Gary Hughes was just here last month as our speaker. He gave an awesome, lively presentation pack with lots of helpful tid-bits and very useful nuggets of information.

Here’s your chance to shoot and spend the day with Gary. He is putting on a workshop October 25th as part of PPA’s Super Monday.

see more of Gary’s senior work at www.hrsenior.com

Also, on October 25th, our very own PPNCF prez will be putting on a workshop in Ocala on Sports Photography Basics.

So if you are interested in breaking into sport photography, this is the workshop to attend! Remember, your photographic ability is just one part (an important part, though) of the necessary skills for success…just as in any photographic speciality! Jackson will take you though the basics of sport photography, from products, pricing and rebates, to photo day set-up, posing and workflow.

PPA’s super Monday is just one of the many amazing opportunities PPA gives everyone to learn and grow as artists. The cost is only $99 and all proceeds go to support PPA so they can keep giving us such wonderful opportunities to learn.

Register and find out more about this opportunity to learn and have fun with fellow professional photographers at PPA Super Monday – Florida.

I was washing my hands before the program started at PPNCF one evening when I thought I recognized someone waiting for a potty stall. Man, she looks so familiar. Being the shy person I am, always thinking before speaking, I grabbed some paper towels and said, “Hey! Do I know you from somewhere? I’m Jemma!” She said she didn’t know and that her name was Sava- “Oh! Wait, you were in my class right? You go to Camp Weed growing up? Psychology major? Episcopalian? Gosh… hmmm.” -nnah. “What was your name again? Oh right Savannah. {*smiles*} Cool, well nice to meet you!”

Image by Jemma Coleman Photography

I had to know more about her, we were going to figure this out. So I tracked her down, interviewed her, then quit my job, moved to another town, and couldn’t find the notes for like three months. So some of this may or may not be stuff I just made up. Well, here goes… First awesome fact: Savannah was 21 when I met her in …. I can’t remember when it was, but she was 21 then. If you’re wondering who this chick is, she has long pretty brown hair and brown eyes, she likes jeans and thrift store finds – or just look at the photo. That’s her, Savannah Kaszas. Don’t ask me how to pronounce that. All I know is it comes much more easily if you do jazz hands while saying it. Don’t act like you didn’t watch Bring it On. Anyway, second thing I found out was that we have similar taste in kitchen towels and notebooks. Booya!

On to more meaningful things, Savannah is happily married to her hubby of two years, Tim. They are the proud parents of two cats and a dog, fondly named after songs they love. “Music means a lot to me.” Savannah enjoys singing and her brother plays guitar. If they had time, Savannah says she and Tim would go to more shows. Tim would like country shows, but since Savannah threatens to gag herself with spoons, they compromise. Chris Thile, who’s played with Nickel Creek was a great in-between show for them, lovely folk music that’ll put a jig in your step and a smile on your face. Check out the song Leaves Fall from his album Stealing Second and you’ll see what I mean.

Image by Jemma Coleman Photography

With such a southern name, I figured there had to be some country in this girl. Savannah was born in Alabama and then moved to Keystone Heights at the age of six. She went back to Alabama for visits and by the time she was twelve or thirteen had saved up $200 for her first camera, a film Canon Rebel. In love with the nostalgia of the old south, Savannah remarked, “I should have been born in 1963!” Remembering her middle-high school history classes and studying the work of Margaret Burke White, Savannah described her favorite images captured on that first camera. Broken fences, old places, landscapes; evidence of lives of the southern poor during the era of the Industrial Revolution.

Image by Savannah Rose Photography

I can see a little of that vintage old south in Savannah’s style and point out her ring, silver, kick-ass, and complete with cross-stitching. “I know! Isn’t it weird?” Savannah grins. “I drag Tim around consignment shops and thrift stores looking for stuff like this.” She wears a handmade wedding band on her left hand, the cross stitched ring and her great grandmother’s ring on the right, a few bracelets that could be vintage, modern copies, or just sentimental, and a kitty cat amber necklace over her Pink Floyd t-shirt. Super cute! Oops, did I just say that? I mean, she looks fly as hell.

