Welcome New Sponsors

Welcome two new premiere sponsors to the PPM family....
American Color Imaging and Burrell Colour Imaging. Check out and support all of our premiere sponsors: American Color Imaging, Burrell Colour Imaging, Canon, H&H Color Lab, JD Photo Imaging, Millers Lab, North American Photo. You can find links to their websites to the right of this page.

Training Camp!

Starts today!
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

WOW! Look at This!

Fall Training Camp has free stuff, a cash prize and $2000 worth of Raffle Prizes....
Everyone who attends will have an opportunity for fun prizes and free stuff, but the number one reason that you can't afford to miss this event is the information and inspirational training you'll glean from the experts and friends. Information and inspiration leads to business success!
Don't forget to visit our page on Facebook, and on the website: ppm.org , for more information.
Check the notes on Facebook for information on sharing rides and/or rooms.

Last Chance for Fall Training Camp Savings....

Photographic Fitness Experts, Scott and Adina Hayne are coming to PPM Fall Training Camp.

Don't miss out on the last sale for Fall Training Camp . . .

Register for training camp this week

bring a friend for 50% off!

This week only when you register with a friend you get the lowest price registration half-off.

Click here for Registration Form

All For: $199

PPM Gold Members pay $99

You and your friend must register at the same time.

Hurry!! Offer ends July 31

You'll get photographic fitness training that will "blow your socks off and break a few rules," with Scott and Adina's No Rules Workshop. Since starting their business in 2007 the Haynes have seen business explode and they are willing to share the lessons learned on their amazing ride! Join them for two half-day seminars that will reveal the factors that go into their photography, networking, and business success. You will not want to miss training with these bright new stars of photography!
Brought to you by H&H Color Lab.

And that's not all...
Bring your cameras and get hands-on training from Michigan experts, Jackie Palmer, David Humphrey, Betsy Finn, Candy Young, Rod Gleason, John Marion, Mary Anne McAtee, Brad Hawks, Joy Hein, and Laura Boutel.


You will want to reserve your room at Crystal Mountain soon. Special price ends August 20.
Visit the website, ppm.org , for more information and registration forms.

Get Photographically Fit -- Half Price!

In case you didn't get the email, we are reminding all professional photographers that it is time to get your business in shape.

Attend Fall Training Camp, September 20 thru 22.

Register this week and bring a buddy for free!
That's right! Register with a friend by June 23 and pay only one registration fee.

All photographers are invited to get in shape with photographic fitness experts, Scott and Adina Hayne. They will strengthen your skills and business savvy in their "No Rules" Workshop.


Plus, get tons of hands-on experience with Michigan experts, Jackie Palmer, David Humphrey, Betsy Finn, Candy Young, Rod Gleason, John Marion, Mary Anne McAtee, Brad Hawks, Joy Hein, and Laura Boutel.


You do not have to be a PPM member. Registration for three days is $199. PPM members pay $99. ...and we repeat, register this week and bring a buddy for free!
Visit the website, ppm.org , for more information and registration forms.

Look What We Did!!

The Essentials event was everything promised, and more! We had a great time learning, creating and relaxing with new and old friends at the Inn at Bay Harbor, in Petoskey, MI

Jennifer Hudson inspired us to to new creative heights.





The Antisdels endured their personal version of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" to share a little of everything with us. What they went through to get to Petoskey!! We so appreciated it!




Michelle Huesgen did a great job sharing her brand of child and Senior photography... complete with Photoshop tips and tricks.







And we had time for shopping, gallery hopping, eating at great restaurants, hunting Petoskey stones, shooting, collecting textures..... and soaking in the view.







Hope we can do it again!

FREE STUFF!!

A quick note to announce that senior photographer, David Humphrey has donated a complete set of actions to everyone who attends the PPM Fall Training Camp, September 20 - 22. This is a $129 value. The action CD's will be handed out at Fall Training Camp.
Thanks David!!!

Share a Ride - Share a Room

Looking for someone to share a ride or a room at Essentials? Comment at the end of this post. Let us know if you want to share. Be sure to leave contact information!

Not For Women Only

Hey guys! Men are allowed to come to Essentials, too! It is a great opportunity to share and learn more about your clients. Gain new insights into the mysteries of the female mind, as well as pick up techniques that appeal especially to women!
... and don't worry, some progressive-thinking men have already signed up. You won't be the only ones! See you there!

