President’s message for 2012

Tamm Johns, PPNCF President

2012 is going to be a wonderful year. I can feel it…………
I have been so blessed to be a part of the PPNCF for the past 6 years, and am so honored to be your new Upcoming President.

In looking back through magazines on different Presidents messages in FPP and PPA we are all complaining about the Soccer Moms and Digital Diva’s. I see them every day in my little town. Part of me wants to scream, and say, how can you proudly post these pictures on face book, that look like,!#$@ and think people like them. But the other part of me says, hey, I was once there.

My son started playing T-ball at a young age, and my daughter took dance. I started taking their pictures at every game and competition. It was addicting, and then other moms would come to me and say, can you take some of my child at the next event… So I would and so on. It made me feel special that I could make people happy by just taking a picture. Then when money was offered, I became addicted.

In my years of practice I became hungry to learn the right ways of doing things as a business. I went to different Photography Studios and ask if I could look at their set up and wanted to ask a few questions. The door was slammed, and they didn’t have time to give me…. So I started researching the internet for Photography Schools, and the FPP popped up. I couldn’t wait to sign up. I was so surprised at the openness for sharing and comradely given. I learned about the FPP Convention while at Florida School and was so excited to go. I remember Julie Hughes was one of the Speakers that year and she impressed me so, I took a seminar she offered at her Studio and there is where I meet Tammy Griffin-Vincent. In our conversation, she asked me to visit and join the Gainesville Guild, a local Professional Photography organization. So I attended, and thought this is great.

As once a Film/Digital Diva, not knowing the ropes on how and what to do to become a Professional, I now created a full circle of knowledge on the ropes of becoming a professional. In running for a political office 15 years ago, I learned that people are so naive and self image is all they need to form an opinion, even if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can talk the talk and they can see you with a camera and think, hey, she/he must be a professional, just because someone has a nice lens on their camera and a web site. And in knocking on doors and really seeing just how many people live in my little town, I realized there was room for more than one Photographer. There are all types of incomes in all of our towns. I look at it as, the low income houses go to Wal-Mart or find a Digital Debbie to take their pictures. The middle class will sometimes use Wal-Mart and then on special occasions, will splurge on a special time of their lives and look for a Professional. The upper class will take the time to look for a Professional, and that is who we are all looking for.

I didn’t know when I started out, what all was involved, that I needed an occupational license and sales tax number. I didn’t’ have a mentor. It would have been so much easier if I did.

I challenge all members of the PPNCF in 2012 to become a mentor to someone and encourage that person to join us at our Monthly meetings not to just hear a speaker, but have some hands on, show and tell, from all of us, maybe joining as an apprentice for the first year. Then encouraging them to go to Florida School and joining the FPP. We have to start somewhere. Everyone doesn’t start out as a professional. There is so much room for the upcoming photographers if we open our hearts and minds to give back. And when we get them to come, really making them feel warm and fuzzy about the world of Photography as an upcoming Professional. I am so hoping the PPNCF can overcome our small numbers and rise above to have an outstanding year to come.