson, 336-288-1132; [email protected]; www.capsartschool.com May 3-8 Texas School of Professional Photography, University of Texas, Arlington, Texas; Donald Dickson, 806-296-2276; [email protected]; www.tppa.org/school.htm May 3-8 MARS (Mid-Atlantic Regional School), Grand Hotel, Cape May, N.J.; Adele Bastinck, 888-267-6277; [email protected]; www.marsschool.com May 5-8 & May 10-13 Wisconsin Professional Photographers School at Treehaven, UW Stevens Point-Treehaven, Tomahawk, Wisc.; Phil Ziesemer, 715-536-4540; [email protected]; www.wiprophotoschool.org

May 31-June 4 Florida School of Photography, Daytona Beach College, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Teri Crownover, [email protected]; 800-330-0532; Marybeth Jackson-Hamberger, Director, mhamberger @comcast.net; www.fpponline.org May 31-June 4 Mid-America Institute of Professional Photography, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa.; Charles Lee, 641-799-8957; [email protected]; www.maipp.com; Al DeWild, Director, [email protected] June 7-11 Kansas Professional Photographer School, Bethel College, Newton, Kan.; Ron Clevenger, 913-242-7710; [email protected]; www.kpps.com June 7-11 Illinois Workshops, Grafton, Ill.; Bret Wade, 217-2455418; [email protected]; www.ilworkshops.com

May 10-13 Golden Gate School of Professional Photography, Belmont, Calif.; Julie Olson, 650-548-0889; ggs@ goldengateschool.com; www.goldengateschool.com

June 14-17 Winona International School of Photography, Brown County State Park, Nashville, Ind.; Janell Spencer, 800-310-3460; [email protected]; www.ppofi.org

May 17-21 Imaging Workshops of Colorado, Breckenridge, Colo.; Jeff Johnson, 303-921-4454; [email protected]; www.coloradoworkshops.com

June 14-19 Great Lakes Institute of Photography, Northwestern College, Traverse City, Mich.; Greg Ockerman, 313318-4327; [email protected]; www.glip.org

May 17-22 Georgia School, N. Georgia Tech, Clarksville, Ga.; Tom McCollum, 888-272-3711; [email protected]; www.gppaschool.com

June 21-26 West Coast School, University of San Diego, San Diego, Calif.; Kip Cothran, 951-696-9706; [email protected]; www.prophotoca.com

94 • www.ppmag.com

June 28-July 2 PP Oklahoma School, St. Gregory’s University, Shawnee, Okla., Glenn Cope, 580-628-6438; director @pposchool.com; www.pposchool.com July 12-16 Image Explorations, Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia; Don MacGregor, 604-731-7225; don@ macgregorstudios.com; www.imageexplorations.ca/ July 13-16 Lamarr Williamson School of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.; John Wrightenberry, 803-781-2130; [email protected]; www.lamarrschool.com July 19-24 PPSNYS Photo Workshop, Hobart/William Smith Colleges, Geneva, N.Y.; Linda Hutchings, 607-7336563; [email protected]; www.ppsnysworkshop.com August 2-6 East Coast School Photographic Workshops, Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Raleigh, N.C.; Janet Boschker, 704-5670775; [email protected]; www.eastcoastschool.com August 3-6 Long Island Photo Workshop; Sheraton Hotel, Smithtown, Long Island, N.Y.; Jerry Small, 516-221-4058; [email protected]; www.liphotoworkshop.com August 16-20 Evergreen School of Professional Photography, Vancouver, Wash.; Sam Gardner, 360-961-2887; [email protected]; www.ppw.org Send additions or corrections to: Marisa Pitts, PPA, 229 Peachtree Street, N.E., Ste. 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303; [email protected].

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TODAY

MARCH | 09

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Ron Nichols, M.Photog.Cr., API 2009-2010

PPA President

© Ryan Brown

Since most of my travel is within PPA circles, many places quickly become homes away from home thanks to the hospitality of the people in our industry and association. As a boy growing up, I was involved in Boy Scouts. In the scouting circles, we always used the terms “brotherhood” and “fellowship.” No matter where you went and whom you met, there was a common bond. Even after college, the door to the corporate world was opened due in part to the Eagle Scout credential that appeared on my résumé. (The interviewer was a “scouter,” part of the brotherhood.) At PPA we, too, have a brotherhood—a brotherhood with a common bond of image making and a goal of running successful businesses. Newcomers to our photographic events are pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome they receive and the openness of sharing success stories. From seminars to the banquet table, everyone tosses out ideas to help you be more successful. Over the last few years, the business of photography has changed more than at any time in history. Economic times are tough, and everyone is a “photographer.” The lines have

been blurred between amateur and professional because anyone can post images on the Web and sell to the general public. With that expansion, PPA has grown, too. More people enter our ring to learn, grow, and develop a craft. Some are college students and graduates. Some are retirees. Some build grandiose studios, and some operate out of a bedroom. Some are amazing image makers, and some leave a lot to be desired by our standards. Some create images we may not understand. Regardless of how good or bad, or if our studio is in the basement or on Main Street, we all have desires to create and enjoy the fruits of nancial success from our photography. I was able to grow because a family—that taught me business, image making, and how to be successful—embraced me. That family taught me what kindergarten and college did not.