It's Essential!

The Essentials Retreat For and about Women is just around the corner, April 26 - 28. This year the venue is in the beautiful Inn at Bay Harbor in Petoskey, MI. This is the perfect time to get away from it all and relax, renew, and reinvent yourself . . . before the rush of the busy season. Essentials is not your ordinary seminar where you spend the entire day in a stuffy classroom; we have downtime built into the schedule! Time to relax, and renew acquaintances -- or make new friends!

When you're relaxed, be prepared to reinvent yourself with information from our line up of business success stories:

Sunday, Jennifer Hudson, a young photographer from Boston, has recently reinvented herself and her photography. She will share her story and her techniques and artful new products for in her presentation, the Handmade Life.



Monday, Sana Antisdel, and Kia Antisdel Bondurant, of Louisburg, Kansas, will share their relevant style and innovative ideas that have earned them national recognition in high school senior photography. They are excited to be bringing you brand new marketing, shooting and selling ideas.

On Tuesday, Michelle Huesgen, a children and senior photographer from St. Louis, Missouri, will share all the insight she has to offer, as well as tips and tricks of the trade when it comes to turning a portrait into a work of art!

You won't want to miss a minute of it!

Visit the PPM website to register.

FYI . . .

Print Competition 101 - Demystifying the Process
Cost: $95 - includes all four Webinars & 100% of your registration fee is applied to your 2009 Print Competition case fee!

Get a head start on PPA's 2009 International Print Competition with this 4-week Webinar series, designed to give you a complete understanding of the benefits and workings of this exciting program-a very different form of education!

• How Print Competition Helps You
  Wednesday, February 25 | 7:00pm Eastern
• The Twelve Elements of a Merit-Worthy Image
  Wednesday, March 4 | 7:00pm Eastern
• PPA's International Print Competition: Process and Workflow
  Wednesday, March 18 | 7:00pm Eastern
• The Home Stretch: Judging the International Print Competition
  Wednesday, April 1 | 7:00pm Eastern

To register or for more information, visit: www.ppa.com/education-events/webinars/090225-print-comp.php.

And the Winner is...

Just a quick post to announce the award winners of the PPM print competition. We had some amazing entries this year and great judging. The judges, Kalen Henderson, Ken Sklute, Gabriel Alonso, Helen Yancy, Randy McNeilly, Bert Behnke, and Dave Swoboda, provided good feedback, great advice and consistent scoring.

Congratulations to the Image Makers!

And here are the results:

In Electronic Imaging...
Brad Hawks was Electronic Imager of the Year (sponsored by North American Photo) with a score of 333
Karen Walker earned Court of Honors recognition (sponsored by JD Photo Imaging) for two images: Sylph, and Honor Restored.
Brad Hawks earned a Kodak Gallery Award for Back to the City.
Edward Westwood earned the Fuji Masterpiece Award for National Museum of the US Airforce.
Best of Show, Electronic Retouching and Enhancement (sponsored by Canon USA) was National Museum of the US Airforce by Edward Westwood.
Best of Show, Electronic Imaging (sponsored by Miller's Professional Imaging) went to Back to the City, by Brad Hawks.

In the Photographic Imaging categories...

Michael Timmons earned the ASP State Elite Award for the album, Alaska.
Carol Nichols and Kelli Walton tied for Highest Scoring First Time Entry (sponsored by the Jack Marion Family).
Michael Timmons won the Bill Stockwell Award for the album, Alaska.
Highest Scoring Image (sponsored by JD Photo Imaging) was Snow-capped, by Michael Timmons.
Best Black and White Image (sponsored by Photoeducation.com) was Snow-capped, by Michael Timmons.

Those earning Court of Honor
...in the Portrait category (sponsored by Canon USA):
Andrew Jenkens for Intense and On Edge,
Deb Trombly for Fishing Buddies,
David Humphrey for Perfect Balance,
Jim Churchill for Demons Within.
...in the Illustrative category:
Tina Timmons for Liquid Grace and Russian Resting Place
Cynthia Higgons for Spare Ribs,
Betsy Finn for Soul Shoes,
Michael Timmons for Final Flight and Morning Watch.
...in the Wedding/Event category:
David Deutsch for Contempory Classic
...in the Album category:
Jim Schmelzer for Miss Fashionista.

