Newsletter of the Pierce County Professional Photographers Association (PCPPA) March 2001

MATT CUTTING

Tuesday March 27th, 2001

Dom Thompson
Bob Gaspari,
Gig Harbor

Simple Matt Cutting
Do It Yourself for Fun and Profit

Inside this Issue

President's Message
Roundtable Discussion
Matt Cutting will Make You Money.
Welcome New Vendor Member
Obit
Increase Your Income Target Your Market

Next Meeting: Tuesday March 27th, 2000

All regular PCPPA monthly meetings are held on the forth Tuesday of the month at
Eddie's Catering, 7112 6th Avenue, Tacoma (253) 565-6310

Meeting Schedule: 5:30PM Roundtable Discussion, 7:00 Dinner, The Meeting Follows
Reminder: Normally non members are welcome with a $20 guest fee applicable to their membership.

Message From the President

Brad Bogue

Rousing Kudos. For those of you who don't know, Eric (PCPPA Immediate Past President, short term) and Chelle Rehn (Print Competition Organizer and Member at large who organized last years Christmas Party) ac-cepted job offers from a company which Eric had photographed their products all over the Northwest. Eric and Chelle are settled in their new home and jobs in Caldwell, Idaho. The first week or so Eric thought he'd gone to heaven, his

assignment was to develop and publish a website for the company. What an opportunity. Back to PCPPA: Even though Eric is maintaining our website it's not the same as having them both around. If you haven't seen Eric's handy work go to www.pcppa.org and take a look. It's improved so much. Thank you Eric and Chelle. PCPPA Wants You!! Pat yourself on the back, you belong to one of the better professional photography organizations anywhere. This organization is reaching out to photographers while providing education and networking for so many photographers. Your Execu-tive Board is actively seeking ways to make the association better. At the March Board meeting we began developing a mission statement (the big "what are we" statement) and we also began working on a vision statement( the statement "Where I see this organization in five years"). So, Tell me ......... what do you think the major thrust of this organization should be and then describe how you envision this association would look in five years. Maybe you see a greater educational thrust with major speakers brought in twice a year. Maybe you see services offered through the association such as a discounted book keeping service, medical and casualty insurance. Maybe you see more social events, tours, caravaning to events, etc. Or, how about assistance in developing and maintaining your website? How about access to a nationally respected photographer to help you build your business and make more money? There are many directions our Association can go. Now is the time for you to offer your opinion to the officers Like I've said before......... We need to talk. Email me at boogie@ci.Tacoma.wa.us or call me evenings at 565-7784 or page me at 903-7776.

March Round Table Discussion

Brad Bogue

Film and How to Make it Sing with Mike Ellwell I'm sure you have wondered how to get the most out of your film.

Maybe even wondered how your film might react under given circumstances. What makes up film? Why are there so many types of film offered from every manufacturer? What's the difference between professional and consumer film? Questions about film WILL be answered this month. Mike Elwell will be teaching us about film and how it does it's magic. Mike works for Kodak and is our local Kodak Rep for professional photographic products. He is very supportive of our Association. Not only that Mike is a very accomplished photographer in his own right, holding the Professional Photographers of Washington Associate Fellow of Photography degree and the Professional Photographers of America Craftsman Degree. Knowing Mike, this will be informative as well as entertaining. There will be plenty of time for obser-vations and questions. Come to Roundtable Discussion at 5:30 We need to Talk........

Matt Cutting will Make You Money.

Brad Bogue

Don Thompson has been looking for a way to present his photography that looks professional but is inexpensive. A number of years ago he found the answer. Tuesday night, don and his compatriot Bob Gaspari will demonstrate the tricks of the mat cutters trade. You won't believe how simple it is to cut a perfectly square, professional looking mat. When you know you can sell your images for more money. Don hails from Gig Harbor. He has a life long interest in photography. You'll see he believes in keeping things simple and inexpensive. Most of his equipment he crafted himself and much of the processes he will show us will amaze you to see how simple this all can be. An excellent, practical program.

Welcome New Vendor Member

Brad Bogue

Welcome Sean Roach. Sean is the local representative of K & K Color Lab in Portland. Sean is extremely knowledgeable about how to get things done in the photographic industry. At a meeting soon he will be setting up a display for K & K and will be explaining how K & K can solve your problems. Welcome Sean and K & K to our Association. (((I received a call that Sean just resigned from K&K and moved to the midwest, I guess that's becoming trendy, and Jerry Saunders mentions that Sean was the owner's brother.)