Photoshop technique, but it could be a perspective or an insight into the new generation of buyers. PPA offers much to help you be successful, but the true value of PPA is the brotherhood—a brotherhood that embraces you and allows you to share and learn. Take the time to nd out all that PPA has to offer, and get involved. You have a lot to share and even more to gain. Follow Ron’s travels this year…just visit http://blog.ronnichols.com.

PPA News & Notes

Traveling has become a big part of my life. Over the last few years, as my work has changed from studio photography to software development and consulting, my nights in hotels and air miles have increased greatly. But with travel come new experiences, new places, and new people.

© Molly Purvines

Ron Nichols, M.Photog.Cr., API 2009-2010 PPA President

It’s easy to look down the street and think that the newcomer is taking all of our business away. But if my local competitors had not embraced me (I got involved in PPA and its afliates), I’m sure I wouldn’t be where I am today. Because many did embrace me, I learned. As I learned, I shared. I quickly found that the more I shared, the more I learned. As a result, all those around me became more successful. Success breeds success. The great thing about our business is that everyone has something to offer. It may not be a lighting or © Curtis Littlecott

news from Professional Photographers of America—the world’s largest non-profit association for professional photographers | www.ppa.com

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TODAY BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT RON NICHOLS, M.PHOTOG.CR., API PPA Member since: 1984 Location: GRAND LEDGE, MICHIGAN

PPA News & Notes

“You can’t make it on photography skills alone,” notes Ron Nichols, the new president of Professional Photographers of America (PPA). And he has the experience to back this up. Nichols has always been involved with different groups and is busier than ever with PPA’s Board of Directors, his digital workow solutions and consulting company (RonNichols.com), and his studio. In fact, his pro photography experiences (or frustrations) acted as fuel to create some of his workow products. A retouching palette, for example, was created because he needed that efciency. But a successful photography business also needs more than a good workow. Besides the necessity of business education, Nichols listed other points he sees as essential during tough economic situations:

And just as there are many skills • Take and utilize your own client a pro photographer needs for lists. As you know, it’s easier success, PPA has many resources to to maintain a good customer help. Building awareness of those and get referrals than it is to resources is one of Nichols’ priorities nd a brand-new customer. as he starts his presidency. • Educate your client on things you, as a pro photographer, now offer. “It’s important to really understand Many services and products simply the value of PPA and take advantage weren’t available at earlier times, of all it has to offer,” he says. “Many so make sure your clients know if don’t see the difference between you offer press-printed books, senior albums, digital slideshows, and so on. us and other associations. But PPA is more than a convention and a • Make sure your customers magazine—it’s a relationship, a know how your products are partner. The more you give and different than the items they share, the more you get out of it.” can create online themselves. • Maximize your sales. Give clients Nichols has even started a blog, the opportunity to buy, and don’t where he can talk about the places be afraid to show them the options. he goes, people he meets, and all Nichols adds, “Sales is a multipart the issues he faces during his PPA process.” You plant the seeds presidency. Don’t miss your chance during the rst phone call; you to read the latest and voice your build trust during the consultation comments: http://blog.ronnichols.com. (where you head off any potential problems like the wrong clothing choices); and you nalize the sale during the sales session. Each step is a way of building trust.

NEW MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR STEPS UP CHRISTEL APRIGLIANO After hundreds of resumes and numerous interviews, PPA welcomes a new Membership Director: Christel Aprigliano. She, like PPA itself, is passionate about helping members stay successful. “Choosing the right addition to our leadership team is serious business, and we feel very certain that Christel is the right person

to help move us forward now,” comments David Trust, PPA’s CEO. Aprigliano replaces long-time Membership Director J. Alexander (Al) Hopper. Originally from New England, her upbeat personality and strong willpower led her through varying experiences before coming to PPA. She earned her undergraduate degree from McGill University in

© Louis Tonsmeire

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news from Professional Photographers of America—the world’s largest non-profit association for professional photographers | www.ppa.com

TODAY WELCOME TO THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS Guiding the world’s largest, non-prot professional photography association is tough, and PPA is fortunate to have the right visionaries at the helm. Our Board of Directors understands exactly what you face and knows the programs, education, benets, and services you need to be successful. After all, they are practicing professional photographers just like you. Join us in welcoming this year’s PPA Board of Directors: Ron Nichols, President M.Photog.Cr., API

Sandy (Sam) Puc’ M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI

Doug Box M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API

Louis Tonsmeire, Vice President Cr.Photog., API

Ralph Romaguera, Sr. M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API, F-ASP

Don MacGregor M.Photog.Cr., API

Don Dickson, Treasurer M.Photog.Cr., CPP

Carol Andrews M.Photog.Cr., ABI

Michael Gan M.Photog.Cr., CPP

Dennis D. Craft, Chairman of the Board M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP, API, F-ASP

Susan Michal M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI

Kevin Casey, Industry Advisor President & CEO of Collages.net

We’ll soon feature Michael Gan, PPA’s newest member of the Board of Directors, in a Board Spotlight article. But here’s a quick introduction for those of you who don’t know him yet! From Pleasanton, Calif., Gan rst joined PPA in 1979. He owns Meritage House of Photography and a fundraising/charity offshoot called