Kodak Gallery Awards went to
Portrait: David Deutsch for Jamzzz
Illustrative/Commercial: Michael Timmons for Pemaquid Light
Wedding/Event: Brad Hawks for Two Bridges as One
Album: Michael Timmons, Alaska

Fuji Masterpiece Awards went to
Portrait: Jim Churchill for Emergence
Commercial: David Humphrey for Speedo the Breath of Victory
Illustrative: Tina Timmons for Docked
Wedding/Event: Clint McLennon, Stairway Romance
Album: Rick DeLorme, At Last

Best of Show
Portrait (sponsored by North American Photo):
Dan Pulver, Eva at Two
Commercial (sponsored by Canon USA)
David Humphrey, Dirt Devel
Illustrative (sponsored by Miller's Professional Imaging):
Michael Timmons, Snow-capped
Wedding/Event (sponsored by H&H Color Lab)
Sam Sarkis, Wrapped in Love's Light
Album:
Michael Timmons, Alaska

Michigan Photographers 4 for 4
Michael Timmons
Tina Timmons
Jim Churchill
David Humphrey
Andrew Jenkins
Sam Sarkis
Brad Hawks
Barry Rankin
Debra Sportel

Michigan Top Seven Photographers -- non masters (sponsored by MTPPA)
7. Moni Most, score 319
6. Carol Nichols, score 320
5. Carol Fabrizio and Mari Latosis, score 321
4. Kelly Dobson, score 322
3. Karen Walker, score 323
2. Betsy Finn, score 326
1. Sam Sarkis, score 329

Michigan Top Seven Masters (sponsored by DPPA)
7. Cliff Stewart, score 324
6. Barry Rankin and Deb Trombly, score 325
5. Brad Hawks and Clint McLennon, score 328
4. Dan Pulver, score 333
3. Andrew Jenkins and Debra Sportel, score 334
2. David Deutsch, score 346
1. David Humphrey, score 353

Michigan Photographers Award of Merit (sponsored by Miller's Professional Imaging)
Tina Timmons, score 354

Michigan Photographers Award of Excellence (sponsored by H&H Color Lab)
Jim Churchill, score, 357

The Alan Tedrick Michigan Photographer of the Year Award (sponsored by Canon USA)
Michael Timmons with a score of 386. This was the highest scoring print case in Michigan print competition history! Congratulations Michael!


Some of us are looking forward to viewing these images online, but we will have to be patient. After a couple of requests to hold off until after the PPA International Print competition we will do just that, to reduce the risk of a judge having to disqualify him/herself because they know the image and the maker. We have the images and will be posting them after June. Hopefully most of us had a chance to view them first hand at convention, if not it will be worth the wait. Thanks for understanding!

Convention Adventures

A Word From Our Sponsors

Today is the big day! The PPM convention officially starts tonight at 7:00 with print competition. You have until 4:30 to get your print cases to the James B Henry Center in Lansing.

Trade Show ..... Trade Show ..... Trade Show ..... Trade Show ...... Trade Show

We are also very excited to bring you a full trade show. We have a lot of old favorite vendors as well as some pretty cool new vendors. Many of them are bringing new products and bargains! Even if you can't swing convention plan to come for the trade show. Trade Show only passes are $10 at the door. Hours are 11-4 Sunday, and 11-3 Monday. Bring your friends!
Here is a list of some of our much-loved sponsors......

White House Custom Color
Great Lakes Albums
Dynamic Designs
Herf Jones
Virtual Backgrounds
American Color Imaging
Midwest Photo Exchange
MAC Group
Graphic Authority
Just Rite Brackets
Burrell Colour

KEH Camera Brokers
Allied Imaging
GP Albums
Image Place
MadCamp Backgrounds
H&H Color Lab
North American Photo

Midwest Transaction Group
Midwest Camera Repair
Millers Imaging
Canon USA
JD Photo Imaging
Phase One

Do You Twitter???

PPM is twittering! Now you can get even more up to date PPM info on Twitter.

What’s a Twitter?

Twitter is a real-time messaging utility… kind of like instant messaging but also kind of like blogging. The updates are very short (140 characters or less), and you can use your account for simple things like “it’s raining”… or you could let your friends know what you’re up to. So, for Professional Photographers of Michigan we’ll be using twitter to let you know what we’re up to …especially at the Michigan Imaging Expo…

So if you want to know what's happening at Michigan Imaging, be our guest! You can find us at http://twitter.com/prophotomi. Sign up! You don't want to miss out!