Image by Jemma Coleman Photography

With all this personal insight and Savannah’s easy-going personality, she’s starting to feel more like an old friend than a new acquaintance. “I got it! You worked at Harmon’s!” Turns out Savannah worked for Harmon’s for quite some time while going to school at Santa Fe, during my prime Harmon’s shopping years! In her down time at work, she’d read all the photography books she could get her hands on. Working there she also learned the ins and outs of running a shop for printing, framing, and some developing, not to mention customer service, which was and still is her favorite aspect of the business. After getting her AA in Art Studio, she went on to UCF in Daytona for her B.S. in photography. It’s an hour and a half drive, but she loves the program.

Now, Savannah focuses her business on shooting weddings and portraits – particularly engagements and seniors. It all started when a friend saw a picture she took of a tree on myspace and loved it so much she asked Savannah to shoot her wedding. At first, Savannah said no, but with some persistence, the friend eventually convinced her and after that, Savannah was hooked. Since that first wedding, Savannah has pursued education and entered prints into competition. She attended the f-stops now workshop with the Rads & Susan Stripling in Atlanta, increasing her understanding of light, how to add to it, and how to fix it when it sucks. Almost getting a merit at the state convention just pushed Savannah harder. She attended all the business seminars at convention and joined PPNCF last year. Now she hopes she’ll be able to get more weddings at lovely venues and further develop her portfolio.

I got nosy about her stuff and I found out Savannah shoots with Canon and would love to pick up the 24-70 f/2.8L and the 70-200 f/2.8L. Along with that she’d love a new 7D, some pocket wizards, a lens baby, and “some kind of decent portable lights”. I asked what she used for editing and with some guilt and a slight wince Savannah said she used a PC. I told her not to worry about those Mac bullies. Later we slapped high fives. “Those Mac users are such suckers!” Who said that? Man, the dog ate that part of my notes. Such a shame.

When she’s not shooting, Savannah is messing around in Photoshop, reading modern romances, business books, historical literature, and mystery novels. There’s a good chance that while doing any of these, Jude, their 50 pound chocolate lab puppy will nose her on the back of the leg leaving a sizeable cold wet spot. “He always wants to play ball for hours.” Apparently Jude gets along great with Gypsy and Leroy Brown, their two kitties. Leroy Brown, an affectionate orange cat spends his time sauntering across keyboards and pawing Savannah in the face. Gypsy, described as “antisocial” employs the affectionate fake-out, gets you to pet her and then attacks in a blur of tabby gray fur & claws! As long as the cats don’t interrupt their watching Dexter (“The idea of killing bad guys appeals to me slightly,” Savannah muses.), their making of natural flavored water (watermelon lemon flavor please!), and pineapple upside down cakes (when do I get to come over?), Savannah promises not to dump cans of just given up Diet Coke on them. R.I.P. Diet Coke. R.I.P.

Image by Jemma Coleman Photography

Gary Hughes

“This program will give you practical and easy-to-use solutions that will help you increase business and profits immediately. Bring a notepad and a sense of humor, this could change the way you see marketing….the non-techy and the techy alike make sense of social media and the internet in order to increase profits but does anyone really know how to make sense of it. Is it worth the time? “Nerd Wars” is a program designed to help every photographer who hears people talking about how important blogging, Facebook and Twitter are for your business” – Gary Hughes

Gary Hughes is an accomplished photographer winning 1st place in the portrait category at FPP in 2010 and has several images accepted into the PPA Loan Collection. He is experience in web design an social media. Gary is also a UF Grad (Go Gators!) and a Microsoft certified computer technician. You can check out some of Gary’s work at his website  Hughesfioretti.com

Ted Saylor M.Photog. Cr,, FDPE,FSA

(July 2010 Speaker)

Currently retired, Ted Saylor has worked as an industrial photographer, candid wedding photographer, yearbook photographer and a commercial advertising photographer.