Montreal and her graduate degree from the University of Maryland’s European Division. This international avor fed into Aprigliano’s employment with several national and international companies, including Nabisco and Equifax. In addition, she gained non-prot experience as the Executive Director of The Villages Chamber of Commerce. Along with her well-tested skills, she had the

Simply M. But he actually got into photography by accident while attending the University of California at Davis. Working for the school publication as a features writer, Gan was once told, “Here’s a camera; we’ve run out of photographers.” He got hooked. In fact, after graduating in 1978, he opened his rst studio. “But I really wanted to be a great photographer, not just a ‘good one,’ he notes on his Web site (www.

benet of working with Hopper as PPA’s Member Services Manager. “PPA has a long, successful history of providing protection, education, and resources for its members. I am excited and honored to be a part of this, and I look forward to helping our members stay successful,” says Aprigliano. Explaining what pushed Aprigliano to the top of the deep pool of

meritageonmain.com). To reach that goal, he studied under several studio photographers, joined PPA, earned the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees and his Certication. An award-winning photographer, Gan belongs to several other associations, including the American Society of Photographers, Professional Photographers of California, and Northern California Professional Photographers (of which he is a past president).

PPA News & Notes

MEET THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER

Tim Walden M.Photog.Cr, F-ASP

talent, Trust added, “In terms of growing membership, improving customer experience, and visioning for the future, there are people who ‘get it’ and people who just don’t. Christel is denitely one of those people who ‘gets it,’ which is a pretty rare commodity. I think she’ll take us farther, faster than we have ever gone before. Ultimately, our members will be the beneciaries.”

news from Professional Photographers of America—the world’s largest non-profit association for professional photographers | www.ppa.com

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TODAY AFFILIATE SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

PPA News & Notes

IMAGING WORKSHOPS OF COLORADO

May 17 – 21, 2009 | Breckenridge, CO Contact: 303-921-4454 [email protected] Web site: www.coloradoworkshops.com Tuition: $795 Course Information: •Think Like a Digital da Vinci – Kevin Kubota •Wide Angle Vision – Ken Sklute •The Magic of Posing & Lighting – Hanson Fong •Artistic Elements of Portraiture: Natural Light Style – Carl Caylor •Layers, Layers, Layers…in Adobe Photoshop – Al Audleman •The Zen & Art of Portraiture – Randy McNeilly •The 4 Dimensions of a Portrait – Trevon Baker •Children’s Portraiture – Janet Boschker •Life, Passion, & the Road Less Traveled – Kathy & Peter Holcombe •The Fine Art Side of Photography – Tina & Michael Timmons

FPP FLORIDA SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

May 31 – June 4, 2009 Daytona Beach, FL Daytona Beach College Contact: Teri Crownover; teri@ fpponline.org; 800-330-0532 Web site: www.fpporidaschool.com Tuition: $575 (FPP or PPA members); $775 (Non-members) Course Information: •Photoshop: The Next Level: Layers, Layers, Layers! – Al Audleman •Elements of Artistic Portraiture – Carl Caylor •Jazz Photography & Fashion Weddings – Bry Cox •Foundations of Portraiture – Bruce Evensen •Painting Portraits in a Digital World – Cheri MacCallum •Website Design – Jeff Johnson •Children’s Photography – Lori Nordstrom •High School Seniors – Michael Redford •Photoshop & Painter – Debra Lynn Ferro •The Art of Digital Collage: Painter – Jeremy Sutton •Marketing & Business – Andre Amoyt •Digital Workow Using Lightroom & Photoshop – Kevin Ames

MID-AMERICA INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

May 31 – June 4, 2009 Cedar Falls, IA University of Northern Iowa Contact: [email protected] Web site: www.maipp.com Tuition: $635 ($200 deposit), includes meals Course Information: •Portrait Techniques: Studio Lighting, Window Light, Outdoor Portraiture (Digital & Film), & a Business Bonus – Doug Box •The Art & Magic of Posing & Lighting: How to be a Complete Photographer – Hanson Fong •The ABC’s of Business – Steve Larson & Aletha Speakar •Photoshop for Fun and Prot – Suzette Allen & Jon Yoshinaga •Mastering the Light – John Woodward •Digital Photography: Start to Finish – Robert Lloyd •High School Seniors: How to Get Them, Photograph Them, & Make Them Happy – Chris Carlson •The Anatomy of a Successful Portrait Artist – Greg and Lisa Daniel •Weddings 101: Let’s Kick It Up a Notch – John Michael Hannon •The Senior Experience in a Digital Market – Ellie Vayo

CONVERSATIONS ON OURPPA Have you seen any new equipment pieces or software programs that you’d really like to have? Or are you having problems with a technical item you already own? Don’t forget

the place you can go to discuss these issues and questions with your fellow professional photographers: OurPPA. There are forums for discussing cameras, lighting & studio

gear, computer hardware, computer software, and Photoshop (and other Adobe software)! Go now and you’re sure to nd something helpful. www.PPA.com/community/forums

PPA COUNCIL: DON’T FORGET THE NOMINATIONS Don’t forget to make a difference in PPA and the photographic profession this spring: elect a representative to PPA’s Council. This kind of member involvement helps set us apart from other national photographic organizations. Important Information: • Five PPA members (Professional Active, Life, or Retired members of PPA) can nominate a qualied P4

member in writing, including the signature of the ve members making the nomination. • PPA Afliated organizations may nominate a qualied member in writing. • Nominations should be sent to PPA Council Elections, 229 Peachtree St, NE, Suite 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303. (Fax 404-614-6400.) For questions, please contact the Membership Department.