Did We Mention The $500?

Attention PPM members: Don't forget ... get your print cases and albums ready for Print Competition. Everything has to be there by 4:30 Friday Feb 6, and the actual competition begins at 7:00. You may submit digital albums this year, and prints do not have to be in an official print case. We will accept boxes.

Everyone who enters is eligible to win $500!
It is not too late!

Head to the website, ppm.org , for more information and to download your forms.

Looking For a Room?

Are you looking for a last-minute room for PPM convention? The convention hotel, Candlewood Suites is almost full. Last we checked there were still a few rooms for Sunday and Monday nights. Friday and Saturday nights are booked, but you can get on a waiting list. You need to call the hotel directly to get the best information. The direct phone number is 517-351-8181.
Other places nearby are: the Courtyard in East Lansing Ph: 517-482-0500
Staybridge Suites in Okemos 877-660-8545

Other suggestions have appeared on Facebook in conversations about PPM.

If you are looking for a roommate feel free to advertise in a comment to this post.

You Can't Afford Not To!

If you are not a member of the Professional Photographers of Michigan, this would be the year to join, even if it is only to attend the convention (Feb. 7 thru 10). And this year, you don't have to be a member to attend. You can attend any day, all day for only $99. Attend all 4 days for $299. Gold members (membership is $275) attend all four days free! You won't want to miss anything.

To help you decide...
Friday!
Print cases are due in the print room by 4:30 Friday afternoon. Anyone who enters prints or an album is eligible to win a $500 check. Last year the odds of winning were something like 1 in 45. Not bad! Print competition starts Friday night, beginning with albums. And plan to attend the banquet Monday night in case you win!)
Saturday!
Print competition continues all day. Even if you decide not to compete, sitting in is a great learning experience. .... Or learn from our speakers:
In the morning you have two choices. You can choose to attend the Back to Basics trio, of Wendy and Larry Bosely, Clint McLennon, and Loretta Young, to get some nuts and bolts advice for growing your business.

Or you could gain from Larry Peter's experience as an "Old Timer" in the industry whose business has had tremendous staying power through all kinds of economies. Larry will share his secrets to not only surviving, but thriving when many around us are failing. Larry's program continues in the afternoon.
If children photography is your thing plan to sit in on Chris Miller's program to "Get the Dirt on Photographing Kids."
And as long as you're there.... might as well stay for the trade show kick off party on the trade show floor, and then later, some "Comedy Shop" socializing in the hospitality room. But same some energy for...
Sunday!
Sunday is a day with the stars....

Starting bright and early, worth crawling out of bed for, it's Tim Priest with a hands-on (bring your camera) fashion photography presentation. Tim and his model will be ready at 7:00 am!
Missing Church? Come join the worship service at 8:30.

Starting at 9:30 you have a choice between business building advice from Bruce Berg, or inspirational set-yourself-apart artistic know-how from Marilyn Scholin.

Break for Trade Show! Trade Show! Trade Show!

Then enjoy the afternoon with senior photographer Kalen Henderson and "Time is Money," or Ken Sklute for an inspirational program, "Wide Angle Vision."

And more fun stuff.... Glip Auction, Masquerade Party, Digital Cafe', Hospitality Room .... But save some energy for...
Monday!

Catch the opening act early Monday morning with a fast-paced presentation from Michael Ayers on, "Mastering Wedding Success." Starting at 9:30 you won't want to miss the all-day presentation by the young gun from Australia, Ryan Schembri. Get there early to be sure you get a seat as Ryan shares all-day the secrets to photography for Gen Y.
Andy now that your brain is full its time to, you guessed it, party! Get dressed up and join us for the awards banquet (this is where you pick up your print competition winnings!).... and then meet with old friends, make new friends at the after-party gathering in the hospitality room. Get a little sleep and prepare for....
Tuesday!
Crawl out of bed early one more time to catch award-winning Environmental photographer, Steve White as he shares the ins and outs of the Environmental Landscape.

At 9:00 Barbie Vallot tops us off with "Big World Photography in a Small Town Market."

So many choices, so little time.... Join us any way you can. You can't afford not to!

Island Shoot-About

Last we spoke we talked about the upcoming Summer Seminar. All who went had a great time Here are some of the photos from our shoot-about. We should make this an annual event!

From Steve White...

From Deb Sportel....

From Red Enos......