He spend years involved with the FPP (President 1973) and PPA (Board of Directors 1990/1994), has spoken at many Local, State, and National Conventions (5 times) and was an affiliated judge (Portrait and Commercial) for 16 years and taught at several photo schools including Winona.

Ted says “Retirement is great ! Although I feel sometimes I am working harder than when I was working to make a living. I got bored and decided I still had something to offer and want to give it back.”

Brian Idocks Photographics, Tampa FL

Don’t miss our May 19th program with Brian Idocks.

Let’s get real. As a professional photographer our day to day clients are not models. We don’t photograph perfect people in perfect light at perfect locations. We make the best images we can with what we have available to us. Brian strives to make EVERY ONE of his images top quality no matter what the situation. Watch and learn his photographic process in a live session with REAL people with less than perfect lighting. Let him teach you how to make it great, no matter what! You will learn valuable tips on posing lighting, composition, and how to work with real people.  Then…. Let’s take those images to the next step. Work with Lightroom to edit and process and make them even better. He will finish off with some Photoshop retouching to make the final image Brianized! It is a jam-packed, fun-filled time that you will not want to miss!

Brian is a Wedding Photographer based in Tampa Bay and has quickly become one of the most sought after Wedding Artists in his area.  He has photographed weddings for over 20 years.  Brian’s unique style of print finishing along with his romantic approach to photographing weddings have set him apart.  He speaks to guilds throughout the state as well as teaches classes on a variety of topics at his in home studio.  Brian strives to promote the profession of photography and has a website dedicated to sharing knowledge with other professionals.  Brian was named a 2009 Professional Photographers of America (PPA) International Photographer of the Year.  He was included in the FPP “Top Ten Florida Photographers” for 2008 and 2009.  The Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association awarded “Photographer of the Year” to Brian for 2007, 2008 and 2009.  He also received “Bay Professional Photographers Photographer of the Year” for 2008 and 2009.  In 2007 he received his PPA Certification.  He gave a Super Monday for PPA in 2008 and lectured at Fall Seminar 2009 for FPP.  Brian is a member of TAPPA, BPPA, PPGMF, FPP and PPA.  He serves as delegate for PPGMF, is an officer on the board of directors for BPPA and is a wedding advisor for TAPPA.

websites: www.Briancidocks.com and www.Brianized.com

Dana Lunden FSA, FED 2010 FPP Secretary-Treasurer

We all know the economic climate has had its share of hurricanes, droughts, nor’easters and pretty much whatever hardship one can think of for some time now. How long it will last is anyone’s guess. As business owners, there are numerous decisions we must make periodically, based upon our business model. Advertising and marketing dollars, especially in these trying economic times, must be invested wisely to ensure the best possible return. Notice that I said invested, not spent.

Whether that money goes towards print advertising in a magazine, business cards, radio ads, whatever, we need to make sure we are really aiming for our target market. If you don’t have a lot of experience in this area, check with another photographer who does pretty much what you do for work, but in another geographical area, someone you’re not competing with, and ask them what they are doing for marketing. Try to determine what’s working for them and see what hasn’t worked. Then try it in your area.

A short time ago, my wife and I took a mini vacation and went to a couple of theme parks. It was funny, but at one point we looked at each other and said what recession?! There were a lot of people walking around, a lot of people in shops, a lot of people buying things. There is discretionary income being spent out there. The trick is to discover who has it (your target market) and how you can get them to invest it with you.

Now is not the time to cut back on certain things: marketing, of course and your education. “But I can’t really see a return on my education dollars” you may think. Think again. How do you learn marketing, lighting, posing, retouching techniques, the list goes on and on, unless you go to  Florida School, Convention, and seminars? Now is the time that you absolutely must be on top of your game as far as your education is concerned. The digital Dons and Debbies/soccer moms have a certain share of the market- that is a given. And it also stands that we don’t want that share. We want the clients who are educated and know the value of a high quality image. Do you see where I’m going with this?