• PPA must receive nominations no later than May 1, 2009. • The election will take place between May 15 and June 15. • Councilors take ofce on July 1, 2009, for the 2009 - 2012 Council. Visit www.ppa.com/about/council.php for a Councilor job description, requirements, and more.

news from Professional Photographers of America—the world’s largest non-profit association for professional photographers | www.ppa.com

LabTab

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WHERE THE PROS GO FOR THE BEST IN REPRODUCTION SERVICES

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 103

LabTab

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WHERE THE PROS GO FOR THE BEST IN REPRODUCTION SERVICES

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 105

LabTab

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106 • www.ppmag.com

LabTab ad specs: Ad size: 31⁄2” x 21⁄2 12x rate: $425.00 / 6x rate: $525 per month Sign a 12x contract and receive a double size feature ad twice during your contract year at no extra charge. Contact Bart Engels, Western Regional Manager, 847-854-8182; or Shellie Johnson, Eastern Regional Manager, 404-522-8600, ext. 279; for more information.

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 107

Buyer’s Gallery THIS SECTION IS THE MONTHLY RESOURCE PHOTOGRAPHERS USE TO FIND THE PRODUCTS THEY NEED. PUT YOUR MESSAGE PROMINENTLY IN FRONT OF INDUSTRY PROS AND START TURNING BROWSERS INTO BUYERS.

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PROFE SSI O NAL

Adorama (www.adorama.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . .57, 91, 93, 95 Advanced Photographic Solutions (www.advancedphoto.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 Albums Unlimited (www.albumsunlimited.com) . . . . . . .109 Allied Photographic & Imaging Lab (www.alliedphoto.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 American Color Imaging (www.acilab.com) . . . . . . . . .6, 105 American Photo Resources (www.aprprops.com) . . . . . . .113 American Student List (www.studentlist.com) . . . . . . . .110 ARK-LA-TEX Color Lab (www.altcolorlab.com) . . . . . . . .103 Asukabook USA (www.asukabook.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 B & H Photo-Video (www.bhphotovideo.com) . . . . . .78-79 Backgrounds by Maheu (www.backgroundsbymaheu.com) . .111 Bay Photo Lab (www.bayphoto.com) . . . . . . . . . . . .45, 103 Bogen Imaging Inc. (www.bogenimaging.com) . . . . . . . . .51 Boulder Pro Photo (www.lifetimeinfocus.com & www.boulderprophoto.com) 103 Brightroom Inc. (www.backprint.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Buckeye Color (www.buckeyecolor.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Paul Buff Inc. (www.white-lightning.com) . . . . . . . . . . . .39 CCL Photo Imaging (www.cclphotoimaging.com) . . . . . .107 CPQ (www.cpq.net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Candid Color Systems Inc. (www.candid.com) . . . . . . . . .106 Christopher Imaging (www.chrisimaging.com) . . . . . . . .105 Color Incorporated (www.colorincprolab.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Corporate Color/Prolab Express (www.prolabexpress.com) . .102 Contemporary Photography/J. Hartman (www.jhartman.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Dalmatian Lab (www.dalmatianlab.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Denny Manufacturing (www.dennymfg.com) . . . . . . . . .109 Diversified Lab (www.diversifiedlab.com) . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Drivesavers (www.drivesavers.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Dury’s (www.durys.com/discpainter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 emotion Media Inc. (www.emotionmedia.com) . . . . . . . .109 ESS Data Recovery (www.datarecovery.com) . . . . . . . . . .110 Express Digital (www.darkroomsoftware.com/pro) . . . . . .12 Fredericks Photo Lab (www.fredericksphotolab.com) . . . . .102 GP Albums (www.gpalbums.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 GTI Graphic Technology, Inc. (www.gtilite.com) . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Graphic Authority (www.graphicauthority.com) . . . . . . . . . . . .94 Group Photographers Association (www.groupphotographers.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Hallmark Imaging (www.hallmarklabs.com) . . . . . . . . . .105 Herff Jones (www.hjpro.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 Imaging Spectrum (www.imagingspectrum.com) . . . . . . .110 International Supplies (www.internationalsupplies.com) .33 Lexar (www.lexar.com/ppmag) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Lustre Color (www.lustrecolor.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 MPIX (www.mpix.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Mamiya (www.mamiya.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cover IV McKenna Pro (www.mckennapro.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 Meridian Professional Imaging (www.meridianpro.com) . .Cover II Midwest Sports (www.midwestsportslab.com) . . . . . . . .105 Miller Professional Imaging (www.millerslab.com) . . . . .18-19 Modern Postcards (www.modernpostcards.com/prophoto) . .111 Morris Group (www.themorriscompany.com) . . . . . . . . .108 National Direct Marketing Services (www.ndmservices.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Neil Enterprises (www.neilenterprises.com) . . . . . . . . . . .67 Nikon (www.nikonusa.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15 North American Photo (www.naphoto.com) . . . . . . . . . .107 Onlinephotofix.com (www.onlinephotofix.com/magpp) . .113 OnOne Software (www.ononesoftware.com/pp) . . . . . . .49 Pacific Mount (www.pacificmount.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Perceptive Graphics (www.perceptivegraphics.com) . . . . .113 Photogenic Professional Lighting (www.photogenic.com) 65 PickPic (www.pickpic.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Pictobooks (www.pictobooks.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109,111 Portrait City Lab (www.customcolor.com) . . . . . . . . . . . .102 Pro Photo (www.prophotoimaging.com) . . . . . . . . . .104, 27 Reedy Photo (www.reedyphoto.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 Renaissance Albums (www.renaissancealbums.com) . . . .108 Savage (www.savagepaper.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Sekonic (www.sekonic.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Simply Canvas (www.simplycanvas.com) . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Speedotron (www.speedotron.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Sto-Fen Products (www.stofen.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Studio Logic (www.studiologic.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 43 Successware (www.successware.net) . . . . . . . . . . . .Cover III Tots to Teen 2009 Tour-Sandy Puc’ (www.tots-teens.com) .101 Tyndell (www.tyndellphotographic.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 United Promotions Inc. (www.upilab.com) . . . . . . . . . . .105 Used Camera Buyer (www.usedcamerabuyer.com) . . . . . .69 Veach Co. (www.veachco.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 White House Custom Color (www.whcc.com) . . .10-11,30-31 White Glove (www.wgbooks.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Publisher not responsible for errors & omissions

