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Tuesday October 23rd, 2001
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PCPPA hosts the fall print competition on Tuesday October 23rd with two excellent judges, Gary Jentoft and Lorie Wood All members are invited to submit "in person" up to 4 mounted prints, 8x10 to 16x20 with a $1 each entry fee. Work prints are acceptable but will be judged as is. These prints must be mounted or at least taped to a stiff board, no loose prints or album mattes please. There is a new category for Restorations. A before and after image must be mounted on one board. Get to the meeting early as dinner will be a half hour earlier so the print competition can finish before midnight.
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Inside this Issue
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Next Meeting: Tuesday October 23rd, 2001All 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.
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The Washington State Office of Financial management has released the 2001 estimates for state, city and county population estimates. Population in Pierce Co. 2000: 700,820 2001: 713,400 growth of 12,580 or 1.8% growth; King Co. 2000: 1,737,820 2001:1, 758,300 growth of 21,266 or 1.22%. Pierce is fastest growing county. As far as Cities University Place is the fastest growing city (.86% growth), close to Seattle (.83%) that about doubles Tacoma (.49%). Lakewood is posted a population loss at -.03% (21 people less than 2000). Sorry Brett, Green water wasn't listed. What do these statistics mean to you? Obviously Southern King County and Pierce County are the place to be for population growth. With only these numbers we can't assume anything. Who's moving in? Do they match our customer profile? Is the growth group size large enough to affect our business? Where did they move (e.g. A small growth of homes around Gravely Lake more than likely would affect our business more than a large growth around the entrance to Mc Chord Air Base)? Growth is basically meaningless if your marketing is not positioned to take advantage of the general population in the first place.
What are you doing to market your photography? What makes your product unique and irresistible to your ideal customer? Do you know that yellow page ads yield a few jobs but the caller usually is comparing primarily on price. At our last meeting Colleen Pfeilschiefter mentioned the most effective method of marketing for her was an alliance with vendors. She even puts a vendor list in her wedding information packet. Many photographers use direct mail to keep in touch with their client list. Is that working for you? Could you add an offer or special to bring them back as customers? How about including something different in your newsletter (such as an offer to send out a special report on the 7 most important things you need to know, or most families don't know, about family portraits) or starting a newsletter to peak their interest. What's the mail sequence that's worked best for you.
If you have no jobs or if you have too many, marketing is the key. Go to the library and pick up any book by Joe Gerard and read it. Form a mastermind alliance with people who can meet weekly or bi-weekly that will help each other move forward. Put some creative energy in that direction and then put some action into your plan. Keep accurate records and watch your income and satisfaction grow.
Remember, PRINT COMPETITION THIS MONTH, always an exciting meeting.
See you at the meeting,
Brad Bogue
Gary Jentoft is the owner of Grady-Jentoft PhotographersT, World-Wide Digital ResourcesT, Western AirPhotoT, and The Photographers WorkshopT.
Gary is a Life Member of The Professional Photographers of Washington and The Professional Photographers of America. He currently serves as a member of the PPA Continuing Education Committee and the Bylaws, Rules & Ethics Committee. He is also chairman of the PPW Business & Public Affairs Committee.
Gary attended the University of Washington from 1954 to 1962 for degrees in Art Education and Journalism and a post-graduate thesis in both Direct-Mail and Telemarketing.
He is a past-president of both The Seattle Professional Photographers Association and The Professional Photographers of Washington. He also serves as the Washington State certification liaison for PPA.
Gary has been a part-time instructor at Seattle Central Community College since 1966; he teaches Commercial Imaging, Advanced Portraiture, Studio Management & Business Practices, and Integrated Media Communications.