It is our moral obligation to produce the highest quality image we can if we are charging a client what that image is worth.

This is where education comes into the picture.  Education and experience are what separates US from THEM. Our education dollars invested now will keep on returning over and over again in the future. That is what makes us different. That is one of the reasons we need to take an active role in not only our local guild but also at the state level. The Florida Professional Photographers are working hard to bring you the highest quality instructors at Florida School while keeping the tuition reasonable. The real question is: How much is your education worth to you?

This year is flying by- Florida School is only weeks away and Convention is a few months after that. If you haven’t renewed your FPP membership, do it now. Instead of coming up with excuses why you can’t afford it, write down the reasons why you can. In addition to having the ability to make a better living for you and your family, ie., more money, you’ll have the ability to bless more people around you. Now isn’t that worth it?

Kevin Newsome

We are very excited to have Kevin Newsome  at our next meeting.

With over 30 years as a full time professional photographer specializing in executives, seniors, children and family portraiture, Kevin Newsome might be considered one of Florida’s most experienced image artists. He’s a past president of the Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association (2003), the Florida Professional Photographers (2001), and the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association (2008-09). His book, Children’s Portrait Photography – A Photojournalistic Approach, was released by Amherst Media in 2007.

Kevin’s program will shed light on how the executive portraiture  as a revenue stream has helped his business get through the slow times in our economy. A brief lighting and posing demo will be featured for a clean, yet professional studio head shot, along with tips on location lighting, marketing, and retouching for executives.

Click HERE for our INFORMAL SALON RESULTS

2010 informal salon judges, John Peters, Christine Reynolds, & FPP President Debie Alcorn

A special thanks goes out to our Informal Salon judges who were John Peters, Christine Reynolds and FPP President Debbie Alcorn.

Although none of us saw the 90 Debbie is holding up in the picture (she’s being a real tease), many of us left with new found understanding and knowledge on how to make our images better, and stronger for upcoming competitions.

Also, Sam Brill’s Pro Talk Newsletter for March can be downloaded HERE

People’s Choice: Joe DiOrio had a double win in the genera category AND themed category of  “joy”.

by Joe DiOro

by Joe DiOrio

Top 10 photographers of 2009 were announced.

PPNCF 2010 Top Ten Photographers

1. Tammy Griffin-Vincent
2. Jackson Koontz
3. Jo DiOrio
4. Krystal Radlinski
5. Tammy Johns
6. Matt Radlinski
7. Chuck Nemeth
8. Mario Perez
9. Sam Brill
10. Laurel Housden

Joe DiOrio wins the PPNCF 2009 Scholarship Award

Joe DiOrio received the PPNCF schlarship Award for 2009.
The Award is in the amount of $250.
The criteria for winning the award is the earn points by entering
in PPNCF’s Salons, People’s Choice monthly competition and
service to the section.

Download the 2010 Feb Pro Talk News letter HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After promises of running horses, David and I (Jemma) got on the road to Ocala to interview Jackson Koontz, el Presidente de PPNCF. Can you tell I’m about to leave for Meh-hee-co? Anyway, I couldn’t hide my disappointment when there were absolutely no equestrian creatures to be seen on Jackson’s property. Luckily for me, there were at least three rabbits on watch at the front entrance. We just made it past the guard bunnies and knocked at the side entrance. Welcoming as usual, Jackson waved us into his cozy home office. With such a display of protection, I couldn’t help but ask about his plans for the PPNCF presidential security detail. “I carry a gun with me at all times,”he laughed. “I believe in the second amendment.” On other presidential matters, he was equally nonchalant. “I officially take no stance on global warming because it is non-existent.”