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 111

ClassifiedAdvertising CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES Classified rates: • $1.50 per word; • $2.00 per word/ words with all caps or bold face. • $10.00 per issue—Confidential Reply Box Ads (Optional)—$30 minimum per ad. Closing date is 20th of the second month proceeding issue date. Remittance must be received with order. NO ADS ACCEPTED BY PHONE. Remittance to: Professional Photographer Classified Ads, 229 Peachtree NE, Ste. 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303; 800-339-5451, ext. 221; FAX 404-614-6405.

ACCOUNTING CPAs FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. Business set-up, tax planning and preparation, business valuations and consulting. Decades of experience. Darryl Bodnar, CPA, 410-453-5500, [email protected]. Visit our website at www.nlgroup.com.

ARTISTIC ENHANCEMENTS MASTERPIECE PAINTINGS FROM YOUR DIGITAL FILE. Beautiful oil paintings and watercolor portraits created to your specifications with Corel Painter, allowing you to increase your profits and add to your bottom line. Learn more at www.whitakerpaint.com.

BACKGROUNDS THE DENNY MFG. CO., INC. is the World’s Largest Manufacture of Hand Painted Backgrounds, Computer Painted Backgrounds, Muslin Backgrounds, Studio Sets, Props, Lift Systems, and related Studio Accessories. Contact us today to receive our FREE 180 page color catalog filled with exquisite products and ideas to help you succeed in Photography. Write P.O. Box 7200 Mobile, AL 36670; Call 1-800-844-5616 or visit our Web site at www.dennymfg.com. STUDIO DYNAMICS’ muslin and canvas backdrops offer quality and value at outlet prices! Call 1-800-595-4273 for a catalog or visit www.studiodynamics.com CHICAGO CANVAS & SUPPLY—Wide Seamless Canvas and Muslin, Duvetyn, Commando Cloth, Theatrical Gauze, Velour, Sharkstooth Scrim, Leno Scrim, Gaffers Tape, Primed Canvas, Gesso, and Deka Fabric Dyes—Fabrication Available. Curtain Track & Hardware for Moveable Curtains and Backdrops—Easily installed. Quick turn around time. Our prices can’t be beat. Visit our website or call for a free catalog and samples. 773-478-5700; www.chicagocanvas.com; [email protected] BACKDROP OUTLET, We are the Largest supplier of Backgrounds, Props and Studio Accessories. We have it all…. Canvas from $99.00 Muslin Backgrounds from $69.00 Scenics, Flex outs, Faux tex. Your options are endless. We also offer roller systems and Light Rail systems. Lights, Soft boxes, Stands and equipment. We have a huge selection of props and set systems. REQUEST OUR FREE 164 PAGE CATALOG 1-800-466-1755 or you can order online at WWW.BACKDROPOUTLET.COM 3540 Seagate Way, Oceanside, CA 92056.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY HAVE YOU WANTED TO OWN A MAGAZINE? Premier Bride N.H/VT would like to separate the Bridal Guide into 2 states. Great turnkey operation. Join the franchise, of Premier Bride! Asking $49,000 for either state. Photographers call to advertise or purchase wedding leads! 603-676-8653. www.premierbride.com/newhampshire

CAMERA REPAIR HASSELBLAD REPAIRS: David S. Odess is a factory trained technician with 33 years experience servicing the Hasselblad system exclusively. Previously with Hasselblad USA. Free estimates, prompt service, reasonable rates and a 6 month guarantee. Used equipment sales. 28 South Main Street, #104, Randolph, MA 02368, 781-963-1166; www.david-odess.com.

