Notes from the Swamp

Notes From The Swamp
April Edition

Happy Spring to one and all. This is always a time of year that comes with mixed feelings. We are happy that the weather is warming up and we can be outside more; now the Easter is over the wedding season picks up in full force; and we prepare for the blossoming senior season. Ahh yes, let us just briefly mention a negative side to April. Do I really need to mention those three nasty letters, (even though I am currently sitting in Columbus, Ohio I don’t mean OSU) I am referring to the IRS. Let us deal with the bright side of the image today.

Spring brings a new birth to nature and everything around us. The trees come out in blossom, the grass greens up (hopefully without crabgrass) and we feel invigorated. It is also a time to break out of our cocoons, spread our wings and take those first few trail flights with new programs. This year has seen a great growth in membership for MTPPA. Some of our new members new to our profession could use a helping hand on their trail flights, like a mother bird does with her little ones. For the older members; find a new member who could use some advice and lend them a hand. For you new members; find one of our seasoned members and ask them that question that has been just driving you nuts. This is called mentoring today, I called it teaching. This is how we perpetuate our the craft that we love. The act of giving is one that just keeps on giving. For the past few months, I have been currently mentoring one member which has been a truly rewarding experience.

Those of you who attended the Kirk Voclain program for Blitz were will entertained. Although Triangle did gain four new members and had some old ones re-up of the 80+ attendees there were only 28 who were MTPPA members. April will present all of you another great learning opportunity. Ben Chen, our April speaker, will be putting on a program from 1 to 5P.M. entitled “Fast Track Weddings”. Following dinner he will present a program on location. Following an award-winning career as a photographer for the Los Angles Olympics, the Los Angles Dodgers, Lakers and others Ben has shifted his focus to high-end weddings. Here is the great part; BOTH programs are free to Triangle members. If you know a non-members bring them along. The cost for them is only $49.95 plus $19.00 for dinner for a LOW total of $68.95. I just need to have the reservations in ASAP. As an added benefit, Ben called me last night here in Columbus, to inform me that he is bringing door prizes from his sponsors to be raffled off at his program.

In closing, I have to admit that this year has truly flown past although my wife may differ. When it comes to Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, which ever the case may be, be sure to show them how much you appreciate them even though you may work together 24/7. After all without their support where would we be.

Dale
P.S. Don’t take life too seriously. It’s not permanent.

Article from JD Photo Imaging

Here is a great article from our very own Tom Hicks from JD Photo Imaging! Also check out his other article on the website under "In the News."

Thoughts on a $51 dollar 8x10" Print

by Tom Hicks, JD Photo Imaging

I had an opportunity to listen to an outstanding PPA online pricing seminar
recently. The expert computed that at her studio the actual cost for an
8x10" print is $51 dollars after her time and labor is included. In fact,
her lab bill was only 5% of the cost of a print.

It is interesting how many photographers don't price their work that way.
Instead, they consider all the time spent copying, sorting, color
correcting, and uploading digital files as "free", then consider the $2-3
dollars paid to the lab for the actual paper print as the most expensive
part of the order. The pricing expert argued that a photographer's time is
worth so much more than an 8x10" piece of paper.

The expert is right.

I tell photographers that they should spend all their time either taking
photographs, selling them, or marketing their business. While they can do
other things like make CDs of files, the time spent isn't free - it is
taking money out of their pocket. 10 cents for a minute's work here, a
dollar for 10 minutes of work there, and pretty soon the photographer is
feeling so broke, even a $3 dollar print charge looks expensive.

If you only make one resolution this year, I suggest that you make a vow to
consider your time as too valuable to waste on anything that doesn't grow
your business in 2008.

After all, aren't you worth it?

Tom Hicks is a partner in JD Photo Imaging. He can be reached at
tom@jdphotoimaging.com.

Kirk Voclain

Just wanted to share a few images from Kirk's program!






Thank you to everyone that attended the Blitz! We hope to see you at MTPPA's next meeting on April 8th with Ben Chen covering Weddings!
Have a great weekend everyone!