Lorie Wood, Photog. Cr., AFP
Lorie started her career in 1969 with negative retouching. She worked for different labs and studios. Her abilities grew as she attended various workshops, seminars and conventions. Lorie's studies have included all aspects of artwork and photography. In 1983 she joined the PPA and the PPW. She started entering competition and serving in different offices. She earned many awards and was asked to teach and judge, which she has done in WA, OR and at PPA and Canada's National Conventions. She opened her photography studio last year, doing mostly weddings. Lorie is a past president of the APAG. She is teaching her second PPA Super Monday on Oct. 29th.
The board is discussing awarding points for various activities that members perform in and for the association for being considered for the Joe Ray Service Award. Jerry Saunders has assembled a list of actions that would constitute service to PCPPA. The actions are listed below. You'll notice that points are listed. Please do two things with the following list: 1) Check to see if it is complete (should an explanation be included?) 2) Are the points adequate (points are free it's the service we should tally, how should we tally the service?)
The President should announce the number of points the meeting preceding the award ceremony
We should give a certificate of dedicated service to all members who score over __________ points.
David Ziser, Wedding Series The Difference makes the Difference. David did an excellent job showing his set up, lighting, camera angle etc. Even though it was an older video, his ideas can be used today not only at the wedding but in posing families in the studio. If you are a beginner, or just want some posing ideas for brides with children, this would be worth checking out.
Dean Collins, Lighting Basics, "The Portfolio" Dean is a very good instructor. He takes you step by step. I picked up a couple of ideas and tried them. They worked. The video is only 30 minutes long, so you can easily watch it more than once. If you are thinking about doing model portfolios, you should check this one out.
Note: Those that submit reviews of tapes in the PCPPA loan library will receive their next rental free. A deposit is required for each tape borrowed
Past President David Lobban will speak on digital photography at the Southwest association on the third Monday of November. PCPPA members can take advantage out the mutual affiliation we share with other local groups to attend
There are several offices open and nominations are taken in October and November for Nov elections. Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President are open as is a couple member at large positions, and maybe, just maybe newsletter editor.
Have you ever needed help at the last moment and didn't know where to turn? At the last meeting an emergency call out list was established to make it easy to locate those with the skills you seek at the last moment. each of those listed have provided their name, should you ever have that time of need. Remuneration and availability must be worked out at the time, this is a list to fall back upon.
Finally after nearly a year of requesting this list to print in the bulletin, after getting CD's that didn't work and not being able to find it at the website that everyone else seemed to know how to access, (you have to press the hidden link which is the logo on the upper right corner.) Here is the list of videos available to rent for a $5 fee and a deposit of $50 to be held till it is returned.
Board meetings have changed the meeting day to accommodate those who wish to attend SPPA or SW District. Your PCPPA Board meeting will be Monday November 12 at Maxey's (Chinese and American food) at 108th and Pacific Highway SW in Lakewood. (Note: South Tacoma Blvd changes into Pacific Highway just below the 512 Puyallup Freeway.) The meeting will begin at 7PM. Come and give your opinion; you're always welcome. An agenda will be available the week before the board meeting. Ask to be put on the email list to be notified and receive the agenda.
Presenting pricing and policies to prospects.
Have you ever felt awkward about presenting your prices and policies to customers? I have to admit I'm a bit uneasy myself. Is there a tried and true way to guarantee they will like what they see? Is there some background work that needs to be explained before the price is laid out for everyone to see? Do you give prices or price ranges over the phone? Do you print prices and hand them out? What does the bride or senior do with the prices they get? I'm not necessarily talking numbers, just concepts and your observations. What works? What is the warm fuzzy that the customer gets that says it's ok to pick you as their maker of photographic images?
When are you priced too low? When are you priced too high? Is it all presentation and explanation or is there some selling involved also? Is there a twist that makes you different from other photographers and the public loves it? How good is it to appear to be the same as other well established studios and conversely, how good is it to appear to be different? What about your website, prices posted? policies posted? no pictures, lots of pictures? any help articles to help clients make choices? Does it work? Yes there are lots of questions and I know we have the answers. We need to talk. See you there at 5:30.
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