COMPUTER/SOFTWARE

INCORPORATION SERVICES

SUCCESSWARE®—Studio Management Software available for both Windows® and Macintosh®. Recommended by Ann Monteith, the nation’s foremost studio management consultant. Call today for a FREE SuccessWare® Tour 800593-3767 or visit our Web site www.SuccessWare.net.

INCORPORATE OR FORM an LLC today! Your art is a business. Treat it like one. The Company Corporation can help you incorporate or form a limited liability company in as little as ten minutes. We are fast, accurate and affordable. Provide additional credibility to your photography studio or business at the fraction of the cost of using an attorney. Call 1-800-206-7276 or visit www.corporate.com today!

Learn how you can revolutionize customer and order tracking and ignite your marketing fire with customized software that knows what’s going on in YOUR business—even when you don’t! More professional photographers trust Photo One Software than all other studio management software combined! 5 Powerful Guarantees: 5 days to customize your Photo One to match your studio, personalized phone training for you and your staff, 75 minute no-hassle guaranteed support call-back time, 365 days of unlimited support and usable upgrades and a 90day unmatched money back guarantee! Zero-Risk. Only $299.00 deposit gets you started. Call 888-428-2824 ext. 101 now for your free working demo or visit www.photoonesoftware.com

DIGITAL DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS—Kessler Color produces STUNNING images from digital files. Try our rapid FTP site and get a FREE 16 x 20. New Service—E-Vents from Kessler Color. Get 8x10 units for $.90. [email protected]. 800-KES-LABS. SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHERS—Kessler Color’s digital units start at $.90 each. Beautiful color and great value! Call 800-KES-LABS.

DIGITAL TEMPLATES PHOTOSHOP TEMPLATES AND DIGITAL BACKGROUNDS. Delmiaco.com has fully customizable Photoshop templates sold in layered .psd format. Collections include: Christmas, Holidays, Weddings, Birth Announcements, Birthday, Graduation, Calendars and more. Also available are high quality digital backdrops. Visit www.delmiaco.com for more details.

EDUCATION/WORKSHOPS *BOOK* DAVE NEWMAN’S “PROFESSIONAL PORTRAIT LIGHTING.” New 2nd Edition $45. “. . . simply the Best. . .” R. Day. Now shipping: www.portrait-world.com “The Art of Digital Photo Painting: Using Popular Software to Create Masterpieces” book is now available on Amazon. Join Corel Painter Master Marilyn Sholin in Asheville, NC and other locations at a workshop. Free tutorials and registration at the Digital Paint Shop. www.digitalpaintingforum.com/shop WALL PORTRAIT CONFERENCE. April 26-May 1, 2009. Six day Wall Portraiture concept to completion. The original wall portrait school. Has changed the lives of many! Emphasis on public acceptance, concepts, sales, portrait finishing and more. Yakima, Washington, 509248-6700. www.wallportrait.com

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE DIGITAL PRINTERS; FUJI-NORITSU; MINILABS; NEW & USED, FACTORY AUTHORIZED. INSTALLATION AND TRAINING. FINANCING—$600 UP. DELIVERY —INSURED. WWW.DIRECT-RESOURCES.COM; 877318-3015.

HELP WANTED

CANVAS MOUNTING

HELP WANTED: Assistant photographer for contemporary photojournalistic wedding coverages in Orange County, CA area. Must have digital equipment. E-mail John at [email protected].

CANVAS MOUNTING, STRETCHING, FINISH LACQUERING. Original McDonald Method. Considered best AVAILABLE. Realistic canvas texture. Large sizes a specialty. WHITMIRE ASSOCIATES, YAKIMA, WA. 509-248-6700. WWW.CANVASMOUNT.COM

PHOTOGRAPHER FOR WEDDINGS in Northern NJ. Weekends only. Must have digital equipment, work with second light, and have minimum 5 yrs. experience, and excellent references. Please call 201-406-9226.

112 • www.ppmag.com

INSURANCE Instant Online Photography Insurance. Quotes. Tom C. Pickard Insurance. www.tcpinsurance.com 800-726-3701, ext. 117. Lic. 0555411