What motivates Action Jackson, inspires him, makes him tick? “I don’t think I have any particular person or inspiration, because life is life. I guess I just really kind of followed myself,” Jackson took us through his journey into the photography business. During college, when he wasn’t cheerleading he was working for the school paper and yearbook. “I became the photography editor; the other guy was screwing up so they fired him and hired me.” Jackson followed this as a photographer with a company specializing in sports photography before moving to Ocala and eventually starting his own business in 1997. Jackson owns Action Jackson Productions based in Ocala, FL. Starting off with sports events and dinner theaters; Jackson evolved his business to include photography, video, sound, lighting, staging, and producing. Now he’s focused on photography, video, and DJ sound work for weddings. That doesn’t keep him from branching out. Action Jackson Productions has a boxing event this March. Jackson’s plans for the business 2010 include short and long term goals. “My big expansion plan. Get out of the home office and get into a bigger spot. That’s short term. And a long term plan of which details I cannot divulge.” Jackson’s expansion plan includes doing a lot more networking, advertising and marketing than he used to. “Decisions you make [in the beginning] aren’t always the best for the future. This is what I do now full time, I don’t have any other job.” Jackson counts developing new ideas and making them known as a valuable tidbit he could have used as a newbie photographer.

Jackson’s plans for PPNCF have the newbie and oldie photographer in mind. Following Krystal, I wondered aloud how Jackson planned to bring the same amount of Klass to the presidency. “Klass is out!” he laughs. “Let’s take what we learned and now build up our membership both for economic reasons, because we’re such a rural group, our membership isn’t where it potentially can be. There is a whole string of new photographers out there. Whether they’ll still be here next year, I don’t know. It seems easy to become a photographer but not so much a professional. The general public does not know the difference; they just look at the price. We want to educate people. It helps when we start bringing the photographers into the fold and teaching them about the trade of photography. It’s a lot more than just buying a twelve mega pixel camera and taking pictures on the weekend. It’s about keeping it legal. We’ve also talked about increasing the number of workshops, inviting people from other guilds, and even just other photographers and bringing them in and all of us learning from each other.”

As the conversation steered away from photography and his new role in PPNCF, Jackson’s youngest son, Ashton burst through the door connecting the office to the house clutching a small toy dinosaur. “Daddy, can I have some gum pleeeaase?” he whispers, hugging Jackson tightly. As Ashton receives his instructions and heads back inside to await his chewy reward, Jackson shares that he and his wife Mary have four children, Jesse 16, Kathleen 14, Jacob 11, and Ashton 4. “Some of them will play it up for the camera. Sometimes they’ll turn their face. They are avid cell phone picture takers.”

Obliging a trip down memory lane, Jackson recalled his earliest childhood memory of photography at five years old. “I remember lining up a bunch of my cars together… and I lined them up in such a way that when I took the picture I had a panoramic. I have them in an album somewhere.” Jackson glances around then shrugs,“I guess you could say that I’ve always been able to pick up a camera & just get something out of it.” Asked if he has something he’d like to try on a shoot but is afraid to ask, he reflected, “Often there are not too many thoughts that I have that we don’t try to do. I’ve done a bikini model calendar type thing for a group of strippers. In order for them to sell it, it could only go as far as bikini. It was interesting to work with a group of girls who are used to working in a strip club scene. It was interesting getting to know them.”

Other than photography equipment and computers, Jackson’s office housed a desk for his wife, some toys, and a guitar case with a few stickers from Christian bands affixed. Yep, he plays. He’s played at church but his favorite gigs were open mic night at the bar. What he plays; “Elvis, the Monkeys, and I just kind of hopscotch around. REM, songs I’ve played that I can’t remember who the singer is.” With a background in youth ministry and achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, Jackson values mission work and volunteerism. He has been to Jamaica to rebuild a church and for his Eagle Scout project spruced up his local church with new paint, flower beds, and mad organization skills. On an average day, you can find him at home, watching the news, working, and hanging out with his family. Oh yeah, and he’s also into Star Trek. “You can pretty much ask me anything.”

Thanks to Jackson for hosting us and letting me jump on his trampoline for parts of the interview, especially the cheerleading parts. Oh and the part where I got to jump on the trampoline with Ashton. Oh and for sparing us from the bunny sentinels. Next time I’m in Ocala though, I better see some horses!