Obit

PPW Website

Jess R. Snyder passed away on February 23, 2001 at the age of 84. He moved to the Puget Sound from Stratford, TX in 1940. He owned his own studio in Tacoma from 1952 to 1972. He founded the Pierce County Chapter of Professional Photographers Association. He also was a life member of the PPW.

Increase Your Income Target Your Market

Brad Bogue

(continued from last month)

I had the privilege of serving as a Pierce County United Way Loaned Executive in the fall of 1999. (As an aside: that is an eye opening experience.) As an umbrella agency providing assistance to many of the smaller agencies in our county a certain amount of statistical information is generated through their grant library and as justification for the United Way Campaign. Another source is compilations from our county auditor office. The Sheriffs office also can provide some crime statistics. Much of the following information comes from United Way of Pierce County, Human Services Assessment 2000.

Population

The population of Pierce County has been growing 1.9% since 1991. The population of Pierce County is estimated to be 700,000 and continues to grow. It is the second most populous county on Washington.
For those offering Graduation photography the 15-19 year old population is projected to expand from 42,146 in 1989 to 50,942 by December 2000 (a 20.9% increase).
How about child photography? The 0-14 years population is increasing less significantly. Expect a 9.4% increase by the end of 2000. From 126,207 in 1989 to 138,048 in 2000.
The great great grandparent population is the fastest growing segment of older adults (those 85 and older) at 26% from 1995 to 2000 compared to a 10% increase in those 60 - 85 years young. Minority elders make up 10% of the 60+ population.
How about the diversity of our community? Here are some statistics from 1999. 83.48% of the population is Caucasian, 7.91% African American, 1.55% Native American, 7.06% Asian and 4.3% Hispanic. Where do you target your mailings and newsletters to?
The largest projected growth by age is the 45 - 64 years category. At 55.8% these parents of children and teens as well as the kids of living parents make an interesting target market. These are the years where children move out, expenses are reduced while income grows and the importance of family (especially grandchildren) become driving forces.
Teen pregnancy began declining in 1991 and continues to decline. Dropping from about 53 down to 48 girls per 1000 girls 15 -17 are pregnant. Abortions have also declined from about 25 to 20 per 1000 girls. Births remain fairly constant at about 28 per 1000 girls 15 - 17.

Personal Income

In Pierce County average wage and personal income have increased at a slower rate than they have state wide. The average annual wage in 1997 was $26,442 an increase of 1.5% from 1996.
In 1997 the per capita income in Pierce County was $22,511 which is above the national level for the previous decade but still 14.9% below the state average of $26,451. Pierce County ranks 10th of the states 39 counties.
Where are personal incomes coming from? About one out of every three dollars of personal income comes from transfer payments (such as pensions or social security) or income from property. Military personnel and the resulting high concentrations of military pensions account for a disproportionate amount of personal income which lowers the overall personal income statistics.
For those of you who offer wall portraits, that market has remained the same. While the poorest 1/5th of the states population held 4% of the total income the wealthiest 1/5 had about 50% of the Washington states total income. As far as the personal income of the entire state population; 4/5 of the population found it's income had actually decreased compared to national income figures. Population Mobility
Where will these low income and hidden poverty households (100 - 199% Federal Poverty Level) go? Those communities experiencing growth of those low income households are DuPont experiencing an increase of 649%, NE Tacoma a 149% increase, Orchard and Manitou 95%, Tacoma Central Business/Union Station 83%, Fife 77% Thun Field 76% and Ruston/Point Defiance 68%. These percentages represent a growth of the segment of the population already in those areas. With this in mind it looks like University Place, Lakewood, South Tacoma, South Hill, North Tacoma (not Ruston and Pt. Defiance), Gig Harbor, Key Peninsula, Steilacoom, Eatonville, Graham, Puyallup, North Hill of Puyallup (Milton), Sumner, Orting, all along Highway 410, Highway 7 and Highway 512 are good candidates for advertising and direct mail efforts.

In some ways these are startling statistics. Not only do they provide targeting information, but, a look into our community. Taken as basis for directing your business they can be valuable. Use this information to direct your marketing efforts through the next year. As you profit from your photography remember these statistics represent real people. Do what you can to help an agency reach those in need. It will better your community and ultimately support your business.