LAB SERVICES FREE 20X30 Wallets to 6ftx14ft Goldencolor 9020 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211 310-274-3445 • www.goldencolor.com ACADEMY PRODUCTIONS INC. INNOVATIVE PRINTING SOLUTION Complete Imaging Service for today’s professional photographer Processing—Proofing—Film—Digital Files —SOS— Self Ordering System powered by ROES • High Volume Packages—Kodak Products • Schools—Daycares—Sports—Proms—Seniors • Studios—Store Promotions—Fundraisers—Weddings • Composites—Collages—Other Unique Products • High Tech Printing Equipment—Scanning Services • Free Marketing Seminars—Expert Product Designers • Superior Customer Service—Detailed Technical Support • Competitive Pricing—Quick Turn Around CALL US TODAY: 800-421-3523 6100 ORR ROAD • CHARLOTTE, NC 28213 www.PicAcademy.com PLATINUM GICLEETM FINE ART B&W from your digital file or negative up to 40 x 60. New DuraFiberTM Media provides deep blacks and waterproof, non-scuff surface, great for hand-coloring. Also available in sepia, color, split-tone. Call for free sample. Jonathan Penney, Inc., Master Printmakers. 631-874-3409. www.jonathanpenney.com HAND PAINTED OILS; Transparent, Deluxe, and Canvas Stretched up to 40x60. A complete photo art lab serving photographers since 1965. Traditional and Digital printing services. Fiber based B&W up to 30x40. Giclee Fine Art prints. Restoration. Free estimates & pricing guide. 800922-7459 Venetian Arts www.venetianarts.com “MYCLIPPINGPATH.COM—Get low cost, high speed help from our lab. Cut outs for catalog or background changes. Try us for FREE!”

ONLINE PROOFING/SELLING NEATPICTURES.COM. Simplier is better. Always. Proof and sell your images Online.Simple.

PHOTO RESTORATION 1st PHOTO RESTORATION FREE! Try us, you’ll like us! Point & click easy. No sign up cost. 100% guarantee. Online leader since 1993. Wholesale only to professionals. www.hollywoodfotofix.com or call 888-700-3686.

PHOTOS WANTED VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS from 1860’s-1970’s: Movie Stills, Celebrity Candids, Music, Sports, Crime, War/Political, Wire Photos, Negatives, Glass Slides, and Transparencies. WILL BUY ENTIRE COLLECTIONS! FINDERS FEES PAID! Ralph 800-392-4050 or [email protected]

ProductMall

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PRESENTATION BOXES BOXES—FREE SAMPLE PRESENTATION BOX—FROM THE ORIGINAL BLACK BOX MANUFACTURE—Fast delivery, Finest quality 4"x5", 5"x5", 4"x6", 8"x10", 11"x14", 16"x20", 20"x24". AUFENGER BOX, 4800 COLLEY AVE., NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 23508; 757-440-1147 (phone); 757-440-1149 (fax); 888-440-1146 (toll free). www.aufengerbox.com PRESENTATION BOXES available for immediate shipment; 19 sizes—4 stock colors. For FREE catalog & samples call 800-969-2697 or fax request 800-861-4528. BUY DIRECT AND SAVE. NPD Box Company, 3000 Quigley Road, Cleveland, OH 44113. www.NPDBox.com H-B Photo E-Store Box Manufacturer, buy direct and save. Complete Line of presentation boxes, better quality at lower prices. Bags, Totes, Tissue, Ribbons, customize with your logo. WWW.H-BPHOTO.COM H-B PACKAGING GROUP CENTRAL FALLS, RI. Call 401-725-3646 for free samples.

RETOUCHING WHEN YOUR NAME is on the line, nothing but the best will ever do. Our retouchers know what you need: fast service, a retouch that looks like the photo was never altered and the lowest prices in the industry. If you demand the best log onto www.retouchup.com and your first 10 retouches are free just to prove our claims—the best—the fastest and the least expensive or call 888-700-3686.

SAVE THE DATE FOR MUSIC CITY Gaylord Resort & Convention Center January 10-12, 2010 • Nashville, TN

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRPAHERS You can retouch quickly with superior results. Guaranteed. WWW.3DLIGHTMASTER.COM

SALES AIDS BOXES—FROM THE ORIGINAL BLACK BOX MANUFACTURE—FREE SAMPLE—Fast delivery, Finest quality 4”x5”, 5”x5”, 4”x6”, 8”x10”, 11”x14”, 16”x20”, 20”x24”. AUFENGER BOX, 4800 COLLEY AVENUE, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 23508; 757-440-1147 (phone); 757-440-1149 (fax); 888-440-1146 (toll free). www.aufengerbox.com CREATIVE FRAMES…Designed frames for the professional wedding, portrait and school photographers. Our frames are manufactured here in the USA. Visit us at WWW.CREATIVEFRAME.COM to see our full line. 5000 POSTCARDS $149 UV Coated 5,000 Business cards for $60.00 www.colorphotobusinesscards.com • $10 off /with ad

STUDIO FOR SALE A WELL-ESTABLISHED, SUCCESSFUL TURNKEY PHOTOGRAPHIC BUSINESS IN A HIGH VISIBILITY, FASHIONABLE AREA OF NORTH FLORIDA. OPEN FIFTEEN YEARS, NOW WITH FULL FILM AND DIGITAL PROCESSING, WIDE FORMAT PRINTING, LUCIDIOM AND FUJI KIOSKS, SPACIOUSEQUIPPED STUDIO, LIGHTING, CAMERAS, BACKGROUNDS AND MUCH MORE. READY TO HAND OVER TO CONTINUE MAKING A PROFIT RIGHT AWAY. THE BUILDING, OVER 4000 SQ.FT., WITH LARGE PARKING LOT, IS AVAILABLE FOR LEASE OR PURCHASE. OWNERS ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE ON SITE. THE BUILDING WILL BE WORTH $1,000,000. NOW OFFERING BUILDING AND BUSINESS TOGETHER FOR 900K. OWNER AVAILABLE DURING TRANSITION. [email protected] OR CALL MON-FRI 904-399-3939 BEFORE 9 AM OR BETWEEN 5 AND 6PM.EST. LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHY/Production Studio, located in the Artists District. Bldg. is 19,000 sq ft free standing on 22.000 sq ft of land. It is concrete tilt-up with dock high loading, built specifically for a photography and production studio in 1978. Exacta Photographers, Inc has been a successful business since 1970, grossing an average 1 million per year. Fully equipped w/hot lights for TV commercials and strobe equipment for fashion, etc. 7 air conditioned sets (10,000 sq.ft.) a fully equipped color lab/computer stations/executive offices, huge inventory of backgrounds for sets, cameras, lens, etc. Owner retired. A great opportunity for the right person. For info call 626-445-7459.

STUDIOS WANTED COLUMBUS CAMERA GROUP, INC. buys whole studios or any part including cameras, film, darkroom, long roll, lighting, and misc. No quantities too small. Call 800-325-7664. Ask for Eric.

March 2009 • Professional Photographer • 113

good works |

Images wield the power to effect change. In this monthly feature, Professional Photographer spotlights professional photographers using their talents to make a difference through charitable work.

©Kristen Kalp

ing of the prize and unable to pay for the sessions on their own. And you can’t nominate yourself. The Giving is Awesome website includes a map to every participating photographer. Clicking a marker on the map shows visitors the geographic location of an individual photographer and what he or she is giving away. From there, visitors can link directly to the photographer’s own website and enter their candidates. Each photographer chooses exactly what to donate, as well as the criteria for the candidates. “I wanted to create something that would work for everyone, not just people with well-established studios or money to spare,” says Kalp. “This system leaves everything in the hands of the photographers,

Giving is awesome

including the selection of the prize winners.”

A SIMPLE PLAN, A SIMPLE MESSAGE, EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS

had donated more than $562,000 worth of

L

By February 2008, less than three months after it launched, almost 540 photographers photography services through Giving is Awesome. Kalp is quick to point out that

ast fall, as she looked over her studio’s

“The next thing I knew, it just took off,”

Giving is Awesome is not an official charity;

schedule, Kristen Kalp of Wayne, Pa., figured

says Kalp. “Other photographers posted the

no money goes directly to Kalp or to the organ-

that December would be a boring month. With

information on their blogs, and it wound up

ization. It’s more like a template that others

few bookings ahead, the photographer, who

on some forums. Before long, 50 other peo-

can use in their own charitable programs.

specializes in child portraiture, decided to

ple were giving away sessions.”

“I believe in the good in people, and this

use the time by hosting a contest.

Then Kalp made the next step. Dubbing her

The prize would be a free portrait

initiative Giving is Awesome, she talked a Web

has been absolutely amazing. We’ve had

session. She announced the contest, accepted

developer friend into setting up a site dedicat-

people participating from all over the world.

nominations, and arranged for the giveaway

ed to the cause (www.givingisawesome.com).

It’s been an inspiration to me.” �

to be awarded to a deserving family.

Through this site, photographers the world

Then Kalp had an inspiration—maybe she

over can promote giveaways through a cen-

could help other photographers facilitate the

tral source. They simply go to the site, plug

same sort of giving. On December 3, she posted

in their name and pertinent information,

information about the giveaway on her blog and

and list what they’ll be giving away.

challenged fellow shooters to host the same kind

The general public can nominate candi-

of charitable giveaway. She even invited them

dates through another page on the site. The

to copy her exact wording and methodology.

rules are simple: Candidates must be deserv-

114 • www.ppmag.com

really speaks to that,” she says. “The response

To get involved with Giving is Awesome, either as a donor or a nominator, visit www.givingisawesome.com. To see more from Kristen Kalp, check out www.essentialimagery.com.

Share your good works experience with us by e-mailing Cameron Bishopp at [email protected]

“I’ve used SuccessWare forever. We use every aspect of the software in our business, but client tracking is vital in our ability to deal with clients on a personal basis. From the very first call we receive to the sales presentation...SuccessWare allows us to tag where our clients heard about us, look up previous sessions, record client notes and links directly to ProSelect for client presentations. SuccessWare is one of our biggest business timesavers.” Audrey Wancket Wancket Studios | Spring Grove, IL

SuccessWare is the only studio software that manages your clients, prices your products, pays your bills, and helps you plan for more profit. All this…plus financial reports that actually make sense!

“SuccessWare has helped me build stronger relationships with my clients.”

successful photographers have a lot in common. creativity. passion. SuccessWare.

Jason & Tammy Odom, Sam Puc, Carol Andrews, Mary Fisk, Jamie Hayes, Lori Nordstrom, Susan Michal, Jeff & Julia Woods, Frank Donnino, Jed & Vickie Taufer, Michael Redford, Sarah Petty

PURCHASE OR LEASE | WINDOWS & MAC GET YOUR FREE DEMO AT WWW.SUCCESSWARE.NET | 800.593.3767

© 2008 Wanket Studios

Read Audrey’s story at SuccessWare.net/success_stories.

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